Single-owner Collection of Presidential Americana Could Exceed $700,000 at Heritage Auctions
DALLAS — A single-owner collection of historic and rare political and Presidential memorabilia is expected to exceed $700,000 when Heritage Auctions presents the Scott W. Dolson Catalog Dec. 3 in Dallas. The life-long collection consists of over 500 selected items representing virtually every president and presidential candidate from George Washington through Theodore Roosevelt.
“Scott collected with remarkable sophistication and discipline,” Heritage Director of Americana Auctions Tom Slater said. “He gravitated toward the unusual or exceptional in each category he pursued, with a special emphasis on condition.”
The Dolson offerings range from glass and china and snuff boxes to lapel studs and pinback badges. Perhaps the most novel item in the collection is a large cast iron stove with a high-relief portrait of 1848 Democratic presidential hopeful Lewis Cass on the door (opening bid $7,500). It appears that these were not exactly big sellers, as only two or possibly three examples are known, along with a single stove depicting his opponent Zachary Taylor which resides in the Smithsonian’s collection. “There are so many important, in many cases unique, objects that picking out highlights is all but impossible,” Slater said. “Here are ten stand-out items which illustrate the diversity and quality of the Dolson Collection:”
1. Massive Liverpool cream ware punch bowl depicting President John Adams (lot 43009), minimum (opening bid $7,500).
2. Another example of Liverpool pottery made for the American market, featuring a rare standing portrait of Thomas Jefferson (lot opening bid $5,000).
3. Pristine pink sulfide brooch picturing Martin Van Buren (opening bid $4,000).
4. Possibly unique large “pewter rim” for 1828 Democratic candidate Andrew Jackson (opening bid $4,000).
5. Another possibly unique item: a cut, etched, and frosted glass parade lantern for 1840 Whig standard bearer William Henry Harrison (opening bid $7,500).
6. Another W.H. Harrison item: A very large ceramic pitcher with four portraits by the American Pottery Co., widely regarded as the premier example of American political glass and china (opening bid $7,500).
7. An iconic 1860 Abraham Lincoln campaign ambrotype by George Clark, one of the earliest photographic political items (opening bid $10,000).
8. A unique 1872 photographic pin featuring conjoined busts of Horace Greely and his running mate, set into a brass shell frame in the shape of Greeley’s trademark hat (opening bid $2,500).
9. An original vendor’s card of 10 jugate badges for the defeated 1876 Democratic ticket of Tilden and Hendricks, in pristine condition (opening bid $3,000).
10. Bold red, white, and blue 1868 campaign banner for Ulysses S. Grant and his running mate, Schuyler Colfax (opening bid $3,000).
In addition to the Dec. 3 auction, hundreds of additional Dolson Collection items will appear in an internet-only auction in January 2017.
Heritage Auctions is the largest auction house founded in the United States and the world’s third largest, with annual sales of more than $800 million, and over one million online bidder members. For more information about Heritage Auctions, and to join and receive access to a complete record of prices realized, with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit HA.com.
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