The Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates November 10 & 11, 2017 Americana and Fine Antiques Auction was a successful event and generated strong prices in multiple categories. The two-day format consisted of 1,167 lots of high-quality material, much of which was fresh to the market, and, in several cases, had descended directly in the families of the original owners. Bidding was intense throughout each day, with strong institutional interest and over three thousand registered bidders participating in house and online.
Session I on Friday started the weekend off with a bang. The 299-lot offering featured an excellent selection of high-grade coins and currency, antiquarian maps, books, and manuscripts, as well as early American firearms and accessories. The select grouping offered in the Friday session generated significant presale interest and produced strong results. Top lot from Friday was a Didier Robert de Vaugondy Atlas Universal, published in 1757 and nearly complete, which garnered $11,115 (Lot 119 – all prices include 17% buyer’s premium). Other noteworthy results from Friday’s session include a Thomas Jefferson signed 1781 Rockingham Co., Virginia land grant at $4,095 (Lot 212); a Patrick Henry signed letter at $3,159 (Lot 213); and a New Market, Shenandoah Co., Virginia Henkel family manuscript archive at $4,387 (Lot 220), the latter going to a Shenandoah Valley institution interested in augmenting its manuscript holdings.
Session II on Saturday consisted of the firm’s usual diverse selection of Americana and fine antiques and produced strong results with several categories demonstrating signs of vigor in what can be an unpredictable market. Several surprises were in order for Saturday as well, most notably a fine pair of American School folk art miniature portraits of a mother and daughter with their pets, one a gray cat and the other a white dove. Discovered in western Pennsylvania, the sitters are believed to be members of the Mason family of Ohio and New York. Mary Jane Mason, the daughter, would go on to work as a de facto editor for Samuel Langhorne Clemens during the author’s famous journey to Europe and the Holy Land on board the Quaker City. The weekend’s top lot at $64,350 (Lot 1305), the pair of portraits was purchased, after heated bidding, by a New York City collector. Other noteworthy results from the Saturday session include an impressive Native American stone point/blade from the Wallace Gusler collection, ex-Gilbert Dilley, at $12,870 (Lot 1124); a rare and important American “AJ” blown and cut glass tumbler with Andrew Jackson sulphide portrait at $11,700 (Lot 1642); a Baltimore Federal inlaid mahogany serpentine-front huntboard/sideboard table at $10,530 (Lot 1579); and a Virginia Chippendale carved mahogany open armchair at $9,360 (Lot 1472).
After the sale, company president and auctioneer Jeffrey S. Evans commented, “This sale generated robust interest across the board, from bidders near and far. Our in-house crowd was strong resulting in over 170 bid numbers being issued to real bodies, and we saw a large percentage of items walk out the door on sale day! The overall excitement and strong sales results reflect the freshness and high quality of the merchandise offered. In addition, the auction was 98% unreserved, so the results are a true and honest gauge of the current market.” Evans added, “We already have several strong items in house, as well as an important institutional collection of antiquarian maps, for our next Americana auction, so the spring sale should be another great event!”
The firm is currently accepting consignments for their next Americana Auction to be held June 22 & 23, 2018. For complete auction results, a schedule of 2018 sales, or more information, email info@jeffreysevans.com, or call 540.434.3939.