Past Auction

Rare Books, Autographs & Maps

Thu, Oct 13, 2022 at 10am EDT |

New York

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Archive of Letters to Secretary of War James McHenry Achieves $69,300!

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Successful Auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps on October 13, 2022
Featuring Property from the Estate of Sara Roosevelt Wilford
Consignments Are Currently Being Accepted for Future Auctions

NEW YORK, NY -- Doyle held a successful auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps on October 13, 2022 showcasing a wide variety of Americana, antiquarian books, first editions, maps, and signed items in all fields. With competitive bidding, the sale totaled a successful $668,168 near the high end of its $456,740-701,350 estimate with an exceptional 91% sold by lot and 100% sold by value.

Highlighting the sale was a fascinating archive of letters to Secretary at War James McHenry that soared past its estimate of $3,000-5,000 to achieve an astonishing $69,300. Property from the collection of Dr. Herbert Ernest Klingelhofer (1915-2015), former President of the Manuscript Society, the archive comprised 11 quality letters from both foreign and American agents supplying information to the United States via James McHenry, who served as Secretary of War from January 1796 to May 1800. Topics covered many aspects of political, military, Native American and trading activity in Florida and along the Mississippi in the years before the Louisiana Purchase. The archive provides a fascinating glimpse into the secretive exchange of information in this critical period when the English, Spanish, French, Americans, and Native Americans clashed in the South.

The Estate of Sara Roosevelt Wilford

Doyle is honored to auction property from the Estate of Sara Roosevelt Wilford during select auctions this fall, including 21 lots in the October 13 sale. Read More

A Walkabout with the Specialist

Continuing our New Collectors Series®, Specialist Peter Costanzo discussed highlights of the Rare Books, Autographs & Maps exhibition on October 7 livestreamed on Instagram @doylenewyork
View the Video

We Invite You to Auction!

Consignments are currently being accepted for future auctions. We invite you to contact us for a complimentary auction evaluation. Our specialists are always available to discuss the sale of a single item or an entire collection.

For information, please contact Peter Costanzo at 212-427-4141, ext 248, or Edward Ripley-Duggan at ext. 234, or email Books@Doyle.com

Consignments are currently being accepted

To have your property evaluated for possible consignment in the next auction, please contact:

Peter Costanzo
212-427-4141, ext 248
Books@Doyle.com

Media Contact

Louis LeB. Webre
SVP, Marketing & Media
212-427-4141, ext 232
Louis@Doyle.com

Including Property From

Collection of John Valle Sporting Books
Dr. Herbert E. Klingelhofer, former President of the Manuscript Society
Estate of Florence and Judge David Edelstein
Estate of Thomas P. Lacy
Property from a New York Private Collection
Property from Helen Murray Sipala
Property from the Estate of Dr. James Lawrence Pool
Property of a Maine Collector
Property of a Massachusetts Collector
Property of a Massachusetts Gentleman
Property of a Private Collector
Property of a Private New Jersey Collector
The Collection of Barbara Cook
The Collection of Dr. Thomas Chua
The Collection of Nancy Salisbury
The Daniel and Joanna S. Rose Collection
The Estate of Aileen Mehle
The Estate of Mathilde and Arthur Krim
The Estate of Sara Roosevelt Wilford

A Selection of Auction Highlights

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Lot image - [FLORIDA-SPIES-McHENRY, JAMES] DE SAINT HILAIRE, FELIX (French Spy) and OTHERS. Archive of letters to Secretary at War James McHenry.

Lot 16

[FLORIDA-SPIES-McHENRY, JAMES] DE SAINT HILAIRE, FELIX (French Spy) and OTHERS. Archive of letters to Secretary at War James McHenry.

C Dr. Herbert E. Klingelhofer, former President of the Manuscript Society

Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000

Sold for $69,300 (includes buyer's premium)

Track Lot 16

Lot image - KENNEDY, JOHN F., as President; MARILYN MONROE; and many others. The signed guest book and original photographs from the May 19th, 1962 reception held following President Kennedys 45th Birthday Celebration at Madison Square Garden.

Lot 26

KENNEDY, JOHN F., as President; MARILYN MONROE; and many others. The signed guest book and original photographs from the May 19th, 1962 reception held following President Kennedy's 45th Birthday Celebration at Madison Square Garden.

C The Estate of Mathilde and Arthur Krim

Estimate: $40,000 - $60,000

Sold for $31,500 (includes buyer's premium)

Track Lot 26

Lot image - ROOSEVELT, FRANKLIN DELANO Addresses of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill.

Lot 43

ROOSEVELT, FRANKLIN DELANO Addresses of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill.

C The Estate of Sara Roosevelt Wilford

Estimate: $15,000 - $25,000

Sold for $21,420 (includes buyer's premium)

Track Lot 43

Lot image - LOUIS VII, (the Younger), King of France 1137-1180 Charter signed with the royal sign-manual, dated Senlis 1177.

