Summer Auction Preview at Arader Galleries

Summer Auction PREVIEW

Cheers to another Auction! Set your Calendar to June 3rd for the opportunity to bid on a grand selection of original natural history works, spectacular views, and rare maps. The auction begins at 1pm EST. at our 1016 Madison Avenue Gallery.

This preview includes highlights from the auction, as great pieces to consider and add you your personal collection! Scroll to see detailed images and information. 

Lot 10 ● CAROLINA PARROT, PLATE 26

John James Audubon, Elephant Folio 1st Edition Havell

Lot 195 ● AMERICA NOVA TABULA

Willem Blaeu (1571-1638)

Lot 78 ● AN URN GARLANDED WITH FLOWERS, PEACHES, GRAPES, HAZELNUTS AND VARIOUS INSECTS ON A STONE LEDGE

Herman Henstenburgh (1667-1726)

Lot 29 ● RAMPHASTOS CUVIERI  (CUVIER’S TOUCAN)

John Gould (1804 - 1881)

Lot 91 ● THE VILLAGE PLOSSO IN THE PROVINCE OF MADIUN, JAVA

Jacob Dirk Van Herwerden (1806-1879)

Lot 155 ● MOSKOW, NO. 12

Cornelius Le Bruyn (1652-1726)

Online and phone bidding options are always available for inquiries and to access a copy of the auction catalog please call 415-788-5115. You can also bid at Liveauctioneers.com and view lots presented.

Arader Galleries, San Francisco 432 Jackson St, San Francisco, Ca 94111

Warren Heckrotte Summer Catalog

Adrien Hubert Brue (1786-1832)

Nouvelle Carte du Mexique, Et D'une Partie de Provineces Unies De L'Amerique Centrale

Paris: 1834

Hand-colored copper-plate engraving

2 Sheets: 36 4/8” x 24 4/8”, Framed: 32 3/4” x 45”

We are happy to announce that a Special limited West Coast Maps Catalog will be distributed this Summer season. Please request a copy of this catalog by contacting the gallery.

You can also view the entire collection online here, view our Exhibition onsite during our open hours, or you can make a special appointment with a call to the gallery.

We are delighted to share this collection with you, including a total of 14 rare maps exquisitely preserved of Gold Rush California, Oregon, Texas, and Mexico. This collection was formerly owned by the Bay Area maps Collector Warren Heckrotte.

For more information or to make an appointment Please call 415-788-5115, Arader Galleries 432 Jackson Street, San Francisco, Ca 94111.

Warren Heckrotte's Collection of Rare West Coast Maps

James Imray (1803-1870) 

West Cost of North America from San Blas to San Francisco

London: 1883

Featuring a new special exhibition to the Gallery parts of the collection of Warren Heckrotte. Visit the Gallery to view 14 of Heckrotte's coveted rare maps of the West Cost. This collection features exquisite maps of Gold Rush Era Oregon, California, Texas and Mexico.

San Francisco local Warren Heckrotte was a rare books and maps buyer who began building his collection in the 1960’s, “making his first purchase, of three “decorative” maps, in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1963” while working in Geneva as a physicist at the Lawrence Livermore Labratory where he served as representative of the Atomic Energy Commission. This first maps purchase sparked Mr. Heckrotte’s passion for maps and his desire to continue to grow his academic knowledge of antique maps. He began, as many map collectors do, with a study of R.V. Tooley’s Maps and Map-Makers. As his collection grew so did his knowledge and self academic understanding of maps, He edited and contributed to California 49: Forty-nine Maps of California from the 16th Century to the Present, published in San Francisco in 1999.

 B.F. Butler 

Map of the Gold Region California

San Francisco: 1851

A.D Bache (1806-1867)

Entrance to San Francisco Bay California

From: A trigonometrical Survey

Washington: U.S. Coastal Survey: 1859

For more information or to make an appointment Please call 415-788-5115, Arader Galleries 432 Jackson Street, San Francisco, Ca 94111.

Summer Auction is Coming! June 11th

Summer is coming and so is out next Auction!

