For collectors of historical marine items and specifically memorabilia relating to the sinking of the ocean liner Titanic in the year 1912, here is a rare opportunity to acquire not only an interesting item relating to that sinking, but, also, a fine piece of American art. This is a pencil signed engraving, measuring 14" by 21" (the sheet itself), by the noted American artist FRANCIS DAVIS MILLET (1846-1912), who was one of the 1,000 people who perished on that infamous ship...

This is an interesting association item: at right, a color offset print of a tree in spring in full blossom, the work of the noted popular Italian contemporary artist MICHELE CASCELLA (1892-1989). In the blank left hand area, the artist wrote in French "Pour Jane Kroc, con touti saluti (avec mon coeur!), and signed by the artist and dated "Ott. 1971"...

A nicely framed photograph of famed American naive artist GRANDMA MOSES (1860-1961) with a bold ink signature of the artist on a card, along with a charming and rare historical handwritten letter dated May 21, 1960, postmarked Eagle Bridge, New York, from Mrs. Forrest Moses, the daughter-in-law, to a fan in Lonoke, Arkansas who had requested an autograph or photo...

A fine black and white classic photo of Edward ("Ted") Kennedy, 1932-2009, United States senator from Massachusetts for almost 47 years, brother of President John Kennedy and Robert Kennedy, hand signed and inscribed in ink, in the collar area: "To Ronald with this appreciation for your good work in August campaign/Ted Kennedy". (Last words difficult to decipher but this is my best guess of those final words)...

A set of five antique atlas maps, titled, "Oceanie", "Amerique Septentrionale", "Amerique Meridionale", "Europe", and "Asie", published in 1856 by A. Combette, and printed by Alfred Lemercier, Paris, after cartography by Victor Levasseur. The set is framed identically in dark, "distressed" style modern framing of good quality (each measures 15" by 22"). Maps are very clean, considering the age, with only the stray fox mark here and there...

A clean copy of the 1997 softback book "Half Past Autumn: A Retrospective", by the important, pioneering, African-American photographer, photojournalist and film director GORDON PARKS (1912-2006), ***SIGNED*** by Parks in felt tip marker. The book was published by Bulfinch Press in association with the Corcoran Gallery of Art...

A clean nearly mint copy of the 1992 book "What Did I Do, The Unauthorized Autobiography", ***hand signed*** by Pop artist LARRY RIVERS (1923-2002). The book is signed by Rivers with felt marker on title page; what appear to be cross-outs of letters and actual drawings are in fact printed. Larry Rivers, born in the Bronx of Ukrainian Jewish parentage, is considered a major figure of the second generation of the New York School...

This is the 1929 tome, measuring about 13" by 11", published by Mitchell Kennerley of New York, listing the total of then known graphic works by the major American painter Arthur Bowen Davies (1862-1928), compiled by Frederic Newlin Price. Price wrote in the front "For Dano (sp.?) Lorini (sp.?) ---with the best wishes and and (sic.) delightful confidence in the hope for art in America Frederic Newlin Price"...

Lowell Thomas at mid century (and well into the latter part of it, having passed away in 1981) was a pioneer in radio broadcasting, and early newsreel films, who lived a most interesting, full and unusual life of travel to some of the world's most distant and exotic destinations. Here, in this 1956 book, one of over fifty he penned starting in the 1920's, he describes his travels. The book is a first edition, and the author has signed it in bright green ink as shown...

Early map titled "A Description of the Land of Goshen and Moses passage through the desert", 1614, by the English cartographer William Hole. Hole was active in cartography from about 1601 to about 1624. The map measures 10 3/4" by 14" inside the present mats (not examined out of the frame but would be happy to do so upon request). This is an uncommon map with a compass rose at lower right and cartouches at upper portion, the cartographer's name at lower left edge...