Lot 120

LOUIS VII, (the Younger), King of France 1137-1180 Charter signed with the royal sign-manual, dated Senlis 1177.

C Dr. Herbert E. Klingelhofer, former President of the Manuscript Society

Estimate: $20,000 - $30,000

Sold for $12,600 (includes buyer's premium)

Track Lot 120

Lot image - [FREUD, SIGMUND] HALBERSTADT, MAX. Photographic portrait of Sigmund Freud, signed in ink on the mount by the sitter (Sigm. Freud) and dated 1925. Hamburg: circa

Lot 116

[FREUD, SIGMUND] HALBERSTADT, MAX. Photographic portrait of Sigmund Freud, signed in ink on the mount by the sitter ("Sigm. Freud") and dated 1925. Hamburg: circa

C The Estate of Sara Roosevelt Wilford

Estimate: $8,000 - $12,000

Sold for $11,970 (includes buyer's premium)

Track Lot 116

Lot image - [CHINA] STAUNTON, GEORGE THOMAS. An Authentic Account of an Embassy from the King of Great Britain to the Emperor of China ... Taken chiefly from the Papers of His Excellency the Earl of Macartney.

Lot 66

[CHINA] STAUNTON, GEORGE THOMAS. An Authentic Account of an Embassy from the King of Great Britain to the Emperor of China ... Taken chiefly from the Papers of His Excellency the Earl of Macartney.

C

Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000

Sold for $10,710 (includes buyer's premium)

Track Lot 66

Lot image - [JAPAN] An exceptionally interesting album of cartes des visites of diplomats stationed in Japan in the early 1860s, interspersed with CDV images of Japanese life.

Lot 96

[JAPAN] An exceptionally interesting album of cartes des visites of diplomats stationed in Japan in the early 1860s, interspersed with CDV images of Japanese life.

C

Estimate: $1,500 - $2,500

Sold for $10,080 (includes buyer's premium)

Track Lot 96

Lot image - [AMERICAN REVOLUTION] CARROLL, CHARLES; CHASE, SAMUEL; PACA, WILLAM and OTHERS from MARYLAND Document signed transmitting resolutions of the Town of Boston and urging Virginia to embargo exports and imports from Great Britain.

Lot 4

[AMERICAN REVOLUTION] CARROLL, CHARLES; CHASE, SAMUEL; PACA, WILLAM and OTHERS from MARYLAND Document signed transmitting resolutions of the Town of Boston and urging Virginia to embargo exports and imports from Great Britain.

C Dr. Herbert E. Klingelhofer, former President of the Manuscript Society

Estimate: $800 - $1,200

Sold for $8,190 (includes buyer's premium)

Track Lot 4

Lot image - [AUTOGRAPH ALBUM] A 1950s autograph album with signatures collected by New York Times Education Editor Benjamin Fine for his daughter, including Albert Einstein, John F. Kennedy, Jackie Robinson and many others.

Lot 8

[AUTOGRAPH ALBUM] A 1950s autograph album with signatures collected by New York Times Education Editor Benjamin Fine for his daughter, including Albert Einstein, John F. Kennedy, Jackie Robinson and many others.

C

Estimate: $2,000 - $3,000

Sold for $8,190 (includes buyer's premium)

Track Lot 8

Lot image - [MANUSCRIPT] Extracted miniature from a French Romaunt or Chronicle.

Lot 123A

[MANUSCRIPT] Extracted miniature from a French Romaunt or Chronicle.

C

Estimate: $1,500 - $2,500

Sold for $7,560 (includes buyer's premium)

Track Lot 123A

Lot image - HEPBURN, KATHARINE Fine archive of letters and materials sent to her Song of Love piano tutor, piano prodigy Laura Dubman.

Lot 21

HEPBURN, KATHARINE Fine archive of letters and materials sent to her Song of Love piano tutor, piano prodigy Laura Dubman.

C

Estimate: $6,000 - $8,000

Sold for $6,300 (includes buyer's premium)

Track Lot 21

Lot image - WASHINGTON, GEORGE Manuscript draft of a letter to William Constable.

Lot 51

WASHINGTON, GEORGE Manuscript draft of a letter to William Constable.

C Dr. Herbert E. Klingelhofer, former President of the Manuscript Society

Estimate: $4,000 - $6,000

Sold for $5,985 (includes buyer's premium)

Track Lot 51

Lot image - BLACKSTONE, WILLIAM Commentaries on the Laws of England.

Lot 106

BLACKSTONE, WILLIAM Commentaries on the Laws of England.

C

Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000

Sold for $5,670 (includes buyer's premium)

Track Lot 106

Lot image - ADAMS, JOHN QUINCY Long autograph letter to his brother written as United States Ambassador to Prussia.

Lot 1

ADAMS, JOHN QUINCY Long autograph letter to his brother written as United States Ambassador to Prussia.

C Dr. Herbert E. Klingelhofer, former President of the Manuscript Society

Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000

Sold for $5,355 (includes buyer's premium)

Track Lot 1