Rare books from Eclectibles

1820. A finely executed watercolor of a Regency era women with 14 intricately detailed watercolor overlays. Each character is identified by the artist at the upper left. They include Tyrolise A Peasant of Lucerne Consimiere de Bernes Bas Breton A Dutch Peasant A Chinese Lady Joan of Arc A Dutch Peasant A Lady After Vandyke A Circassian Lady A Russian Lady A Billingsgate Fisherwoman Bernoise Blanchisseuse de Paris Housed in a loose-leaf folder.

New York, NY, 1914. The personnel and business archives of John Ewing Risley (1840 - 1912) a prominent New York lawyer, businessman, and real estate mogul, comprised of over 2300 letters and documents. A brief summary of each section follows. For the complete description contact us. Spreadsheets detailing the specifics on the collection are available upon request. ambassador In 1893, was appoint by President Grover Cleveland to the post of Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States to Denmark. He served in this post until he was recalled by President William McKinley in 1897. During his tenue in Denmark, Risley would become a highly sought-after guest and was popular even amongst the common people of Denmark. This collection has been divided into four categories: Social, Official Business of the Legation, Financials, and Miscellaneous. The collection has an approximate total of 690 pieces, and has been organized either alphabetically or chronologically depending on the… Read More

Multiple Locations: National Child Labor Committee, 1953. Overall VG.. Child Welfare, Child Labor, NCLC The collection or archive is comprised of approximately 980 unique images or narratives including 480 photographic prints in envelopes, many with negatives included and 330 negatives, plus an addition 27 larger format photographic prints and 140 descriptive caption cards without photographs. Additionally, there are two (2) printed Legends of Photographs relating to the Tiff mines. A majority of the photographic photos and negatives are captioned often extensive captions that describe the photo subjects, offering a detailed depiction of working and living conditions of many children--and adults--in the United States between 1936 and 1953, the majority in 1937-1938. For detail on the items please contact us for details.

1890. Overall excellent; few light bends.. This collection of mostly 19th century advertising trade cards and labels is a representative sample of the demeaning and insulting portrayals used in advertising. It demonstrates extreme stereotyping, racism and satirizing of appearance, speech and actions. It includes portrayals of minstrels, field workers, cooks, philanderers, individuals without proper shoes and clothing, violent or nonsensical activities, thievery, being the brunt of the prank and more all in the name of selling product and maintaining "the upper hand". One item of particular note is one of the few 20th Century items in the collection, a die-cut menu for "Coon-Chicken Inn" operated coast to coast from the 1920s - 1950. The collection includes 59 different pieces. Institutional sale only - to be contextualized for educational purposes.

Belgium, 1860. Overall excellent.. A collection of 68 fine cartes procelaine or trade cards made in Belgium from 1840-1860. It includes 32 "printer's own" trade cards, 20 of which are mounted in a period album. Approximately 25% are greater than 10" another 25% are 7" x 9.5". Fine printing with vibrant color. A cross-section of including" Architecture Art Lessons Art Objects Banners and Canvas Book Binding Books, Cards Carpentry Chandeliers Cloth Clothing Clothing / Suits Coffee Concierge services Experiences Finery Fur Clothing Gun Club Hand Tools Hardware, Crocks, Cigars Historical Memento Interiors Metal work Millinery Music Paper manufacturing Paper, Pens, etc. Printing Printing / Photography Ship Construction Stage productions Wine The cards were printed by 37 different lithographers with 13 by Daveluy and 11 by G. Jacqmain. Lithographers include Barella Bevernaege Bogaert Brandt Brothers Brothers Bevernaege Carbote Brothers Carbotte Brothers D. Van Herc D. Van Herck Daveluy De Bruyn De… Read More

1880. Few corner chips; overall fine. A varied array of chromolithograph imagery depicting objects found appealing to tobacco smokers of the day. While the dates range from 1850-1900, the majority of the collection was produced between 1860-1880. A predominant theme is beautiful women. Additional topics include fantasy, racism, exotic locales, plantation life, men's sports and game, striking it rich and much more. It includes various types of advertising including cigar box and crate labels, trade cards, metamorphic trade cards, photographic cigarette crds, original art, cigarette wrappers, die-cuts, booklets, counter cards and a piece of original art. Approximately one-quarter of the collection is folio size label crates; horizontal, vertical and square. Cigar box labels make up another quarter of the collection and include inner box, outer box, top and top sheet labels. It includes a four (4) label bound sample set and a number of salesmen samples. Included are several label proofs includes some… Read More

United States, 1829. Very good.. A gathering of twenty-three (23) items promoting performances by and/or exploiting Black entertainers spanning the years 1829 and 1907. Most of the items are sheet music, with one printed flyer and one illustrated printed flyer. White people in black face and Minstrelsy are well represented, as well as at least a couple of examples that promote actual Black entertainers. It is unclear how much agency these performers had in shaping their careers. A stark visual reminder of the ubiquity of racist stereotypes in entertainment throughout American history. The items include (in chronological order): "The Coal Black Rose, The Words written by White Snyder and Sung with unbounded applause by Mr. W. Kelley. Arranged for Piano & Guitar". Two leaves of engraved sheet music (11.25" by 8.25"), printed on rectos only. Complete. Engraving of black man in a rose on first leaf, black man playing banjo on the second; both stereotypical depictions. Philadelphia: Published for the… Read More

New York & Chicago: O. L. Schwencke, 1907. Cover wear. A 66 pp. salesman sample of deeply embossed gilt embellished cigar labels produced by O. L. Schwencke. Elaborate and intricately designed. Elegant women, royalty, spotted trout, privileged gentlemen, road houses, cigarette in progress (silver ash), scenes from nature, Indigenous peoples , Cuba, Puerto Rica, Transportation and much more. Each with a label number and pricing information. Measures 6.5 by 9.75 inches. Gilt stamped boards. Only Schwenke and Schlegel were the only two independent cigar label printers who stayed independent from the American Lithographing Company. Schwenke was an important producer of elaborate embossed chromolithographed cigar box labels.

