#134: The Manuscript Society Auction: 2000+ historic dealer catalogs

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Lot # Photo (Off) Title Current Bid High Bidder Time Remaining
0001 Lot 1. Argosy Book Stores, Inc. 3 items. Catalogs 450, 453 and 476; undated. Titled “Autographs: Historical and Literary.” Founded in 1925, Argosy Book Store is located in midtown Manhattan and has a large warehouse in Brooklyn. It was a founding member of ABAA. Catalog 450 includes several interesting items including one signed by Abraham Lincoln on April 25, 1861, authorizing a pardon, being offered for $125. An internet search on November 6, 2021, showed that catalog no. 818 (issued in 1990) was then listed on Amazon for 20.00.
$1.00 575 closed
0002 Lot 2. Autos & Autos. 26 items. The firm was owned and operated by the late B.C. West, Jr., Manuscript Society treasurer, trustee and noted dealer and collector. His name is well known for the 1976-1977 replevin case, The State of North Carolina vs. Dr. B.C. West, Jr., that he fought after the state seized documents from him. Less well known, perhaps, is the key role he played with the F.B.I. in apprehending a thief who stole an estimated $15,000,000 of manuscripts and artifacts from the Thomas Edison National Historic Site. West received the Conservation Service Award for his work on the case. Postmark dates for the catalogs range from 1975 to 1991
$80.00 2750 closed
0003 Lot 3. Robert F. Batchelder. 44 items. The cover page has Autographs: Letters, Documents, Manuscripts. Catalogs 4-24, 26-37, 40-43, 46, 52, 54, 120-122. And 124. 1972-mid 1980s. Batchelder (1927-2007) operated out of Ambler, Pennsylvania, just north of Philadelphia. A graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, he’s listed in the 1976 membership directory of The Manuscript Society and was vice president 1998-2001. His catalogs can be found on several internet sites, most going for $5.00 and up. An internet search on September 2, 2021, found that one dealer was offering catalogs 9, 13 and 14 for $75.00.
$55.00 2752 closed
0004 Lot 4. Cohasco, Inc. 12 items. Catalogs 23-27, 32, 51-52, 54, 58-59 and 61. 1982-2012. Founded in 1946, the company is run by Bob Snyder, a member of the Board of Trustees of The Manuscript Society. It is located in Yonkers, N.Y.
$1.00 575 closed
0005 Lot 5. The Collector: A Magazine for Autograph and Historical Collectors. 334 items total, with 206 items bound into 6 volumes; 1887-1888 (one bound volume), 1946-1977 (five bound volumes), 100 loose issues (1968-1997) and 28 omnibus supplements (1962-1979). The earliest bound volume is a complete set of The Collector from September 15, 1887 to August 1888, edited by Walter R. Benjamin (1854-1943), whose New York company, Walter R. Benjamin Autographs, Inc., became renowned throughout the world of manuscripts collectors. He inscribes this first volume: “To Peter Gilsey With compliments of the Editor Walter Romeyn Benjamin Dec 7/88.” Gilsey may very well be the prominent real estate developer and collector of a wide variety of cultural heritage materials, who died on November 10, 1901. After his death, his collection was sold at auction. This volume came into the possession of the late David H. Coblentz, past president of The Manuscript Society.

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Five more volumes, as well as the majority of the other issues in this lot, were his copies.  His annotations and extensive underlining in red pencil attest to his keen interests as a collector.   Mary A. Benjamin (1905-1998) took over her father’s business in 1940.  Her articles about manuscripts, appraisal, professional ethics, thefts, replevin and more provide insight to this day.  And she also included current news that impacted the world of manuscripts.  Upon her death, the New York Times said, in part, she: “…had been so widely recognized as the nation’s leading document authority that she regularly received mail addressed simply to ‘The Autograph Lady.’”   Tipped into one of the volumes is a short note from Mary to David Coblentz explaining that the Jefferson ALS in which he expressed interest was sold but that she has two others out on approval that he might be interested in if they are not sold.  And she encloses a Monroe that might interest him.  She signs with her initials, MAB.  An internet search on September 7, 2021 showed various issues for sale. At that time the William Reese Company was offering a run of 173 issues (1961-1999), most Mary Benjamin’s personal copies that include notes, for $650.00.

 $410.00 2774 closed
0006 Lot 6. Herman M. Darvick Autographs. 13 items. Catalogs 2-3, 17, 21, 31, 33-39, and 44. Circa 1976-1983. On the covers, the business identifies as a charter member of the Universal Autograph Collectors Club and a member of The Manuscript Society. The business was first located in Brooklyn and then relocated to Rockville Center, N.Y. Catalogs include a wide range of materials from political to sports.
$3.00 36 closed
0007 Lot 7. Emily Driscoll Catalogs. 18 items. Catalogs 15, 17-23, 26-28 and Supplementary Lists 2-4 and 7-10. December 1955-October 1970. Brooklyn born, Driscoll (1898-1992) operated her first shop in 1946, working from 115 East 40th Street and later 175 Fifth Avenue in New York. She was one of the few women of her era who operated her own business as a dealer. She worked with private collectors as well as institutions. An internet search on November 28, 2021 showed that copies of her catalogs were available for $10.00. Later in life, she resided in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.
