Sell or Auction Your John Muir Picturesque California 1887-1890 for up to Over $25,000 or More at Nate D. Sanders Auctions
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John Muir was an explorer, writer, naturist, conservationist and inventor who is often called “Father of the National Parks”. He is primarily remembered as one of the greatest proponents for protecting and creating the national parks of the U.S. Muir’s travels took him around the globe and some of the writings on these trips brought attention to U.S. locations that later became national parks. He had a role in the creation of Yosemite, Sequoia, Mount Rainier, Glacier Bay, the Petrified Forest and the Grand Canyon. Muir also co-founded the Sierra Club in 1892, a non-profit environmental preservation organization, and served as its first president. The Sierra club is the first expansive environmental conservation group and lobbies politicians for policies that protect the environment.
Below is a recent realized price for a copy of John Muir’s Picturesque California 1887-1890. We at Nate D. Sanders Auctions can obtain up to this amount or more for you:
John Muir Picturesque California 1887-1890. Sold for Over $25,000.
The following are some John Muir items we have sold:
1904 John Muir Autograph Letter Signed
1904 autographed letter signed by pioneer conservationist John Muir to artist and California conservationist Catherine Hittell. Accompanied by partial cover stamped and printed “Martinez, California.” Reads in full, “Martinez, Oct 20, 1904. Dear Miss Hittell, I have greatly enjoyed your charming article on the Redwoods. It is the best article on our magnificent coast forest I have seen – the best every way and I heartily thank and congratulate you. Faithfully Yours, John Muir.” Excellent missive in the hand of early environmentalist and Sierra Club founder Muir, who single-handedly helped forge Yosemite National Park. The letter’s recipient, Catherine Hittell was a leading artist and California conservationist, as was her brother, the Western landscape artist Charles Hittell. Single-page, black ink letter, measuring 8.25″ x 10.5″, has mild spots and stains, overall in near fine condition. Sold for $1,353.
John Muir Check Signed
Check signed “John Muir”, dated 17 January 1913, the year before the great conservationist’s death. Bank of Martinez check is made out to Golberg Bowen & Co., in the amount of $63.70. Measures 8.75″ x 3.25″. Creasing and standard bank markings, else near fine. Sold for $983.
We also sold these related items:
81 Beautiful Hand-Colored Aquatints by Karl Bodmer Depicting the American Frontier in the 1830s — Contained in the Illustrated Travelogue “Prince of Wied’s Travels in the Interior of North America”
Stunningly beautiful collection of 81 hand-colored aquatints by the Swiss artist Karl Bodmer, a complete collection from the illustrated travelogue, “Prince of Wied’s Travels in the Interior of North America”. Bodmer, who journeyed with the German Prince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied from 1833-34 along the Missouri River, produced what is considered the best depictions of the indigenous peoples and landscapes during the frontier era, an America then still unspoiled by western migration. Of the Native American tribes of the Great Plains that they encountered, Bodmer’s depictions of the Blackfeet and Mandan tribes are especially important as the populations of these tribes were greatly affected by the smallpox epidemic of 1837, thus making Bodmer’s work the last visual testament to their culture.
Prince Max, as he was called, chose Bodmer to accompany him on the expedition along the Missouri River to visually depict the scenes that the Prince would write about. The result is this collection: three volumes of text by the Prince and two volumes of aquatints by Bodmer, in the first Paris edition published by Chez Arthus Bertrand, 1840-43 (“Voyage dans l’interieur de l’Amerique du Nord”). Text volumes in French also include 37 wood-engraved illustrations, only lacking the map in completeness. The two complete volumes of illustrations include the large folio volume with 48 oversized hand-colored aquatints measuring approximately 24.5″ x 18″, and the quarto volume with 33 hand-colored aquatints measuring approximately 12.5″ x 10.25″. The complete set of 81 aquatints is magnificent in their display, a time capsule with their hand-coloring evoking the sense of awe and discovery of the expedition. All volumes are bound in half black morocco and blue paper-covered boards with gilt accenting, and with black morocco labels to illustrated volumes. Minor handling wear to volumes, with a few small repaired tears to plates, some plates supplied with variance to margins, minute toning and foxing, a few plates beginning to separate from binding. Overall a very good plus set with excellent display quality. Sold for $175,000.
Scarce collection of 63 photographs from Carleton Watkins’ groundbreaking publication, ”Yosemite Valley: Photographic Views of the Falls and Valley of Yosemite in Mariposa County, California”. San Francisco, 1863. One of the most complete collections, lot comprises a total of 63 photographs, with two of the title page and map, and 61 of the Yosemite Valley, each measuring 11.625” x 7.5”. Scarce as such.
Lured out to California for the Gold Rush, Watkins soon turned his pursuits to photography, a calling for which he was naturally gifted. In 1861, he traveled to Yosemite outfitted with both mammoth-plate and stereoscopic cameras to make the first photographic narrative of the majestic valley, with these photographs the result. They were so impactful, after having been shared amongst Congressmen and Abraham Lincoln, that the Yosemite Grant Act was passed in 1864, a precursor to the creation of the U.S. National Park System in 1872.
Interestingly, no complete accounting of Watkins’ Yosemite photos from 1863 is documented, but next to a collection of 65 photographs, this grouping is the most complete at 63 photographs. Only a handful of other collections even claim more than 50 photographs. The views are exquisite, capturing the rock formations, foliage and natural water sources of the Valley as they appeared in 1861, yet unspoiled by overcrowding. Watkins’ ability to capture the depth of the images – with distant mountains hovering over meadows and streams, is particularly beautiful, aided by the use of his two camera systems.