This is an actual antique page (not a reprint) from the Illustrated London News issue of April 1, 1843, the article describing in detail the efforts at the time to manufacture a flying machine powered by a light weight steam engine. The decorative and most interesting page features three detailed drawings of these primitive contraptions, all of which failed; Kitty Hawk was sixty years in the future...

Original map printed in the year 1739 in Nuremberg, Germany, titled in cartouche at upper left "Imperii Russici et Tartariae Universiae", published by the heirs of important cartographer Johann Baptiste Homanns. The attractive map shows most of Asia from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean, and from the Arctic Ocean to India, including the Korean peninsula, Japan, and Taiwan. The map measures 20" by 22 1/2" inside the mat and 25 1/2" by 28" as framed. Condition is excellent...

An interesting view of the monumental Hagia Sophia rising above houses on either side and a man standing in a square(?) that is probably some distance from the mosque but with the perspective appears quite close. No writing in the negative and the identification of the view in pencil appears later than the image which is around 1880. It is attached to a thin paper page that from the roughness of the back side might have been an album page that was separated. The mat is protective...

An oversize albumen photograph of the exterior front of the Beylerbeyi Palace on the Bosporus Strait in Istanbul. The palace was built from 1861 to 1865 as an Imperial summer residence. The photograph is by Pascal Sebah. In the lower left in the negative, “38. Palais du Sultan a Beyler Bey,” on the lower right also in the negative, “P. Sebah.” 10 ¼ x13 ¼ inches (26 x33.5 cm) in a 16 x20 inch (40.5 x50 cm) mat.

Condition: good, with some wrinkles, a spot of discoloration in the s...

An oversize albumen photograph of the exterior of the Hagia Sophia, Istanbul by the photographer Pascal Sebah. The view is taken from outside a stone wall pierced with grilled windows. The monumental structure rises behind the wall. Pascal Sebah (1823-1886) was born in Constantinople. His photographic studio there opened in 1857. In the lower left in the negative, “68. Mosquee St. Sophia” and lower right “P. Sebah.” The image is 10 ¼ x 13 1/8 inches (26 x 33 cm). The mat is 16 x20 inche...

An albumen photograph of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque also known as the “Blue Mosque” in Istanbul (Constantinople), Turkey by Pascal Sebah taken circa 1880. The photograph is 10 ¼ by 13 ¼ inches (26 by 33.5 cm). It is mounted with clear photo corners in a 16 by 20 inch mat (40.5 by 50 cm). Printed on the photograph from the negative in the lower left, “58. Mosquee Sultan Akmed” and in the lower right “P Sebah.”

Condition; generally excellent. Slight foxing in the sky and along the u...

A well composed albumen photograph of the Mosque of Sultan Sulieman with the Golden Horn in the distance. In the distance to the very far left of the photograph is the Hagia Sophia. In the golden Horn are both sailing ships and steamers. Written in pencil on the mount in the lower left is, “Constnatinople/Mosque of Sultan Suleyman/& the Golden Horn.” The image is 6 x8 inches (15 x20 cm). The card, with a shaded area for the image is 12 x15 inches (30.5 x38 cm).

Condition: the card has nu...

This is a HAND DRAWN map, not a print of any kind, probably crafted, with great care, by an American school child, who did not add his or her name, but did date this in the year 1809. The title is "A Map of SPAIN & PORTUGAL from the best Authorities". Unframed, it measures 16 1/8" by 20 3/4". The work contains amazing, loving detail, with towns, rivers, provinces, even mountain ranges, drawn in. The provinces are outlined and colored, creating a patchwork effect that adds to the appeal. The...

Fine antique copper engraving map of Asia from the eastern Mediterranean to the western Pacific, with hand coloring, by Dutch cartographers Gerardo and Leonardo Valk, circa 1710. The map measures 20" by 24" and is laid down to a board as is often seen. Margins are adequate. The map is I believe in overall good condition for a collector looking for a display item, though there are condition issues to be noted, such as some foxing, discoloration, margin wear, stubbed corner, a slight abraded ar...

