(Abraham Lincoln) Lithograph, Execution of the four conspirators: Mrs. Surrat [sic], Payne, Harold & Atzeroth. At Washington, D.C., July 7, 1865. (Philadelphia, J.L. Magee, 1865.) 7 3/4 x 11 3/4 in. on a 11 x 13 5/8 in. sheet. The artist has taken some liberties in depicting the scene. A priest is shown prominently aside the gallows, as Mary Surratt’s Catholicism was a prominent subject in the press. A niece clean example.
Minor marginal losses well clear of image, else fine condition. Matted and ready for framing.
(EXA 3897) $500
(Natural History: James W. Audubon) Hand colored engraving from Audubon’s 150 plate Imperial series, Plate CXLIX (No. 30): Sciurus Fremontii and Sciurus Fulginosus; Fremont’s Squirrel and Sooty Squirrel, folio (21 1/2 x 27 1/4 in.), “Drawn from Nature by J. W. Audubon.”
(Lithograph, Printing and color by J. T. Bowen, Philadelphia, 1848). A masterful set of life-size renderings.
Some marginal wear including minor well clear of the engraving, light foxing at lower right, else fine.
(EXA 3899) $1,400
(Natural History: James W. Audubon) Hand colored engraving from Audubon’s 150 plate Imperial series, Plate CXXI (No. 25): Lutra Canadensis; Canada Otter.
Folio (21 1/2 x 27 1/4 in.), “Drawn from Nature by J. W. Audubon.” (Lithograph, Printing and color by J. T. Bowen, Philadelphia, 1847).
Light marginal wear including toning, all well clear of engraving, else fine.
(EXA 3900) $1,400
(Natural History: James W. Audubon) Hand colored engraving from Audubon’s 150 plate Imperial series, Plate XXXIV (No. 7): Sciurus Niger; Black Squirrel, folio (27 1/4 x 21 1/2 in.),“Drawn from Nature by J. W. Audubon. (Lithograph, Printing and color by J. T. Bowen, Philadelphia, 1844). A masterful pair of life-size renderings of the male and female of this species.
Light marginal wear including toning, all well clear of engraving, else fine.
(EXA 3901) $1,400
(Natural History) The Winged Passion Flower, aquatint, mezzotint and stipple engravings finished by hand, 17 3/4 x 14 1/4 in. (20 3/4 x 16 1/2 in. overall), credited “Henderson delt.” and “Warner sculpt.” One of the great plates produced for Dr. Robert Thornton’s series The Temple of Flora. When Thornton inherited the family fortune in 1797, he left his medical practice to indulge his lifelong passion for botany. The finest botanical books had heretofore been published on the continent. Thornton, determined to surpass the Germans in scholarship and the French in printing artistry, planned a book of philosophic and literary distinction, illustrated by some of the best painters working in Britain. For this plate, Thronton engaged the services of Peter Henderson.
Marginal tears not affecting plate, small loss at margin at lower right with other minor marginal wear that can be easily matted out, slight scuffing to titling and lower right hand corner of print, else very good.
(EXA 3928) $950
(Theatrical History) [Francis Wilson & De Wolff Hopper] A 11 1/2 x 10 in. color lithograph by Alfred J. Frueh (1880 – 1968) and dates to the early 1920s. Hopper (1858 – 1935), who was briefly married to gossip columnist Hedda Hopper, was best known for his recitations of “Casey at the Bat” and for his Gilbert and Sullivan roles. Wilson (1854 – 1935) was the first president of the Actor’s Equity Association. The only known joint appearance of Hopper and Wilson was in the 1921 revival of Erminie, in which Wilson had been featured in the original 1886 production. This appears to be an image inspired from that production.
Matted and framed, some light dampstains to bottom of mat, else very good to fine condition overall.
