Auction Date:2009 Jun 24 @ 10:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
Location:6270 Este Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio, 45232, United States
Hildreth, Samuel P. History of an early Voyage on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, c.1842. 42pp plus 14 leaves of additional drafts and notes.
In the mid-19th century, the physician, historian, and antiquarian Samuel P. Hildreth was among the more prolific and interesting historians of the Old Northwest Territory and the Ohio River Valley. Living at a time when many of the white pioneers of the region were still alive, but failing fast, Hildreth actively sought to record the first hand stories of settlement, producing a string of articles and books that are notable pieces of nineteenth century historical writing, displaying a zeal for his subject and style that remains as enjoyable and lively as the day it was written.
This long, closely written narrative describes an 1805 voyage of the ship Non-Pareil from Marietta to New Orleans, carrying Gen. Jared Mansfield, who had been appointed Surveyor of the Ohio and Northwest Territory. The account provides a sense of the languid pace of the journey, the slow progress downstream through a landscape that was just beginning to bear the traces of extensive white settlement, the small towns and burgeoning cities, as well as life aboard ship. In characteristic fashion, Hildreth also uses the occasion of the voyage as a launching pad to talk about the history and natural history of the region, often intertwined, floating like the Non-Pareil from topic to topic as opportunity and moorage presents. Passing the mouth of the Sandy and Guyandot Rivers, for example, he writes: In the years 1805, 6 & 7, eight thousand skins were collected by the hunters from the waters of these rivers & a few adjacent streams. It was the paradise of Bears, affording their most favorite food in exhaustless abundance. The bear is not strictly a carnivorous animal, but like the hog feeds chiefly on vegetable food -- on the ridges were whole forests of Chestnuts, & the hill sides were covered with oaks on whose fruit they luxuriated & fattened, until their glossy skins afforded the finest peltry imaginable. The war in Europe created a great demand for these skins to decorate the soldiers of then hostile armies, and good ones yielded to the hunters four & five dollars each. Since that day the attention of the sojourners of this wild region has been turned to the collection of the roots of the Ginseng...
Throughout, Hildreth remarks on the dramatic changes in the flora and fauna and the settlement that had already transformed the appearance of the landscape. When Mansfield and crew arrived at Cincinnati, Hildreth wrote: New settlements & improvements were springing up along the banks of the river every few miles, & the busy hum of civilization was heard, where silence had reigned for ages, except when broken by the scream of the Panther, the howl of the wolf, or the yell of the savage. In this distance there are now no less than twelve towns, some of which are of considerable importance.... Cincinnati in 1805 contained a population of nine hundred & fifty souls. The enlivening notes of the fife & drum at reveille were no longer heard, & the loud booming of the morning gun as it rolled its echoes along the hills & the winding shores or the river, had ceased to awaken the inhabitants from their slumbers... One of the most interesting sections of the narrative is the description of New Madrid, as it appeared in 1805: The inhabitants were a mixed people of French, Spanish & American -- under the Spanish government it had been a town of considerable importance & the residence of a military commandant -- It was the site of a small fort & required all boats descending the river to stop and pay a duty on their load, but now being in the hands of the Americans, this practice so annoying to the republicans of the Valley of the Ohio had ceased… at one time the people had serious thoughts of taking possession of the country by force of arms & driving out these hard hearted exactors -- a much wiser course was however taken by the cautious Jefferson, by which he not only secured the quiet possession of the country, but also the payment of several millions of dollars of debts due to his country men... What makes the section special, however, is Hildreth's lengthy, fabulously informative account of the damage done by the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811-1812 and its impact on the landscape.
Elsewhere, Hildreth describes stops at Big Bone Lick, where fossil mammoths were excavated; Lexington, Ky.; the motley passengers who came on board or left; the occasion rumor of robbers and bandits; the area around New Orleans; and in brief, the return north with a party of Kentuckians.
Although the narrative is not quite complete, it represents a polished piece of nineteenth century historical write with abundant information from first hand sources on the early transportation history of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and the impact of settlement and political change throughout the region.
Descended Directly in the Putnam-Hildreth Families of Marietta, Ohio
Condition: An excellent work in good condition throughout.
Auction Location:
6270 Este Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio, 45232, United States
Previewing Details:
Tuesday, June 23, 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday, June 24 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Taxes:
| Tax | Rate | Desc. |
| Ohio |
5.5% |
Ohio State Tax |
Buyer's Premiums:
| From (Incl.) | To (Excl.) | Premium |
| 0.00 |
Infinite |
17.5% |
Additional Fees:
Shipping Details:
Cowan's is happy to provide a shipping estimate in advance of the auction. We have partnered with an outside shipper - Wrap-It Postal. Their services to our respected customers are based inside the Cowans facility.Please contact Wrap-It Postal by email at shipping@cowans.com, or call 513.871.1670 (ext.19). You can also submit a request for an online quote . All shipping and packing costs will be charged separately by Wrap-It Postal to your credit card on file.
