The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-05-05

lne Sdle % IhT mas ulSObeO Oh ONLY nail Jne COL
lection, which, 1t is worth while saying is war
ranted genuine and authentic" )" is well classed
and illustrated, and ranges IRON Revolutionary
Colonels and congressman to Maor-Generals,
Chief Just ces, Ambassadors, and Presidents;
from Prime Ministers ard Generalissimos 10
Archdukes, Kings, Queens, Emperors, and
Popes; through theology, philosophy and
science, with Melancthon, Swedenborg, Leib.
nitZ, D'Alembert, Cham mpollion, Humboldt, Beer
have, and other great names; from Cramer and
Lortzng 10 Bellini, Donizetti, and Mendessohn
among musicians; and among historians, poets,
novelsts, and dramatists, such as Hume, Sis.
mondi, Wieland, Jean Paul Richter, Zchokke,
Voltaire, Tom Moore, and Wordsworth The
painter autographs are of Godfrey Kneller Ben
lamin West David, Lessing and Canova. There
is fragment of SpOntini, which has marks OF
genuineness, and is accompanied by rare en-
graved portrait of the Empress Josephine's
iavorite maestro in his court dress. The auto
graph scores of Bellini and Lortzng have also
appended interesting contemporaneous portraits
which we very seldom see.
A letter scrap OF Donizetti, written in a rapid
and inky ch1rography, nicely sroked and dotted,
the name OF the master easily legible, contrasts
curiously with the neat score of Bellini. These
autographs were each sold for $l'25. The null
tary lines OF writings, sometimes as stragetic
and puZzlmg as any lover OF the martial art
could wish, extend IRON the simple sgr-m annual
of Colonel Ethan Allen up to Washington, and
back 10 Prince Eugene, frederick the Great,
Wallensteln, Tilley, Charles the Twelfth, and
Gustavus Adolphus Bidding, as we have said,
which may be accounted for most naturally by
the exceeding disproportion of TITLED and famous
autogTaphers to the limited and democratic
attendance. The low figures at which the death
dealing hands OF famous kings and queens went
oil INTO possession OF unknown collectors might
be taken as a TACT most notifying to royalty in
these days rather than as showing a want of
abstruse historical knowledge on the part of
our secondhand dealers. But the prices offered
in many instances did not by any means inn
peach the value OF the sale.
The FIRST division of the collection, including
some quite rare autographs of American Colo
nal Governors and re-Revolutionary notables,
sold Drlskly at prices varying from twenty five
cents to two dollars. Among these was o
scarce writing OF Robert Hunter, Governor OF
New York IN l7l2 and the author OF a famous
letter on Enthusiasm" by some attributed to
Swift, and by others TO Shattesbury; signatures
of Sir George Cnnton and the New jersey pro-
pnetOrs, Berkely and Carteret; and some records
and letters OF the Colonial Governors OF MaSsa.
chusetts, Maryland, and North Carolina Auto
graphs OF Revolutionary statesmen brought
similar sums. PLAIN and scholarly script OF
John Jay was lald aside for S2and slight, scarce
autograph of Patrick Henry brought no more.
long personal letter of Elias Bou0inot
President Of Congress, in 1882 was bought
Tor ST.. Generals in the Revolution commanded
growing prices. Colonel Aliens letter. dated
during the war OF Independence. was secured
Tor S4'25; page by General Philip Schuyler,
dated Moses Creek, l777, complaining tnat his
reputation suffers unjustly, was valued at S9 q
Lafayette to John Jacob Astor, and an admira-
bic specimen of Laayette's autograph, brought
easily $l5, as high sum as Washinrton's letter
to General Morgan during the New Jersey cam.
palgn. ms is more rapid hand, it seems
than usual, OF the calm, precise, and straight
forward wriung OF the Commander-in-Chlet
General Anthony WaYne's letter to Major John
Armstrong sold for SO, and Is piece of strong
and pracJsed chrography.
Eight records, with signatures of three Dukes
OF Brunswick, including one OF the late eccen-
trio, whose wonderful diamonds we're stolen a
few years ago, and with sIgns-manual OF five of
the DANISH kings, did not venture above Sl'75
apiece. Gustayus Adolpbus' almost undeci-
pherable scrawl, splay-iashioned, light, and
crIss-cross, reached only So; stlll more imper-
feet AUTOGRAPH Of Charles XII was sold for
$3.50. Bernadotte's bold signature could com
mand no more than 80 cents; that OF Catharne
III, the great and infamous If Russia, went off
cheap AZ 81; but the Swedish Queen Christina,
better preserved autograph, brought the far
royal price of 1915. Maria Theresa's more
modlsh and modern handwriting was rated no
higher than couple OF dollars. Philip III,
husband OF Bloody Mary" and the Emperor
Charles the Fifth of Germany had no better
luck.
An autograph of great variety, undoubtedly
the handsOmest and most characteristic OF this
part OF the collecton-that OF Prince Alexander
Alenscmkot-was sold for SIPS. Scraps of
WalIensteln and Pccolomini, the perfume of
Schiller's great drama about them, were held in
no better respect Frederick the Great Alex
dlutT rdIuSSe, ATCuuukG OHdTles, dllQ MdrSldi
Blucher, were counted ott soon at ignoble prices
no higher than $2 Frederick appends to very
small and neat memorandum the curt signature
OF Fritz" The graceful and expressive auto
graph OF Prince Metternich, letter accompa-
nymg portrait OF his clear and elegant fea.
tuIes, was undoubtedly one of the rarest speci-
mems offered for sale.
OF English autographs, those of Bolingbroke
and General George Monk were rated highest at
between ST and So. Signatures of Palmerston
and Peel sold for 40 and so cents; small manu-
script of David Brewster, $780, letter of
George Craobe to his publisher, So, and another
OF Harriet Martineau to Mrs. Hale, were among
the best bids. Among all the autographs none
is more delicate and refined than Moore's, or so
| light and airy as Barry CornwalPs, which
| brought equal sums OF 81. Richardson, the
author of Sir Charles Cavendish," etc., was
prized at $3.50, and David Hume at $40. A small
neat scrap OF writing by Wordsworth was put
| away at S2'75.
The next division OF sale, including auto
! graphs OF several OF the POpes, and some hand
| some specimens OF old-tashioned scholastic cali
! graphic-one of which purports to be a record
! OF Alexander Borgia-was speedily gone through
| with at figures ranging from ST. to So. The
! minute and graceful handwriting of Tiraboschi,
business letter OF the celebrated DR.. Scarpa,
| scrips OF the poets Professor Vincent Monti, and
! Pndelmonte, and fragment with the name of
! SpOntini were each sold for twenty-five cents
| Mendessohn's autograph is charmingly neat
! and tantasuc. The engraved portrait which
| accompanies it gives Jewish expression of fea-
ture which is absent from the late presentlments
| OF the ethereal composer. Chevalier Newkomm
writes deliCately and legbly. A German verse
| daintiy written on tinted paper and undersigned
! Henrietta Rossi,n is pretty little memorial OF
the fascinating Madame Sontag. What would
| be thought far rarer than all these is a semi
political record of Carlo Broschi, or Farinell,
| the celebrated singer, once the favorite and
minister OF the Spanish King Philip Fifth.