Graham Arader became a book and map dealer while an undergraduate at Yale. From the outset, he had the resources, imagination and exceptional memory characteristic of the greatest players in the field. From his dorm room, he made his first sales and from there went on to an exceptional career in rare history. He became an advocate of Dr. Seymour Schwartz, who spoke to the field about the importance of identifying first appearances. This introduced a deeper logic for Graham into what had generally been seen to be a pretty picture business. From then on, he always began to review material from the perspective of priority.
In the 1980s, Graham developed a way to characterize and grade maps and images. He called it The Arader Grading System and based it on historical importance, aesthetics, condition, and rarity based on auction appearances. His concept was very strong, but the field chose to assert personal opinion to be all determining rather than to rely on a more formulaic approach. He never gave it up and continued to be a close friend with Dr. Schwartz.
On August 28, 2020, the esteemed Doctor passed away at 92. Graham, operating as an auction house since 2009, decided he would hold an auction on October 10th to both honor Doctor Schwartz and employ the standards he developed for the Arader Grader. For the occasion he’s offering many of his finest examples.
But, before you consider them, let Graham in his own words describe Dr. Schwartz—to him a force of nature in the world of maps.
“Seymour I. Schwartz, (January 22, 1928 – August 28, 2020) was the Distinguished Alumni Professor for the Department of Surgery at the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York. He was one of the most prolific and honored surgeons in American history with further successes outside of the field of medicine as a renowned author and cartographic historian.[1] His most notable accomplishments in surgery include being the founding Editor-in-Chief of Schwartz's Principles of Surgery, Chairman of the Department of Surgery at the University of Rochester (1987-1998), Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons (1996-2004) and President of the American College of Surgeons (1997-1998). After spending nearly 65 years in the field of surgery, he has published hundreds of research articles, textbook chapters, and received numerous honors in the United States and abroad. Schwartz has lectured throughout the world as a visiting professor and donated to many philanthropic endeavors. His influence on surgical education and leadership has impacted nearly every practicing surgeon in the world.[2] Throughout his career, Schwartz has treated and changed the lives of tens of thousands of patients and trained generations of residents and fellows to share in his legacy and do the same.
Schwartz authored many books on the history of surgery, including Gifted Hands: America's Most Significant Contributions to Surgery, Holystic Medicine – The Patron Saints of Medicine, and The Anatomist, The Barber-Surgeon and the King. What began initially as a hobby, led to significant accomplishments and contributions in the field of cartography. His most notable cartographic publications include The Mapping of America, This Land is Your Land: The Geographic Evolution of the United States, Mis-Mapping of America, and Putting "America" on the Map. These contributions earned him the honor of serving on the board of trustees for the National Museum of American History of the Smithsonian Institution, as well as the Advisory Board for the Geography and Map Division of the Library of Congress.[3] In 2005, he was elected to membership in the American Philosophical Society.
Beyond this he was a devoted husband, outstanding father of three accomplished sons, a generous advisor who was loved by all. The best proof of this was when we would have book signing parties at the gallery, hundreds of surgeons would attend to pay their respects to this giant of a man. I loved him.
For this effort to honor Dr. Schwartz I’ve chosen many of his finest examples and he’s applying calculations based on the Arader Grader that run from 1 to 10 in each category. Taken together when each example reaches 10 in each of the 4 categories this equates to 40 and perfection. For the upcoming auction of 192 lots altogether there are 71 perfect examples and they are so designated.
By categories of material there are books, manuscripts, watercolors, prints and engravings, aquatints, maps and views. All examples are designated with a 40. Taken together, it’s breathtaking sale.”
Here are the sectors of material:
Books:
Lot 37. La Perouse - The Most Important French 18th century voyage around the world - Historical importance: 10, aesthetics 10, condition 10, rarity 3 = score 33
Lot 38. Cook Voyages - The greatest explorer of all time - Historical importance 10, aesthetics 10, condition 10, rarity 3 = score 33
Lot 39. George Vancouver Voyage to North Pacific - The genius charting of the Western coastline of the United States - Historical importance 10, aesthetics 10, condition 10, rarity 4 = 34
Lot 192. Scaino - The earliest book on Tennis 152 perfect score of 40 = all four categories 10.
Manuscripts
Lot 149. The beginning of German settlement in America - A cornerstone document relating to America's most accomplished scholar in the 17th century - the Founder of Germantown - Francis Daniel Pastorius. Perfect score of 40.
Watercolors
Lot 40. Ferdinand Bauer score of 40 - a masterpiece natural history watercolor in every regard. The finest watercolor of fruit ever to come on the market.
Lots 44 and 45. Priscilla Susan Bury - Both with perfect scores of 40. England's greatest woman natural history artist. Two absolute masterpieces. No library or museum in the world has an example of her work. Extreme rarity.
Lots 46 and 47. Company School both with perfect scores of 40. The finest company school watercolors of the produce of India that exist.
