Maine Antique Digest, April 2017

119 / 221

Maine Antique Digest, April 2017 7-C
- AUCTION -
7-C
Heritage Auctions, Dallas, Texas
Pitchers, Hats, and Light Bulbs
Grab Collectors’ Interest
by Susan Emerson Nutter
Photos courtesy Heritage Auctions
With a sale total of $1,777,834 and a sell-through rate of
93%, the December 3, 2016, Americana and political
auction presented by Heritage Auctions’ historical
department was a solid success. It comprised two catalogs: one
for the Scott W. Dolson collection of political Americana, and
one for the numerous consignments of Americana items, both
political and historical.
The Dolson collection was of special interest for several
reasons. According to Tom Slater, Heritage’s director of
Americana auctions, Dolson’s collecting concentrated on
several specific categories: three-dimensional pieces such
as glass and china, pewter rims, campaign shell badges,
photographic campaign items (ferrotypes, etc.), lapel studs,
and campaign tokens and medals.
Unfortunately, Dolson’s token and medal collection, thought
to be the most comprehensive ever assembled, and numerous
lapel studs fell victim to a burglary last year. Slater said,
“Heritage is honored to have been selected to bring the balance
of this important collection to market. “
Often political pieces are buttons, ribbon, banners, or flags,
but several of the most desirable items in the Dolson collection
were none of these. The 11⅜" high William Henry Harrison
1840 campaign pitcher is considered by many to be the best
19th-century ceramic political display item, and it was up for
grabs.
Political ceramics created for the American market of this
time period were often made in England or France. This
campaign pitcher, however, was more celebrated for having
been manufactured by the American Pottery Company, Jersey
City, New Jersey. Because of this, collectors of historical
political items were all in, as were those who desire American-
made pottery.
The four transfer portrait panels that decorated this pitcher
were surrounded by two stalks of wheat with images of log
cabins above and patriotic eagles below Harrison’s portrait.
Additionally, the wording “The Ohio Farmer” was located
above the portrait and “W.H. Harrison” below. One of perhaps
five or sixknown, this examplewas estimated at $24,000/36,000
and sold for $37,500 (including buyer’s premium).
“There was a great deal of interest in this pitcher and the
other political ceramics,” said Don Ackerman, Americana and
political consignment director for Heritage Auctions. “The
ceramic pieces were beautiful.”
An 11" high Thomas Jefferson Liverpool creamware
pitcher was an impressive 10" diameter if one included the
handle. One side of this vessel bore an image of a standing
Thomas Jefferson with his name below, while the other side
was decorated with a color image of a packet ship flying an
American flag. Further decoration included a Federal eagle and
the name “W & E. Elms” under the spout. Thought to be a
special-order piece because of the name, the pitcher sold for
$12,500 (est. $8000/12,000).
A Paris porcelain demitasse cup with a stipple-engraved
transfer portrait of James Monroe was the first of its kind
that Heritage has handled. About half a dozen blue-on-white
“Munroe” cups are known, and these bear a generic portrait that
many people question whether it is indeed of Monroe. The 2⅜"
high gold-leaf-embellished cup offered by Heritage clearly had
Monroe’s portrait, and it sold for $10,625 (est. $9600/14,000).
Non-porcelain historical/political items from the Dolson
collection also brought good money and included an excellent
Abraham Lincoln piece: a 2½" x 21/ 16" George Clark 1860
campaign ambrotype of Lincoln featuring the “Cooper Union”
portrait by Mathew Brady. (Ambrotypes are created by
applying the photographic emulsion to the underside of a sheet
of glass, rather than a tin surface as with tintypes.) Not only
is this example rare and highly regarded as being one of the
earliest 1860 photographic campaign items, if not the first, it
was in excellent condition; the Heritage catalog stated that it
was “…essentially as fresh as the day it was made.” Because
most collectors of Lincoln items consider this to be the premier
photographic piece from the 1860 election, it was no surprise
that it sold for $20,000 (est. $16,000/24,000).
An oddity but definitely a campaign item—a companion
piece picturing opponent Zachary Taylor was also produced—a
cast-iron stove from the 1848 presidential campaign featuring
a 14" high-relief likeness of Lewis Cass on the front sold for
$10,312.50 (est. $12,000/18,000). Above the likeness
was a streamer stating “Gen.l Lewis * * * Cass * * *
Born 1782.” The stove bore the logo of its maker, John
Morrison of Troy, New York, and it had on the back
“Patent Design 1848.”
The remainder of this December auction was
composed of numerous historical and/or political
items. Don Ackerman was especially pleased with the
consignment from the estate of Malcom S. Forbes.
