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<b>Bonhams:</b> MANDELSHTAM, OSIP. 1891-1938. Autograph Manuscript, 2 pp, [Petersburg,] January 1913, entitled

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Intriguing And Unusual Americana From David Lesser Catalogue 86 of Rare Americana from David Lessor By Michael Stillman David M. Lessor Fine Antiquarian Books is offering their 86th catalogue of "Significant and Unusual Imprints Relating to America." Lesser regularly presents collections of Americana, mostly from the Revolutionary through the Civil War period. "Interesting and unusual" are good descriptions of the items they offer, as few are pieces you are likely to come across very often. Here are a few. John Hancock is one of those famous and beloved patriots of the Revolution, though that fame and popularity come almost entirely from his having a very large and bold signature. That autograph is today one of the most collectible and valuable in the field of Americana. However, like most political figures of his day, or any other, not everyone liked him. Item 46 is The Writings of Laco, as Published in the Massachusetts Centinel....from 1789. "Laco" was Stephen Higginson, a Massachusetts politician and, like Hancock, delegate to the Continental Congress. The book is a scathing attack on the man for whom a large building in Boston and an insurance company are named. Higginson regarded Hancock as a vain man, interested more in his own image and popularity than any patriotic causes. "So great was his vanity, and so excessive his caprice, that his leaders were often at a loss to restrain and keep him steady," says Higginson. He also charges that Hancock was sought by Revolutionary leaders only because he came from a wealthy and prestigious family, and that even then they had to go to great efforts to keep him from defecting to the other side. Higginson's attack came out during Hancock's gubernatorial campaign of 1789. Hancock got the better of that battle, winning the election. The public saw him differently. Priced at $1,000. Not everyone thought the colonial-era Stamp Act was such a bad thing. This 1766 London item is a strong apology for British colonial behavior: An Application of Some General Political Rules, to the Present State of Great-Britain, Ireland and America.... For the Irish, the anonymous author calls for union with the mother country. As for the American colonists, he chides that the Stamp Act is one way for them "to discharge themselves of the obligation of having received from England a body of excellent laws....a set of social improved manners....arts and sciences." We all know what the ungrateful Americans told the British they could do with their "improved social manners." Item 98. $500.
Intriguing And Unusual Americana From David Lesser none Charles Sumner is one of those mostly forgotten, out-of-favor Civil War era politicians. He was one of the Radical Republicans who sought to impose rules on the South that would have prevented the century of overt discrimination and worse that the freed slaves and their descendants would endure. Sumner was already an advocate of the rights of Blacks long before this era. In fact, he was a leader in the movement to desegregate Boston schools while most others were still seeking compromises with slavery. Item 106 is a copy of his 1849 argument before the Massachusetts Supreme Court, Equality Before the Law; Unconstitutionality of Separate Colored Schools in Massachusetts. In arguments that would predict Brown vs. Board of Education, the national case which desegregated schools over a century later, Sumner argues that segregated schools are a badge of caste, and thereby violate Massachusetts' constitutional "free and equal" requirement. While the first printing of Sumner's argument came in 1849, the second did not come until 1870. This is a second printing, the preface noting it was reprinted at this time as the issue was now national in scope. Item 106. $500. For those who love a good crime story, item 111 is The Life, Trial, Condemnation, Dying Address of the Three Thayers!! Who Were Executed for the Murder of John Love, at Buffalo, N.Y. June 17, 1825. The three Thayers were the sons of Israel Thayer, brothers Nelson, 25, Israel, Jr., 23, and Isaac, 21. Israel and his sons had befriended John Love, an itinerant peddler who made a healthy living and frequently loaned money to those who were short. Love stayed at the Thayers' home in Buffalo, but one day disappeared. Neighbors didn't particularly notice that, but they did notice that the Thayers suddenly had more money to spend, were seen riding Love's horse, and attempted to collect some of their benefactor's debts. They put two and two together, and eventually found Love's body in a shallow grave behind Junior's house. It was all over for the three Thayers. While their father was cleared of all charges, it took the jury just 30 minutes to convict the brothers and sentence them to death. They were simultaneously hung in Niagara Square on June 7, 1825, before a crowd estimated at over 10,000. Priced at $500. You may find Lesser Antiquarian Books online at www.lesserbooks.com or reach them by phone at 203-389-8111.