Cowan's is in no way responsible for the acts or omissions of independent handlers, packers or shippers of purchased items or for any loss, damage or delay from the packing or shipping of any property.
ADVICE TO INTERNATIONAL BUYERS: Cowan's will not ship any package containing a firearm to any location other than within the United States. Buyers outside the United States must make their own shipping arrangements taking full risk for the transportation of any firearm.
Buyers are required to pay for all packing, shipping and insurance charges. Overseas duty charges are the responsibility of the successful bidder. Be aware that for larger and/or valuable items, shipping charges can be substantial.
Payment Details:
The purchase price for each lot shall equal the hammer price, buyer's premium, sales tax and, if applicable, all packing, handling, insurance and shipping costs. Payment may be made with cash, personal or traveler's check, Visa or MasterCard.
Buyers who are present at the auction must pay the full purchase price at the time of the sale. Buyers who bid by telephone or who are absentee bidders will be invoiced within 5 days after the close of the auction and must pay the full purchase price for each purchased lot within 14 days after the date of the auction. By signing the absentee bid form or placing an absentee bid by telephone, an absentee bidder authorizes Cowan's to charge the purchase price (hammer price, plus buyer's premium) for each lot for which such bidder is the successful bidder to the credit card number provided by telephone or on the absentee bid form, unless payment in full or alternative payment instruction is received within 14 days after the date of the auction. No property will be released by Cowan's unless the purchase price has been paid in full.
Accepted Payment Methods:
- VISA
- Master Card
- Check/Cheque
By registering and bidding in an auction conducted by Cowan's Auctions, Inc. ("Cowan's"), bidders (whether present in person, by telephone, by agent, by written or telephone absentee bid instruction, or through a live internet connection) agree to be bound by these terms. These are the complete and only terms and conditions on which all property is offered for sale.
1) REGISTRATION
All bidders must register their name, permanent street address (no P.O. Boxes), and telephone number prior to the auction. Unless known to Cowan's, all registrants are required to present two forms of identification, at least one of which must include a current photograph. Bidders may be required to present a valid Visa or MasterCard.
2) ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS
Bidding on any item, whether in person, by phone, by absentee bid or via a live internet auction indicates the bidder's agreement to be bound by these Terms and Conditions for Bidders. Any right of bidder under this agreement shall not be assignable and shall only be enforceable by the original buyer. The rights and obligations of the parties shall be governed by the laws of the state of Ohio. All bidders submit to the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts in Ohio.
3) TERMS OF SALE
Announcements made the day of auction take precedence over any previous communication. The auctioneer reserves the right to withdraw any lot at any time before its final sale and to reject any bid for any reason. The highest bidder for each lot acknowledged by the auctioneer shall be the "buyer". If any dispute arises as to any bidding, or between two or more bidders, at the sole discretion of the auctioneer, the successful bidder will be determined or the disputed lot shall be put up again at the last undisputed bid and resold.
4) BUYER’S PREMIUM
(a) Buyer’s Premium for “Historic Firearms and Early Militaria”. The Auctioneer will collect and retain from the Buyer, as additional commission, a premium equal to 15% the Sale Price of each Lot up to and including $200,000, plus 10% of the amount by which the Sale Price exceeds $200,000.
(b) Buyer’s Premium for “Fine and Decorative Arts”, “Historic Americana” and “American Indian Arts”. The Auctioneer will collect and retain from the Buyer, as additional commission, a premium equal to 17 ½% of the Sale Price of each Lot up to and including $200,000, plus 10% of the amount by which the Sale Price exceeds $200,000.
(c) Buyer’s Premium for Internet Auctions conducted in Liveauctioneers.com. The Auctioneer will collect and retain from the Buyer, as additional commission a premium equal to 17.5% of the Sale Price of each Lot up to and including $200,000, plus 10% of the amount by which the Sale Price exceeds $200,000.
5) ESTIMATES AND RESERVES
Presale estimates are intended to be guides and may or may not reflect the ultimate hammer price of a lot. Cowan's retains the right to change estimates on any lot up to time of sale. A reserve is a confidential minimum price agreed upon by the seller of the lot and Cowan's. In the case of reserved lots, the seller has authorized Cowan's to bid on seller's behalf until the reserve price is reached. In no case will the reserve be higher than the low presale estimate. Cowan's standard house reserve on all property at auction is 70% of the low estimate.
6) WARRANTIES AND DISCLAIMERS
Cowan's makes a limited warranty only to the original buyer of record concerning the authenticity of each lot for a period of 14 days after bidder's receipt of merchandise. If a buyer is not satisfied that the lot purchased is genuine, the buyer may, at his or her own expense, obtain the opinion of two mutually agreed upon recognized experts in the field of the disputed lot. If these experts determine that the item is not genuine, the buyer's sole and exclusive remedy shall be the rescission of the sale and refund of the amount paid for the item. It is specifically understood and agreed that the rescission of the sale and refund is exclusive and in lieu of any other remedy which might otherwise be available as a matter of law or in equity, and such remedy is conditioned upon the buyer returning the property in the same condition as at the time of sale. Cowan's shall not be liable for any incidental or consequential damages. All sales are final, with no returns or refunds except as provided in this limited warranty.
