USA: Sotheby's and Christie's expect high prices on historical artefacts from three centuries of American history

Record ID: 1526644

  • Title: USA: Sotheby's and Christie's expect high prices on historical artefacts from three centuries of American history
  • Date: 17th November 2005
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHRIS COOVER, SENIOR SPECIALIST BOOKS AND MANUSCRIPTS AT CHRISTIE'S SAYING: "If you are holding a letter, written and signed by a historically significant person it's a way of getting close to that individual, it's a way of spiritually, if you will, sort of touching, that person over the span of years that separate you from him."
  • Embargoed: 7th December 2005 10:36
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: History
  • Reuters ID: LVA6EVYAJC21VTQNS0FH2A8UPIGX
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Sotheby's in New York welcomed home American relics from the Revolutionary War after 225 years missing in action. The battle flags dates back to the 1700's when they were captured from American troops during the Revolutionary War. They were claimed as battle trophies by one of Britain's most notorious commanders, Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton, during conflicts in Bedford, New York and at Waxsaws on the North/ South Carolina border. The historic flags are set to go under the hammer next year on Flag Day (June 14). In total all four are expected to yield between four and 10 million U.S. dollars. At Sotheby's David Redden, Vice Chairman, emphasized the historic importance of the set. "Well, I call these, the, last great relics of the American Revolution in private hands. These are four American revolutionary battle flags, that were captured by the British in 1779 and 1780, carried back to England and kept there for the, next 225 years, and they've come back to us only, within the last few days," Redden said. The flags will be sold as two lots with the three captured from the Virginia Regiment sold together and The Battle Flag of Sheldon's Dragoons from Connecticut separately. They are all made of silk and are adorned with fine hand-paintings. Revolutionary battle flags are very rare with only 30 others in existence. These are particularly special on account of their known battle history. Tarleton as well as the American side documented the capture and loss of the flags. They have remained in Tarleton's family up to the present day when Sotheby's discovered them hung on the staircase of the Tarleton family estate in England. The flags are not merely of contemporary significance but according to David Redden were regarded as highly as the Roman eagle standard. "The symbolic significance is astonishing. These were the souls of the regiment, I mean this is what you swore your oath to, there were no stars and stripes fluttering over head. The armies at that point didn't carry the stars and stripes, you carried your regimental flag and your regimental flag, was something you died for," he explained. Not to be outdone by the competition, Christie's is currently hosting the the third instalment of the sale of the Forbes Collection of American Historical Documents, which is set to take place next week (November 15). The highlight of the collection is the copy of Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation estimated at selling for between 600 and 800 thousand U.S. dollars. Lincoln's Proclamation did not end slavery but it certainly paved the way towards abolishing it. Approximately 15 copies are in permanent public collections and there are only two other owned privately. Chris Coover, a specialist at Christie's, explained the interest in collecting rare, historical documents. "If you are holding a letter, written and signed by a historically significant person it's a way of getting close to that individual, it's a way of spiritually, if you will, sort of touching, that person over the span of years that separate you from him," Coover said. A letter from President George Washington (1732-1799) to his spymaster Benjamin Tallmadge is estimated at selling for between 120 and 180 thousand U.S. dollars. In the letter Washington discusses the mechanics of espionage and how to deal with a New York agent, code name "Culper Jr." Further historical delights include a campaign speech of Theodore Roosevelt that was in his pocket during an attempted assassination. The letter bears a bullet hole and is priced at between six and nine thousand U.S. dollars. Also included in the upcoming auction is an original draft of the Battle Hymn of the Republic with an estimated sale price of 300 to 500 thousands U.S. dollars. Perhaps one of the grimmest piece is a map of the East China Sea used on the flight of the bomber Enola Gay when it dropped the first atomic bomb used in war on the Japanese city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. At an estimated sale price between 45,000 and 75,000 U.S. dollars. It belonged to the co-pilot of the flight, Robert A. Lewis, who was part of a crew of 10 men who took part on the mission.
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