In 1846, the first plank road in the United States was completed between Salina (Syracuse, New York) and Central Square. Another plank road nearby, the Auburn and Moravia Plank Road, was organized in 1848. It’s 18-mile length connected Auburn and Moravia. Recently an interesting lot of 45 items relating to the A and M was offered on Rare Book Hub's eCatalogues. It was a mixed group of printed and manuscript material that captures the spirit of that time. I have long been interested how the New York road system developed. When I saw it, I pounced.
In the documents dating from 1848, one name consistently appears, David Wright, who served as the company’s president from its early stages through to at least 1862. Among the documents are six appealing stock certificates, all signed by Mr. Wright. Fittingly, No.1 was both issued and signed by Mr. Wright.
Other stock certificates are interesting. No. 79 was issued to Samual Eddy, a well-known figure (and constable) in the Auburn/Owasco area. No. 81 was issued to Theron Green, who represented the established village leadership. No. 93 was issued to John H. Chedell who was known as heavyweight in 19th-century finance and infrastructure.
Another printed document was one of the Auburn and Moravia Plank Road Company’s bonds. From what I gather, that bond, No. 3, was being paid up to November 7th, 1862.
That one and others, probably did not fare as well. This plank road was organized in the late 1848 during what has been described as the Plank Road Craze. Both investors and their engineers overestimated the useful life of the planks. The wood rotted more quickly than expected.
In addition to the printed documents, 38 manuscript documents related to this project including correspondence, invoices and payments to and from related parties were included.
Looking back, after the planks rotted, not all was lost. The road they built would become part of New York’s Route 38. If you by luck or chance make that drive, as you pass by Auburn, you’ll be on the very path this plank road made possible.
And how did I encounter this wonderful lot? It was posted by Michael Brown, ABAA, on eCatalogues on Rare Book Hub. I was lucky to see it before others did. His complex lots are significant additions to collections.
ALDE, Apr. 8: GUEVARA (ANTONIO DE). Histoire de Marc-Aurèle, Empereur Romain, vray miroir et horloge des Princes. Paris, Pierre et Galliot du Pré, frères, 1565. €3,000 to €4,000.
ALDE, Apr. 8: HEURES DE LA VIERGE. Horæ in laudem beatissimæ virginis Mariæ ad usum Romanum. Paris, Charles L'Angelier, 1556. €4,000 to €5,000.
ALDE, Apr. 8: MONTAIGNE (MICHEL DE). Les Essais. Édition nouvelle, trouvée après le deceds de l'autheur… Paris, Abel L'Angelier, 1595. €6,000 to €8,000.
ALDE, Apr. 8: [ROJAS (FERNANDO DE)]. Celestina, tragicomedia di Calisto et Melibea, tradotta de lingua castigliana in italiano idioma… Venise, 1531. €2,000 to €3,000.
ALDE, Apr. 8: CAMÕES (LUÍS DE). Os Lusiadas. Lisbonne, Pedro Crasbeeck, 1613. €2,000 to €3,000.
ALDE, Apr. 8: CERVANTES (MIGUEL DE). El Ingenioso hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha. Bruxelles, Roger Velpius & Huberto Antonio, 1611. €6,000 to €8,000.
ALDE, Apr. 8: LA FONTAINE (JEAN DE). Fables choisies, mises en vers. Paris, Denys Thierry et Claude Barbin, 1678-1694. €6,000 to €8,000.
ALDE, Apr. 8: CERVANTES (MIGUEL DE). El Ingenioso hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha. Madrid, Joaquin Ibarra, 1780. €3,000 to €4,000.
ALDE, Apr. 8: DIDEROT (DENIS) ET JEAN LE ROND D'ALEMBERT. Encyclopédie, ou dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers. Paris, 1751-1765. €15,000 to €20,000.
ALDE, Apr. 8: [LIVRE TISSÉ]. LAMARTINE (Alphonse de). Les Laboureurs. Poème tiré de Jocelyn… Lyon, J. A. Henry, 1883. €8,000 to €10,000.
ALDE, Apr. 8: [LIVRE TISSÉ]. Livre de prières tissé d'après les enluminures des manuscrits du XIVe au XVIe siècle. Lyon, [A. Roux], 1886. €5,000 to €6,000.
Sotheby’s Books, Manuscripts & Objects from Three Important Collections Open for Bidding 2-17 April
Sotheby’s, Apr. 2-17: [Guillaume de Lorris and Jean de Meun]. Le Roman de la Rose, [Geneva or Lyons, c.1481], first printed edition of the most important medieval French vernacular poem. £200,000 to £300,000.
Sotheby’s, Apr. 2-17: Castiglione. Il libro del cortegiano. [Venice], April 1528, first edition, in a magnificent binding by Jean Picard for Jean Grolier. £100,000 to £150,000.
Sotheby’s, Apr. 2-17: Jacobus de Cessolis. Schachzabelbuch, Strasbourg, 1483, von der Lasa copy. £50,000 to £70,000.
Sotheby’s, Apr. 2-17: World Championship, 1972. A collection of 84 press photographs of the famed match between Spassky and Fischer. £2,000 to £3,000.
Sotheby’s, Apr. 2-17: Ben Franklin. Autograph letter signed, to Lord Shelburne, British Prime Minister, during peace negotiations, November 1782. £15,000 to £20,000.
