Printed & Manuscript Americana: April 2021 Auction Highlights

At Auction April 15, 2021

Lot 22: Romans Bernard, An Exact View of the Late Battle at Charlestown, June 17th, 1775, engraving, 1776. Estimate $40,000 to $60,000.

Featuring a Noteworthy Collection of American Historical Prints

Encompassing the colonial era (lots 1 to 12), the American Revolution (lots 13 to 37), Washington and the “founding fathers” (lots 38 to 71), allegorical prints and the early American engravers (lots 72 to 84), the War of 1812 (lots 85 to 100), commerce and expansion (lots 101 to 121).


Lot 15: A Short Narrative of the Horrid Massacre in Boston, English edition, London, 1770. Estimate $12,000 to $18,000.
Lot 72: Joseph Strutt, after Robert Edge pine, To Those who Wish to Sheathe the Desolating Sword of War—America—and, to Restore the Blessings of Peace and Amity, to a Divided People, stipple etching, London, 1781. Estimate $7,000 to $10,000.
Lot 106: Frances Palmer, Battle of Buena Vista: View of the Battle-Ground and Battle of “The Angostura,” chromolithograph, New York, 1847. Estimate $4,000 to $6,000.

Native Americans

Featuring sections of material relative to Indigenous Americans, including photographs, letters, and a previously unknown printing of the Treaty Entered into between the United States and the Cherokee Nation, 1836. 


Lot 135: William Soule, Lodge of the Plains Indians among the Cottonwood Trees in a Comanche Camp…of Dressed Buffalo Skins, albumen print, 1872. Estimate $1,500 to $2,500.

American Revolution

Revolutionary Americana spans from the prelude to the war and during it, including a manuscript document to enforce New York’s “Agreement of Non-Importation” during the heyday of the Sons of Liberty in New York, 1769.


Lot 141: Manuscript document to enforce New York’s “Agreement of Non-Importation” during the heyday of the Sons of Liberty, New York, 1769. Estimate $10,000 to $15,000.

Civil War

Covering the Civil War era with an album of carte-de-visites, including one of spymaster Lafayette Baker, sheet music, and a mammoth salt print of Alexander Shaler and the seventh New York Militia Regiment.


Lot 187: Clarence Mackenzie, Drummer Boy of the 13th Regiment of Brooklyn, salt print with applied color, 1861. Estimate $3,000 to $4,000.

Religion, Law & The West

Items throughout reference major religion, with a significant section of Judaica (lots 225 to 236) that features the second book published for a Jewish audience in America, and the first Jewish calendar, 1806, and a small run of material relating to Mormonism in America (lots 254 to 259). Another chapter of the sale covers ephemera, letters, books and photographs from the fabled Western frontier (lots 315 to 344).


Lot 226: Moses Lopez, A Lunar Calendar, only the second book published for a Jewish audience in America and the first Jewish calendar, Newport, Rhode Island, 1806. Estimate $3,000 to $4,000.
Lot 254: The Book of Mormon, first edition, Palmyra, 1830. Estimate $30,000 to $40,000.

The West


Lot 325: Trio of reports of the Board of Stock Commissioners and the Recorder of Marks and Brands of the State of Montana, Helena, 1893, 1896, 1899. Estimate $1,200 to $1,800.

Latin America & the Caribbean

A rich selection that features the earliest publication concerned solely with chocolate, early Mexican imprints and manuscript cookbooks, as well as items covering Peru, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, and elsewhere.


Lot 375: Antonio Colmenero de Ledesma, Curioso tratado de la naturaleza y calidad del Chocolate, the earliest publication concerned solely with chocolate, first edition, Madrid, 1631. Estimate $10,000 to $15,000.

What You Need to Know on Auction Day

This auction will be held live and conducted remotely.

There will not be bidding in the room, though we accept order bids, and interested buyers will be able to participate live via the Swann Galleries App. The app is available in the App Store and on Google Play, which can also be accessed on a desktop at live.swanngalleries.com.

Please note: phone bidding registrations will close the day before the sale at 4pm. 

At this time, our exhibition and auction location at 104 East 25th Street is closed to the public. Private viewings are available by appointment only, and must be arranged in advance. To make an appointment please contact the specialist.



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