Rare Book Monthly

Book Catalogue Reviews - December - 2008 Issue

"Material Change" - Important American Documents from Seth Kaller

Material Change from Seth Kaller, Inc.

Material Change from Seth Kaller, Inc.


By Michael Stillman

Seth Kaller, Inc., Authentic Historic Documents and Artifacts has released a new catalogue: "Material Change" Documents That Shaped America. Kaller offers more than items from notable Americans, but documents that are of historic significance, and from some of the most important of American names, including Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln. These are the sorts of things you don't really expect to still see in private hands. In time, most probably will wind their way to museums and similar settings, but for now, they are still available to private as well as institutional collectors. Here are a few of these wonderful documents still obtainable.

The catalogue starts with a remarkable letter from George Washington which explains this catalogue's title of "Material Change." Written on October 22, 1780, to George Mason, a fellow patriot and later promoter of the Bill of Rights, he speaks almost from despair of his army's situation. At the time, Washington was still holed up in New Jersey, short of money, supplies, and with many enlistments soon to expire. The outlook was bleak. "Unless there is a material change," he writes, "...it will be in vain to contend much longer." Washington then calls for the creation of a permanent force, though he acknowledges the financial challenges of accomplishing this aim. He calls for securing loans to complement taxes, and that more power be granted Congress to carry out the war. Price on request.

A copy of the New England Chronicle from July 18, 1776, is offered. Communications were slow in those days, so this was the edition that brought the news of the signing of the Declaration of Independence to Bostonians. News would have reached some in Boston a few days earlier, but it was on the 18th that the Declaration was read from the state house balcony and published for all to see. Other news of the day, including the "acclamations of joy" expressed by Continental troops in New York on hearing it read, are presented. The paper reports that up to 10,000 British troops have landed on Staten Island, and that a statue of King George in New York has been knocked down and broken to pieces. $190,000.

Next we have a letter from a man anything but an American patriot. John Andre was a British officer during the American Revolution who managed their spying operations. He would be Benedict Arnold's contact, and it was Andre's capture which uncovered Arnold's treachery. The joy in this letter is certainly ironic considering the fate that was soon to befall Andre. In September 1780, he writes with pride to his mother in England of his promotion to Adjutant General. "Good fortune still follows me..." pens Andre, and "I...can hardly look back at the steep progress I have made without being giddy." He also speaks of his growing self-confidence. Perhaps it was overconfidence, as the good fortune which had been following Andre would soon desert him. Nineteen days later, he would clandestinely meet with Benedict Arnold, to discuss the latter's plan to turn West Point over to the British. Unfortunately for Andre, there was a problem with his return plans, and he was captured by American militiamen. Arnold's plans were disrupted, and he was forced to give up his cover and flee to British lines. Andre was not so lucky. On October 2, 1780, he was hanged as a spy. $50,000.

Rare Book Monthly

  • Old World Auctions (Feb 12):
    Lot 746. Speed's Dual Atlas of Britain & the World with 96 Maps (1676). Est. $70,000 - $85,000
    Old World Auctions (Feb 12):
    Lot 9. Visscher's Superb Double-Hemisphere World Map with Representations of the Elements (1658). Est. $4,750 - $6,000
    Old World Auctions (Feb 12):
    Lot 58. One of the Most Important 16th Century Maps of the New World (1554). Est. $5,000 - $6,000
    Old World Auctions (Feb 12):
    Lot 745. A Complete Example of Ortelius' Atlas of Ancient Geography (1624). Est. $12,000 - $15,000
    Old World Auctions (Feb 12):
    Lot 73. First English Map to Show California as an Island (1625). Est. $16,000 - $19,000
    Old World Auctions (Feb 12):
    Lot 156. Bachmann's Dramatic View of the Mid-Atlantic Region (1861). Est. $1,800 - $2,200
    Old World Auctions (Feb 12):
    Lot 741. Early Announcement of Continental Congress' Declaration of Independence (1776). Est. $9,000 - $11,000
    Old World Auctions (Feb 12):
    Lot 695. The First Printed Map Devoted to the Pacific (1589). Est. $8,000 - $9,500
    Old World Auctions (Feb 12):
    Lot 733. Superb Image of the Presentation of Jesus in Hand Color (1502). Est. $700 - $850
    Old World Auctions (Feb 12):
    Lot 52. Produced by the Psychological Warfare Branch to Encourage Surrender (1945). Est. $200 - $230
  • Il Ponte, Feb. 25-26: ALDROVANDI, Ulisse (1522-1605) - [Opera omnia]. Bologna: Bellagamba, Benacci, Bonomi, Tebaldini, Ferroni, 1599-1668. €22.000-€28.000
    Il Ponte, Feb. 25-26: [CANALETTO] - VISENTINI, Antonio (1688-1782) da Giovanni Antonio CANAL (1697-1768, detto 'Il Canaletto') - Urbis Venetiarum prospectus celebriores. Venezia: Giovanni Battista Pasquale, 1742-51. €7.000-€10.000
    Il Ponte, Feb. 25-26: LA FONTAINE, Jean de (1621-1695) - Fables Choisies. Parigi: Claude Barbin, 1668. €7.000-€10.000
    Il Ponte, Feb. 25-26: MERCATOR, Rumold (1545-1599) - [I continenti] - Europa; Africa; America Sive India Nova; Asia. Amsterdam: S.d. [ca. 1633]. €2.000-€3.000
  • Sotheby's
    Sell Your Fine Books & Manuscripts
    Sotheby’s: The Shem Tov Bible, 1312 | A Masterpiece from the Golden Age of Spain. Sold: 6,960,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: Ten Commandments Tablet, 300-800 CE | One of humanity's earliest and most enduring moral codes. Sold: 5,040,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: William Blake | Songs of Innocence and of Experience. Sold: 4,320,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: The Declaration of Independence | The Holt printing, the only copy in private hands. Sold: 3,360,000 USD
    Sotheby's
    Sell Your Fine Books & Manuscripts
    Sotheby’s: Thomas Taylor | The original cover art for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Sold: 1,920,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: Machiavelli | Il Principe, a previously unrecorded copy of the book where modern political thought began. Sold: 576,000 GBP
    Sotheby’s: Leonardo da Vinci | Trattato della pittura, ca. 1639, a very fine pre-publication manuscript. Sold: 381,000 GBP
    Sotheby’s: Henri Matisse | Jazz, Paris 1947, the complete portfolio. Sold: 312,000 EUR

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