Albumen photograph depicting the city of Damascus in the distance with a town in the middle distance and a man standing in a graveyard toward the foreground. Written in the negative lower left, “Bonfils” and lower right, “402. Damas-Vue general de Damas prise de ‘Sulkirk’(?)” Laid on paper and matted. Image 8 ¾ x 11 ¾ inches (22 x 30 cm). Mat 16 x 20 inches (40.5 x 51 cm). Felix Bonfils (French 1831-1885) was one of the early photographers of the Middle East. A similar view is at t...

Albumen photograph of the quay from across the water at Port Said with what is, I think, the light house that was built in 1869 and architecturally important because of the early, if not the first, use of reinforced concrete. Written in the negative, lower left, “Lankaki” and lower right, “Quai du Port Said.” The Zangaki brothers who often wrote Langaki were among the early photographers of Egypt. Photograph mounted on thin card and matted. Image 8 5/8 x 11 1/8 inches (22 x 28.5 cm). Mat...

An albumen photograph of the Kas Mahal, the Royal residence inside the Red Fort at Agra built by Shah Jahan from 1632 to 1640. The photo shows the building and in the distance on the right the Taj Mahal. Signed in the negative, “Rust,” and possibly with the number 8. Also, on the reverse is the photographer’s stamp. Thomas A. Rust (English, 1841-1904). The image is 8 x 9 7/8 inches (20.5 x 25 cm). the mat is 16 x 20 inches (40.5 x 51 cm).

Condition: generally good with some internal c...

An albumen photograph by Felis Bonfils (French 1829-1885) showing a group of dahabiya moored on Gezira Island with the original Kasr el Nil bridge over the Nile at Cairo showing in the background. The bridge opened in 1872. Dahabiya were boats for tourists cruising up the Nile to either Luxor or Aswan on trips lasting respectively about forty or fifty days. These were luxury tourist accommodation and the central experience of a tour of Egypt in the late 19th century. At the time of this photogr...

A sepia toned silver print of a Bedouin shepherd with his flock grazing on sparsely covered ground below a hill. In the lower right corner is the blind stamp, “American Colony/Jerusalem.” The original dates from around 1920 and this would appear to be a print of roughly that age. The Number 161 is stamped on the back. The photograph is 8 ¼ x 11 ¼ inches includes a thin margin.

Condition: excellent. There are a few minor creases in the interior of the image, probably from being rolled ...

A handwritten letter mounted on an old board, along with old photographic reproductions of two of the artist's works, by well listed French 19th century artist JEAN-JACQUES HENNER (1829-1905). The letter is entirely in French, written in old brown ink, on one page (though there are three other unused sides), and is undated. An old mat with hand-drawn and painted borders (removable) is fitted over openings made for the letter and photos. Henner is renowned for his portraits and depictions of a...

Very nicely presented, wall-ready antique map centered on the Americas, 1784, by Paris-based late 18th century cartographer Jean Janvier. The map, 19" by 25 3/4"inside the mat and 30 3/4" by 36 3/4" in new black ornate frame, is generally in fresh, clean condition, with center fold and some unevenness of the paper, which photographs as shadows or brown areas. The map features an interesting cartouche at upper left, including a beaver dam along a stream, which is bordered by palm trees on one s...

An albumen photograph of the Ghats from across the River Ganges. On the shore below the photographer is a man in the stern of a small boat and another boat to the far left with a large expanse of river dividing them from the bathing Ghats lined up on the far bank of the Ganges. The studio stamp for Thomas A. Rust (English, 1841-1904) is on the back. Also, on the back in pencil, “General view of Bathing Ghats Benares.” 8 1/8 x 10 7/8 inches (20.5 x 28 cm). Unmounted.

Condition: Foxing ...

An unsigned albumen photograph titled in the negative in the lower left, “590. Shachem (Nablous).” The photograph depicts trees in the foreground, a crumbling square stone tower, the city of Nablus and the hills beyond. It is mounted on tan paper. The image is 6 1/8 x 8 1/8 inches (15.5 x 20.5 cm) mounted in a 10 x 13 inches (25 x 33 cm) mat.

