Item 20 is a broadside that got its author in a lot of trouble. It is headed DeaconGiles'Distillery, the author being Rev. George B. Cheever. It is written as a dream about one Deacon Amos Giles, a fictional character, but one quickly recognized by townsfolk of Salem, Massachusetts, as Unitarian Deacon John Stone. Stone ran a distillery, but was a popular man in town, Salem residents being much more liberal-minded in 1835 than they had been in 1692. In his story, “Deacon Giles” works poor men for pay in rum day and night, even on the Sabbath. Some of them fall into his vats, nothing but bones to be found, but no matter. Production must go on. Stone sued Cheever for libel, the latter claiming the character of Giles was purely fictional, not intended top be a portrayal of Stone. The jury didn't buy his claim and Rev. Cheever was sentenced to 30 days in jail. Offered is an unrecorded variant of this broadside with five rather than four images. $3,500.
Item 22 is a colorful, large lithograph piece. It is a depiction of the PrivateSignalsoftheMerchantsofBoston, circa 1850s. It displays 112 flags of Boston merchants. These flags were flown on the mastheads of ships to identify the owners. $10,500.
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