Lot 49 is a "40" Barbara Regina Dietzsch. This watercolor of a Tulip is Barbara Regina Dietzch's greatest accomplishment. The greatest woman artist from Germany.
Lots 50 to 54. George Ehret all 5 have perfect scores of 40 - the Best Natural History artist of the Age of Enlightenment. All 5 are masterpieces.
Lot 55. Fuertes - a score of 40. The finest watercolor of a Bird drawn in the 20th century by America's greatest ornithological artist - this is his masterpiece.
Lot 60. Jean Louis Prevost - Thrived during the reign of Napoleon. Perfect score of 40.
lots 66 – 70. Jacques Le Moyne -All 5 are 40 scores. The finest natural history artist of the French Renaissance but so rare that no examples of his work exist in all of France!
Lots 71 -73. Edward Lear - England's most famous natural history artist with lot 73 a legendary drawing for the world's most famous nursery rhyme.
Lot 74. Maria Sibylla Merian - the most famous woman natural history artist. 40 score.
Lots 75 to 95. Pierre Joseph Redoute - All 21 are perfect scores of 40. The absolute master of flower drawing in all of history - 75 to 93 painted for Empress Josephine.
Lots 96 and 97. Nicholar Robert - The artist of the Sun King - Louis XIV. Perfect score of 40.
Lot 98. Joseph Wolf - Germany's greatest Natural History artist. The favorite bird of Arabs because it is the best to hunt with. Perfect score of 40.
Lot 101. William Blake - England's greatest artist. Score of 40.
Lot 102. John Dale - Score of 40.
Lots 103 - 105. George Beck - [3] all 3 have perfect scores. George Washignton's favortie artist. The birth certificates of Washington, DC for lots 103 and 104.
Lots 106-108. William Henry Brooke - [3] all 3 have a score of 40.
Lot 109. John Hill - The original drawing for the most famous engraving of Boston. Score of 40.
Lot 112. Nicolino Calyo - The best artist of NYC in the 19th century. The essence of New York City during its explosive growth caused by the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 and the ending of Nicholar Biddle's power over American Banking in 1832.
Paintings
Lots 112 - 115. Thomas Birch - All 3 are perfect scores of 40. His depictions of the 3 most important cities in America in the 19th century.
Lot 180. Adrien Key - Oil on Abraham Ortelius 180. Perfect score. The only life portrait of the creator of the first atlas.
Lot 182. Francois Duchatel - The most famous transfer of power during the Renaissance.
Prints/Engravings
Lot 100 - Allard - Perfect score of 40. The only know original drawing for this depiction of slaves in America.
Lot 173, 174. Coornhert - Both perfect with glorious, famous original color score of 40.
Lot 118. Karl Bodmer - the finest example of the most famous image of a Native American. score of 40.
Maps and Views
Lot 119. Peter Apianus - The first obtainable image to name America. Score of 40.
Lot 120. Giovanni Cimerlinus - The most beautiful world map of the Renaissance. 40 score.
Lot 121. Florianus - The finest globe gores of the Renaissance. Score of 49.
Lot 122. Paolo Forlani - the first map of North America. Great rarity with full, original margins. 40 score.
Lot 124. Forlani - first map of South America. perfect score of 40.
Lot 125. Forlani - the most famous Renaissance map of Africa. 40 score.
Lot 126. Forlani - the first published chart of the Mediterranean. 40.
Lot 127. Forlani - Fine original color. towering rarity. Perfect score of 40.
Lot 128. Johannes Ruysch - First obtainable depiction of America. 40 score.
Lot 133. Couagne - Towering importance. First map of America drawn by an American in America. Score of 40.
Lot 134. Fairfax documents - The most important manuscript maps of Virginia ever to come on the market. Score of 40.
Lot 141. George Heap - Philadelphia. The last example in private hands of the most important 18th century view of an American City. Score of 40.
Lot 142. John Hills - Philadelphia. The best early 19th century map of the most important city in the Western Hemisphere. Score of 40.
Lot 146. William Scull - The first map of Pennsylvania to show the Mason Dixon Line. Score of 40.
Lot 147. Nicholas Scull - The first view of the most important building in America and the first map of Philadelphia published in America. Score of 40.
Lot 148. Nicholas Scull - The first map of Pennsylvania published in America. Score of 40.
Lot 140. Lewis Evans - America's greatest 18th century map maker. A perfect example. Score of 40.
Lot 152. Joseph Frederick Wallet Des Barres - The best, most beautiful 18th century view of Boston. Perfect score of 40.
Lot 167. Johannes Vingboons - The first accurate view of Mexico City. Perfect score.
Lot 169. John Robinson - The map that inspired the settlement of Texas. Perfect score.
Lot 170. Jean La Harpe - The most important 18th century manuscript map of the American Southwest that exists.
Here is a link to the sale: https://www.araderlive.com
Here’s another to ask questions and to request condition reports: grahamarader@gmail.com. Or by phone: 703.627.0275