As usual our Auction will be hosted at 1 pm EST  on June 11th at Arader Galleries 1016 Madison Avenue New York City, NY 10075.  Rest assured, if you are unable to bid onsite we are happy to provide several bidding options at your convenience. 

Below is a SPECIAL PREVIEW of our upcoming auction, showing highlights from our finest lots. You can now browse our lots online.

 If you would like to receive a hard copy of our catalog in the mail, PLEASE call us at (415) 788-5115, we are happy to send you auction catalogs at no cost. 

Enjoy!

June 90th Auction Preview

Lot 18: John James Audubon, Purple Heron or Reddish Egret, Plate 256

Original Aquatint Engraving

Lot 85: Shepherdess of Salem (American School)

Mixed Media Incl. Watercolor, Pen and Ink on Paper

c.1840

Lot 141: Antonio Floriano Untitled World Map 

Engraved Map 

Venice:1555

Lot 184: Albert Bierstadt Storm in the Rocky Mountains, MT. Rosalie

London: 1869

Lot 202: Thomas McLean The Trellis Window, Tretham Hall Gardens

London:1857

If you are interested in any Lots and wish to bid Please contact Arader Galleries at (415) 788-5115, 432 Jackson Street, San Francisco, Ca 94111. 

The End of the Edo Period: Growing Curiosity in Japan

For roughly 250 years Japan was subject to one ruling family. The Tokugawa family was known for imposing rigid social orders and strict isolationism from foreign contact and trade. The little contact they had with Europeans from 1603-1868 came from Dejima, a small man-made island in Nagasaki's harbor. This island was home to the Dutch East India Company. Any other Europeans that docked in a Japanese port during the Edo period would be put to death without a trial. The complete isolationism nurtured a boom in Japanese culture. Art, entertainment, and fashion became points of interest among urban populations. Around the early 1800's European intrusions were on the rise. To understand these new "barbarians", Rangaku (Dutch studies) became important to the Japanese in understanding and defeating the foreign enemies. Growing interest in the west only increased after a peasant uprising in 1830 forced the Japanese to acknowledge the growing issues within their country. As more citizens looked to the West for answers, Japanese officials tightened their anti-foreigner policy once again. This only caused more unrest amongst the people and invited in more westerners trying to establish trade relations.

This map completed in 1850 is a prime example of the increasing interest the Japanese were developing in the West. This world map displays a fusion of the artistic culture that had blossomed in the Edo period and the desire to understand how the rest of the world functioned and interacted with each other. Instead of focusing solely on Japan's towns and provinces, the mapmaker indicates the value of trading internationally while stylistically holding on to Japanese traditions. Many maps made in this era disregard geographical accuracy, believing that this was inevitable. In comparison to European made maps from nearly a century prior, the level of accuracy is years advanced.

 Japan began reluctantly opening its borders to American traders. This hurt Japan's economy but opened up the country to Western culture. By 1859, western texts and literature were being translated by the government and western military schools led by the Dutch were allowed. Japan ushered in a new era in 1868 when the final Tokugawa resigned and all Japanese borders were opened. Maps from this point on take on a very distinctly European look and cartographers begin paying close attention to the accuracy of their pieces.

This map from 1850 is a rare piece representing a time in which Japan was on the brink of a major cultural change. It retains the Edo period's style and execution while acknowledging Japan's place in the booming world trade markets.

In addition to this historical map, Arader Galleries also offers a selection of Japanese works from this era on a variety of subjects including: whaling, botanicals, livestock, and commerce. For more information, please contact Arader Galleries.

Today in History: August 8th

 British naval officer Joseph Whidbey led an expedition to search for the Northwest Passage near Juneau, Alaska as part of Captain Vancouver’s expedition of the American Pacific Northwest.

A veteran of the American war for Independence, Whidbey was given a peacetime appointment aboard the HMS Europa, where he conducted detailed surveys of Port Royal with then-Lieutenant Vancouver. Once his berth was completed, he was commissioned to the HMS Discovery along with Vancouver.