Condition: Good with small surface imperfections and a little discoloration along the left edge.

An albumen photograph of the Swedish flagged Olga on the Nile river. The riverboats were known as dahabiya and typically travelled from Cairo upriver to either Luxor or Aswan on a forty or fifty day journey. Travel on one of these dahabiya was usually luxurious, for the times. The flag on the stern mast is that of Sweden, the one on the foremast is that of Egypt, then part of the Ottoman Empire. Very faintly signed in the negative lower left, “Lengaki” and in the lower right, “No. 613. Dah...

An original copper plate engraved map, with hand coloring of country outlines, and also in the cartouche, titled there, at lower left, "A Map of Turky, Arabia and Persia", the first edition by Georges de l'Isle in 1701, this being the somewhat later revised 1721 edition by noted cartographer of the day John Senex (1678-ca. 1740). This map, 19" by 23" (22 1/2" by 26 1/2" as framed) was considered to be the first modern map of the Arabian Peninsula before the middle of the 18th century. The geog...

For the collector of Victoriana or autographs of noted writers, here is an authentic signature of the English 19th century novelist and satirist WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY (1811-1863), found on what appears to be a library slip. The writing on the slip refers to the borrowing of the book "Histoire de la Reine Zarah et les Zarasiens", 1712. This little piece of history gives some indication of the reading habits of the famous author. Condition of the slip is typical of what would be expected...

An albumen photograph of the Arc de Triomphe at the top of Champs Elysée in Paris France. It is by the unknown photographer E.F.. Titled in a thin margin at the bottom of the negative, “26 (E.F.) Paris – Arc-de-Triomphe.” The photograph is mounted on thin white cardboard. On the back is stamped, November Club, presumably the owner at one time. The image is 8 5/8 x 11 1/8 inches (22 x 28.5 cm). the backing is 14 x 17 ½ inches (35.5 x 43 cm).

Condition: the image is clean and without t...

An albumen photograph of a gargoyle located high on Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Unknown photographer. Written in the negative in the lower right, “1003, Paris Notre Dame.” The gargoyle emerges from the waist up with a human torso, a dragons ridge on the back of the elongated neck, pointed ears, deep sunk eyes and a slit for a nostril in a rounded snout. 10 ½ x 8 inches (27 x 20 cm) mounted with transparent corners in a 16 x 20 inch (40.5 x 51 cm) mat. The photograph is stuck to a slightl...

An albumen photograph of an entrance and most of one wing of the Louvre from the roof of another wing. Titled in the negative 0n the lower close to center, “LE LOUVRE,” and with the photographer’s red stamped signature, “Achille Quintet” on the backboard just below the photograph on the lower right, Faintly in the lower right corner in the negative is the number 62. The photo is 7 3/8 x 9 5/8 inches (19 cm x 24. 5 cm) mounted on white thin cardboard 11 ¼ x 15 inches (28.5 x 38 cm).

...

Of considerable historical interest, a black and white photograph of renowned American late 20th century political figure EDMUND MUSKIE (March 28, 1914 – March 26, 1996), inscribed at bottom margin in felt tip pen "To Steve/with the bet wishes of a friend/Ed Muskie". Muskie was an American politician with a long record of public service. He served as a member of the Maine House of Representatives from 1946 to 1951, was the 64th Governor of Maine from 1955 to 1959, a United States Senator fro...

An original sepia-toned photograph of a middle aged man and his bicycle, with pencil note on the reverse side "Taken on Riverside Park/July 1898 by Sadie Coger", and again on black backing paper "My Dad taken/N New Jersey". The bicycle certainly seems to be quite an advanced model for its time, resembling strongly today's models. There is no glass, frame is simple strip wood, and photo is loose. Small framing nail penetrates wood of frame. A charming survivor of an earlier age, from a South ...