The National Library of Sweden in Stockholm holds more than 20 million objects, including books, posters, pictures, manuscripts and newspaper. Image by Ulf Lundin, National Library of Sweden. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.
NEW YORK (AFP) – Two rare books that once belonged to the Swedish royal family and were stolen from the country’s National Library are to be handed back here on Wednesday.
New York District Attorney Preet Bharara will present the two books, one of which is 330 years old, over to the library’s CEO Gunilla Herdenberg in a ceremony in Manhattan, officials said.
The books, which have an estimated combined value of $100,000, were among at least 56 stolen from the library between 1995 and 2004 by the former head of its manuscript department Anders Burius, who committed suicide shortly after confessing to the thefts in 2004.
The books were sold through Hamburg-based German auction house Ketterer Kunst, with 13 of them going to buyers in the United States.
FBI agents have been trying to track down the missing works and last year succeeded in negotiating the return to Sweden of a 415-year-old atlas that was put up for sale at auction in New York in 2011.
The books that will be returned on Wednesday are a 1683 Description of Louisiana by French missionary and explorer Louis Hennepin and a German collection of American artist Henry Lewis’s illustrations of Mississippi that was printed in Dusseldorf between 1854-58.
They were bought from Ketterer in the mid-1990s by Stephan Loewentheil, an antique book dealer based in Baltimore, who only learned that the books were stolen when the FBI got in touch with him last year, long after he had sold them.
“Although as a bona fide purchaser, I didn’t have any legal liability, from a moral standpoint it bothered me,” Loewentheil told AFP.
“So I tracked them down and fortunately the people I had sold them to were willing to sell them back to me, and I repurchased them at my own expense.
“Our clients love books and people who love books tend to want to do the right thing, so they were happy to sell the books back to me.
“All theft is bad, but for me cultural theft is the worst because you are stealing the patrimony of a nation,” he said.
ADDITIONAL IMAGE OF NOTE
The National Library of Sweden in Stockholm holds more than 20 million objects, including books, posters, pictures, manuscripts and newspaper. Image by Ulf Lundin, National Library of Sweden. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.
Not quite 3 inches high, this pair of Louis XV-style occasional tables by Denis E.W. Hillman sold for $22,500. Leslie Hindman Auctioneers image. CHICAGO – Leslie Hindman Auctioneers offered a single-owner auction of property from the estate of Adell Venus on July 17. The auction realized nearly $750,000 and all 767 lots sold.
The collection encompassed a diverse selection of miniatures, dolls and accessories, ranging from antiques to modern day miniaturists’ works. Venus’ passion for collecting led to five decades of accumulating tens of thousands of items and was undoubtedly one of the largest and most profound private collections of its kind.
Interest prior to the sale suggested this area of the market had a strong following. Over 30 countries were signed up to bid in the sale in hopes to acquire something from Adell’s collection. The sale lasted 10 1/2 hours, with active participation in the room, on the phone and online. LiveAuctioneers.com provided Internet live bidding.
Spirited and competitive bidding continued throughout the entire auction, setting record prices. William (Bill) R. Robertson’s works were in high demand with a drafting set selling for $18,750, a rodent trap and a bird cage each achieved an astounding $13,750, while a fly rod set sold for $3,000.
A collection of miniature books published by Barbara Raheb at the Pennyweight Press was the top lot, realizing $23,750. Other highlights included: a pair of Louis XV-style occasional tables, not even 3 inches tall, by Denis E.W. Hillman, $22,500; a Queen Anne-style lady’s writing desk by Paul A. Runyon, $10,625; a George II-style secretaire bookcase by John J. Hodgson, $10,000; and a Federal-style slant-front desk by Ernie Levy, $10,000.
The sale was organized by John P. Walcher and Caroline McCarthy, both in the Hindman’s fine furniture and decorative arts department. “A new standard has been set in the miniature world for quality works of art,” said Walcher.
For more information about the auction, please contact Leslie Hindman Auctioneers at 312-280-1212.
Not quite 3 inches high, this pair of Louis XV-style occasional tables by Denis E.W. Hillman sold for $22,500. Leslie Hindman Auctioneers image.
A walnut cased drafting set by William R. Robertson sold for $18,750. Leslie Hindman Auctioneers image.
