May 1, 2024 10:00 EST
Rare Books, Autographs & Maps
129
The top sheet of the famous Ratzer Map - with additions relating to an 1810 real estate dispute
RATZER, BERNARD. Plan of the City of New York, in North America surveyed in the Years 1766 & 1767. [London: Jefferys & Faden, 12 January 1776.] Engraved map with hand coloring and manuscript annotations, old linen backing, an autograph document laid down to verso, the document signed "In Chancery," "A. Bleecker," [New York,] 20 July 1810, the hand coloring, the manuscript annotations, and the document relate to a real estate dispute. 24 1/4 x 35 1/2 inches (62 x 90.5 cm) visible area. Displayed in a double-sided frame. Old folds with small losses at vertices, light toning, a few creases and pale stains, dampstaining along the lower edge, ink stains to linen backing, not examined out of frame.
The top sheet of the famous Ratzer Map, used to facilitate the resolution of a real estate dispute over Kips Bay in 1810. A fascinating survival, attesting to the overall accuracy and continued usefulness of Bernard Ratzer's map of New York City as it appeared in the mid 1760s. Using the top sheet only, Anthony Bleecker, New York's Examiner in Chancery, marks the extent of several properties in modern-day Murray Hill and Kips Bay to adjudicate a land dispute. At the top right corner, several areas have been colored with a key added below noting the locations of "Rose Hill," "Kipp's Bay," and "Bridgen's." A small tract, delineated in orange beside the Eastern Post Road or "Road to Kings Bridge," is identified in the key as "Lotts offered to Tibes," and another small section marked in light blue, located fronting the East River and carved out of "Kipps Farm," is a "Lot sold Coster." On the verso, Anthony Bleecker certifies that "Interrogatories were filed in my office on the part of the Defendants in this Suit … to be examined on the part of the complainants and that within it the original… referred to in the Said Interrogatories and deposed unto by Francis B. Winthrop, James A. Stewart, John R. Murray, Elbert Kip, Henry Brevoort, Henry Cruger, Theodorus Bailey[,] Silvanus Miller and David Hosack…." At present, the resolution of the case remains unknown, but as the case was being considered by the Court of Chancery, Cornelius Kip took out an advertisement offering "Houses & Land, at Kip's Bay, for Sale" located on the "corner of the Main Road and Louisa-street, opposite the pond…." The offering also included "a handsome lot situated on the East River, near the seat of Mr. Henry A. Coster, one hundred feet on the East River…" among other properties and structures. (New-York Evening Post, 12 July 1810, p. 3) A fascinating piece chronicling the development of Kips Bay, worthy of further research.
Sold for $17,920
Estimated at $15,000 - $25,000
Includes Buyer's Premium
RATZER, BERNARD. Plan of the City of New York, in North America surveyed in the Years 1766 & 1767. [London: Jefferys & Faden, 12 January 1776.] Engraved map with hand coloring and manuscript annotations, old linen backing, an autograph document laid down to verso, the document signed "In Chancery," "A. Bleecker," [New York,] 20 July 1810, the hand coloring, the manuscript annotations, and the document relate to a real estate dispute. 24 1/4 x 35 1/2 inches (62 x 90.5 cm) visible area. Displayed in a double-sided frame. Old folds with small losses at vertices, light toning, a few creases and pale stains, dampstaining along the lower edge, ink stains to linen backing, not examined out of frame.
The top sheet of the famous Ratzer Map, used to facilitate the resolution of a real estate dispute over Kips Bay in 1810. A fascinating survival, attesting to the overall accuracy and continued usefulness of Bernard Ratzer's map of New York City as it appeared in the mid 1760s. Using the top sheet only, Anthony Bleecker, New York's Examiner in Chancery, marks the extent of several properties in modern-day Murray Hill and Kips Bay to adjudicate a land dispute. At the top right corner, several areas have been colored with a key added below noting the locations of "Rose Hill," "Kipp's Bay," and "Bridgen's." A small tract, delineated in orange beside the Eastern Post Road or "Road to Kings Bridge," is identified in the key as "Lotts offered to Tibes," and another small section marked in light blue, located fronting the East River and carved out of "Kipps Farm," is a "Lot sold Coster." On the verso, Anthony Bleecker certifies that "Interrogatories were filed in my office on the part of the Defendants in this Suit … to be examined on the part of the complainants and that within it the original… referred to in the Said Interrogatories and deposed unto by Francis B. Winthrop, James A. Stewart, John R. Murray, Elbert Kip, Henry Brevoort, Henry Cruger, Theodorus Bailey[,] Silvanus Miller and David Hosack…." At present, the resolution of the case remains unknown, but as the case was being considered by the Court of Chancery, Cornelius Kip took out an advertisement offering "Houses & Land, at Kip's Bay, for Sale" located on the "corner of the Main Road and Louisa-street, opposite the pond…." The offering also included "a handsome lot situated on the East River, near the seat of Mr. Henry A. Coster, one hundred feet on the East River…" among other properties and structures. (New-York Evening Post, 12 July 1810, p. 3) A fascinating piece chronicling the development of Kips Bay, worthy of further research.
Auction: Rare Books, Autographs & Maps, May 1, 2024
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Auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps on May 1, 2024 Totals $1.2 Million
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A Medieval Manuscript Rules of St. Augustine Achieves $102k
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Consignments Are Currently Being Accepted for Future Auctions
NEW YORK, NY -- Competitive bidding at Doyle’s May 1, 2024 auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps drove strong prices and a sale total that topped $1.2 million, surpassing expectations.
Featured in the sale was a fascinating selection of early manuscripts that achieved exceptional results. Highlighting the group was a 14th century manuscript of the Rules of St. Augustine from an English priory that soared over its $8,000-12,000 estimate to realize a stunning $102,100. The Rule of St. Augustine is among the earliest of all monastic rules, created about 400, and it was an influence on all that succeeded it. Other notable results included a 14th century Etymologiae of St. Isidore estimated at $5,000-8,000 that achieved $51,200 and a 15th century Prayer Book of Jehan Bernachier estimated at $10,000-15,000 that sold for $28,800.
A first edition of John James Audubon's octavo Birds of America sold for $41,600, far over its $25,000-35,000 estimate. Published in 1840-1844 in seven volumes, the first octavo edition was the final Birds of America publication overseen by Audubon in his lifetime.
The Fred Rotondaro Collection offered rare books and manuscripts on a range of subjects touching the African American experience in the United States over three centuries. A first edition copy of Frederick Douglass’ 1876 speech at the unveiling of the Freedman's Monument in Washington realized $12,800, far exceeding its $3,000-5,000 estimate. A first edition of the first issue of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin from 1852 also achieved $12,800.
Highlighting the range of offerings from the Ken Harte Collection of Natural History was a first edition Richard Bowdler Sharpe’s beautifully illustrated monograph of Kingfishers, 1868-71, that sold for $14,080, doubling its $6,000-8,000 estimate. It was accompanied by an inscribed copy of the rare unfinished chapter on the anatomy of the kingfisher by James Murie.
We Invite You to Auction!
Consignments are currently being accepted for future auctions. We invite you to contact us for a complimentary auction evaluation. Our Specialists are always available to discuss the sale of a single item or an entire collection.
For information, please contact Peter Costanzo at 212-427-4141 ext 248, Edward Ripley-Duggan at ext 234, or Noah Goldrach at ext 226, or email Books@Doyle.com
