Many Topics from James Cummins Bookseller
James Cummins latest catalogue with George Washington on the cover.
By Michael Stillman
James Cummins Bookseller has released his 92nd catalogue. It is broken into five sections: miscellaneous, Americana, science and medicine, travel and maritime, and printing history. That should be enough of a range to interest just about any collector. These are some of the items you will find.
Item 30 is a most intriguing book for anyone with an interest in early photography. It is Thoughts on the Philosophy of Light, by William Newton, published in Jeffersonville, Indiana, in 1843. It speaks of the properties of light and their implications on the future of photography. Although the astonishing development of black and white photography was only a few years old at the time, Newton was already predicting color photography. His argument was that if plates could use the impact of light rays to capture form, there was no reason why the same could not be done to capture color. It would take almost another century, but his prediction would come true. Newton also foresaw photography as a means of mapping the stars. This, too, might have seemed a bit far out at the time, the light from stars being too faint for the crude early processes. However, Newton argued, "the object which is sufficiently near to make an impression on the eye, is not too distant to produce a similar impression on a properly prepared metallic plate..." Cummins' copy carries an inscription from Newton to his brother Richard. Priced at $2,500.
This marvelous invention to capture and preserve images would be commonplace a few decades later, when famed Indian fighter General George Armstrong Custer sat for the portrait offered as item 48. This one comes with a most interesting provenance. It was presented by Custer's widow, Elizabeth, to his friend the famed western showman Buffalo Bill Cody. Cody served as a guide for Russian Grand Duke Alexis in the company of Custer in 1872. In the summer of 1876, he served as a scout for the 5th Cavalry. Some officers at the time speculated that Custer might never have fallen into the trap at the Little Big Horn if Cody had been scouting for the 7th Cavalry instead. Buffalo Bill soon thereafter permanently retired from the scouting business, and put together his Wild West Show, which made him the household name he is today, almost nine decades after his death. This photograph carries the inscription "For my husband's unwavering friend Col Cody," along with the signature, "Elizabeth B. Custer." $3,000.
|
Many Topics from James Cummins Bookseller
General Custer's photo, inscribed by his wife to Buffalo Bill
Here is a haunting photograph. It is of Sigmund Freud's writing desk in Vienna, where he did much of his work. It was taken for a collection of photographs of Freud's Austrian home and office, published by young photographer Edmund Engelman. The year was 1938, and Freud was fleeing Austria after it was taken over by the Nazis. It was only because of Freud's reputation that he was permitted to leave the country. He would escape to Paris, and then on to England, where he died the following year. Engelman's photograph is offered with a copy of his book, BERGASSE 19. Sigmund Freud's Home and Offices, Vienna 1938, signed by Engelman. Item 71. $2,500.
Item 56 is a copy of William Guthrie's A New Geographical...Grammar...of the Several Kingdoms of the World. This one carries the signature of one the most famed political names ever - Abraham Lincoln. It is dated November 18th, 1784. Huh? Is this a forgery by someone with a very poor knowledge of dates? Not at all. This is a book once owned by the other political Abraham Lincoln, the one who was a Pennsylvania assemblyman and served as a delegate to the Pennsylvania state convention which ratified the Constitution. He was married to Ann Boone, a relative of Daniel. This Abraham Lincoln was the brother of the more famous Abraham Lincoln's great-grandfather, John Lincoln. This makes the Abraham Lincoln here described the great-great uncle of the Abraham Lincoln you know. As if this isn't sufficiently confusing, there were also two other Abraham Lincolns in the family. Along with this brother, Abraham, John had an uncle Abraham, and named a son Abraham. The son, Abraham, was the Presidents grandfather. And, we might note, the great-great uncle Abraham Lincoln, whose book is offered, had an exquisite, even Hancockesque signature, which makes this book a wonderful substitute for those unable to obtain President Abe's signature. What's more, this Abraham Lincoln's signature is rarer. $1,500.
Item 42 is a book about witchcraft by Lambert Daneau, Deux traitez nouveau... Published in 1579 (it is actually a combination of two books published separately in 1574), Daneau provided tips on how to spot a witch. They had odd protuberances on hidden parts of their bodies, and would hide in secret places like synagogues. Daneau's recommendation was to kill them. His recommendations would be adopted a few centuries later in Salem, Massachusetts. The second work combined in this book discusses games of chance, and whether such games as dice and cards involve an element of skill, and therefore do not constitute religiously prohibited gambling. $3,500.
Item 43 is a color stencil of George Washington on his horse, circa 1840. It was drawn on black cloth, giving it a nighttime look. This drawing is seen on the cover of Cummins catalogue. Item 43. $4,000.
|
Many Topics from James Cummins Bookseller
Autograph of the other Abraham Lincoln
Item 90 is the story of a harrowing overland travel by Jean Baptiste De Lesseps, published in 1790. It is the Journal historique du voyage de M. De Lesseps... De Lesseps was part of the La Perousse expedition of France to the Pacific. Two years into the journey, La Perousse docked along the Russian Pacific coast. La Perousse had a habit of sending material back home along the way to make sure his observations would make it to France. De Lesseps was chosen as he was fluent in Russian, and best suited for the long overland journey through that country. The distance was long, roads primitive, locals not well-policed, and the Siberian climate not the best. It was a dangerous and uncomfortable journey, but somehow De Lesseps made it back. He was the lucky one. La Perousse's ships sank in a storm, with no survivors. De Lesseps was the only one of the crew to return. $4,500.
Agustin de Iturbide ruled as Emperor of Mexico for a brief period in 1822-23. While he had led forces in support of the Spanish earlier on, he participated in the revolution to create an independent Mexico. However, rather than the reform government others supported, Iturbide forced his way into authority and assumed dictatorial powers. Less than a year later, he was driven into exile. However, Iturbide made one more run for power, attempting to sneak back in. He was quickly recognized, captured, and shot. Item 54 is a reminder of Iturbide's brief rule, a commission in the cavalry for one Don Ignacio Fato. $1,250.
To find James Cummins Bookseller online, go to www.jamescumminsbookseller.com. Their phone number is 212-688-6441.
|