Rare Book Monthly
Articles - October - 2008 Issue
Washington-Pike-Mathematics-Science Archive to be Sold
A Young Harriet Beecher Stowe
I hope and trust that the Work will ultimately prove not less profitable than reputable to yourself. It seems to have been conceded, on all hands, that such a System was much wanted. Its merits being established by the approbation of competent Judges, I flatter myself that the idea of its being an American production, and the first of the kind which has appeared, will induce every patriotic and liberal character ti give it all the countenance and patronage in his power. In all events, you may rest assured, that, as no person takes more interest in the encouragement of American Genius, so no one will be more highly gratified with the success of your ingenious, arduous and useful undertaking than he, who has the unfeigned please to subscribe himself.
Yours,
Geo. Washington"
The other items in the lot are Mr. Pike's annotated copy of his work, his manuscript diaries or notebooks in which he develops his ideas and illustrates them over three decades [1764-1796], and the broadside announcing this project to printers and other interested parties in 1786, the text [in part] as follows:
"Proposals for publishing a complete system of arithmetic more comprehensive and intelligible than any extant, with demonstrations of the several rules, & other useful matter, as the method of making taxes, &... by Nicholas Pike..." Of this ephemera only one other copy is known.
A modest estimate for this lot would be $15,000 to $25,000 with the bid opening at $7,500. The hammer will probably fall between $35,000 and $65,000. But given the uncertain economy no one knows what the outcome will be. What's certain is that the buyer will not be disappointed.
For those whose attention is now drawn to the sale there are several other interesting items. One is an early painted portrait of Harriet Beecher Stowe. Ms. Stowe, the author of ten books, published Uncle Tom's Cabin in 1852, an elaboration on the book in 1853 and Dred, another novel on the same theme, in 1856. These works earned her a unique place in the anti-slavery movement that elected Lincoln to the Presidency in 1860 and were a factor in the outbreak of Civil War in 1861. For an institution or collector such a portrait will no doubt become an important acquisition. No estimate has yet been established.
Finally there is a Lincoln appointment dated 1864. Between speeches and intrigues Mr. Lincoln found time to meet prospective postmasters and judges as well as the simply interested and interesting who passed through Washington. He was famous for his open door. Whether the recipient of this appointment sat with Lincoln is unknown. What's offered here is the reward or punishment of judgeship for one Ammi Giddins of Connecticut to the office of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Montana. No doubt you could, in that era, have bought a significant part of the state for what a Lincoln collector will pay today for this document.
[10/8] Subsequent to the release of this article the auction house placed an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000 on the lot. It was then pointed out to me by Leigh Stein of Eveleigh Books that the Washington-Pike lot had been offered by Sotheby's in 2000 with an estimate of $25,000 to $35,000 and failed to attract a bid. Sotheby's description was highly detailed. Click here to see this lot description. The market today is weaker, not stronger than it was in 2000. How this lot will fare is anyone's guess.
[10/9] When the auction house learned of this lot's prior history they discussed the situation with the consignors who immediately agreed to a reduced estimate of $20,000 to $40,000. The starting bid is expected to be well below the low estimate.
For a closer look at these items and others offered in this sale on October 19th click here.
