A View of East River-Seat of Josha.Waddington ESQer
American School (, 1790 - 1810)

Ink wash on paper; image size: 3 5/8 x 6 3/16 inches

An early topographic view of a colonial home on the East River in New York City

In June 1784 Joshua Waddington, a tory merchant and businessman, was sued for £8,000 by Elizabeth Rutgers. He had taken over her brewery when the British occupied New York during the Revolution, using it for his gain, while she fled the city. Alexander Hamilton, an old friend of Waddington's was his attorney. He argued that because New York was occupied by a foreign power and under miitary order, certain laws were suspended and his client was not liable for anything during that period. He won the suit but this had serious ramifications for Hamilton. He had angered the supporters of state sovereignty and created international tension; he retained numerous enemies as a result of this case until his death.

Waddington, on the other hand prospered. He had many dealings with David Ogden, one in particular where they founded a town on the upper St.Lawrence River, which he named Hamilton after his late friend. The name was later changed to Waddington, New York.

$3,500

LIFE PORTRAIT DRAWING OF WILLIAM WILLIAMS BY ROBERT FULTON
Robert Fulton (USA, 1765 - 1815)

Watercolor drawing on paper; 9 3/16 x 7 1/2 inches Signed “R.F.”and inscribed, “Sketch of William Williams, New York, July 6, 1813”

Williams was probably the brother of Colonel Jonathan Williams, the first Superintendent of West Point.

Robert Fulton, while a great portrait painter and artist, was best known for his invention of the steamboat and a prototype of the submarine. In association with Robert R.Livingston, he produced the Clermont, the first successful commercial steamboat that sailed down the Hudson in 1809. From one of Fulton’s sketchbooks.

$1,600

Thomas Nast, German born naturalized American illustrator and cartoonist (1840-1902); the “father of the political cartoon”, best known for helping in the recruiting of Union troops in the Civil War, and bringing down the infamous “Tweed Ring” in New York.

An outstanding pair of his original works: the first is an Original Drawing Signed, “Th: Nast” in center left margin and entitled in his hand, “Burst the Other Day at Washington, D.C.”, 8 and one-half inches square, showing two men being blown up into the air as their cannon, “The Mormon (G.Q.) Cannon explodes in front of the U.S.Senate. A symbolic female figure watches from the doorway next to a sign that reads, “Notice / No Polygamist Shall Be Admitted to a Seat in This House”.

The second is a self portrait signed "Th:Nast, Compliments to the Scene, Dec.25, 1900". It measures 5 x 3 inches and is contained in the same frame as the above.

$9,500

Ink on paper; 19 3/4 x 26 inches, signed twice

Intricate and unusually large calligraphic 1881 Christmas and New Years greeting “executed with a steel pen” by James M.Tripp, a famous calligraphic artist and teacher who owned a penmanship school in upstate New York. This fine work is decorated with homilies, birds, feathers, and scrolls. The words, “Merry Christmas” and “Happy New Year” are fashioned as logs. Inscribed to “Mr. and Mrs. Lawton”. An extraordinary piece of folk art and 19th century penmanship by one of the masters. In a period walnut frame.

$2,800