PRINTED & MANUSCRIPT AMERICANA

by Swann Auction Galleries
September 28, 2023 12:00 PM EDT
Live Auction

335 Lots

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Swann Auction Galleries

Location: New York, NY, US

Phone: 212.254.4710

Payment

Accepted Forms of Payment: Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Upon request, Swann will facilitate the shipping of purchases to out-of-town buyers at an additional charge for packing, shipping and insurance, but will not be responsible for any loss, damage or delay resulting from the packing, handling and shipping thereof. Unless specific instructions are received, Swann is the sole judge of the method to be used for shipment. Packing and shipping costs will be noted on the invoice mailed to successful bidders after the sale, and are based on the actual costs involved. Be advised that a full commercial invoice must accompany any purchase shipped outside the US.

The September 28, 2023, Americana auction is rich in material from the American Revolution and the Civil War. Highlights include early printed journals of the Continental Congress, a complete run of Gentleman’s Magazine from the period of the Revolution, and an early printing of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense. From the Civil War, we have a long run of lots relating to the Baltimore riot which launched the war in 1861, including the only known contemporary ambrotype of Luther Ladd, the first Union soldier killed in action. We also offer an archive on the surrender of a Confederate cavalry brigade in May of 1865.

 

On offer is a Bible given to Massachusetts founder John Winthrop as a twelfth birthday gift by his father in 1599. The sale includes many historic newspapers, including a 1789 paper with the proclamation of the first Thanksgiving under the Constitution.

 

Also of note is a large archive of papers of the famed polar explorer Robert Peary: supply lists for his Greenland expeditions, a letter to his longtime lieutenant Matthew Henson, letters on his rivalry with explorer Frederick Cook, four diaries, and much more.

Buyer's Premium
$0-100,000: 30.0%
$100,001-1,000,000: 25.0%
$1,000,001+: 17.0%
Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $149 $10
$150 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $5,999 $200
$6,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 $499,999 $20,000
$500,000 + $50,000

Conditions of Sale

Payment Information: Payment must be made by cash, check, money order or bank transfer. Purchases paid using personal checks may be held until payment has cleared. Non-US purchasers must pay using a US-dollar denominated check drawn on a US bank or by bank transfer. Payment may also be made by Visa or Mastercard, with a 3% processing fee. Swann does not accept Amex or PayPal.

Shipping Information: Upon request, Swann will facilitate the shipping of purchases to out-of-town buyers at an additional charge for packing, shipping and insurance, but will not be responsible for any loss, damage or delay resulting from the packing, handling and shipping thereof. Unless specific instructions are received, Swann is the sole judge of the method to be used for shipment. Packing and shipping costs will be noted on the invoice mailed to successful bidders after the sale, and are based on the actual costs involved. Be advised that a full commercial invoice must accompany any purchase shipped outside the US.

Buyer's Premium: Buyer's Premium is 25% of the hammer price up to and including $100,000; 20% of the portion of the hammer price above $100,000 up to and including $1,000,000; and 12% of the portion of the hammer price above $1,000,000. An additional buyer's premium may be charged on any purchase made through a live online auction as posted by Swann in accordance with such live online auction. For Invaluable.com and Liveauctioneers.com, the additional buyer's premium is 5%.

Taxes on your purchase: SALES TAX. All items purchased are subject to payment of the New York City and State sales tax of 8.875% on the total purchase price (final bid plus the Buyer's Premium as defined in paragraph 7 of the Conditions of Sale) unless the purchaser presents proof of exemption therefrom. An exempt purchaser must provide a properly completed New York State Resale Certificate (Form ST-120) evidencing possession of a valid New York State Resale or, for non-New York State businesses, the equivalent resale authorization from another locale. Purchases shipped outside of New York State may be subject to sales tax imposed by another state, and any such sales taxes will also be due and payable unless proper proof of exemption therefrom is provided. Purchases will not be released unless all sales tax requirements are satisfied.

Condition Statement: Available upon request.