R.M. Smythe & Co. to hold Internet auction of historical materials including autographs and more.. On October 1, 2007, R.M. Smythe & Co. will hold an Internet auction on eBay live of an eclectic collections of historical materials including autographs, photographs, ephemera, books and Americana.
by Cornelius Vanderbilt for $53,000. Depending on the calculation used, that price would be somewhere between $1 and $10 million today, thus a rather large sum. Vanderbilt donated the painting to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
77 HOT AIR BALLOONS: EIGHT IMAGES [8] ($10-Up)
Eight printed images from German and French publications, apparently late 19th Century, an interesting group in good condition.
78 HOT AIR BALLOONS: FOUR IMAGES [3] ($10-Up)
From Harper’s Weekly, Mar 16, 1872, including, “How to Reach the Pole by Balloons” quite fanciful, and “Lynn’s Adventure on Lake Erie,1859.” Good, with chinks missing, minor stains.
79 HOWE, JULIA WARD ($50-Up)
Ceramic portrait of the abolitionist Julia Ward Howe (819-1910) whow as author of the lyrics to “The Battle of the Hymn Republic.” Copy of a bronze original, 12x9”, made in Massachusetts, original artist appears to be artist Virgil W. possibly Fuller, the last name is indistinct. Ready to hang.
80 ICE TRUST: HOMER DAVENPORT ($20-Up)
Davenport (1867-1912), was an American political cartoonist, whose talents were recognized early by his mother, and encouraged. Inspired by Thomas Nast, he found an enthusiast in William Randolph Hearst. This is an Original DrawingSigned, pen and ink, dated Dec 1901, on an unused 8vo calendar page from November 18, picturing the Ice Trust and the Tammany tiger. Near fine condition.
81 ITALY: ENGRAVINGS [40] ($25-Up)
Group of over forty engravings of scenes around Italy: Naples with Mt. Vesuvius, the Milan Cathedral, Palermo, Terni, Venice, Turin, Murano, Pisa... Very interesting lot, fine condition.
82 ITALY: ORIGINAL WATERCOLORS, 1870s [8] ($40-Up)
Group of eight small water color paintings, several from Verbano-Cusio-Ossola in the Italian Piedmont. “Tante Grande” the name of one of the paintings may be one of the local mountains. They were done over several years, 1871-4, the artist (Ivan J. Grimm ?). A lovely group in excellent condition.
83 JAPANESE PRINTS: KAWANABE KYOSAI [12] ($100-Up)
Japanese painter and print-maker (1831-1889); his subjects included the weird, the obscure and the comic. At auction, his paintings have achieved record prices. Here, twelve prints, perhaps court subjects, very well done, excellent condition, with some soiling.
84 JAPANESE PRINTS ON PAPER [2] ($25-Up)
Two handsome prints, one by Sadafusa Ayame, about 1830, 15x10”, the other by Suri-Mono, about 1850, 11x8,” both in very good condition, with expected aging.
85 JAPANESE PRINTS ON SILK [4] ($40-Up)
Four prints: two 11x 9”, one 14x11”, and one 11x14”. All are in very good condition, all backed with paper.
86 JOHN, AUGUSTUS ($50-Up)
Welsh painter (1878-1961) post-Impressionist painter. Pastel Original Drawing of a female figure, 12” x 6” with one small drop of highlight paint at top. On the verso, upper torsos of two other female figures, quite fine. Quite unusual, excellent condition. Matted.
87 JOHN LAW AS MR. QUINQUENPOIX ($175-Up)
John Law (1671-1729), Scottish economist said to be responsible for the use of paper money, is pictured here in a 1720 print with text in Dutch by an unknown artist. The unusual name is the street in Paris where