$6.00 2763 closed
0008 Lot 8. Thomas M. Fassett, Inc. 5 items. Catalogs 8-12; 1970s. Catalog’s business address first from Rochester, N.Y. then Chantilly, Virginia. “Autographs, letters, documents, manuscripts” appears on the covers. Several of the catalogs include American Revolution items. The 1976 Manuscript Society membership directory includes a Rev. T. M. Fassett and the 2019 directory has a Thomas White Wolf Fassett from Hector, N.Y., who collects materials associated with Native Americans and also women. Unclear if they are the same.
$1.00 36 closed
0009 Lot 9. J. Fricelli Associates. 7 items. Catalogs 3, 7, 11, 13-14, 17-18; 1970s. Business address listed in catalogs is Brooklyn. On the covers the business identifies as a member of The Manuscript Society and the Universal Autograph Collectors Club. In addition to manuscripts, several of the catalogs offer a good number of First Day Covers. For example, catalog 3 includes “Cacheted FDC of the United Nations stamp picturing the Chagall window.” Boldly signed by Marc Chagall and listed for $45.
$4.00 575 closed
0010 Lot 10. Goodspeed’s. Much has been written about this company, founded in 1898 in the basement of the Joshua Quincy House on Park Street in Boston by Charles E. Goodspeed (1867-1950). It’s first catalog was issued in 1899 and the company quickly secured a place of prominence in the world of bookselling. It lived on under the management of a son, George (1903-1995), until 1995 when it closed. The company published catalogs, occasional lists, The Flying Quill, and The Month at Goodspeed’s. An internet search conducted on September 7, 2021 showed that individual catalogs and lists can be found online for anywhere from $5.00 to $40 or more. The majority of the Goodspeed’s items were once the property of the late David H. Coblentz, past president of The Manuscript Society and a devoted collector. His name is handwritten in many of the pieces. His underlining and notations, all in red pencil, show his keen interest in many items Catalogs. 22 items. Nos. 369, 399, 461, 496, 510, 5
$510.00 2774 closed
0011 Lot 11. Charles Hamilton. 164 items. Auction catalogs 1-166, from May 16, 1963 to November 29, 1984 (missing nos. 69 and 158). Most include separate list of prices realized. The first auction was held at the Gotham Hotel, located on Fifth Avenue at 55th Street. Auction 166 was held at the Omni Park Central, Seventh Avenue at 56th Street. Charles Hamilton Autographs. Catalogs. 43 items. In Catalog 25 is this information: “To avoid confusion in identifying our catalogs, we have decided to designate them all by number. Since we have issued ten large catalogs (1 to 10, inclusive), and fourteen Gray Octavos (A to O, inclusive, omitting the letter I), this catalog becomes Number 25. The next will be Number 26.” This group includes 1, 3, 4, 6-10, A, D, E, F, H, J, K, L, M, N, O, 25-46, 48, 49. Unfortunately, the catalogs are not dated. Internal evidence suggests they are from the late 1950s to 1965. Charles Hamilton Galleries. 1 item. Catalog 1. Postmark of Nov. 5, 1984. Letter
 
$485.00 2774 closed
0012 Lot 12. Stan. V. Henkels. 6 items. Catalogue 712; 58 pages. To be sold on December 14, 1893, Thos. Birch’s Sons, Philadelphia. Includes “Autograph Letters and Documents Mostly Relating To The Revolutionary War And War Of The Rebellion…Also Relics Of General Washington And A Variety Of Historical Chinaware.” Catalogue 778; 99 pages, many uncut at top. The Col. John Trumbull Letters and Papers, also those of Prof. Benj. Silliman. To be sold on February 11, 1897, Thos. Birch’s Sons, Philadelphia. Includes “Fine Letters of General George and Martha Washington; Generals of the Revolution; Signers of the Declaration of Independence; Members of the Old Congress; Eminent Artists, Authors and Scientists” and much more. Catalogue 1083; 87 pages. Valuable Autograph Letters and Historical Documents Being the Balance of the Chas. I. Turner Collection and The McKean, Mifflin and Miles Papers, &c. To be sold on April 15, 1913, at Samuel T. Freeman & Co., Philadelphia. Catalogue 1
$105.00 2752 closed
0013 Lot 13. JFF Autographs, Inc. 14 items; 1981-1987. When these catalogs were issued the company had a P.O. box in Manhasset, N.Y. A catalog from 1981 lists items from several U.S. presidents including an LS with the full signature of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936, for $250.
$3.00 36 closed
0014 Lot 14. The Jenkins Company. 3 items. Based in Austin, Texas, the late John H. Jenkins built his business with much bravado and no small amount of knowledge about rare materials. These three catalogs, numbers 25, 48 and 110 provide glimpses of what his company offered. The first two are not dated but item 110 is from 1977 and is titled Early American Imprints: A Collection of Works Printed in America between 1669 and 1800. Several later catalogs may be found for sale online but earlier ones are harder to locate.
