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

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Authors: Norman, William B. Digital Source: Project Gutenberg Gutenberg Release Year: 2011 First Publication Year: 1898

Key Word: United States -- Antiquities -- Catalogs; Antiques -- Catalogs Target Reader: Readers of public-domain and historical texts

Book Edition: Project Gutenberg digital edition Book Language: en

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Words 8,813

Reading time 39 min

Text sections 2

The source record for American Antiquities. Auction Catalogue, January 8, 1898 — Reading Companion measures this digital text at 8,813 words, 39 min estimated reading time, and 2 detected text sections.

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Source: Project Gutenberg record #36598

An 1898 auction catalogue for a collection of pre-historic stone implements, Mound Builders' relics, and Revolutionary arms, with detailed lot descriptions and provenance notes.

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AMERICAN ANTIQUITIES.

Pre-historic Stone Implements, Mound Builders’ Relics, Revolutionary and Foreign Arms, Etc., Etc.

Fifth Avenue Auction Rooms,

No. 238 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK,

_WM. B. NORMAN, Auctioneer._

_This entire Collection will be on exhibit at the Fifth Avenue Auction House, No. 238 Fifth Avenue, New York, on Thursday and Friday, January 6 and 7, 1898, from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M.; and on the day of the Sale, during the morning hours._

_Orders will be carefully executed by the Auctioneers and Dealers in Archæology._

COLLECTION OF AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY, STONE IMPLEMENTS, REVOLUTIONARY AND FOREIGN ARMS, ETC., ETC., ETC.,

INCLUDING MANY SPECIMENS OF RARITY AND VALUE.

Mound Builders’ Relics, Celts, Grooved Axes, Arrow and Spear Heads, Knives, Wampum Treaty Belts and Money, Necklaces, Beads, Shell Ornaments, Effigy and Ceremonial Pipes, Tomahawks, Objects in Hematite and Obsidian, Terra Cotta Figures, Ornaments, Temple Chalices of the Incas, Aztec Ornaments, Revolutionary Arms, Blunderbusses, Pistols, Swords, Rapiers, Claymores, War Clubs, Dirks, Etc., Etc.

THE PROPERTY OF A RETIRING COLLECTOR.

Sale by Auction without Reserve, AT THE 5th AVENUE AUCTION ROOMS, 238 5th AVE., NEW YORK, SATURDAY, JANUARY 8th, 1898, BEGINNING AT 2 O’CLOCK, P. M. _WM. B. NORMAN, Auctioneer._

_CATALOGUE BY ED. FROSSARD. 151st AUCTION SALE._

108 East Fourteenth Street, New York.

BOSTON: T. R. MARVIN & SON, NUMISMATIC PRINTERS. 1897.

_The Archaeological Collection described in the following pages was formed by a well-known Collector, who now, for private reasons, relinquishes the pleasurable pursuit which for so many years engrossed his moments of leisure. Every specimen in the Collection was selected with deliberate discrimination, with the view of exemplifying the best forms of arms and implements conceived and fashioned by the pre-historic man of that part of the North American Continent embraced within the present United States. Such objects are of great interest and value to all those interested in this branch of Archaeology, and the opportunity offered of adding perfect specimens, at their own price, to their cabinets, is one seldom occurring.

Among the objects of marked interest will be found a Wampum Treaty Belt; a large number of Ceremonial Pipes, including some very rare forms; various objects in hematite, obsidian, copper, etc.; the rare Idols from Arizona; Incas Temple Vases in beaten silver from the necropolis of Ancona, etc., etc. The arms, foreign and Revolutionary, at the end of Catalogue, will be recognized by all interested in the subject as valuable specimens, worthy to figure in the best Collections.

Every object in this Collection will be sold, with the guarantee, by the Cataloguer, of its absolute authenticity and genuineness, both as regards material and attribution.

Orders faithfully executed by the Auctioneers and Art Dealers generally._

PRE-HISTORIC STONE IMPLEMENTS.

1 SMALL CELT, reddish stone. Washington Co., Ohio. 2½ in.

2 Another. Gray stone. Knox Co., O. 2¼ in.

3 Another. Blue stone. Athens Co., O. 3¼ in.

4 Another. Diorite. Very fine. Athens Co., O. 3¼ in.

5 Another. Granite. Very fine. Vinton Co., O. 3½ in.

6 Another. Blue stone. Moss Co., O. 3¾ in.

7 Large Celt. Granite, polished edge. Very fine. Mercer Co., Ky. 5¼ in.

8 Another. Granite, polished edge. Very fine. Mercer Co., Ky. 5¾ in.

9 Another. Blue slate, edge slightly chipped. Delaware Co., O. 6½ in.

10 Another. Blue slate, edge slightly chipped, but fine. Delaware Co., O. 7¾ in.

11 Small Celt. Blue slate, polished edge, perfect. Syria. 3 in.

12 Small hand pick. Blue slate. Harrisburg, Pa. 4¼ in.

13 Another. Granite, round top, polished edge. Lincoln Co., Tenn. 4¼ in.

14 GROOVED AXE of diorite, deeply grooved, fine edge (a head cracker). Beaver Co., Pa. 4 in.

15 Another. Greenish stone, deeply grooved, fine edge. Rhea Co., Tenn. 4 in.

16 Another. Granite, grooved and perfect. Seneca Co., O. 4½ in.

17 Another. Diorite, deeply grooved and perfect. Athens Co., O. 5 in.

18 Another. Mottled granite, deeply grooved. Very fine. Calhoun Co., Ill. 5 in.

19 Another. Dark stone, flat head, entire surface polished and perfect. Breckenridge Co., Ky. 5 in.

20 Another. Shows marks of ancient pecking. Warren Co., O. 6 in.

21 Another. Palaeolithic sandstone. Greene Co., Va. 5 in.

22 Another. Same. Greene Co., Va. 4 in.

23 Another. Granite, fine and perfect blade, deep groove, polished from long use; fine and desirable. Breckenridge Co., Ky. 6 in.

24 Another. Granite, fine perfect blade, good shape, deep groove, also very desirable. Lincoln Co., Tenn. 5 × 6½ in.

25 Another. Fine grained granite, extra long and perfect blade, finely grooved; rare. Athens Co., O. 4½ × 8½ in.

26 Another. Rough pebbly granite; of great size and weight, perfect edge. S. W. North Carolina. 6½ × 8½ in.

27 ANVIL or Nut stone. Circular, with pitted cavity on each side; smooth, nice specimen. Ohio. 4½ × 5 in.

28 HAMMER STONE. Granite. Central Ohio. 3 × 3½ in.

29 Another. White quartz. Central Ohio. 2½ × 3 in.

30 Another. Granite, light groove. Washington Co., R. I. 2 × 2¼ in.

31 Another. Sand stone, deep groove. New London, Conn. 2¼ × 2¾ in.

32 LARGE HOE. Gray chert, fine large flaking, point polished from long use. From Elliptical mound, East St. Louis. 8¼ in.

Continue Reading →

The catalogue opens with a title page that announces a sale of “Pre-historic Stone Implements, Mound Builders’ Relics, Revolutionary and Foreign Arms” at the Fifth Avenue Auction Rooms on January 8, 1898. The collection, assembled by a retiring collector, is described as having been selected with “deliberate discrimination” to exemplify the best forms of arms and implements from the pre-historic North American continent. The cataloguer, Ed. Frossard, guarantees the “absolute authenticity and genuineness” of every object, both in material and attribution.

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.