In what has become a tradition, Sotheby’s Books and Manuscripts is thrilled to be joining our colleagues across other departments in celebrating Americana Week. Our sale is rich in significant and intriguing materials, both printed and manuscript.
The sale is headlined by Antoine Soulard’s “Ydea Topografica de los altos del Missisipi y del Missouri,” a celebrated source for Lewis & Clark, and one of the most significant maps in United States history. Additional highlights include A True Relation of such occurences and accidents of noate as hath hapned in Virginia since the first planting of that Collony (1608), the exceedingly rare work by Captain John Smith; a first edition of Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay’s landmark The Federalist. A Collection of Essays, Written in Favour of the New Constitution, as Agreed upon by the Federal Convention… (1788); "The President's Answer. To the Hebrew Congregation, in Newport, Rhode Island," a first printing of George Washington's most explicit pronouncement on religious tolerance, and one of the great pillars of American religious liberty (1780); Alexander Gardner’s sweeping Photographic Sketchbook of the War (1863); and a variety of other works certain to represent the high spot in any Americana collection.
An exhibition will be on display the 13th through the 21st of January alongside Sotheby’s Americana Week. Private views are available upon request.