Acclaimed Miniaturist William R. Robertson built a better mousetrap. This tiny rodent trap of walnut, maple and ebonized wood captured $13,750 at the auction. Leslie Hindman Auctioneers image.
A complete 12-volume set of miniature Saints Calendars, 19th century, box 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches. Price realized: $11,250. Leslie Hindman Auctioneers image.
An 18K gold punch set, after English examples, by Peter Acquisto, diameter of tray 1 7/8 inches. Price realized: $6,250. Leslie Hindman Auctioneers image.
Historic Jacobs Hall, Kentucky School for the Deaf in Danville, Ky. Photo by William Gus Johnson. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, KY,11-DANV,11A-1
DANVILLE, Ky. (AP) – A book checked out from a Centre College library in 1828 has resurfaced in a desk on the campus of the Kentucky School for the Deaf in Danville.
Unofficially, the book is 185 years overdue. At the current rate of 10 cents per day for late fees, the fine for the volume exceeds $6,000.
The book, which has the date “December, 1828” scrawled on the inside cover, is one volume of an eight-volume set titled Ancient Civilizations.
The Advocate-Messenger reported that Centre College student intern Caroline Washnock found the lost book in a museum at the School for the Deaf.
The book also marks the historic connection between the Kentucky School for the Deaf and Centre College. College trustees managed the School for the Deaf for nearly 50 years.
Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
ADDITIONAL IMAGE OF NOTE
Historic Jacobs Hall, Kentucky School for the Deaf in Danville, Ky. Photo by William Gus Johnson. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, KY,11-DANV,11A-1
Josiah Henson, whose ‘slave pass’ is part of the Owensboro Museum of Science and History collection related to the Amos Riley plantation. Henson, who penned an 1849 autobiography, later became famous as the person who inspired the character ‘Tom’ in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin.’
OWENSBORO, Ky. (AP) – A western Kentucky museum paid $7,600 for a collection personal papers, books and a “slave pass” issued in Kentucky 186 years ago.
The Owensboro Museum of Science and History will display the collection from the family of Daviess County plantation owner Amos Riley and his son, Owensboro attorney Camden Riley, later this summer. The museum bought the collection last month at a Cincinnati auction.
Museum Executive Director Kathy Olson told the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer the collection includes deeds, bills of sale for slaves and receipts from steamboat companies and other businesses.
Among the papers is a “slave pass” issued to Josiah Henson, one of the inspirations for the title character in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.”
Olson says the collection was valued at between $10,000 and $15,000 at auction.
“They are in incredibly good shape. Paper from that time period is easier to preserve, because it has cotton rag bond and no wood pulp,” Olson said. “You can pick up a document from 200 years ago, and it’s in better shape than a letter written 50 years ago.”
The pass, issued to Josiah Henson, reads, “pass to allow my man Si safe and unhindered passage to and from the Yellow Bank (Owensboro) and my place at Yelvington to attend to the affairs of the plantation.”
Si was Henson’s nickname.
In his autobiography, Henson, who became a leading educator and abolitionist in Canada after his escape in 1830 from the Riley plantation, wrote that the main house was 5 miles from the Ohio River. The book says that there were 80 to 100 slaves on the plantation, making it one of the largest in the region.
Olson said the collection will be “put on display in a couple of weeks.”
As she looked through the documents, Olson sorted through deeds, bills of sale for slaves and receipts from steamboat companies and other businesses.
“I’m really anxious to look through all of this,” she said. “There’s a wealth of information about that time and this area.”
The documents include records of land sales, slave sales and trades and receipts for horses taken by Union troops during the Civil War. Other documents in the collection include a transaction with Ann Edwards on April 27, 1835, in which Amos Riley “relinquishes rights to an enslaved woman name Dorcas, retaining rights to an enslaved man Harry.”
There’s a bill of sale for a man named Harry in 1835 and a contract “for hire of a negro girl Susan one year, said Susan to be as well clothed as when she came to my house, 1846.”
“We have quite a few documents from the 19th century already,” Olson said, “but this is the most we have from any one family.”
Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
ADDITIONAL IMAGE OF NOTE
Josiah Henson, whose ‘slave pass’ is part of the Owensboro Museum of Science and History collection related to the Amos Riley plantation. Henson, who penned an 1849 autobiography, later became famous as the person who inspired the character ‘Tom’ in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin.’
