AA

FOR 10/15 SET 10/7/1999

YORK TOWN AUCTIN W/15 CUTS

SS/JAR

YORK, PENN. – Probably for the first time in history, abolitionists, horologists, secessionists, Anglophiles, ephemerists, projectionists, genealogists, art lovers, historians, antiquarians and Americana collectors will come together for York Town Auction’s two-day sale on October 29 and 30. It may be the only time in the millennium that an event will offer things of interest to, or pertaining to, such a diverse group. 

Most of the October 29 session will be from the personal museum of Thornton Tayloe Perry of Charles Town, W.Va. A great deal of it is broadsides, advertising, letters, documents, memorabilia, newsprint, autographs, etc. Stirring the most interest historically are the John Brown related material and the secessionist print concerning Western Virginia’s planning and maneuvering to secede from Virginia. A letter to John Brown from Mahala Doyle, dated November 20, 1859, recounts her anguish when John Brown killed her husband and two sons in Kansas years before.

A small poster, supposedly one of ten, printed in Charles Town and posted there three days before John Brown’s execution, warns the citizens to stay off the streets and is signed, in print, by Thomas Green, Mayor. There are numerous other John  Brown related items, including pictures of the engine house, now known as John Brown’s Fort, pictures of the house used as a jail, a drawing of the Kennedy farm house in Maryland that John Brown rented, several pieces of rope used to tie or hang John Brown’s men, a piece of yellow pine identified as coming from the gallows on which John Brown was hanged, and more.

There are slave-related items, including tax bills and letters, a letter from a Cherokee Indian girl in Tennessee dated 1839, local histories, presidential signatures, a newspaper with Mosby’s signature, Washington family papers from the Nineteenth Century, and materials relating to Shannondale, the early Virginia resort which Perry later owned.

Perry interests also include country store items and advertising. Spool cases, a ribbon case, a cash register, a plastic relief plaque advertising Kentucky whiskey, Coca Cola die-cut circuses, broadsides and political campaign items will be sold. Early projectors with glass slides and early “talking machines,” an American graphophone, type AG, and a marquetry inlaid Wilhelm Bruder crank organ show yet another area of interest. For the Folk art and Americana collectors, Perry’s early painting of the C&O Canal boats and a train paralleling the Potomac River, a horse and jockey weathervane and wallpaper hat box showing the Deaf and Dumb Asylum will be of interest.

The Folk art items are highlighted by a carved wooden cigar store Indian standing almost seven feet tall. Polychromed in reds, greens, yellows and browns, this imposing warrior with a tomahawk is most impressive. A punched-tin food storage box, stoneware and redware, quilts, coverlets, paint decorated chests and other paintings will be offered.

York Town is offering an exceptional cross-section of furniture. Two American brass-face clocks, one signed John Fisher, York Town, and the other by Seneca Lukens, Warsham, Penn., are both fine examples. Also from Pennsylvania are an early walnut glass-door stepback cupboard, an early walnut high chest, an applewood tall case clock from Philadelphia, a signed John Rupp painted corner cupboard, a rare Philadelphia Federal cupboard, a Lancaster walnut candlestand, an important Philadelphia Chippendale desk with a mirrored prospect door and a tiger maple Berks Co. canopy bed.

In addition, there is a Lancaster Chippendale desk and three New England slant-top desks. For the English enthusiasts, the sale includes a collection of early oak from a local estate. A stretcher base table over eight feet in length and a Queen Anne dresser base are among the highlights.

One of the most important furniture lots is an eight piece parlor set attributed to Meeks of New York. Consisting of two sofas, two arm chairs, and four sidechairs, this laminated, carved set is in a wonderful state of preservation. Several other Victorian pieces and a signed Galle table round out the later pieces. Besides paintings and prints, the art includes a collection of paper sculptures by the Chinese immigrants arrested from the Golden Venture when she ran aground off the New York coast a few years ago. In approximately 20 lots, the sculptures range from Bonsai trees to birds and animals. The refugees created these pieces while held in the York County Prison. There is also other ethnic art, ranging from American Indian to carved African ivory and a wooden figure.

Fireplace equipment includes six fire rails, seven pairs of andirons and numerous fire tools ranging from early Eighteenth Century through early Twentieth Century. A Steiff bear circa 1908, cradles, some Victorian glass, Staffordshire figures, lustre, a pair of Tucker pitchers, a pass to Andrew Johnson’s impeachment, firearms, Christmas items, silver and Oriental rugs will leave the block.

On Friday, October 29, doors will open at 7:30 am. The uncatalogued sale begins at 9 am and continues through mid-afternoon. There will be several lots of the Perry material sold by town, county, and state interests during this session. The catalogued sale begins late afternoon and includes just over 600 lots. York Town averages 100 lots per hour.

The doors open at 7 am Saturday, October 30 and the catalogue sale continues at 9 am. Catalogues are available for $20, shipping included. For information, 717/751-0211.