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Ephemera - Colonial
48 John Hancock Business Letterhead Proof and Portrait
Engraving (2).
Massachusetts, ND (ca.1760-70), Lot of 2 items,
Includes Proof letterhead, 8 by 2.75 inches, Standing Allegorical
woman on left with banner Persevere And o… , with text Bot of John
Hancock - Commission Merchant , and printers imprint on bottom
left Corbould & Hemsley, 37 Foster Lane , Appears XF but unfortu-
nately there is a paper clip rust mark on the top left middle border,
Also included is a portrait of Hancock in ornate oval and square with
title John Hancock - The Patriot Merchant , 3.5 by 6 inches, slight
toning and foxing, otherwise very attractive, ND (ca.1800-1840).
Also included is the envelope with a photo of the letterhead on the
upper left. ......................................................................
Est. $500-1000
49 Peter Force 1848 Printing From the 1823 J.W. Stone
Declaration of Independence Copy.
In 1843, Peter Force used the
original J.W. Stone copper printing plate to print additional copies
of the Declaration of Independence to include in his multi-volume
book, American Archives. The Congress authorized up to 1500
books to be published but the real count is unknown and estimated
to be closer to 500 copies. It was printed on rice paper and folded to
fit in the book. It is estimated that fewer than half of the rice paper
copies exist, which is represented by this example that has never
been offered at auction previously and was only recently discovered
in the mid-west. The original J.W. Stone 1823 printed copies were
printed on vellum, not rice paper and are extremely rare. Though
requested by the government in 1823 to produce 201 copies of the
Declaration of Independence, ironically, the Wet Ink process used
by Stone to copy the document is what has led to the deterioration
of the original copy. This Declaration has been folded for its original
purpose of inclusion in Force’s book and is in overall Very Fine to
Extra Fine condition with 5 inch tear on the right middle margin into
the text, evidently from removal from the book, that could be easi-
ly repaired. A visually stunning and rare example of one of America’s
most treasured and revered documents. .......................
Est. $10000-20000
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48
New York
50 Skyline View of 1920-30’s New York Used on Mortgage Bond
Co. Specimen Bond.
New York, ND (ca. 1910-1930), Large Die
Proof, Printed in black on india on large card, 9 x 6 inches, Plate # V
43818, Choice Uncirculated condition, ABNC. Rare and attractive
proof vignette. ..............................................................
Est. $250-400
51 Printing Plate “Help Speed National Defense” Logo
Surrounding Screaming Eagle.
2.5 x 2 inches, cloudy toning,
attractive and rare. Printing company not listed. ...........
Est. $120-240
52 Charles Kress, Engraver - Artist, ca.1920-30’s Archive of
Original artwork and Correspondence
ND (ca.1929-32), Unique
grouping of original watercolors, wash drawings, pen and ink and
pencil drawings and sketches by Charles Kress, vignette artist. as
well as extensive correspondence between him and almost every
major banknote and security printer in the U.S., Canada and the
U.K.. There are 34 pieces of original artwork between 6 x 8 inches up
to 14.5 x 9 inches of various allegorical figures, nudes, and different
scenes painted on card with some mounted on thicker card and
most having overlapping protective paper. There are two different
groups of correspondence, the first is a group of 79 letters from var-
ious security printers on their letterheads, many engraved and
worth $10 to $25 each alone, discussing Kress’ artwork, most rejec-
tions, also included is a very interesting and in depth group of letters
from H. Preston Dawson, Portrait & Vignette Engraving artist on his
letterhead to Charles Kress Jr., the artists son discussing Kress’ sud-
den death in 1931 and the disposition of his fathers artwork. An
amazing offering for the security printer historian and art lover.
Condition mostly VF to XF. ...........................................
Est. $750-1500
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October 20-23, 2012
Archives International Auctions
www.archivesinternational.com