Unlisted Amos Doolittle Engraved Mechanic Library New-Haven Printed Bookplate

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Autographs-Colonial-Political-Americana

By Early American History Auctions

May 22, 2021

Set Reminder 2021-05-22 12:00:00 2021-05-22 12:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Autographs-Colonial-Political-Americana https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/early-american-history-auctions/autographs-colonial-political-americana-6913
302 Lots of Rare, Historic Autographs, Americana, Civil War Era, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Slavery & Black History, Revolutionary War Era, Colonial America, Federal Period, War of 1812, Colonial Currency, Indian Peace Medals & more... Early American History Auctions auctions@earlyamerican.com

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• Lot Description
  Colonial America
  Unlisted Amos Doolittle Copper-Plate Engraved Bookplate Mechanic Library of New-Haven with Printed Vignette
  c. 1793, Unlisted, Amos Doolittle Copper-Plate Engraved Bookplate for the "Mechanic Library New-Haven", number 447, Connecticut, Very Fine.
  Exceedingly rare, "Mechanic Library New-Haven" this example previously unrecorded / new discovery. A highly ornate American Copper-Plate Engraved Bookplate, engraved and printed by Amos Doolittle. Doolittle, also know for his skill as "The Paul Revere of Connecticut," is most famous for his historic series of four Engravings of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, various Bookplates, and other Maps, Illustrations and Imprints, along with the "New Haven Fugio Cent" later die restrikes. This Bookplate measures 4.25" x 3.75" and has been trimmed at top and four corners, laid on clean card stock, no doubt trimmed to fit on display within an early period frame. Here, artist and engraver Doolittle features a pile of books atop a cartouche in which two angels or cherubs are forging a piece of metal. The Library's motto: "Improve the Moment" appears in a banner above the angels. The name of the Library appears below, beneath which Doolittle identifies himself within the plate's engraved text reading, "Doolittle del et Sculpr" below. Not listed by Charles Dexter Allen in "American Book-Plates". However, there are three now known as we located a full-sized but damaged example in the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and another example, very tightly trimmed on all sides within the Yale University Art Gallery in New Haven and our current example. Not surprisingly, this is the very first example we have seen and offered.
  Amos Doolittle's Bookplates:
  Of the "known" Bookplates engraved by Amos Doolittle, his four local Library engraved plates are by far the most interesting, as they are the most pretentious. Two are College plates, one for the Brothers in Unity, and the other for the Linonian Library.
  The former was designed by Wm. Taylor, the latter presumably was designed as well as Engraved by Doolittle. They are quaint and crude both in design and workmanship. The plate for the Linonian Library is dated 1802. It is rich in allegory, and full of detail.
  The other two local Library plates were the plates of the Mechanic Library and the Social Library Company. The former was organized in 1793, the first meeting of the organizers being held in the State House, February 5th of that year. This is probably the earliest public or semipublic library in the city.
  There seems to have been some connection between it and the Mechanic Society of which Mr. Doolittle was a member, or at all events his funeral was attended by the Mechanic Society, which would indicate his membership in it. The library never reached large proportions. A catalogue published sometime after 1801 shows nine hundred volumes. This library had two book-plates. The smaller and supposed earlier plate is not signed by Doolittle, but that he engraved it there can be little doubt.
  As an indication of some connection between this library and the Society of Mechanics it may be stated that this plate, only slightly altered, appears as a wood-cut in the advertisement in the paper of the meetings of the Society. For mechanics as for readers of books the motto was, "Improve the Moment." That was back in 1800. The larger and more elaborate plate carries his name as designer and engraver.
  In 1807 another library was organized, though not incorporated until 1810. This was known as the Social Library Company, and for this Doolittle designed and engraved a book-plate. I might add that in 1815 the Mechanic Library was merged with the Social Library Company, and the two were known as the Social Library, which existed under this name until 1840. This Social Library Company book-plate is in some respects the best of Doolittle's book-plates. It has its defects, but on the whole it presents a very neat and attractive appearance.
  Across the top is a ribbon bearing the name, and underneath is a black cloud in which are two well-fed, sweet-faced cherubs, holding in their hands a huge scroll on which are the words, Theology, History, Biography, Voyages and Travels, Classical, indicating the character of the books in the library. You will notice the absence of Fiction. This library frowned upon that branch of literature. In the distance is a large house on a knoll among the trees, while nearer is a body of water, and on the grass in the immediate foreground are books and scrolls, and a compass, and a globe. Underneath all is the perfectly proper sentiment, and eminently sage advice,
  "Tis Books a lasting pleasure can supply,
  Charm while we live and teach us how to die,
  Seek here ye Young the anchor of your mind,
  Here suffering Age a blest provision find."
  Courtesy of Project Canterbury:
  An Old New Haven Engraver and His Work: Amos Doolittle, By William Agur Beardsley, New Haven: no publisher, 1914.
  
  Our Auction Contents:
  
  Black History & Slavery: (Lots 1 - 63)
  Abraham Lincoln Related: (Lots 64 - 74)
  Historic Autographs: (Lots 75 - 235)
  Colonial America: (Lots 236 - 261)
  Revolutionary War: (Lots 262 - 304)
  George Washington Related: (Lots 305 - 306)
  Early American Guns & Weapons: (Lots 307 - 318)
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