Rare Book Monthly
Articles - February - 2005 Issue
Swann Printed & Manuscript Americana February 10th
Lot 65: A rare 1818 example of the Declaration on silk.
Swann offers a solution to the person going to Hawaii who wants to appear intellectual [153-163]. They are offering eleven 19th century island items [lots 153-163] and you have a choice of books in English or the Hawaiian dialect. Mahalo!
You can not cover all bases in an Americana sale without material on Indians including captivities. Lots 172 to 218 do this. There is an 1839 Brandon, Vermont imprint: Memoir of the late Rev. Lemuel Covell, Missionary to the Tuscarora Indians and the Province of Canada. The book is uncommon but, for the moment, there are three copies on ABE for comparison. They won't last [lot 175]. Swann is also offering a copy of John J. Jacob's "Biographical Sketch of the Life of the Late Capt. Michael Cresap" printed in Cumberland in 1826 [lot 186]. This book achieved $5,175 at the first Siebert sale in 1999 but just recently made a more realistic $2,115 at Freeman's. This copy is estimated $2,000 to $3,000. There are 94 Cresap records in the AED. Twenty-two of them are for this Cumberland imprint.
For those who like images there is a copy of the 1855 third octavo edition of McKenney and Hall "History of the Indian Tribes of North America" printed in Philadelphia in 1855 [lot 189]. The 120 plates are described as "generally bright and clean." This set, in all its many configurations, is always in demand and sets of this book are always disappearing as print sellers buy them to "break" them up. This set is estimated at $10,000 to $15,000. At the high estimate each print costs $125.
At the high end in the "Indian" category there is "A True Account of the Most Considerable Occurances That have hapned in the Warre...", printed in London in 1675. A copy of this pamphlet brought $9,200 at the Siebert sale in 1999. This example is estimated at $10,000 to $15,000 [lot 193].
Among the excellent selection of 22 Indian captivities [197-218] are quite a few whose high estimate is $250 or less so there may be an opportunity to make some buys without breaking the bank or being scalped.
Those with an interest in Jefferson, Lewis and Clark and Louisiana Purchase material will find some gems to pick through. There is the EXTRA edition of the Boston Gazette dated Monday, Dec. 5, 1803 that carries the First Official Description of the Louisiana Purchase Territory. Imagine the excitement then. Imagine the excitement now. What then was probably a penny paper is estimated at $10,000 to $15,000.
I think now you see why we're writing about this sale. I haven't told you about even half of the material. So you'll simply need to look on Swann's site or ours. On AE it's posted as a February 10th sale. Run keyword searches to quickly identify relevant lots both in this and all other upcoming sales now posted.
For the record, Swann's Printed & Manuscript Americana is worth a closer look. It's interesting, demanding, complex and sometimes absolutely affordable.
Link to AE Auction Calendar.
