Some Artistic Gifts Offered by the Arader Galleries
Gift Catalogue 2007 from Arader Galleries.
By Michael Stillman
The Arader Galleries have issued their Gift Catalogue 2007 for those who appreciate the artistic side of printing. Included are many framed plates, some from books, others separately published, of illustrations (often hand colored) and maps. In other words, most of this printed material is meant to go on the wall, rather than in the bookshelf. However, there are a few books here as well.
Unlike the typical gift catalogue, designed for Christmas or some particular holiday, Arader has designed this for any holiday. It can be used year ‘round. That's smart. It is described as "our annual catalogue of gift ideas for any occasion and budget." Certainly these are appropriate for any occasion, and will fit most, though perhaps not all, budgets. Prices range from $400 to $165,000.
The largest groups of colored engravings are those of botanical and zoological specimens from 17th through 19th century printings. Among the earliest are 1613 botanical specimens by Basil Besler taken from Hortus Eystettensis. From the 18th century are framed illustration from Mark Catesby's Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands. Catesby was an Englishman who spent several years in America and the West Indies, from which he produced his book filled with illustrations of flora and fauna from the New World.
From the early 19th century are a series of plates of Pierre Joseph Redoute's Roses. Redoute would be an artist and instructor for many of France's leading women, from Marie Antoinette to both of Napoleon's wives. However, it is his roses for which Redoute is best known. He used stipple engravings, that is, those based on dots rather than lines to create shading. Arader offers twelve hand-colored Redoute plates.
When it comes to wildlife drawings, there is no greater name than Audubon. Offered are eight plates from the octavo edition of Birds of America, and five from the double-elephant folio. Offered from the folio are the Trumpeter Swan, Wild Turkey, Wood Ibis, Iceland or Jer Falcon, and Hooping Crane. This is not the group that will fit any budget, but they certainly are spectacular. Also offered are six engravings from Audubon's Quadrupeds of America.
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Some Artistic Gifts Offered by the Arader Galleries
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Next comes a series of city views. There are images from Rome, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Cincinnati, San Francisco and Washington. Among the maps are several of America, and others of various parts of it. The earliest is a 1595 Mercator, followed by 17th century renditions from Hondius, Speed, and Blaeu. Of particular historical significance is the Colton 1857 Nebraska and Kansas map. This was published after the controversial Kansas-Nebraska Act and at the time of the "Bleeding Kansas" crisis that played such a large part in dragging America into Civil War. There are also several fantastic 18th century world maps, truly works of art. However, not even these can compare to the art of the Cellarius celestial charts published over four centuries ago.
For those with fond memories of their alma maters, Arader has a series of restrikes from engraved plates of various colleges, circa the 19th century. Presented are 45 in total, and we won't name any specifically so as to avoid any appearance of favoritism.
Among the books offered are two from authors known for their description of America's Indians. There is Thomas McKenney's two-volume Memoirs, Official and Personal; with Sketches of Travels among the Northern and Southern Indians...published in 1846. Also offered is George Catlin's The Manners, Customs, and Condition of the North American Indians...Originally published in 1841, this is an 1880 edition. Six framed portraits from the 1836 History of the Indian Tribes of North America from McKenney and James Hall are available.
The Arader Galleries may be found online at www.aradergalleries.com, telephone 215-735-8811. They have locations in Philadelphia, New York, Houston and San Francisco.
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