Centro Duchamp wooden sculptures, circa 1975. Est. €1,000-1,500. Nova Ars image. ASTI, Italy – Nova Ars, the Italian auction house that trades as E-Art Auctions, is planning another outstanding 20th Century Italian Design and Decorative Arts sale for July 31. The auction will begin at 9:30 a.m. Pacific Time, 12:30 p.m. Eastern, 6:30 p.m. Central European, with Internet live bidding through LiveAuctioneers.com.
An interesting design collection of modern Italian art in its many forms includes ceramics, furniture, lamps, chandeliers and glass works. Virtually a ‘made in Italy’ sale, it presents many of the greatest names from the midcentury period—from Gio Ponti to Angelo Mangiarotti, from Gianfranco Fini to Joe Colombo. Warren Platner is a distinguished American designer of the postwar era whose work fits in nicely with the rest.
Nova Ars is a specialist auction house known for its sales of top-quality Italian contemporary art and modern design. Its gallery in Asti is also a destination for those who seek to learn and share knowledge about art, design and collecting. The firm also provides valuations of personal property and appraisals. They are known for their expert team and for the personal attention they give to all Nova Ars clients throughout the valuation, consignment and auction process.
For additional information on any item in the July 31 auction, contact Valeria Vallese by emailing e.art.auctions@gmail.com or calling 011 39 328 9667353.
Cased 1875 Colt single-action revolver with bone-handle knife, pewter flask, and portrait photo taken at a Tombstone, Arizona Territory studio. Sold for $4,500 + buyer’s premium in the July 17, 2013 auction session. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers.com and Guernsey’s. HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – The auction of thousands of Old West artifacts purchased by a former Harrisburg mayor for a failed museum project has netted about $2.7 million for the city as it tries to recoup the money spent on the collection.
The Patriot-News reports the auction ended Sunday with around $3.2 million in proceeds. The city will keep about $2.7 million, enough to pay off the $2.5 million remaining on a $7.2 million loan.
The sale means the total recouped by the city for the 10,000-piece collection is about $4.4 million out of about $8.3 million paid.
Former Mayor Stephen Reed bought the artifacts to fill three unrealized museums, with the first focused on the Old West. They include hundreds of guns, furniture, documents with historical significance and a stuffed buffalo.
Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
ADDITIONAL IMAGE OF NOTE
Cased 1875 Colt single-action revolver with bone-handle knife, pewter flask, and portrait photo taken at a Tombstone, Arizona Territory studio. Sold for $4,500 + buyer’s premium in the July 17, 2013 auction session. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers.com and Guernsey’s.
Writer, director, producer, composer and actor Joss Whedon, whose literary successes include Buffy the Vampire Slayer, speaks at the 2012 Comic-Con in San Diego. Photo by Gage Skidmore, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Samuel L. Jackson visits Golden Apple Comics in Los Angeles twice a month. Employees there keep a box stuffed with the latest comic books and graphic novels.
Does that make him a nerd? Go ahead and call him that. We dare you.
“I don’t know who actually defined it as such,” Jackson said during an interview Saturday at Comic-Con where he was promoting his fantasy-driven film, “Captain America: The Winter Solider.” ”I’ve always read comic books. I’ve always spent time in comic book stores. I still do. I don’t particularly consider myself a nerd. It’s just that part of pop culture that I’m also a part of.”
If Jackson, arguably the baddest you know what in the history of cinema, is comfortable with the world of super heroes, sci-fi and fantasy, it’s probably time to stop throwing around that word nerd. Those who would turn their nose up at a sweaty guy dressed like Wolverine are increasingly in the minority. Geeks may still get stuffed in lockers and given the occasional swirly, but they rule the American entertainment world — and thus global popular culture in the 21st century.
The biggest rock stars at Comic-Con this year weren’t the guys in Metallica and Weezer, but the fellows named Joss Whedon, Robert Kirkman and Neil Gaiman.
These purveyors of super heroes, zombies and Lovecraftian mystery are smashing records in the film and television world, driving the publishing industry and setting social media afire.
Whedon, the writer-director-producer of “Marvel’s The Avengers,” ”Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD,” ”Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Firefly,” says our current obsession is comparable to the Greek or Norse mythologies, cave paintings and the religious high art of the Renaissance because it reflects our society.”