$1.00 575 closed
0015 Lot 15. H. P. Kraus. 1 item. Catalogue 157. 15th – 19th Century Documents & Autographs relating to England, Scotland and Ireland, from the library of Sir Thomas Phillipps. In two parts: Part I. History, Part II. Heraldry. Includes name index. No date. 86 pages.
$17.00 2750 closed
0016 Lot 16. Robert A. LeGresley. 6 items. Catalogs 5, 6, 7, 25, 27, 28. 1978- ?. LeGresley issued his first catalogs from Topeka, Kansas but catalog 25 shows him in Henderson, Kentucky. As noted in the catalogs, his areas of interest were autographs, books and original comic art. He identified as a member of The Manuscript Society and UACC. Catalog 5, from 1978, includes several animation drawings of Mickey Mouse by Iwerks, who was with Walt Disney from the early days.
$1.00 575 closed
0018 Lot 18. Lion Heart Autographs. 21 items. Catalogs 1-16, 39-40, 42-44; 1979-circa 1986 and early 2000s. The company has been in New York City, albeit different locations, since its beginning. David H. Lowenherz, president of the company, is a member of many book and manuscripts organizations. From the company’s website: “The 2018 feature film starring Melissa McCarthy, entitled “Can You Ever Forgive Me” is based on the forging career of Lee Israel who the FBI captured with David’s assistance and participation in a sting operation. Early catalogs were modest in size and appearance but the content revealed many choice items. More modern catalogs are larger in dimension and are lavishly illustrated, while still containing wonderful items.
$1.00 575 closed
0019 Lot 19. Lone Star Autographs. 1 item, undated. Unnumbered and undated catalog. Entire catalog devoted to items from the estate of Jean Harlow and includes 16 images of photos being offered. The entire group 76 items in all, was being offered for $22,500. Lone Star operated out of Kaufman, Texas.
$1.00 575 closed
0020 Lot 20. James Lowe. 24 items. Catalogs 4, 6, 17-28, 30-36; spring 1971 catalog; and two catalog supplements. 1970s-1980s. Operating out of New York, Lowe is listed in the 1976 Manuscript Society membership directory and in his catalog he notes that he is a member. There is a James Lowe, LTD autographs internet site. One internet site listed his spring 1971 catalog supplement and catalogs 3 and 18 for $75.
$1.00 575 closed
0021 Lot 21. Phillips (New York). 8 items. Auction catalogs, 1978-1981. Catalogs sometimes include price estimates and/or separate list of prices realized. The auction catalog for June 25, 1980 includes over fifty items associated with Andrew Jackson.
$1.00 575 closed
0022 Lot 22. Profiles in History. 3 items. Catalogs 46, 48, and historical auction catalog 75, from June 11, 2015; 46 and 48 undated. Numbers 46 and 48 sold for $25 when first distributed; 48 sold for $35. Numerous copies of this company’s catalogs were available online during an internet search conducted on November 28, 2021, ranging in price from $5 to $50.
$1.00 575 closed
0023 Lot 23. Rains Galleries. 1 item. “First Editions, Autograph Letters and Manuscripts of Outstanding Importance including a Remarkable Collection of Letters & Manuscripts by Walt Whitman together with his Will, dated May 15, 1873.” Offered at public sale March 25 and 26, 1936, at Rains Auction Rooms, East 49th Street, New York.
$1.00 575 closed
0024 Lot 24. Diana J. Rendell, Inc. {Note: Additional photos were added to this Lot on 2-28-22 at 12:16pm ET} Lists. 13 items. Numbers 1-7, 9-12, 14-15; 1985-1987. Typed sheets of 8.5” x 11” paper, folded in half as mailers sent first class. Catalogs. 6 items. Numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8. 1980s. Titled “Autograph Letters, Manuscripts, Documents.” More polished publication than the lists, produced by a print shop.
$6.00 2752 closed
0025 Lot 25. The Rendells, Inc. and Kenneth Rendell Gallery Lists. 15 items. Nos. 1, 3-10, 12-13, 15-18. Undated, likely 1970s. Consist of 8.5” x 14” sheets of paper stapled at upper left and folded in half. Catalogs (numbered). 160 items. Nos. 1, 3, 4-10, 12, 14, 16-130, 132-156, 158-164, 169 and 197. Catalog 1 is from 1959 (according to his website) and catalog 197 from 1991 (from copyright designation in the catalog). Early catalogs are 8.5”x11” paper sheets stapled at upper left. In 1981 two catalogs were issued, without catalog numbers, as two volumes with the same title, namely, “The American Frontier: From the Atlantic to the Pacific.” These can be found listed on Amazon, eBay and other sites for anywhere from $10 to $40. In 1982 three catalogs were issued, without catalog numbers, in three volumes with the same title, namely, “The History of Mankind.” Kenneth W. Rendell Gallery. 10 items. Nos. 300-305, 307-310. Catalogs are not dated. An internet search on August
$535.00 2752 closed
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