| Press Contact: | Catherine Riedell | Stuart Whitehurst |
| Director of Marketing | Director of Books and Manuscripts | |
| Skinner, Inc | Skinnerinc.com | |
|
978-779-6341, x231 |
978-779-6241 x293 | |
| Swhitehurst@skinnerinc.com |
SIGNED
SKETCH OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
EDGAR ALLAN POE LETTERS,
AND BOTANICAL FOLIO TO BE SOLD AT SKINNER
Previously Unknown Lincoln Sketch; Valued at $15,000-$20,000;
Hand-written Poe Letters Extremely Rare; Valued at $14,000-$18,000 each;
John Fisk Allen Botanical Folio with Original Wraps; Valued at $20,000-$30,000
BOSTON,
Mass. - October, 29, 2001 – www.skinnerinc.com -- Skinner, Inc., one
of the nation’s leading full-service auctioneers and appraisers of antiques and
fine art, will hold an auction of Rare Books & Manuscripts on November 10,
2001 at 10:00 in its Boston gallery.
Of over 360 lots in the sale, one of the finest is a previously
undiscovered sketch of Abraham Lincoln, signed by Lincoln himself (Lot
51). The sketch, by artist Hans
Balling, is indeed rare and one of
fewer than 20 portrait sketches of Lincoln ever to be discovered. The work is estimated at
$15,000-$20,000. Interestingly, the
sketch came to light at a Skinner appraisal day recently held in Hallowell,
Maine. A broadside of Lincoln’s
assassination (Lot 52) will also be sold (estimated $6,000-$8,000.)
The
auction also includes an extensive collection of letters to Abijah Metcalfe
Ide, Jr., from some of the most prominent literary figures of the 19th
century, including Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Ralph Waldo Emerson, James
Russell Lowell, Horace Greeley, and Edgar Allan Poe. Ide, a farmer-turned-aspiring poet who lived in South Attleboro,
Massachusetts during the first half of the 19th century, had
corresponded with the writers requesting criticism and guidance regarding his
poetry. The rarest of these offerings
are two hand-written signed letters from Edgar Allan Poe (Lots 76 and 77), each
estimated to bring between $14,000-$18,000.
One of the most beautiful offerings in the sale is a John Allen Fisk American Botanical folio of the “Victoria Regia, or the Great Water Lily of America” (Lot 124), published in Boston in 1854. The folio contains six hand-colored lithograph illustrations by William Sharp and is intact with its original wraps. It is estimated between $20,000-$30,000.
“The
Lincoln sketch and the John Allen Fisk botanical folio are two of my personal
favorites,” notes Stuart Whitehurst, director of Skinner’s Books &
Manuscripts. “In 20 years of working in
the auction business, these are perhaps two of the most interesting pieces I’ve
ever had the pleasure to bring to auction.
Without a doubt, the sketch of Lincoln, complete with Lincoln’s
signature is incredibly rare. The
botanical folio specifically is noteworthy, as it is being offered in Boston
where it was published nearly 150 years ago.
It is incredibly rare to find a book of this importance intact with its
original wraps.”
Many
other key lots boast significant Massachusetts' provenance as well, including
the following:
- Lot 17: Historically important archive of 80 letters
by Capt. Robert Newell of the Massachusetts 54th regiment, the
first African American Troop regiment (est. $10,000 - $15,000).
- Lot 25: Hand written Emily
Dickinson poem, identified as “poem 824 variant D”; This version has been
represented in transcript at the Boston Public Library and recorded as “lost”
(est. $10,000 - $15,000)
- Lot 247: Collection of 16th and 17th
century Mather Family titles and religious texts (est. $20,000-$30,000)
Other
important historical documents in the sale include:
- Lot 351C: Very rare atlas of world navigation in
pristine condition, circa 1715 (est. $20,000-$30,000)
- Lot 279: First edition of Plato’s Works in print
from 1491 (est. $30,000-$40,000)
- Lot 179: John Evelyn, an 18th century
religious figure: his personal
copy of the Queen Elizabeth prayer book, including a sketch by him in the
back (est. $20,000-$30,000)
- Lot 154: Seven volumes of Cook’s Voyages, first
editions (est. $8,000-$12,000)
- Lots 336-350: Several natural history prints,
including Audubon examples
Illustrated
catalog #2109 is available for $26 ($35 for foreign requests) from the
subscription department at Skinner/Bolton (978-779-6241 ext. 261). Prices realized at the auction will be
available at www.skinnerinc.com
following the sale. For more
information, call 978-779-6241, fax 978-779-5144, or visit www.skinnerinc.com.
###
Note to Editors:
Photos available upon
request. Contact Catherine Riedel at
978-779-6241 x 231.
About Skinner:
With galleries in Boston and
Bolton, Mass., Skinner is a full-service auctioneer and appraiser of antiques
and fine art. Regularly seen on the PBS
series, The Antiques Roadshow, Skinner is one of the nation’s leading
auction houses. Skinner conducts
auctions year-round and has received world-record prices for many pieces sold
at auction. Departments include
American Furniture & Decorative Arts, Paintings & Prints, English &
Continental Furniture & Decorations, Fine Ceramics, Jewelry, Couture, 20th
Century Furniture & Decorative Arts, Fine Musical Instruments, Asian Art,
Fine Judaica, Toys, Dolls & Collectibles, Science & Technology,
Oriental Rugs & Carpets, American Indian & Ethnographica, and
Discovery. For more information on
upcoming auctions, visit Skinner’s web site www.skinnerinc.com.