“I feel like every culture has a different version of itself sort of writ large,” Whedon said. “In Japan and different Asian cultures, people are floating in trees and doing kung fu and here we dress up in tights and fight crime. These stories have been here in some cases closing in on 100 years, and in some cases around 60. They not only inspired a bunch of children, those children grew up, and it’s just become part of our mythos, a genuine mythos, a real sort of evolving mythology. It’s something people can see and key into instantly. They know where they stand. They know what’s good, what’s bad, where the pain is, how they identify with it. That kind of shorthand is where iconography comes from.”
For those of a certain age, this may take some time to get used to. That’s what guitarist Kirk Hammett of Metallica pointed out after taking in the scene at the San Diego Convention Center, where tens of thousands gathered to hear the latest news on their favorite franchises, check out what’s moving in from the fringe and to participate in the almost always wacky fun.
Hammett expected to find the usual array of outsider personalities he hung out with in his pre-rock god days as he promoted the film “Metallica Through the Never.” He found something very different.
“Nowadays, there’s cool people here, there’s hip people here, there’s all these big displays and all this production,” Hammett said. “And there’s women here. And it’s confusing for me because I’m looking around going, ‘Where are all the dorks? Where are all the nerds?’ And I feel disenfranchised again. We’ve been infiltrated!”
The way these characters and stories are told is getting far more complex as well. Comics are no longer full of silly one-dimensional characters. The stories can be epic and moving, and offer a more satisfying creative outlet than the world of “serious” art.
Comic books are not just words on paper, Gaiman points out. It’s a multi-discipline art form, and one that makes him aspire to more than the printed word has to offer as he works with an artist to create something never seen before. The British author is perhaps best known for his creation “Sandman,” a series that helped elevate the art form like Alan Moore’s “The Watchmen” or Frank Miller’s “Sin City.” He’ll make his long-awaited return to that world this fall when DC Comics imprint Vertigo publishes “The Sandman Overture.”
“You do your best to write the most fantastic script you can for the most amazing artist,” Gaiman said. “You want to write a script that not only tells the artist what to draw but also in some ways if you can inspire the artist. You want to get their best work out of them and you want them to be excited and inspired and thrilled and go, ‘Oh, my God, I get to draw that! Nobody else in the world has ever drawn that but I get to draw this and people are going to be amazed!'”
And more and more, everyone wants to be involved.
“People in Hollywood with the power to green light now look at comics as respectable a medium as anything — as novels, as plays, as anything,” said Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios. “They see there are great great stories and great characters to be mined from those issues.”
Feige says we’ve moved on from the double standards that once divided and defined pop culture.
“I think there’s less of that now,” Feige said. “If anything I think it’s the opposite. I was never a sports guy. I haven’t been in high school for a long time, but you go back to the jocks and the nerds, the ‘Revenge of the Nerds’ templates, and you have to judge me like, ‘Oh, look at you nerds walking around with your Spock ears.’ And that Sunday they’re painting their face football colors at the stadium, and I’m like, ‘That’s the same thing!’ I think the notion of fandom has broadened in an acceptable way, which I certainly embrace.”
And so do formerly more “mainstream” stars in Hollywood. Tom Cruise — the guy who once played the macho icon Maverick in “Top Gun” — has turned more and more to sci-fi these days, and he’s bringing others with him. He attended his first Comic-Con this year to promote “Edge of Tomorrow.”
Bullock, best known for romantic comedies and realistic dramas, is new to the fantasy world, but the outpouring blew her mind.
“I’ve never been in a venue like this before in my life where just the joy and the happiness is so palpable … and the camaraderie is amazing,” Bullock said. “I love it.”
And increasingly, so does everyone else.
___
AP writers Matt Moore and Ryan Pearson in San Diego contributed to this report.
Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
ADDITIONAL IMAGES OF NOTE
Writer, director, producer, composer and actor Joss Whedon, whose literary successes include Buffy the Vampire Slayer, speaks at the 2012 Comic-Con in San Diego. Photo by Gage Skidmore, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.The cover art for Joss Whedon’s ‘Fray’ No. 1, published in June 2001 by Dark Horse Comics. Fair use of low resolution image to accompany an article detailing the increasing prominence of comic books in American pop culture and Whedon’s status as one of the top comic book writers. Book cover art copyright is believed to belong to the publisher and/or the artist.