(EXA 3913) $500
(Theatrical History) Hand colored print, 7 1/2 x 10 1/4 in. [c. 1853] captioned “CLOSING SCENE FROM THE PLAY OF ‘THE JEWESS,’ AS PERFORMED AT THE BOSTON MUSEUM.” This was the first Boston production of William Thomas Moncrieff’s adaptation of Sir Walter Scott’s 1820 novel, Ivanhoe, which premiered at the Boston Museum on 7 March 1853.1 The Boston Courier raved, “It would be difficult to conceive any thing more gorgeous and magnificent in the way of stage display and scenic arrangement than is presented in the spectacle of the Jewess, which is now attracting so much attention at the Boston Museum. Unlike most of the so called show pieces, the Jewess combines to an opportunity for brilliant appointments the merit of a strong plot and great dramatic effect, which, in the hands of Mr. Smith as Eleazer, and Mrs. Barrett as the Jewess, are most admirably developed. We very much doubt if any equally interesting and beautiful dramatic entertainment was ever before offered in Boston.”2 Light creases, some minor marginal wear, else fine.
(EXA 3866) $125
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1 Boston Atlas, 7 March 1853, 2. Charles Dickens mercilessly lampooned Moncrieff as the “literary gentleman” in Nicholas Nickelby, as a cultural thief or a literary pickpocket. See Ibn Warraq, “Sir Walter Scott’s Treatment of Jews in Ivanhoe”, New English Review. (July 2009).
2 Boston Courier, 14 March 1853, 2.
(War of 1812) A rare hand-colored print, 6 x 13 1/4 in. on a 13 3/4 x 8 1/4” sheet entitled: “A View of Col. Johnson’s Engagement with the Savages (commanded by Tecumseh) near the Moravian Town, October 5th, 1812 [sic, 1813]” [Engraved by A. Bowen], hand colored in green, blue, yellow and red watercolor. Undated, but the print is known to have been prepared for the 1832 edition Henry Trumbull’s History of the Discovery of America.
Captioned in eight parts describing the scene: “1 Col. Johnson heroically defending himself against the attack of an Indian Chief. 2 The American Infantry firing upon a body of the enemy on the left. 3 A dismounted Dragoon personally engaged with one of the enemy. 4 The cavalry pursing the retreating savages across the hills. 5 Tecumseh rallying his men, and encouraging them to return to the attack.” A savage in the act of scalping a wounded drummer of the American Infantry. 7 The savages, pursued by the cavalry, retreating to a swamp on the left. 8 The enemy (rallied by their commander Tecumseh) returning to the attack.” It is generally believed that Tecumseh died at the hands of Col. Richard Mentor Johnson during the battle. Johnson, who was wounded several times during the battle, became a prominent Kentucky politician. Johnson’s reputation earned him a spot on the 1836 Democratic ticket with MartinVan Buren.
Backed by another sheet of paper, some marginal tears and vertical creases, else very good.
(EXA 3975) $600
(John Trumbull) Hand colored engraving, “George Washington : On the Great Occasion of Our Presidential Election. To All Lovers of Freedom and Independence,: Is Presented this Portrait. “‘The Father of Our Country.’” 10 1/8 x 9 1/2 in on a 16 1/2 x 11 in. sheet, ([New York: Illman & Son, c. 1848]).
Light toning at top center, light marginal wear, else fine.
(EXA 3883) $475
(Civil War) An appeal to Union sentiments on the eve of the Civil War by Currier and Ives. Hand-colored lithograph, 1860 (11 1/2 x 8 3/4 in. on a 14 x 10 in. sheet). Entitled “THE SPIRIT OF THE UNION” with two verses below:
“Lo! on high the glorious form, of WASHINGON lights all the gloom. And words of warning seem to come; From out the portal of his tomb; Americans, your fathers shed, Their blood to rear the UNIONS fame,Then let your blood as free be given,The bond of UNION to maintain.”
Light toning at top and bottom margins, minor mounting remnants and toning on verso, else fine condition.
(EXA 3882) $500
