c/o L. A. ChenierWe at AE can expect to review many more such sites – this is just one of the first such reviews.
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A very interesting catalogue crossed my desk a few days ago. It is Catalogue 29 RECENT ACQUISITIONS from Michael Brown Rare Books of Philadelphia. It is a very interesting catalogue for several reasons. The descriptions are very complete as are the bibliographical references. Someone reading this catalogue will learn not only a great deal about each item (89) offered but also gain a sense of the relevance of each item to various collecting realms, an essential ingredient both for dealers to build their business and for collectors to build their collections.
This catalogue is a mixture of books and documents. The least expensive item is an autograph quotation from Bayard Taylor signed New York, 1850 who the same year published Eldorado; or Adventures in the Path of Empire:... which is no. 73 of the Zamorano 80. There is a good, but not perfect, copy of William Darby’s A Tour from the City of New-York, to Detroit,...” printed in Brooklyn in 1819 for $500 and a letter to the future President of the United States, Franklin Pierce, dated 1832 for $450. The thoroughness of the presentation does not preclude reasonable prices. Forty-four of the 89 items offered are priced at $500 or less. Americana collectors will want to see this catalogue and to receive Mr. Brown’s future presentations. It’s simply interesting. His email address: mbamericana@mindspring.com.
The William Reese Company recently released Catalogue 219, American State Papers 1763 – 1861. The Reese Company takes their research seriously. This catalogue comprises 108 lots arranged in date order, mostly books, but also including some politically significant ephemera. Here are a few of the lots. No. 1. is The Definitive Treaty of Peace and Friendship... ending the French and Indian War, 1763. No. 2 is the Authentic Account of the Proceedings of the Congress..., the first British edition of Congress’ response to the Stamp Act, 1767. No. 8 is the Olive Branch Petition, “the last concerted effort to reconcile with Great Britain and prevent war.” No. 9 is an early, enlarged edition of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense..., 1776. No. 23 is The Pennsylvania Packet or The General Advertiser: Thursday, April 10, 1783