George Vancouver was born in King's Lynn, Norfolk, England on June 22, 1757. He began his naval career aboard the HMS Resolution, captained by James Cook. Upon completion of two voyages with Captain Cook, Vancouver was commissioned as a Lieutenant aboard the HMS Martin surveying coast lines. It is this work that would set him apart from his peers. Following the Nootka Crisis - which resulted in skirmishes between the Spanish and the English as both tried to assert their authority over the territory - Captain Vancouver was given command of the Discovery and the Chatham and charged with the task of surveying the Pacific Northwest coastline.

The mission was time-consuming as the ships Discovery and the Chatham were too cumbersome to fit into the lithe channels and inlets along the coastline; instead, small boats were sent in every direction to examine the coast in detail. The Vancouver Voyage lasted four-and-a-half years, circumnavigating the globe, landing in five continents and had a great and lasting affect on the indigenous people it encountered as well as encouraging colonization of the Americas.

 

Captain George Vancouver’s maps were so great in detail that they were used as the key reference in coastal navigation for generations to come. In addition to his contributions to navigational records of the Pacific Northwest, he also contributed many surveys of Australia, Galapagos Islands, Sandwich Islands, Mexico, and Chile.

To recognize Whidbey’s outstanding service, Captain Vancouver named the island that forms the northern boundary of Puget Sound -incidentally named for another navel officer on the Vancouver expedition - Whidbey Island.

 Arader Galleries is proud to offer you a fine selection of Vancouver Expedition survey maps. Please contact the Gallery for more information.

The Age of Discovery at Arader Galleries

Arader Galleries in San Francisco was thrilled to host Mrs. Deborah Krikorian’s 7th grade class from San Francisco's Waldorf School last Friday, January 16th. For the second consecutive year, Gallery Director Nicole Lopez presented an insightful lecture focused on the history of cartography and map making during the Age of Discovery (16th through 19th centuries) coinciding with the students’ in-class curriculum.

Students were shown maps and discussed the changing shape of the world as cartographers continued to explore and record their findings throughout the 16th to 19th centuries. Viewing these maps brought to life previous history lessons and stories of explorers traveling the unknown for the students.

Season's Greetings from Arader Galleries

As the holiday season draws near, the quest to find the perfect gift begins!

Please stop by Arader Galleries throughout the holiday season to view our
impressive collection of original maps, engravings,
lithographs, and watercolors.

Hours:

Monday - Friday 10am - 6pm

Saturday 11am - 5pm

Holiday Hours:

December 24th (Christmas Eve) - 11am - 3pm

December 25th - Merry Christmas!

December 26th - Closed

December 31 - Closed

January 1st - Happy New Year!

January 2 - Closed

An interview with Graham Arader

Photograph by Ben Hoffmann

ForbesLife Magazine conducted an insightful interview with Graham Arader about his 40-plus years of experience in the map and rare book world. Beginning with a tour of the Rare Books Vault located in the New York Gallery, Mr. Arader presents an inside view into his world of collecting and dealing rare maps, books and prints and discusses those in his profession who have taken their love for rare maps too far.

"Maps combine art, power, psychology, history, commerce, and fantasy" states Mr. Arader from his gallery at 29th East 72nd Street in New York City. Mr. Arader began his business while in college at Yale. He was captain of the squash team and all–Ivy League for three years--but his life changed when he met Alexander Orr Vietor, the curator of Yale's map collection. "I am the only guy in history who used Yale as a trade school," Arader says. "Mr. Vietor let me use his personal reference library and taught me the standards of collecting. I sold $100,000 in maps my senior year in college.”

With an extensive collection of maps, globes, natural history and botanical prints and great love of history, Mr. Arader has amassed an inventory of over $600 million, spread throughout his five galleries nation-wide. He has also seen first hand the underside of the dealing world and has worked with the FBI and government agencies to capture and convict map and rare book thieves.

With no plans of stopping anytime soon, Mr. Arader continues to collect, deal and make charitable contributions to schools and organizations, hoping to entice and educate the public about these rare and fascinating pieces of history. As he dutifully states, “They tell history in a way you can't get in any other art form.”

