November 2015 |
Beautiful Old Maps of California at Auction
Coming to auction this week at PBA Galleries in San Francisco is a stunning selection of rare books and maps from the collection of Warren Heckrotte. This sale, part II, will focus on "California & the Way Thither"; part I of the Heckrotte collection, held on October 29, was, according to the auctioneer, its "best-ever auction, with a total of $1,549,816 in sales, and three lots topping the $100,000 figure." So, all eyes are on California, and for good reason. Take a gander:
Lot 17: Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey (1857-1859), including this striking (and "very desirable") "Map Illustrating the General Geological features of the Country West of the Mississippi River." The estimate is $3,000-5,000.
Lot 86: "Map of the Mining Region of California 1855," a lithograph map on blue wove paper, issued as a pictorial lettersheet. The estimate is $5,000-8,000.
Lot 90: Bancroft's "Map of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona," a hand-colored, lithographed map with decorative borders. This is the 1864 first edition of Bancroft's "influential" pocket map. The estimate is $3,000-5,000.
Lot 107: "Map of the Gold Region California 1851," a lightly hand-colored lithographed map. This is the "first state of this rare map," according to PBA. The estimate is $5,000-8,000.
Lot 197: "Bird's Eye View of California: The Morning Call Premium Map," c. 1880. This color lithograph depicts "a mountainous and topographically captivating view of California." The estimate is $1,000-1,500.
Lot 17: Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey (1857-1859), including this striking (and "very desirable") "Map Illustrating the General Geological features of the Country West of the Mississippi River." The estimate is $3,000-5,000. Lot 86: "Map of the Mining Region of California 1855," a lithograph map on blue wove paper, issued as a pictorial lettersheet. The estimate is $5,000-8,000. Lot 90: Bancroft's "Map of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona," a hand-colored, lithographed map with decorative borders. This is the 1864 first edition of Bancroft's "influential" pocket map. The estimate is $3,000-5,000. Lot 107: "Map of the Gold Region California 1851," a lightly hand-colored lithographed map. This is the "first state of this rare map," according to PBA. The estimate is $5,000-8,000.Lot 197: "Bird's Eye View of California: The Morning Call Premium Map," c. 1880. This color lithograph depicts "a mountainous and topographically captivating view of California." The estimate is $1,000-1,500. 
