The Life & Times of George Washington from The Raab Collection
- by Michael Stillman
The Life and Times of George Washington from The Raab Collection.
In a Gallup poll conducted this past President's Day, Americans selected the "greatest" President of the United States. Reagan, Clinton and Kennedy all beat out George Washington. How soon we forget. The Raab Collection has not forgotten, and this month they have issued one of their "Great Collections," The Life & Times of George Washington. This catalogue is not just about Washington, but he dominated his times, and many of these items come from his hand.
Washington is almost something of a forgotten figure. Everyone knows his name, but it seems that few understand the magnitude of his contributions, or the mettle of the man. As a general, he won the Revolution for independence against the heaviest of odds. As the nation's first President, he took it through the treacherous waters of international intrigue while it forged its identity. These may be secondary to the legacy of freedom and democracy he gave to his country. He could have been King, ruler for life. Instead, he reluctantly served two terms as elected President, set the highest of moral standards, and willingly retired to his home when his years were finished. He wasn't perfect. He had slaves, though he was the only slaveholding president who freed them (after he died). Still, it was his values, and his true belief in serving his country, not just advancing his own interests, that set the standard for his nation. We may stray, but at least we have a solid foundation. George Washington. Here are a few items from this collection.
The Revolution effectively ended after Yorktown in 1781 when the British pulled out. However, it was not until 1783 that a treaty was finally signed. Then, Washington had lots of soldiers and no war. Today, we would maintain a large peacetime army, but early Americans were wary of a standing army, fearing it would take over the government. So Washington was eager to send the soldiers on their way. On November 4, 1783, he was able to whip this letter off to Dr. John Cochrane, Director General (chief surgeon) of the Continental Army. With so many soldiers now discharged, "it appears to me no longer necessary to keep in service so many Officers of the Hospital Departmt…" The letter is signed by Washington. Item 34. Priced at $35,000.
Washington had many admirers, one of whom was a young Frenchman who came to America to join the American cause, later to return to France and serve the cause of freedom in his homeland for many years. That would, of course, be the Marquis de Lafayette. He would serve under Washington during the Revolution, as well as under another American general, Nathaniel Greene. After the war, Lafayette returned to France, and did not visit the States again until a quarter of a century after Washington died. In 1829, Lafayette was called on to write a letter of recommendation to a Belgian educator on behalf of General Greene's grandson, George Washington Greene. Lafayette is profuse in his compliments of young Greene, but in speaking of his namesake says, "General Washington was like a father to me." Item 20. $15,000.
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: APRES DE MANNEVILLETTE Le Neptune Oriental
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: CASSAS Eaux fortes de la Sicile et quelques vues d’Espagne
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: CASSINI DE THURY Carte générale et particulière de la France.
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: JOUY; GARNERAY Vues des côtes de France dans l'Océan et dans la Méditerranée
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: LA PÉROUSE Voyage autour du monde
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: LE GENTIL DE LA GALAISIERE Voyage dans les Mers de l’Inde
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: LICENT Hoang Ho, Pai Ho, Loan Ho, Leao Ho. Itinéraires suivis dans le bassin du golfe du Pei Tcheuly
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: FRENCH SCHOOL FROM THE 19th CENTURY Panorama d’Athènes
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: PEETERS Description des principales villes, havres et isles du golfe de Venise
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: PÉRON; FREYCINET Voyage de découverte aux terres australes
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: STACKELBERG La Grèce : vues pittoresques et topographiques.
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: VALENTINER Atlas des Sonnensystems.
Forum Auctions Online Sale: The Detective Fiction Collection of John Cooper Ending 7th November, 2024
Forum, Nov. 7: Christie (Agatha). The Thirteen Problems, first edition, The Crime Club, 1932. £15,000 to £20,000.
Forum, Nov. 7: Christie (Agatha). Dumb Witness, first edition, 1937. £3,000 to £4,000.
Forum, Nov. 7: Christie (Agatha). Cards on the Table, first edition, The Crime Club, 1936. £2,000 to £3,000.
Forum, Nov. 7: [Carr (John Dickson)], "Carter Dickson" and John Rhode. Drop to his Death, first edition, Heinemann, [1939]. £600 to £800.
Forum, Nov. 7: Berkeley (Anthony). Jumping Jenny, first edition, Hodder and Stoughton, 1933. £800 to £1,200.
Forum Auctions Online Sale: The Detective Fiction Collection of John Cooper Ending 7th November, 2024
Forum, Nov. 7: Marsh (Ngaio). Overture to Death, first edition, The Crime Club, 1939. £600 to £800.
Forum, Nov. 7: [Day-Lewis (Cecil)] "Nicholas Blake". The Beast Must Die, first edition, 1938. £750 to £1,000.
Forum, Nov. 7: Brand (Christianna). Green for Danger, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author, John Lane the Bodley Head, 1945. £600 to £800.
Forum, Nov. 7: Christie (Agatha). Murder is Easy, first edition, signed by the author, 1939. £3,000 to £4,000.
Forum, Nov. 7: Sayers (Dorothy L.) Lord Peter Views the Body, first edition, Gollancz, 1928. £6,000 to £8,000.
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Sotheby's Fine Books, Manuscripts & More Available for Immediate Purchase
Sotheby’s: J.R.R. Tolkien. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. 11,135 USD
Sotheby’s: Edgar Allan Poe. The Raven and Other Poems, 1845. 33,000 USD
Sotheby’s: Leo Tolstoy, Clara Bow. War and Peace, 1886. 22,500 USD
Sotheby’s: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, 1902. 7,500 USD
Sotheby’s: F. Scott Fitzgerald. This Side of Paradise, The Great Gatsby, and Others, 1920-1941. 24,180 USD
Freeman’s | Hindman Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts, Including Americana November 14
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: LEROUX, Gaston. The Phantom of the Opera. FIRST AM. ED, FIRST ISSUE IN THE VERY RARE DUST JACKET. 1911. $6,000 – 8,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: GOULD, John. A Monograph of the Trochilidae...Humming-Birds. L., [1849-] 1861. $60,000 – 80,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: A COMPLETE RUN of Limited Editions Club publications, v.p. [mostly New York], 1929-2010. $50,000 – 60,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: ORWELL, George. Nineteen Eighty-Four. Lon., 1949. FIRST EDITION IN A VERY FINE DUST JACKET. $6,000 – 8,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: GOULD. A Monograph of the Ramphastidae...Toucans. L., [1852-] 54. SECOND ED. $35,000 – 45,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14:The Federalist. NY, 1788. FIRST EDITION, THICK PAPER COPY. $60,000 – 80,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: SELBY. Plates to Selby’s Illustrations of British Ornithology. Edin., [1833-] 34. $20,000 – 30,000.