“Forbes collected in many different areas
including presidential campaign items,
especially those of political interest to the
Forbes family.”
The item of most interest from the
Forbes estate came with a great story.
Ackerman was given a bag of political
buttons to value. “I was going through
the buttons, turning them over to look at
condition, and noticed a button whose
front did not jibe with its back, which was
paper and had the words ‘St. Louis Button
Company.’ Upon further examination, I
discovered that there was a button lodged
inside another button. The one stuck inside
was the Cox and Roosevelt photo button.”
That button features the portraits of
the 1920 Democratic nominees. With
an eagle and shield above the portraits
and an American flag below, all on a
background of sun rays, the design is very
well done. It was first introduced during
the 1904 election, then used again for Roosevelt and Johnson
in 1912, and then again for Cox and Roosevelt in 1920. The
Heritage catalog stated, “As with all Cox & Roosevelt jugates,
it rarely appears in the market.” Because of its St. Louis
Button Company paper back and the bold printing on the front,
collectors were way beyond interested. The ⅞" diameter Cox
and Roosevelt jugate sold for $17,500 (est. $16,000/24,000).
Other highlights of the December auction included a
67½" tall American cigar-store Indian that sold for $150,000
(est. $16,000/24,000). Hand carved in the manner of Julius
Melchers, the figure wears a bear-claw necklace and a
polychrome-painted medallion. Further enhancements include
a pelt thrown over the figure’s right shoulder and a block of
tobacco in one hand.
An 1863-64 photo albumwith a Mormon connection sold for
$35,000 (est. $16,000/24,000). The 9" x 6½" embossed and gilt
leather volume contained numerous cartes de visite, including
61 examples dealing with Mormon leaders and Salt Lake City.
A silver cigarette box by Tiffany used by John F. Kennedy
in the Oval Office during his presidency and engraved
with the Presidential Seal on the lid sold for $45,000 (est.
$32,000/48,000), while a 33" x 23" William Henry Harrison
1840 campaign poster with graphics featuring a portrait
of Harrison, two log cabins, and two rampant eagles,
one of which holds a Harrison and Tyler streamer, sold
for $32,500 (est. $1600/2400).
Items that once belonged to Thomas A. Edison were
fun additions. A lot of five light bulbs and one socket
used in patent infringement lawsuits filed by the Edison
Electric Light Company in the late 19th century sold for
$30,000 (est. $8000/12,000), while Edison’s personal
hat sold for $10,937.50 (est. $1700/2400).
“We had hoped to appeal to a wide variety of
collectors with this auction by including purely political
pieces as well as some very interesting, historical
items,” Ackerman said. “I would say we succeeded.”
For more information, see the website )
or call (214) 528-3500.
The item of most interest from the
Forbes estate came with a great story.
This 67½" tall American
cigar-store Indian, hand
carved in the manner of Julius
Melchers, sold for $150,000
(est. $16,000/24,000). Its special
attributes include the bear-claw
necklace, the polychrome-
painted medallion, and the
animal pelt over the figure’s
right shoulder, all of which
contributed to its appeal.
The Heritage catalog entry stated, “Horace
Greeley items have always held a very special
allure for collectors,” and this red, white, and
blue 1872 campaign banner with an albumen
photo and gold-leaf trim was no exception. In
1999 it brought $25,300 out of the legendary
U.I. “Chick” Harris collection. At this
December 2016 auction, the 15" x 11½" banner
in a 21" x 18" shadow box frame sold for
$40,000 (est. $32,000/48,000).
This 11⅜"
high 1840
campaign
pitcher with
four panels, each
decorated with the
likeness of William
Henry Harrison, sold
for $37,500 (est. $24,000/36,000).
This simple 7½" x 3¼" x 2" sterling silver cigarette box by
“Tiffany & Co. Makers” with the presidential seal engraved
on the lid had been used in the Oval Office by John F.
Kennedy. It couldn’t have had much more going for it and
brought $45,000 (est. $32,000/48,000). Accompanying it was
a notarized statement on White House stationery, dated July
13, 1992, from the former owner, Martin E. Underwood,
special assistant to Presidents Kennedy and Johnson.
According to Heritage Auctions, Underwood explains in
the letter that “the box was used in the Oval Office and was removed with other personal belongings after the
assassination in order to facilitate the transition to President Johnson. It was stored in his [Underwood’s] office
in the Executive Office Building and eventually gifted to him by Kenny O’Donnell and Charles Rotchford, head
of the General Services Administration. Underwood sold the piece to noted Kennedy collector Robert L. White.”