California in Three Maps
California has a very interesting mapping history. During and after the Mexican-American War, efforts to map California increased. Once gold was discovered in 1848, cartographers, geographers, and business men hurried to survey the land, lay claim to it, and, ultimately, market it to Americans heading west. When California joined the Union as the thirty-first state in 1851, interest in plotting California's landscapes skyrocketed in tandem with its population. Explore the history of California with these three maps from our collection.
Exploring 19th Century Paris Maps
We currently have two 19th century maps of Paris in our inventory. These maps show a snapshot of the city in the middle of two revolutions: the July Revolution and the 1848 Revolution. Both are incredibly detailed and offer a view of the city among growing changes.
A History of the English-Speaking Peoples by Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill wrote his work A History of the English-Speaking Peoples over the course of a decade and a half. The works give an extensive account of the history of Britain and America, from the point of view of Churchill himself.
John Rogers: Sculpting the Civil War
A sculptor for the people, John Rogers produced his Civil War works in plaster rather than bronze, so that more could actually afford to purchase them. His works were used almost as in-home monuments, to help viewers process their feelings from the war, memorialize those who died, and celebrate their loyalty to the Union.
WWI Posters and the Division of Pictorial Publicity
The Division of Pictorial Publicity successfully recruited many of America’s most famous fine and commercial artists to the war effort, including James Mongtomery Flagg, Howard Chandler Christy, John Emmet Sheridan, and many others. In the twenty months of its existence, between April 1917 and November 1918, the Division submitted 700 poster designs to 58 different government departments. Now more than 100 years old, these posters still convey the passion, power, and patriotism of our nation, and are therefore very appreciated and collected today.
On This Day in History: The Eagle Has Landed
The words “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” were spoken on this day in 1969, as Neil Armstrong effectively declared the end to the decades-long “space race.” The Apollo II mission was carried out 54 years ago today, a feat years in the making and completed under the immense pressure of the watchful eyes of the nation. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first two men to walk on the moon, and with the help of Michael Collins, the three men completed the first successful voyage to put man on the moon. Read more about this amazing feat on this week's blog.
Mapping Colorado with Louis Nell
From 1880 to 1907, Louis Nell published a series of maps of the state of Colorado and formed one of the most continuous cartographic records available for the period immediately following Colorado statehood. We are lucky to have the final 1907 edition of his Colorado map, a very scarce and collectible issue. Read more about Nell and this map of Colorado on our blog post.
Spreading the News of the Emancipation Proclamation
Broadsides of the Emancipation Proclamation helped spread the news of the abolition of slavery. Read more about these decorative documents in this week's blog.
Unique Father's Day Gift Ideas
From stunning Vortic watches and fine suede briefcases, to vintage WWII propellers and eagle bookends, we have tons of gift ideas for Father's Day Gifts. We selected some of our favorite cocktail and coffee table books, fun cufflinks, and gorgeous pocketknives, to make your gift giving even easier. Check out our curated roundup of ideas and shop today!
Pictorial Maps: Drawing in a New Wave of Map Collectors
Recent auction trends have shown an increased demand for American pictorial maps from the 1920-50s. Once considered mass-produced ephemera and overlooked by serious map collectors, these maps are now having their hay-day and are finally appreciated for their colorful, whimsical illustrations and unique blend of data and illustration.
From Corsica to Saint Helena- the Eccentric Life of Napoleon Bonaparte
A famed military figure, Napoleon Bonaparte is arguably one of the most famous Frenchmen to ever emerge out of the 19th century. His legacy endures in the form of endless literature that meticulously analyzes his entire life from start to finish, particularly his military campaigns during the Napoleonic Wars.
Illustrating Mark Twain's "Huckleberry Finn"
The drawings Edward Kemble produced for Adventures of Huckleberry Finn were his first book illustrations, and the ones he is still best known for. A young yet prodigious illustrator for magazines and newspapers like Harper's Bazaar and New York Graphic, Kemble’s cartoon work in Life caught the attention of Mark Twain. Mark Twain personally requested Kemble for Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, telling his publisher “That is the man I want to try.” There are approximately 175 illustrations in Huck Finn, for which Kemble was paid the large sum of $2,000.00. Read more about his artistic process and collaboration with Mark Twain.
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