Intriguing And Unusual Americana From David Lesser

Catalogue 86 of Rare Americana from David Lessor

By Michael Stillman

David M. Lessor Fine Antiquarian Books is offering their 86th catalogue of "Significant and Unusual Imprints Relating to America." Lesser regularly presents collections of Americana, mostly from the Revolutionary through the Civil War period. "Interesting and unusual" are good descriptions of the items they offer, as few are pieces you are likely to come across very often. Here are a few.

John Hancock is one of those famous and beloved patriots of the Revolution, though that fame and popularity come almost entirely from his having a very large and bold signature. That autograph is today one of the most collectible and valuable in the field of Americana. However, like most political figures of his day, or any other, not everyone liked him. Item 46 is The Writings of Laco, as Published in the Massachusetts Centinel....from 1789. "Laco" was Stephen Higginson, a Massachusetts politician and, like Hancock, delegate to the Continental Congress. The book is a scathing attack on the man for whom a large building in Boston and an insurance company are named. Higginson regarded Hancock as a vain man, interested more in his own image and popularity than any patriotic causes. "So great was his vanity, and so excessive his caprice, that his leaders were often at a loss to restrain and keep him steady," says Higginson. He also charges that Hancock was sought by Revolutionary leaders only because he came from a wealthy and prestigious family, and that even then they had to go to great efforts to keep him from defecting to the other side. Higginson's attack came out during Hancock's gubernatorial campaign of 1789. Hancock got the better of that battle, winning the election. The public saw him differently. Priced at $1,000.

Not everyone thought the colonial-era Stamp Act was such a bad thing. This 1766 London item is a strong apology for British colonial behavior: An Application of Some General Political Rules, to the Present State of Great-Britain, Ireland and America.... For the Irish, the anonymous author calls for union with the mother country. As for the American colonists, he chides that the Stamp Act is one way for them "to discharge themselves of the obligation of having received from England a body of excellent laws....a set of social improved manners....arts and sciences." We all know what the ungrateful Americans told the British they could do with their "improved social manners." Item 98. $500.

Intriguing And Unusual Americana From David Lesser

none

Charles Sumner is one of those mostly forgotten, out-of-favor Civil War era politicians. He was one of the Radical Republicans who sought to impose rules on the South that would have prevented the century of overt discrimination and worse that the freed slaves and their descendants would endure. Sumner was already an advocate of the rights of Blacks long before this era. In fact, he was a leader in the movement to desegregate Boston schools while most others were still seeking compromises with slavery. Item 106 is a copy of his 1849 argument before the Massachusetts Supreme Court, Equality Before the Law; Unconstitutionality of Separate Colored Schools in Massachusetts. In arguments that would predict Brown vs. Board of Education, the national case which desegregated schools over a century later, Sumner argues that segregated schools are a badge of caste, and thereby violate Massachusetts' constitutional "free and equal" requirement. While the first printing of Sumner's argument came in 1849, the second did not come until 1870. This is a second printing, the preface noting it was reprinted at this time as the issue was now national in scope. Item 106. $500.

For those who love a good crime story, item 111 is The Life, Trial, Condemnation, Dying Address of the Three Thayers!! Who Were Executed for the Murder of John Love, at Buffalo, N.Y. June 17, 1825. The three Thayers were the sons of Israel Thayer, brothers Nelson, 25, Israel, Jr., 23, and Isaac, 21. Israel and his sons had befriended John Love, an itinerant peddler who made a healthy living and frequently loaned money to those who were short. Love stayed at the Thayers' home in Buffalo, but one day disappeared. Neighbors didn't particularly notice that, but they did notice that the Thayers suddenly had more money to spend, were seen riding Love's horse, and attempted to collect some of their benefactor's debts. They put two and two together, and eventually found Love's body in a shallow grave behind Junior's house. It was all over for the three Thayers. While their father was cleared of all charges, it took the jury just 30 minutes to convict the brothers and sentence them to death. They were simultaneously hung in Niagara Square on June 7, 1825, before a crowd estimated at over 10,000. Priced at $500.

You may find Lesser Antiquarian Books online at www.lesserbooks.com or reach them by phone at 203-389-8111.