New Haven, Connecticut, 1975. Very good to fine condition. Minor flaws include toning, residue or damage from adhesive or staples, and offsetting.. A fine collection of ninety-three (93) posters, many related to social justice initiatives spearheaded by students at Yale, spanning the years 1971 and 1975. There are seven (7) categories of posters in this collection including: concerts; film screenings; lectures; meetings; plays and performances; protests; and religious services. There is also one debate represented, and a couple of miscellaneous events, such as an audition announcement and an advertising poster for a publisher. Together, the posters paint a picture of a bright young community deeply interested in social justice, feminism, arts and culture. Highlights include lectures by some of the most prominent academics of the day, several antiwar rallies, and plays put on by Yale students featuring the works of Ibsen, Chekhov, Shaw, and Sartre. Finally, there is a sign that bears a defiant… Read More

United States: Various, 1850s-1890s. Very good to near-fine. Minor flaws in the collection include toning, short tears, chipping, dust soiling, or edge wear.. An extensive collection of chromolithographed material collected by a single collector over 30 plus years related to agriculture in the United States, dating from approx. the 1850s to the 1890s. There are a total of eighty (80) items divided into six (6) categories: Farm Animals; Farm Equipment and Machinery; Fertilizers; Fruits, Flowers, and Seeds; Millers, Milling, and Cereals; and a final category with unrelated items depicting agriculture in their marketing. The categories collectively represent ten (10) kinds of ephemera, fifty-three (53) manufacturers, and fifty-nine (59) kinds of products. In these items, the ability of chromolithography to present a rich range of bright color and tone is on full display. Also of note are the social aspects of this collection. Specifically, race and gender feature prominently in much of the material.… Read More

Verl. Eigth G.M., 1850. Light neck bend on doll; costumes overall fine. Light to moderate box wear.. A boxed set with applied litho label with hand colored finish. The title is printed in German, French, Italian and English. An applied paper label with elaborate border design and an image of three of the costumes adorns the box top. Enclosed is is the 7" die-cut card stock doll and her eight (8) costumes and hats. Representative costume imagery throughout modern times . Each costume has an applied back with opening at the top to slip the doll into the costume. Box measures 9" by 7". Complete set.

Boston, Massachusetts: Brown, Taggard & Chase, 1858. Very good. Minor spotting, toning, the occasional small short tear or minor defect. Light crushing on box top. Lacks one rider and two costumes. Box worn; tape repairs.. An exceptional, and rather scarce, circus-themed paper play set in the original box. The set was designed and lithographed by J. G. Chandler of Roxbury, Massachusetts. It includes 4 rider characters with 1 costumes and a hat. There is an elephant and 2 horses. Each of the riders has a tab affixed to the reverse to allow the rider to stay in place on the animal. Also includes an instruction sheet/narrative titled "The Great American Circus" pasted to the inside of the upper box lid. Box measures 6.5" by 9.75" by 1", and includes original litho label on upper lid. The label reads American National Circus with vignettes of each of the riders atop performing animals. lacks one rider, costume. One of the earliest paper circus toys published in the United States. An accurate… Read More

1845. Overall fine condition, neck repairs on dolls.. This boxed set with elaborately decorated applied water color hand finished paper label is for Austrian-German opera star Marra Vollmer depicted at the center of the label. The content includes a 7.5" die-cut card stock paper doll with eight (8) elaborate costumes and headdresses. The costumes depict her various roles with an applied label on reverse with the name of the character and the role. Includes Martha, Norma, Marie, Amine, Rosine, Elvira, Rosel and Angela. Box measures 9.5" by 7" (1822-1878) The singer's birth name was (depending on the spelling) Maria or Marie , Baroness von Hack (also: von Hacke/Haake ). Around 1842 she chose the Italian-sounding stage name Marie von Marra , since her parents did not approve of her profession. During this time she took singing lessons in Vienna with the composer Gaetano Donizetti and excelled above all in the Italian singing form of bel canto . From 1843 she worked as a chamber singer in the court… Read More

1830. Light to moderate box wear; else fine.. A double sided paper doll with chemise and curved right arm with six (6) exquisite double-sided gowns, six (6) double-sided collars or shoulder wraps, and 11 double-sided bonnets with elaborate arrangements of hair. Hand colored with fine detailing and high fashion of the day. Reminiscent of Elssler or Taglioni. Housed in a 6.8" by 12" box with applied litho of elegant ladies watching a handmaid display fashions for a doll. Costumes and doll excellent condition. Edge wear on box.

1906. An important archive of business correspondence and ephemera amassed by the Valentine maker and collector Jonathan King Jr. (1836-1911), maker of some of the most whimsical and fanciful valentines in Victorian England. This archive of King material is notable for its design and draft material, proofs, and notes by King, as well as notes and clippings he collected for Valentine inspiration. The archive ranges from c.1850 until c.1906. It is comprised of approx. 800 discrete items divided into nine (9) categories. There are many different kinds of physical media represented including photos, manuscripts and typescripts, proofs, newspaper clippings, billheads and receipts and of course valentines and material samples. There are several standout items in this collection, including: Jonathan King's first Valentine (annotated, "1846 my 1st Val[entine] very proud of it"); a sample of a particularly fine watermark depicting the Roman god Mercury; a clipping annotated by King: "Women as artists on… Read More