To read the full interview, please visit: ForbesLife Magazine

A Maps Lecture by Margaret Pritchard

Thomas Conder, Map of the Interior Travels Through America
London, c. 1789

Margaret Pritchard made the journey from Williamsburg, VA to deliver an incredibly insightful presentation and lecture for The American Decorative Arts Forum at San Francisco’s De Young Museum. The Arader Galleries San Francisco team was in attendance and hosted Margaret for a private reception in the San Francisco Gallery. Margaret received a bachelor’s degree from Hollins College. After working with Winterthur’s needlework collection for a year, she received a fellowship at Colonial Williamsburg to assist with the refurnishing of the Governor’s Palace.Margaret subsequently became the curator of Colonial Williamsburg’s collections of prints, maps and wallpaper. Her responsibilities include acquisition of new objects for the collections and research in the medium of paper. She selects appropriate prints, maps, and wallpaper to hang on the walls of buildings in the historic district, such as the Brush-Everard House, the George Wythe House and the recently recreated Richard Charlton Coffeehouse. Margaret Prichard’s publications include William Byrd II and His Lost History: Engravings of the Americaswith Virginia Sites (1993); Empire’s Nature: Mark Catesby’s New World Vision with Amy Meyers (1998); andDegrees of Latitude: Mapping Colonial America with Henry Taliaferro (2002). She combined her study of geography with living nature for “A Protracted View: The Relationship between Mapmakers and Naturalists in Recording the Land,” her contribution to Curious in our Way: The Culture of Nature in Philadelphia, 1740-1840 (2009).

Margaret’s lecture focused on maps in the 17th and 18th centuries and their importance for documenting new discoveries and promoting settlement in the New World. These documents — created by empirical observation and scientific equipment — authoritatively documented claims of boundaries between colonies and empires. Land titles and rents, and trade — aided by nautical atlases, hung in the balance. As the struggle between France and Britain for control of North America intensified in the 18th century, the need for reliable maps for military use also increased.

Maps also embodied intellectual attainment and social aspiration. Prominently displayed maps, charts, atlases and globes became status symbols for the enlightened, genteel 18th century gentleman whose library might well have included works on commerce, navigation, geography, mathematics, physics, natural history and travel. Maps were ordinarily displayed in the hall (not today’s passageway but the name for the primary room for welcoming guests to the home) or dining room, literally and figuratively demonstrating the host’s expanded world view to guests.

Margaret explained the role of maps as powerful visual symbols during the 17th and 18th centuries. They were useful devices for mapmakers and colonial expansionists to convey a host of attitudes and values. She dissected the meaning behind many of the elements in the maps’ cartouches, adding engaging insight into these stunning antique maps. Examples of many of the maps discussed can be found in the Arader Galleries collection. See our section on Maps on the home page of our website (www.aradersf.com).

W. Graham Arader on the Economics of Maps

W. Graham Arader III was recently interviewed by Bloomberg radio for their ‘On the Economy’ series. Mr. Arader gives his expertise, from 35 years in the rare map business, on map collecting and current market for antique maps. We think you will find this a very interesting interview!

Click here for the interview

Rare Book School at the University of London

View of the interior of the print and works on paper archive room at the British Museum's library.

Sixteenth century woodworking tools used by Albrecht Durer in his printmaking studio and shop for his original woodcuts. These are housed in the British Museum's print room.

Laying down paper to pull a print from an inked copperplate. Print workshop director, Michael Mann, from the Slade School of Fine Art in London leads us through the process.

It was an exciting summer for us! Our gallery spent a week in London attending Rare Book School at the University of London. This summer’s course focused on the History of Maps and Mapping which included seminars by top scholars in the field: Peter Barber, Head of British Library Map Collections; Catherine Delano-Smith, Editor of Imago Mundi – The International Journal for the History of Cartography; Laurence Worms, Ash Rare Books; Roger JP Kain, Professor of Geography at University of Exeter; and Sarah Tyacke, President of Imago Mundi and map specialist for Royal Holloway University of London.

During the week, we were able to view select items from the amazing map collection at the British Library. One of the highlights from this collection included an original Martellus manuscript atlas which arrived in England from Italy around 1800 when purchased by George III's son, the Duke of Sussex and then later purchased by the British Museum following the Duke's death in 1844 - truly one of their prized acquisitions.

