CT River Book Auction
May 12 at 6 pm
Inspection begins at noon with the auction starting at 6 pm.
South Congregational Church: 949 Main Street, South Glastonbury, CT 06073
www.ctriverbookauction.com
860-908-8067

SOUTH GLASTONBURY, CONN. — The Friday, May 12, Connecticut River Book Auction at South Congregational Church at 6 pm offers attendees and absentee bidders an opportunity to acquire two uncommon records of America’s Revolutionary War. The first is an original broadside issued by the Massachusetts House of Representatives on February 6, 1777.

In January of that year, Washington had captured the British garrison at Princeton and established his winter encampment at nearby Morristown, N.J. While the winter of 1777 was not as bitterly cold as that of the following year, his troops were ill-prepared for winter weather. Many were without proper clothing and, hard as it is to believe, shoes. Coupled with the ever-present threat of illness, particularly smallpox, the army needed assistance. On the day preceding this broadside’s publication, Washington took the first step in improving the condition of his forces. Specifically, he issued an order that all troops would be inoculated to protect against smallpox, which had decimated the army’s ranks.

The next action occurred the following day and was likely unknown to him. Several hundred miles away in Boston the following request was made: “That the Army may be duly [supplied] with Shoes, Stockings and Shirts,” each town was directed to appoint “a faithful man” to secure “good strong pairs of shoes and of yarn stockings and shirts…and to be very careful that they may be of the best quality that so the Soldier may not be defrauded.” While the Continental Congress acted as the provisional government, its weaknesses were apparent — none more so — than in this plea by the Massachusetts legislature to find clothing and shoes for Washington’s troops.

The second item of interest is William Abbatt’s The Crisis of the Revolution, being the story of Arnold and Andre. Arnold is, of course, Benedict Arnold, and Andre is British adjutant general John Andre, who assisted Arnold in his betrayal. While Arnold’s story is well known, Andre’s is less so.

Joining the army at age 20, Andre was captured early in the Revolutionary War and held prisoner in Lancaster, Penn. In a practice common at the time, he was given freedom of the town in exchange for his word that he would not attempt to flee. Approximately a year later, he was freed in a prisoner exchange. During his time in Philadelphia and New York when both cities were occupied by the British, Andre’s likable personality as an artist, poet and singer endeared him to both friend and foe alike.

In 1779, Andre accepted responsibility for British spy activities against the Americans. About this time, he began discussions with Arnold and in the fall of 1780 traveled up the Hudson River to receive from him plans of the fortification of West Point. The betrayal of West Point was doomed to failure when Andre’s intended means of escape by boat was thwarted, and he attempted to flee to British lines by horseback. Captured in Tarrytown, N.Y., in civilian clothes, he was later tried and convicted of spying. His sentence of death by hanging is thought to have been in retribution for the death of Nathan Hale by the same means.

Quarto in size, this volume published in 1899 was limited to 250 signed copies and has the large folded map as well as two copies of the one page supplement that was issued to subscribers in 1909.

These two items are joined by signed letters by A.A. Milne, J.M. Barrie and Maria von Trapp (writing about the arrest of Peter Yarrow) and a wealth of other material.

South Congregational Church is at 949 Main Street, For information, www.ctriverbookauction.com or 860-908-8067.

Across New England corn, squash and pumpkins are being planted while early lettuce and spinach are being harvested. The Friday, May 12th Connecticut River Book Auction likewise promises a bountiful spring gathering of collectable books and ephemera for attendees and absentee bidders alike.
For history fans there is a Revolutionary War Broadside from Boston dated February 6th, 1777 calling on every town to appoint a man to find shoes, socks and shirts for use by the Continental army. There is also a 1st edition copy of Blanchard’s (1833) The American Biography containing Biographical Sketches of the Officers of the Revolution and the limited signed edition of Abbatt’s (1899) The Crisis of the Revolution being the Story of Arnold and Andre. Students of more recent events will find 1st editions of Churchill’s (1923-1931) The World Crisis in 6 volumes published by Butterworth’s of London, a signed set of Schlesinger’s (1971) History of American Presidential Elections 1789 – 1968, and Langford’s (1905) Diary of the Washburn Expedition to the Yellowstone and Firehole Rivers in the Year 1870. Fans of fiction both old and new will be pleased to find Leroux’s (1911) The Phantom of the Opera a 1st edition 2nd issue with a 1st edition of his (1908) The Mystery of the Yellow Room. We have 1st edition copies in dustjackets of George Orwell’s (1956) Keep the Aspidistra Flying and (1958) The Road to Wigan Pier as well as a nicely illustrated 1790 two volumes full leather copy of Robinson Crusoe by Defoe that was published by Stockdale of London. Readers of Leonard, Macdonald, McBain, Block and Higgins will find more than enough signed 1st editions in dustjackets to satisfy their mystery needs.
This auction has several signed items that warrant attention including a land grant signed by President James Monroe, a Willie Mays signed large, framed photo of The Catch, hand written autographed letters by J.M. Barrie and by A.A. Milne. The Milne letter shares that his son is off to boarding school. There is also a collection of material related to Maria von Trapp including a note expressing her concern over the arrest of Peter Yarrow and a letter expressing her disappointment regarding the refusal of Sound of Music Inc to let her sign a television contract that would have solved her financial problems.
To this, add art books by Ruhmer & Wagner (1936) Fische und Heimat, a signed copy by Thi (1997) Nghe Thuat Diem Phung Thi, and Stoll’s (1907) Neue Farbige Vorlagen fur fie Textil=Industrie and you have the makings of an enjoyable evening. Oh, we almost forgot to mention a Connecticut photo album with several civil war era photographs of soldiers with identifying information.
For more information on this 6 pm, Friday, May 12th book auction
to be held at the South Congregational Church, 949 Main Street, South Glastonbury, CT 06073 visit ctriverbookauction.com or call Tom at 1-860-908-8067.