Item 32 is a work that the Veatchs fairly describe as "a cornerstone of American color printing." It contains just six illustrations, but they are elephant folio in size, and remarkable in reproduction. The title is Victoria Regia: or the Great Water Lily of America, by John Fisk Allen, published in 1854. This story goes back to the 1830s when an enormous water lily was discovered along the banks of the Amazon. The flowers were a foot in diameter, the leaves as tall as a man. A specimen was brought to England, where it was named for the newly crowned Queen Victoria. It was next taken to Philadelphia, where a sample was given to John Fisk Allen of Boston. He wrote the copy for this book and produced one of the illustrations. The others came from William Sharp, an immigrant from England who produced some of America's finest, and pioneering works in chromolithography. $63,000.
Item 85 is a collection of 42 pieces from the Overbrook Press. Overbrook was founded in 1934 by Frank Altschul, an investment banker with an interest in books and printing. Altschul printed a fair number of political pamphlets, generally from a left point of view, but even these were printed with unusual care for quality. Additionally, he printed books and other items more typically associated with fine press work. This collection includes both topical and literary works along with some Christmas greetings. Dates range from 1940-1969. Overbrook closed its doors in 1969. $700.
Freeman’s, August 20. President Washington Reaffirms the US Treaty of Friendship and Peace with Morocco, the Longest Unbroken Treaty in US History. $50,000 – 80,000.
Freeman’s, August 20. Weeks After Victory at Yorktown, Benjamin Franklin Promises Repayment of a French Loan that Funded the American Revolution. $200,000 – 300,000.
Freeman’s, August 20. Rare First Edition of the Foundational Text of the Mormon Church. $100,000 – 150,000.
Freeman’s, August 20. President Washington Sends the First Major Law Passed by Congress, the Tariff Act of 1789. $100,000 – 150,000.
Freeman’s, August 20. A Scarce Example of Audubon's Depiction of a Brown Pelican, Plate CCLI from his Birds of America. $30,000 – 50,000.
Freeman’s, August 20. The Official and First Obtainable Broadside Printing of the Lincoln's Final Emancipation Proclamation. $30,000 – 50,000.