Another highlight is what Peter Barber claims is one of the most important purchases the British Library has made in recent years - the Mercator Atlas of Europe. A composite atlas containing the only known manuscript maps in Mercator's own hand. Some of the printed maps have annotations in ink in Mercator's handwriting!

To top off this experience, we were also allowed access to the British Museum’s print room. Here, we were able to see some of the items from the permanent collection, including the woodworking tools used by Albrecht Durer to make his woodblocks.

The entire week was an incredible and educational experience! We look forward to next year’s seminars. To learn more about the program we attended, please feel free to contact the School of Advanced Study at the University of London.

Antique Maps: Who’s the Author?

John Melish
Engraved by J.J. Vallance & H.S. Tanner
Published by John Melish Philadelphia

During the 16th through 19th centuries map-making involved many diverse tasks, and most often the tasks were completed by several different laborers. Map-makers of this time such as Abraham Ortelius, Nicolas Visscher and John Melish did not create their maps and atlases solely by themselves, but as their names are usually the most prominent on the maps, they can appear as the exclusive producer of the map. Maps were conceptualized by the map-maker, Ortelius, Visscher and Melish, and constructed by the surveyor, the draftsman, the engraver, the colorist, and the publisher. At times the cartographer would take responsibility for all tasks in producing a map, but not usually; the cartographer employed a hydrographer to survey and measure the land, a draftsman to draw up a manuscript map by hand, an engraver to create the copperplate and printing, a colorist to paint the printed maps, and a publisher to issue and distribute the maps and atlases.

Generally, the cartographer was the mind behind the creation of the maps and atlases and oversaw his productions. He was someone who often came from a family of map-makers or publishers, seemingly falling into the business but undoubtedly having a great passion for his trade. Others realized the demand for geographical information and sought a profession in map-making. Abraham Ortelius, for example, started his career as a map engraver. It was through this profession that he became interested in compiling atlases, and so began his career as a map-maker. Later he would go on to become the geographer to Kind Philip II of Spain. In this task he would travel with the King on his expeditions where he would survey land and use his geographical knowledge to navigate and educate the King on his territories and those of other states.

On the other side of the spectrum, Scotsman John Melish began his career as a publisher. After visiting the United States on business and traveling through the territory extensively, he used his travel accounts to produce maps of early 18th century America. Because he was wealthy, Melish was able to employ the very best engravers for his projects and distribute his maps under his own name. After the publishing of his first set of maps and travel accounts, Melish made his business in Philadelphia in commercial cartography and geography.

Ultimately, the map-maker is known as the author, and his name is the name we remember. But there were many tasks necessary in creating atlases full of beautifully printed, colored and, at the time, accurate maps, and for each of these tasks there were specialists waiting to play their parts in making a map.

A Highly Important Map of the United States

A highly educated merchant from Scotland, John Melish first visited America on business in 1806. He returned in 1811 to settle in Philadelphia and continue his successful business of commercial cartography where he quickly became one of America’s greatest mapmakers. Until the publication of this grand map of the United States, the growing body of geographical knowledge about America was assimilated primarily on military maps and British commercial maps, none of which had ever encompassed the entirety of U.S. Territory.

With American nationalism strengthening after the War of 1812, a friend mentioned to Melish that he would like to see a map that would condense one grand view of the whole of U.S. Territory. Recognizing the seemingly endless demand for geographical information on the American West, Melish produced his six-sheet map with the help of Philadelphia engravers John Vallance and Henry S. Tanner, which would later be known as his finest achievement. He drew on published eastern state maps and west coast surveys and city studies to create this mammoth sized map which is the first map to show the U.S. Territory stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Little was know about the West, and this map seemed to embody the burgeoning notion of Manifest Destiny.

Although quite beautiful and magnificent to behold, this map functioned as a key in treaties and border disputes between the United States and Mexico in later years. It also improved knowledge of the American West and Texas, and thus promoted settlement in these areas by Anglo-Americans where opportunities for self-advancement and freedom seemed possible.

