Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - March - 2007 Issue
Some Artistic Gifts Offered by the Arader Galleries
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Next comes a series of city views. There are images from Rome, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Cincinnati, San Francisco and Washington. Among the maps are several of America, and others of various parts of it. The earliest is a 1595 Mercator, followed by 17th century renditions from Hondius, Speed, and Blaeu. Of particular historical significance is the Colton 1857 Nebraska and Kansas map. This was published after the controversial Kansas-Nebraska Act and at the time of the "Bleeding Kansas" crisis that played such a large part in dragging America into Civil War. There are also several fantastic 18th century world maps, truly works of art. However, not even these can compare to the art of the Cellarius celestial charts published over four centuries ago.
For those with fond memories of their alma maters, Arader has a series of restrikes from engraved plates of various colleges, circa the 19th century. Presented are 45 in total, and we won't name any specifically so as to avoid any appearance of favoritism.
Among the books offered are two from authors known for their description of America's Indians. There is Thomas McKenney's two-volume Memoirs, Official and Personal; with Sketches of Travels among the Northern and Southern Indians...published in 1846. Also offered is George Catlin's The Manners, Customs, and Condition of the North American Indians...Originally published in 1841, this is an 1880 edition. Six framed portraits from the 1836 History of the Indian Tribes of North America from McKenney and James Hall are available.
The Arader Galleries may be found online at www.aradergalleries.com, telephone 215-735-8811. They have locations in Philadelphia, New York, Houston and San Francisco.
