Broadsides, Broadsheets, and Pamphlets from David Lesser Antiquarian Books
- by Michael Stillman
Jackson Wagons - “They come high – but they must have them.”
The American Whig Party was formed by opponents of Andrew Jackson in the 1830s. Promoting more of a business and internal developments agenda, it won two out of three presidential elections in the 1840s. However, it was unable to survive north-south divisions over slavery, and, despite holding the presidency until 1853, rapidly disintegrated during that decade. Its candidate was badly beaten in 1852, and by the time this broadside, headed CircularofWhigCommitteewithTicket,was published by the Philadelphia party in 1855 or 1856, it was virtually dead. It was reduced to endorsing the candidates of other parties. Here, it endorses the nominees of the American Party, better known as the “Know-Nothings.” That party was anti-Catholic and anti-immigrant, neither of which was part of the Whig agenda. However, it was briefly the major opposition to the Democrats. So, the Whigs, while disclaiming “the proscriptive measures which it is alleged are advocated by them,” supported the Know-Nothings for opposing “the shameless outrages on the rights of freemen in Kansas.” While anti-Catholic and anti-immigrant, the Know-Nothings were surprisingly less sympathetic to black slavery than were the Democrats, though they tried to steer a middle course. Ultimately, the nativist sentiments of this party were too much for most former Whigs, so most (from the North) gravitated to the new Republican Party. By 1860, the Know-Nothings also had gone the way of the Whigs. Item 229. $450.
Item 10 is an advertising brochure circa 1880 for Austin, Tomlinson and Webster Mfg. They produced wagons, primarily for farm, freight and lumbering use, rather than transportation. Their most famous cart was the “Jackson Wagon,” produced in Jackson, Michigan. Lesser explains that at one point, they were the largest wagon manufacturer in the world. Of course, soon enough, the internal combustion engine would destroy that business, and Austin Tomlinson evidently never made the transition to the new technology. This pamphlet features various humorous cartoons for the Jackson Wagon, including the one pictured on this page. $600.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("Martinus Luther") to His Friend the Theologian Gerhard Wiskamp ("Gerardo Xantho Lampadario"). $100,000 - $150,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: An Exceptionally Fine Copy of Austenís Emma: A Novel in Three Volumes. $40,000 - $60,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Presentation Copy of Ernest Hemmingwayís A Farewell to Arms for Edward Titus of the Black Mankin Press. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Manuscript Signed Integrally for "The Songs of Pooh," by Alan Alexander. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Manuscript of "Three Fragments from Gˆtterd‰mmerung" by Richard Wagner. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Original Preliminary Artwork, for the First Edition of Snow Crash. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("T.R. Malthus") to Economist Nassau Senior on Wealth, Labor and Adam Smith. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides Finely Bound by Michael Wilcox. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: First Edition of Lewis and Clark: Travels to the Source of the Missouri River and Across the American Continent to the Pacific Ocean. $8,000 - $12,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Original Artwork for the First Edition of Neal Stephenson's Groundbreaking Novel Snow Crash. $100,000 - $150,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: A Complete Set Signed Deluxe Editions of King's The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King. $8,000 - $12,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("John Adams") to James Le Ray de Chaumont During the Crucial Years of the Revolutionary War. $8,000 - $12,000.
Sotheby’s Book Week December 9-17, 2025
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Francesco Colonna. Hypnerotomachie, Paris, 1546, Parisian calf by Wotton Binder C for Marcus Fugger. €200,000 to €300,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Nausea. De principiis dialectices Gorgias, and other works, Venice, 1523, morocco gilt for Cardinal Campeggio. €3,000 to €4,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Billon. Le fort inexpugnable de l'honneur, Paris, 1555, Parisian calf gilt for Peter Ernst, Graf von Mansfeld. €120,000 to €180,000.
Sotheby’s Book Week December 9-17, 2025
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: Salinger, J.D. The Graham Family archive, including autographed letters, an inscribed Catcher, a rare studio photograph of the author, and more. $120,000 to $180,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of Sense and Sensibility, the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: Massachusetts General Court. A powerful precursor to the Declaration of Independence: "every Act of Government … without the Consent of the People, is … Tyranny." $40,000 to $60,000.
![<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 16:</b> [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of <i>Sense and Sensibility,</i> the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/9a74d9ff-42dd-46a1-8bb2-b636c4cec796.png "<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 16:</b> [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of <i>Sense and Sensibility,</i> the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.")
