Early Americana From David Lesser<br>Fine Antiquarian Books
Rare Americana from David M. Lesser Fine Antiquarian Books
By Michael Stillman
David M. Lesser Fine Antiquarian Books has issued their 81st catalogue of rare Americana. This is an interesting collection of political, business, and religious documents from the 18th and 19th centuries. Many provide insights into the controversies of the day, some virtually forgotten, others still part of our national psyche.
For those who think rough and tumble politics is something new, Lesser has a series of pamphlets that are ridiculous enough to have been written today. John C. Fremont was the first Republican candidate for president, and that candidacy elicited this publication: Black Republican Imposture Exposed! Fraud Upon the People! The Accounts of Fremont Examined; Showing an Astounding Disregard of the Public Interest, Only to be Accounted for by Extravagance, Recklessness, or an Utter Want of Judgment! Fremont was a surveyor and explorer known as "The Pathfinder," an image that made him a popular figure. In this pamphlet, he is attacked for supposed fraud in the purchase of horses ten year earlier when serving in California. Item 47. Priced at $250.
That was the mild criticism. The opposition became more serious with Infidelity and Abolitionism. An Open Letter to the friends of Religion, Morality and the American Union. Fremont was evidently no friend to any of those. He is accused of such dastardly behavior as advocating social equality of Blacks, free love, and political affiliation with "unsexed females." Unfortunately, Fremont was not able to get the "unsexed female" vote to the polls, so he lost. You've got to get your base out on election day. Item 58. $250.
Nathaniel Appleton preached a sermon on May 26, 1742, which was transcribed in the following: The Great Blessing of Good Rulers, Depends upon God's Giving His Judgments & Righteousness to Them. A Sermon Preached Before His Excellency William Shirley, Esq: Governour...(of Massachusetts). In his sermon Appleton proclaims, "God forbid that we should have any irreligious, prayerless Rulers among us." Hopefully Governor Shirley was a God-fearing, righteous man. Otherwise, he must have been squirming in his seat through this lecture. Item 3. $500.
Swann Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books December 9, 2025
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 156: Cornelis de Jode, Americae pars Borealis, double-page engraved map of North America, Antwerp, 1593.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 206: John and Alexander Walker, Map of the United States, London and Liverpool, 1827.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 223: Abraham Ortelius, Typus Orbis Terrarum, hand-colored double-page engraved world map, Antwerp, 1575.
Swann Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books December 9, 2025
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 233: Aaron Arrowsmith, Chart of the World, oversize engraved map on 8 sheets, London, 1790 (circa 1800).
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 239: Fielding Lucas, A General Atlas, 81 engraved maps and diagrams, Baltimore, 1823.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 240: Anthony Finley, A New American Atlas, 15 maps engraved by james hamilton young on 14 double-page sheets, Philadelphia, 1826.
Swann Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books December 9, 2025
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 263: John Bachmann, Panorama of the Seat of War, portfolio of 4 double-page chromolithographed panoramic maps, New York, 1861.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 265: Sebastian Münster, Cosmographei, Basel: Sebastian Henricpetri, 1558.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 271: Abraham Ortelius, Epitome Theatri Orteliani, Antwerp: Johann Baptist Vrients, 1601.
Swann Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books December 9, 2025
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 283: Joris van Spilbergen, Speculum Orientalis Occidentalisque Indiae, Leiden: Nicolaus van Geelkercken for Jodocus Hondius, 1619.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 285: Levinus Hulsius, Achtzehender Theil der Newen Welt, 14 engraved folding maps, Frankfurt: Johann Frederick Weiss, 1623.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 341: John James Audubon, Carolina Parrot, Plate 26, London, 1827.
Sotheby’s Book Week December 9-17, 2025
Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society, Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 1997, first edition, hardback issue, inscribed by the author pre-publication. £100,000 to £150,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Autograph sketchleaf including a probable draft for the E flat Piano Quartet, K.493, 1786. £150,000 to £200,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Hooke, Robert. Micrographia: or some Physiological Descriptions of Minute Bodies made by Magnifying Glasses. London: James Allestry for the Royal Society, 1667. $12,000 to $15,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Chappuzeau, Samuel. The history of jewels, first edition in English. London: T.N. for Hobart Kemp, 1671. $12,000 to $18,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Sowerby, James. Exotic Mineralogy, containing his most realistic mineral depictions, London: Benjamin Meredith, 1811, Arding and Merrett, 1817. $5,000 to $7,000.
![<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 11:</b> Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] <i>Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society,</i> Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/00d5fd41-2542-4a80-b119-4886d4b9925f.png "<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 11:</b> Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] <i>Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society,</i> Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.")
