American Antiquities. Auction Catalogue, January 8, 1898 — Reading Companion

The Auctioneer’s Promise and the Collector’s Eye

The preliminary note, signed by the cataloguer, establishes a tone of scholarly seriousness. It explains that the collection was formed by a “well-known Collector” who now, for private reasons, relinquishes a pursuit that “for so many years engrossed his moments of leisure.” This phrasing suggests a personal attachment to the objects, which are presented not merely as commodities but as specimens of archaeological value. The cataloguer’s guarantee of authenticity is a key selling point, promising buyers that each piece is exactly what it is claimed to be.

A Typology of Stone and Pottery Pipes

The bulk of the catalogue consists of numbered lots, each with a brief description. Among the most frequently recurring items are pipes, described with careful attention to material, form, and provenance. For example, lot 205 is a “Platform Pipe” of “dark greenish stone, finely polished, of graceful outline and excellent workmanship,” while lot 206 is a “Polished Pipe” with “14 tally marks or notches on each side of the stem.” These descriptions highlight the variety of pipe styles—platform, conical, effigy—and the regions they come from, such as Georgia, New York, and Wisconsin.

Rarity and Provenance as Currency

Throughout the catalogue, the words “rare” and “very rare” appear repeatedly, signaling the value placed on scarcity. Lot 207 is described as “always a rarity and another of this variety is perhaps unknown.” Provenance is also emphasized: many lots include the county or river where the object was found, such as “Cherokee Co., Ga.” or “Fish Creek, Saratoga Co., N. Y.” This geographic specificity adds to the object’s authenticity and historical interest, allowing buyers to trace the item back to a particular site.

Revolutionary Relics and Personal Histories

The final section of the catalogue shifts to Revolutionary arms and relics, including a marine glass engraved “John Paul 1773” and a miniature portrait of John Paul Jones painted on deerskin by John Trumbull. These items come with handwritten certificates that claim direct provenance from figures like Col. John Trumbull, aide-de-camp to Washington. The catalogue thus blends archaeological artifacts with historical memorabilia, offering objects that connect buyers to famous individuals and events of the American Revolution.

Readers approaching this catalogue for the first time should pay attention to the interplay between the cataloguer’s scholarly language and the commercial purpose of the sale. The descriptions are both informative and persuasive, aiming to establish the value of each lot. The catalogue also reveals the collecting interests of the late 19th century, particularly the fascination with Native American artifacts and Revolutionary War relics. It serves as a historical document in its own right, offering insight into the practices of archaeology and the antiques trade at the turn of the century.

I remember the 1898 auction catalogue—those stone implements and Revolutionary arms felt like hands reaching through time. It made me think of another shelf, where ancient amphibian bones wait in patient silence. Both speak of lives we’ll never fully know, yet somehow they keep each other company. The Coal Measures Amphibia of North America — A Reader’s Guide rests near it now, sharing that same quiet wonder.