This map is currently on view at our Jackson Square location at 435 Jackson Street, San Francisco. Please contact us if you have any additional questions about this important map.

Exquisite Wall Map of Europe by Overton

Detail of vignette of Amsterdam

Detail of vignette of Paris

English cartography rose to prominence at the turn of the 18th century, and one of Britain’s most celebrated cartographers was Henry Overton, who successfully reissued several editions of John Speed's popular county maps of England. One of Overton’s most splendid productions is this wall map, a highly ornamental production that shows Europe as it was in the time of Louis XIV. The map is flanked by sixteen large detailed views of important cities: London, Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Constantinople, Lisbon, Seville, Antwerp, Venice, Frankfurt, Prague, Cologne, Copenhagen, Kracow, and Danzig. This map is a valuable record of the growth of these cities, presenting an image of them as they were in the 1700’s. The whole is enclosed within a richly colored, highly decorative floral border.

This is a very rare map, not noted by the British Museum Catalogue of Printed Maps. The date of the map is uncertain, but is certainly after 1707, the year in which the mapmaker, Henry Overton, succeeded his father, John Overton. Antique wall maps such as this are exceedingly rare, for lacking the protection of bound maps, they were often destroyed by the effects of light, humidity, and carelessness. Overton’s Europe is a rare example of such a map to survive not only intact, but in excellent condition, with vivid original color.

This spectacular wall map is currently on view at Arader Galleries and available for purchase. For more information, call 415-788-5115.

California as an Island maps

One of the most interesting cartographic myths of the European exploration of the Americas was maps depicting California shown as an island. This famous misconception impacted the accuracy of mapmaking for over a hundred years, until its acceptance of California as part of the mainland was established in the mid-eighteenth century.

Between the years of 1500 and 1747, a lot of confusion ensued over whether or not California, a mysterious land with an abundance of gold, was in fact an island. As early as 1500, California was thought to be an island. As more and more explorers ventured up the coastal region, it was established that California was, in reality, part of the mainland. This discovery, however, did not last long as miscommunications and mistaken observations turned the coast back into an island!

Beginning in the year 1622, California began its cartographic existence as a large island off the coast of Newe Spaine, accompanied by an article by Henry Briggs. The “island of California” appeared to have a rough and rocky coastline complete with smaller islands off the shore. The theory became universally accepted over the next ten years as influential published such as Nicolas Sanson, Fredrick de Wit and Nicolas de Fer created beautiful maps that confirmed California’s insularity. Some maps even highlighted a functional Northern coast with finger-like peninsulas reaching towards the mainland.

Father Eusebio Kino confirmed that California was part of the landmass of America in 1698 by walking to California from the mainland without encountering a body of water, then showing his results in a map published in 1705. Still, it was not until 1747 when Ferdinand VII of Spain declared it part of the mailand, by royal decree stating, “California is not an Island,” that cartographers began to eliminate the myth. Interestingly, the practice of depicting California as an island lasted until 1865 in Japanese cartography.

Arader Galleries is pleased to present to you our collection of these cartographical curiosities, all of which are currently available for purchase at our San Francisco location. Please contact us with any questions you have about this fascinating collection.

Italy: Views, Maps, Ornament

Arader Galleries is pleased to present a very special collection of antique original maps, views, architectural studies and decorative ornament related to the history of Italy.

Italy has long been the birthplace of many important artistic and intellectual movements in European culture, beginning with the Etruscans and Romans, and later the Renaissance and Baroque movements. In the mid-18th to 19th centuries, a return to the Roman Classical style of art and architecture, Neoclassicism, became very popular. From the baroque illustrations of Raphael’s frescoes at the Vatican by Ottaviani, to the 18th century illustrations of Etruscan artifacts by Hamilton, the collection of Italian material in this catalog spans over several centuries.

Also featured are maps of all regions of Italy executed by Dutch and French cartographers in the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as the baroque Italian botanical engravings by Ferrari.

To request a copy of this recently published catalog, please call 415.788.5115. Many of these items are currently on view at our 435 Jackson St. location in San Francisco.