COMPLIMENTARY COPY
Revolutionary War Copy Book Fragment Sells At Alderfer’s
FRIDAY JANUARY 6, 2017 • VOL. 48, NO. 1
Glass Works Auctions Rolled Out The Barrels
On Dec. 8, Alderfer Auctioneers and Appraisers conducted their December Fine and Decorative Arts Auction, which included a large section of political, historical ephemera, and autograph offerings. With strong bidding from the floor, internet platforms, phone and absentee bids, several important and historic items were sold at impressive prices. A letter copy book belonging to Jonathan Williams (1751-1815), first
Part Two Of Bob Ferraro Collection Brings Over $200,000 On Nov. 7, part two of the threeexist,” said Hagenbuch. “Bob part auction of the Bob Ferraro bought it when we auctioned collection ended at Glass Works the Dr. Burton Spiller collecAuctions of Lambertville, N.J. Fortytion in 2000.” seven bottles brought $216,412, Another barrel, an with only one bottle not embossed “Dr. selling. Some of the highChandler’s Jamaica lights of the auction were a Ginger Root Bitters / number of bitters and Lowell Mass.” in a whiskey bottles in the This rare barrel embossed shape of a barrel. “This is “W. Wolf / Pittsburgh” in a popular and attractive sapphire blue sold for form, highly sought after $23,000. by collectors of antique bottles,” said Jim Hagenbuch, the company’s owner. “They were also some of Bob’s favorites, and he had some of the best.” The highest priced item in the auction was an extremely rare barrel embossed Another barrel, this “W. Wolf / Pittsburgh” in sapphire one embossed “Dr. blue, selling for $23,000. “It is one Chandler’s Jamaica of only two known examples,” Ginger Root Bitters / exclaimed Hagenbuch. “Bob Lowell Mass.” in a bought it in 1995 when the Charles rarely seen brilliant Gardner collection was auctioned yellowish lime green at Skinner’s. At that time it was the color, sold to an Ohio only known example and collector for $17,250. remained so until a few years ago when a second one was discovered.” Lot 53, an embossed This “Favorite Bitters / Powell & Stutenroth” “Favorite Bitters / Powell & went to a Western collector for $21,850. Stutenroth,” went to a Western collector for $21,850. “Only four or five rarely seen brilliant yellowish lime green color, sold to an Ohio collector for $17,250. “In the world of antique bottles, color is king,” said Hagenbuch. Lot 61 sold to a Connecticut collector for $19,700. Embossed “Dingens Napoleon Cocktail Bitters / Buffalo, N.Y.” in a rare yellowish green color, although not a barrel, it was the third highest priced bottle in the sale. “Dingens Bitters are found in a number of different colors and forms, with the ‘drum’ being the most popular,” said Hagenbuch. Prices reported include a 15 percent buyers premium. Part three of the Bob Ferraro collection ends Monday, Jan. 9, 2017. For more information, call This “Dingens Napoleon Cocktail Bitters / Buffalo, N.Y.” in a rare yellowish green color 609-483-2683 or email info@ sold to a Connecticut collector for $19,700. glswrk-auction.com.
superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy and grandnephew of Benjamin Franklin, soared to $35,965.80. In the age before computers and copiers, persons who conducted extensive business and personal correspondence needed to keep manuscript copies of the letters they sent so they could be referenced at a later date. The best way to do this was to hand copy the letters into a blank book as they were written. The letter copy book sold was kept by Williams while serving as a commercial agent for the United States Navy in France, during the American Revolution. The copies of the letters contained in the book dated from January of 1780 to February of 1785. The Continued on page 6
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The historical letter copy book fragment (Revolutionary War) sold at Alderfer’s for $35,965.80.
Here is an enlarged view of the Benjamin Franklin autograph from a vellum land indenture signed on Feb. 2, 1763. It sold for $8,061.30.
Susquehannock Artifacts From York County, Pa., Sell For Over $100,000 A collection of Native American artifacts from the estate of Donald Leibhart, Wrightsville, Pa., sold for over $100,000 at Cordier’s Fall Catalog Auction, held Nov. 12 and 13. The Leibharts are arguably the most famous family in collecting early York County Susquehannock artifacts. Beginning as early as 1929, two brothers - Oscar and Byrd Leibhart - began digging for Native American artifacts at sites in York County, Pa. This tradition continued with Oscar’s son, D o n a l d . Donald, a veteran of World War II, died at the age of 96 in June of 2016. These rare Susquehannock trade beads sold for $4,300. The items in the collection were excavated in the 1950s from what is believed to have been a village of approximately 1,200 Susquehannocks living in Wrightsville, York
63rd Annual Yardley Community Centre Antiques Show Set For Jan. 13 And 14 on page 4
County, Pa. The top lot of the auction was a unique carved banded slate figure or birdstone in the form of a bird with large eyes, which sold for $22,400 to a floor bidder after heavy competition. A This Washington Boro incised pot sold for $7,000. Washington Boro incised pot was the second-highest performing lot of the collection, selling for $7,000. A number of pipes also attracted attention, with a bear form stone and pewter pipe bringing $7,000. A Serpentine pipe stem, expected to bring up to $200, sold for $5,900. Pipes were highly prized among the Susquehannock and were used in trading both with other tribes and Europeans. The collection also included
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Winslow Homer Artwork To Schwenkfelder Needlework In Next Big Sale on page 16
In This Issue
Continued on page 2
SHOPS, SHOWS & MARKETS . . . . . . . . . . starting on page 3 The Popeye birdstone sold for $22,400.
SHOPS DIRECTORY . . . . . . . . . on page 5 EVENT & AUCTION CALENDAR . on page 7 AUCTION SALE BILLS . . . starting on page 7
FEATURED AUCTION: Ahlers & Ogletree - Jan. 14, 15, and 16 in Atlanta, Georgia - Page 18
AUCTIONEER DIRECTORY . . . . . on page 8 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . on page 19