Big guns go for big bucks at Smythe sales of shipwreck artifacts, currency, stock certificates A twin pair of bronze cannons from the 1784 shipwreck “El Cazador” saw a final bid of $10925 each, bringing the total for the one week, four auction extravaganza at Smythe to $1,259,250
News-Antique.com - Nov 13,2007 - Manhattan, New York - November 13, 2007 – Over 5500 lots which included an intriguing mix of historical paper, currency, stock certificates and artifacts recovered from the 1784 shipwreck “El Cazador” were greeted by enthusiastic bidders at Smythe & Company. The one week, four auction, whirlwind of sales that ended November 1, realized a total hammer of $1,259,250.
Among the more noteworthy offerings were a pair of 18th century Spanish bronze breech loaded cannon. They were of typical form, measuring 39 1/2" in length and weighing 200 Lbs each. These canon were marked with the Bourbon arms of Charles III on their barrels. Each cannon realized $10925
“With four auctions closing in such a short period, it was a very busy week for us at Smythe.” said Mary Herzog, Vice President of R. M. Smythe & Co. “The 'El Cazador' shipwreck artifacts brought us a great deal of interest, but we also saw very strong bidding activity among many of the other lots.”
Other noteworthy sales from the auctions include:
Lot #: 2065 Estimate-$1,250-2,500 United States of America 5/11/1779. Virginia. #21. 24 Dollars in Twenty Livres Tournois. Red. Sheet of three certificates. Anderson US-99. Hessler X32C.Signed by Armistead and Francis Hopkinson, signer of the Declaration of Independence. Tear in the upper right of the top certificate, otherwise VF. Realized - $4830
Lot #: 2062 Commonwealth of Virginia 12/22/1781. #10201. Land-Office Treasury Warrant. 500 Acres/800 Pounds. Issued to and boldly signed on the reverse by Daniel Boone. Unlisted in Anderson. Fine, but with age tone. Broken folds have been expertly repaired. Ink is light with thin spot on verso of document. Realized - $8625
Lot #: 3490 Estimate-$800-1,200 RI. Wakefield, South Kingston. Bank of the South County. $25. 1850s. (RI-515 G16). Proof on India paper. Men working in foundry, top; Indian maiden as Liberty, left; young woman seated with spyglass, right. TCC. VF-EF. Realized - $2990
Lot #: 1596 Colombia. 8 Escudo, 1780NR JJ. Carol(us) III. KM 50.1. (NGC MS-63). obv.: Armored bust, facing right. rev.: Crowned arms in collar of the Golden Fleece. Nicked neck. tiny blackened reverse spots visible under magnification. Realized - $9200
Lot #: 2662 Estimate-$3,000-5,000 MA. Boston. Market Bank. $2. 1860s. (MA-265 G16a SENC). Full red tint lathe. Proof on India paper mounted on card. Group of elk at a stream. Corn basket lower left and male portrait lower right. Intricate color lathe work derived from the Cyrus Durand patents with the city and title interwoven with the denomination protectors in a repeating pattern across the note. An absolutely stunning impression. The India paper mounted directly to a gilt edged wide margined card with an overleaf of tissue guard from the presentation album. The only one we have handled from this series. The only other note from this Market Bank series by the National Bank Note Co. we have seen was the Denly Collection note that came from the January, 2002 CAA Sale. This example has small POC and was remounted on the wide card smartly.
