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The Pendulum Swings in Huygens’ Favor
Horologium Oscillatorium by Christiaan Huygens, $965,000 at Christie’s New York on December 4, 2014.
Inspired to take up Galileo’s ideas on the isochronism of the pendulum, Huygens constructed the first pendulum clock in 1657, a move which proved a brilliant solution to accurate timekeeping—and thus the determining of longitude aboard ships—and a horological development that was quickly accepted across Europe. This volume of Huygens’ most important published work contains the first mathematical analysis of the motion of the pendulum and a general treatise on the dynamics of bodies in motion.
In a rebacked period calf binding, this exceptional copy is the only recorded large paper example and printed on heavier stock than usual, but much more critical to both its saleroom and scholarly appeal was the fact that on some twenty pages it bears annotations by Huygens, ranging from single letters, numerals, and whole word changes to geometrical figures, amendments to the errata, and, on one single page, twenty added lines of text.
Another annotated copy, now in the Leiden University Library, was used in preparation of the important 1728 and 1934 editions of his works, but the annotations in this copy are more extensive still.
Until this sale, the record stood at $126,750, paid at Sotheby’s New York in 2001 for the signed Norman-Freilich copy.
African Americana
A slave auction broadside and Negro Motorist Green-Book, $37,500 and $22,500 respectively at Swann Galleries in New York on March 26.
Seen here are two highlights from the latest of the African-Americana sales that are a regular spring feature of this saleroom’s calendar.
The Louisiana broadside gives details of an auction of ‘Family Slaves’ and listed first, though not the youngest to be sold, is fifteen-year-old Milley. Billed as “an excellent nurse and house girl,” free of vices and maladies, she comes on easy terms. Half of any winning bid is required in cash, but the balance can be deferred for six months. How civilized!
Other prospects are Phillis, who is both a good cook of French and American dishes and very good at washing and ironing as well. Isham, aged 26, on the other hand is an excellent cistern maker and a fair carpenter.
The broadside is undated, but an advertisement for this very slave auction appeared in a February 1848 issue of the New Orleans Times Picayune.
There was a time, the New York cataloguer explained, when black families in the Northeast and Midwest would still be filled with apprehension about a car trip “down home.” In the 1930s, with segregation still very much in force in the South, finding lodging, or even a place to fill the tank and to relieve oneself, could become a real problem.
Then in 1936, Victor Green published the first Negro Motorist Green-Book, identifying friendly service stations, hotels, taverns, restaurants, even night clubs, along all major and minor roads to and through the ‘Old South.’ From then on, the Green-Book was in every African-American glove compartment and continued to be issued annually until 1966.
Despite its widespread use, copies are now rare and the example of the fifth edition of 1941 sold in New York is still in original stiff green wrappers, now faded and partly perished at the spine.
Off With Her Head!
Watercolor by Peter Newell, $10,625 at Bonhams New York on April 13.
A year that marks the 150th anniversary of the publication of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland has, in the UK at least, brought new books about its creator, along with library exhibits and TV and radio programs. Here, however, we have an original watercolor drawing of Alice and the Queen of Hearts that while it bears the famous words “Off with her Head!” presents not Tenniel’s familiar artwork but that of Peter Newell, a very successful American illustrator and poet best known for his humorous and children’s books.
Accepting a commission to illustrate a 1901 ‘gift edition’ of such a well known book for Harpers, Newell was understandably a touch concerned about how his own work would be received.
Acknowledging the fame and familiarity of Tenniel’s illustrations, Newell wrote at the time: “It may appear presumptuous therefore on my part to attempt to portray what Alice means to me. But the kindness with which the public has received my other work … has inspired the hope in me that this more serious effort will not be altogether unwelcome.”
Seen here is Newell’s version of an encounter between a haughty, indignant Alice and an impassioned Queen.
Napoleon in Russia
Blaetter aus meinem Portefeuille, im Laufe des Feldzugs, illustrated by Christian Wilhelm von Faber du Faur, $50,000 at Bonhams New York on December 10, 2014.
Trained as a lawyer, the author nevertheless volunteered and served as a first lieutenant in the Württemberg Army as part of Napoleon’s multi-national Grand Armée invasion of Russia. That 1812 campaign, which saw over half a million men set out, ended disastrously, with ‘General Winter’ and Russian forces decimating Napoleon’s army as it withdrew from the gates of Moscow and tried to make its way back to western Europe.
Of the 14,000 men of the Württemberg contingent, only a hundred or so made it home, and Faber du Faur was one of the lucky ones. During both the initial successes of Napoleon’s advance and its ragged retreat, he even found the time to make drawings of incidents in the campaign, from the crossing of the Nieman in June 1812 to the calamitous, frozen flight.
His drawings were reproduced as 100 lithographed plates, issued from 1831-43. Although the oblong folio collection of plates seen in New York lacked the accompanying text volume, it was the first hand-colored example seen at auction in over forty years.