May 1, 2024 10:00 EST
Rare Books, Autographs & Maps
247
The Supreme Court's decision in the Dred Scott case, in original wrappers
Estate / Collection: Property from the Rotondaro Collection
[DRED SCOTT CASE]
HOWARD, BENJAMIN C. A Report of the Decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States and the Opinions of the Judges Thereof, in the Case of Dred Scott, versus John F.A. Sandford. December Term, 1856. New York: D. Appleton, 1857. First edition (issued simultaneously with the Washington ediiton). Original printed wrappers with a decorative woodcut border, the spine lettered "Dred Scott Case" in black, housed in a cloth clamshell case. [5], 394-633, [3] pp. The wrappers expertly repaired, a few stray stains and ink marks, stamp of a contemporary Hartford bookseller to the front wrapper, dated ink ownership signature to margin of wrapper (see note), a very fine copy overall.
Rare first edition in wrappers of the landmark Supreme Court decision against Dred Scott and his family, one of the most influential cases regarding slavery before the Civil War. In 1846, the Scotts had sued for their freedom on the basis that they had resided for several years in a territory where slavery was illegal. Having commenced in St. Louis Circuit Court, the case grew in scope and significance before reaching the Supreme Court. In March 1857, Chief Justice Taney issued the 7-2 opinion of the court, which ruled that slaves were not citizens of the United States and therefore had no rights or protections thereunder. The court further ruled that the Congress had no authority to ban slavery in federal territories. The decision is considered the worst ever rendered by the Supreme Court and served to further divide the nation and accelerated the path to civil war. The ruling was overturned by the 13th and 14th amendments to the Constitution and greatly informed Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation which took effect in 1863. Dred Scott was represented in the Supreme Court by Montgomery Blair, who went on to serve in Lincoln's cabinet during the Civil War.
This copy bears the notable contemporary provenance of Judge Roland Hitchcock (1824-1889) and is signed by him from Winsted, Connecticut, not far from Hartford where the book was originally sold, and dated in June 1857, just months after the verdict was issued and the ramifactions of the Dred Scott case began to affect other cases around the country.
Howes S218; Sabin 33240.
Sold for $4,480
Estimated at $2,000 - $3,000
Includes Buyer's Premium
Estate / Collection: Property from the Rotondaro Collection
[DRED SCOTT CASE]
HOWARD, BENJAMIN C. A Report of the Decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States and the Opinions of the Judges Thereof, in the Case of Dred Scott, versus John F.A. Sandford. December Term, 1856. New York: D. Appleton, 1857. First edition (issued simultaneously with the Washington ediiton). Original printed wrappers with a decorative woodcut border, the spine lettered "Dred Scott Case" in black, housed in a cloth clamshell case. [5], 394-633, [3] pp. The wrappers expertly repaired, a few stray stains and ink marks, stamp of a contemporary Hartford bookseller to the front wrapper, dated ink ownership signature to margin of wrapper (see note), a very fine copy overall.
Rare first edition in wrappers of the landmark Supreme Court decision against Dred Scott and his family, one of the most influential cases regarding slavery before the Civil War. In 1846, the Scotts had sued for their freedom on the basis that they had resided for several years in a territory where slavery was illegal. Having commenced in St. Louis Circuit Court, the case grew in scope and significance before reaching the Supreme Court. In March 1857, Chief Justice Taney issued the 7-2 opinion of the court, which ruled that slaves were not citizens of the United States and therefore had no rights or protections thereunder. The court further ruled that the Congress had no authority to ban slavery in federal territories. The decision is considered the worst ever rendered by the Supreme Court and served to further divide the nation and accelerated the path to civil war. The ruling was overturned by the 13th and 14th amendments to the Constitution and greatly informed Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation which took effect in 1863. Dred Scott was represented in the Supreme Court by Montgomery Blair, who went on to serve in Lincoln's cabinet during the Civil War.
This copy bears the notable contemporary provenance of Judge Roland Hitchcock (1824-1889) and is signed by him from Winsted, Connecticut, not far from Hartford where the book was originally sold, and dated in June 1857, just months after the verdict was issued and the ramifactions of the Dred Scott case began to affect other cases around the country.
Howes S218; Sabin 33240.
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