Photographs retain superb contrast and tonality, all disbound in a period brown morocco gilt slipcase, tooled in gilt on the cover, ”Watkins’ Yosemite Gallery.” Overall in very good to near fine condition. Sold for $112,500.
Complete Set of 80 Hand-Colored Lithographs of “The Aboriginal Port Folio” by James Otto Lewis From 1835-1838 — Extremely Scarce Complete Set
Very scarce complete set of the “Aboriginal Port Folio”, containing 80 hand-colored lithographs by Native American visual chronicler James Otto Lewis, whose travels to various treaty ceremonies during the early 19th century produced lasting portraits of Native American leaders and customs. Lewis was the first to create such artwork, preceding McKenney & Hall by several years. Philadelphia: George Lehman and Peter S. Duvall, 1835-1838.
After painting portraits of members from the Sioux, Potawatomi, Winnebago, Fox, Shawnee, Miami, and Iowa tribes, Lewis brought his paintings to Philadelphia for lithography, releasing them by subscription in 10 installments of 8 lithographs apiece. Each installment grew more scarce as subscriptions trailed off with the impending publication of the more comprehensive (and more formally posed) “History of the Indian Tribes of North America” by McKenney & Hall, whose portrait artist Charles Bird King even copied some of Lewis’ paintings. As a result, the full collection of 80 lithographs of “The Aboriginal Port Folio” is so scarce that only five to ten copies are known to exist. To make matters worse, Lewis’ original paintings were destroyed in the Smithsonian fire in 1865.
This set is in very good to near fine condition, with only minor scattered foxing affecting some sheets. In addition to the 80 pictorial lithographs, set also includes the lithograph title page and three leaves of advertisements, making it a truly complete set. Lithographs each measure 11.5″ x 18.125″, housed in three-quarter red morocco clamshell case with custom lettering to spine. One of the few visual remembrances of this important collection preserved for history. Sold for $84,000.
Magnificent Ansel Adams Signed Print of His Yosemite Valley Photograph, “Fern Spring, Dusk” — With Signed De Luxe Edition of “Ansel Adams: Images 1923-1974”
Ansel Adams original signed print of his 1961 Yosemite Valley work, “Fern Spring, Dusk” accompanied by the De Luxe Edition, also signed, of “Ansel Adams: Images 1923-1974.” New York Graphic Society: 1974. Only 500 copies of this De Luxe Edition, with an accompanying print, were produced for the general public, of which this is copy #421. Copies are becoming increasingly difficult to find, especially in such pristine condition as this. Silver gelatin print measures 9″ x 12″ and is signed by Adams on the mount below image in pencil, “Ansel Adams.” On its verso is label designating the print as #421. In near fine condition. Book, also signed and numbered 421, is in very good condition with overall light wear. Dustjacket is price-clipped on the front flap but otherwise near fine. Clamshell slipcase is in good condition with shelf wear and a tear to one corner. Sold for $5,025.
As President, Theodore Roosevelt signed copy of ”The London Company of Virginia”, published for the 300th anniversary of the Jamestown Colony, the first permanent English settlement in North America. President Roosevelt signs the front free endpaper, ”To Capt. S.A. Cheney with the best wishes of / Theodore Roosevelt / Feb 19th 1909”, likely inscribed to Major S.A. Cheney of the Corps of Engineers. Number 22 of a limited edition of 300, book includes 23 gorgeous photogravures, published by Devinne Press in 1908. Full leaf photogravures begin with Queen Elizabeth and include other prominent contributors to the formation of Jamestown including Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir Francis Drake, King James I of England, John Smith, and Pocahontas. Book measures 9” x 11.75”. Some foxing to gravures, otherwise interior is clean and near fine. Richly bound in one-half pebbled morocco leather, with the title and seal of Virginia in gilt on front. Front board is detached and small loss of leather to spine. Signature page has light foxing, otherwise near fine. Overall in very good condition. Sold for $3,750.
Hand-Colored “Grey Fox” Lithograph From the 1843 Edition of John James Audubon’s “The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America” — Measures 28″ x 21.75″
Original hand-colored lithograph of “Canis (Vulpes) Virginianus, Grey Fox”, plate XXI, from John James Audubon’s “The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America”. Philadelphia: J.T. Bowen, 1843. Lithograph measures 28″ x 21.75″. Very light soiling and wear to margins and slight fading, overall in very good plus condition. A beautiful example from Audubon’s masterpiece. Sold for $3,000.
Ansel Adams Signed “Winter Forest”
Signed Ansel Adams print “Winter, Forest Detail” #162. A poetic visual depicting a forest of trees covered in a tapestry of winter ice and snow. Adams’ small signature appears underneath image’s lower right corner. Image measures 7.5″ x 9.5″, mounted on a white board measuring 13.5″ x 16.5″. Excellent condition. Sold for $2,450.
John Audubon 1846 “The Cougar” Lithograph From “The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America” — Measures 20″ x 26″
Gorgeous lithograph by John Woodhouse Audubon of “The Cougar, Male”, published in “The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America”. Philadelphia: J.T. Bowen, 1846. Printed and hand-colored by Bowen, lithographed plate is number XCVI. Measures 20″ x 26″. Minute foxing and small spot of discoloration at lower margin. Overall a stunning example in near fine condition. Sold for $1,400.
FREE VALUATION. To buy, auction, sell or consign your John Muir Picturesque California 1887-1890 that is for sale, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).
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