1850s Collectibles and Curiosities

American cast iron nautical umbrella stand with centered anchor ring attached and intertwined with rope, two smaller tridents with spears, and resting on a...

A sumptuously bound set of this biography on John Milton, from the library of Andrew Carnegie. Very scarce complete in seven volumes. The first edition. A sweeping biography on th...

This engraved print shows a view of the United States Capitol Building, in Washington, D.C. The print depicts the neoclassical building from the northeast orientation, with a bustling street scene in front. The steel engraving is a proof printing, drawn and engraved by Henry Sartain and published in 1858. Plans began in May 1854 to build a new cast-iron dome for the United States Capitol. The then-architect of the Capitol Thomas Walter and his team were sold on the aesthetics of a new dome, as well as the utility of a fire-proof one. A year later, on March 3, 1855, President Franklin Pierce...

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Russian silver vesta case in the form of a boot, an addition to our diverse smoking related silverware collection. This exceptional antique silver vesta case...

Presented is U.S. Coast Survey nautical chart or maritime map of Chesapeake Bay and Delaware Bay from 1856. The map depicts the region from Susquehanna, Maryland to the northern Outer Banks in North Carolina. It also shows from Richmond and Petersburg, Virginia to the Atlantic Ocean. The map is highly detailed with many cities and towns labeled throughout. Rivers, inlets, and bays are also labeled. Various charts illustrating more specific parts of the region are marked on the map using dotted lines. The lines form boxes, and the corresponding chart number and publication date are given. Extensive triangulation surveys were conducted the length of Chesapeake Bay and are illustrated here. Hampton Roads, Virginia is labeled, along with the James, York, and Rappahannock Rivers, which were all extensively surveyed. The chart was published under the supervision of A. D. Bache, one of the most influential and prolific figures in the early history of the U.S. Coast Survey, for the 1856 Report of the Superintendent of the U.S. Coast Survey. Alexander Dallas Bache (1806-1867) was an American physicist, scientist, and surveyor. Bache served as the Superintendent of the U.S. Coast Survey from 1843 to 1865. Born in Philadelphia, Bache toured Europe and composed an important treatise on European Education. He also served as president of Philadelphia's Central High School and was a professor of natural history and chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania. Upon the death of Ferdinand Rudolph Hassler, Bache was appointed Superintendent of the United States Coast Survey. The Office of the Coast Survey, founded in 1807 by President Thomas Jefferson and Secretary of Commerce Albert Gallatin...

Set Of Four Pig Sticking Lithographs. A very good, framed set of four pictures of an old and rare subject 'Pig Sticking'. The rare pictures are after Alb...

This exceptional antique cameo, likely from England and dating to around 1850, is carved from a single-colored shell—a rarer choice compared to the more common layered varieties. It ...

This exceptional antique cameo, likely from England and dating to around 1850, is carved from a single-colored shell—a rarer choice compared to the more common layered varieties. It ...

Cricket print of Joseph Guy of Nottingham. A framed, tinted and hand colored lithographic portrait of the All- England cricketer Joseph Guy (1813 - 187...

A famous illustrator and caricaturist best known for his illustrations for Punch magazine. He died at age 47 in 1864. Titled " Master George and The Dragon Flies". "A Caution to Youn...

Miniature portrait of Madame Vigée-Lebrun and her daughter after Elisabeth Vigée-Lebrun (1755-1842). Signed "Joséphine Rozier", titled lower right and dated 1856. Gilded stucco and w...

Beautiful 19th century Italian porcelain Maiden and her child statue from the 1850s. A damage at the back of the maiden has been renovated. Beautiful qu...

19th century gold gilt carved holy water We are proud to offer an exceptional example of an Italian 19th century gold gilt carved wood holy water. In untouched form this item is cl...

Antique French Baroque style hand carved giltwood baton de ceremonies or processional crosses used in a village cathedral in the South of France, circa 1850s. These exceptional cross...

Michael A. Finnel Mid 19th Century Renaissance Revival style Walnut Cased Thermometer with leaf decorated crest, printed marks. Thermometer not workin...

A silver cheroot case from MTB ‘Brave Borderer,’ of rectangular form, the exterior textured, the interior gilt and incised with an image of the boat above the legend ‘H.M.S. “Brave Borderer” 1858-59’ and the initials ‘N.D.F’. Fully assayed. The Brave-class fast patrol torpedo boats...

We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning 1856 hand watercolour map of the Austrian Alps titled Dept Des Hautes Pyrenees taken from the Atlas Nat...

We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning 1856 hand watercolour map of the Austrian Alps titled Dept Des La Course taken from the Atlas National ...

We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning 1856 hand watercolour map of the Austrian Alps titled Dept Des Hautes Alpes taken from the Atlas National...

An exciting retelling of Jack the Giant Killer, beautifully illustrated throughout by Richard Doyle, a smart copy. A vivid retelling of 'The Story of Ja...