Except as provided in the immediately proceeding paragraph, EVERY LOT IS SOLD "AS IS", without any representations or warranties by Cowan's or the seller as to merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, condition or value of the property, or the correctness or completeness of the catalog or other description of the property, and no statement, whether written or oral shall be deemed such a representation, warranty or assumption of liability. Cowan's makes no representation or warranty that the buyer of manuscript material, photographs, prints or works of art will acquire any copyright or reproduction rights. Cowan's does not guarantee the working order of any clock, watch, electronic or mechanical device. Dimensions given in our descriptions may be approximate.
7) INSPECTION
Except for On-Line Only Auctions, all lots are available for inspection prior to the auction. Condition reports for most items can be found online at Cowan's website, www.cowans.com, and prospective bidders are encouraged to contact Cowan's directly for additional information regarding the condition of any lot. Cowan's does not warrant the condition of any item. Buyers interested in the condition of an item are encouraged to contact Cowan's and, to the best of our ability, we will document for the prospective bidder the condition status on any lot. Condition is always a subjective evaluation and final responsibility rests with the buyer to assess the condition of any item sold by Cowan's.
Absentee and telephone bidding is offered as a free service to our customers and prospective bidders. Cowan's shall not be responsible for any errors or failures in executing bids, either absentee, telephone or via the internet.
8) ABSENTEE BIDDING
Absentee bids are accepted via mail, phone, fax, email, or on our website. Such bids will be posted with the time and date of arrival, with ties being awarded to the earliest bidder.
All absentee bids must be made on Cowan's absentee bid form. An absentee bidder unknown to Cowan's may be required to submit a bank letter of credit prior to the auction, or, using a credit card, deposit with Cowan's a fee equaling 30% of the absentee bid.
All absentee bids are executed competitively by a member of the auction staff. The auction staff will try to purchase the lot for the lowest price possible and will bid up to the amount designated by the absentee bidder only if necessary. Cowan's does not accept "buy bids," or absentee bids which have no limit. In the event of a tie bid between a floor and absentee bidders, the floor bid will be honored.
All absentee bids must be received no later than 6:00 p.m. eastern standard time, the day before the start of each auction session.
9) TELEPHONE BIDDING
Bidding live via the telephone is available on a first come, first served basis for those lots with a low estimate of $500 or greater. In order for Cowan's to efficiently serve the needs of those who wish to bid by phone, please note the following:
• To participate in the auction by telephone, potential bidders must complete the absentee bid form and check “I WISH TO BID BY TELEPHONE” for the designed lots.
• Telephone bidders are advised to indicate an “insurance bid”, which amount will become an absentee bid, pursuant to the absentee bidding process set forth above, if Cowan’s can not reach the bidder by telephone for a particular indicated lot.
• Telephone bidders must disable any caller ID or other call blocking mechanism.
• Cowan’s sells about 100 lots per hour, so telephone bidders should plan accordingly. Cowan’s will attempt to reach each telephone bidder, but Cowan’s is in no way responsible for missed calls.
All reservations for telephone lines must be received no later than 6:00 p.m. eastern standard time, the day before the start of each auction session.
10) INTERNET BIDDING
Internet bidding via icollector.com may be available for certain auctions. There may be terms which apply to internet bids that should be reviewed on line at the time of sale. Cowan's is not responsible for any failure to execute a bid due to interruption of internet line service which is beyond our control.
11) BIDDING INCREMENTS
The following increments are used at the auction. Absentee bids must fall within these increments. Cowan's will automatically reduce any absentee bid to the closest increment if the bid falls outside the published range of increments.
For Bids falling Between Bidding Increment
$0-200 $10
$201-500 $25
$501-1000 $50
$1001-3000 $100
$3001-5000 $250
$5001 and up $500 or at the discretion of the auctioneer
Cowan’s reserves the right to modify increments at any time during the auction
AFTER THE AUCTION
12) BUYER'S RESPONSIBILITY
Upon the fall of the hammer, title to the offered lot shall pass to the buyer and the buyer immediately assumes full risk and responsibility for the lot, including liability for loss or damage.
13) PURCHASE PRICE AND PAYMENT
The purchase price for each lot shall equal the hammer price, buyer's premium, sales tax and, if applicable, all packing, handling, insurance and shipping costs. Payment may be made with cash, personal or traveler's check, Visa or MasterCard.
Buyers who are present at the auction must pay the full purchase price at the time of the sale. Buyers who bid by telephone or who are absentee bidders will be invoiced within 5 days after the close of the auction and must pay the full purchase price for each purchased lot within 14 days after the date of the auction. By signing the absentee bid form or placing an absentee bid by telephone, an absentee bidder authorizes Cowan's to charge the purchase price (hammer price, plus buyer's premium) for each lot for which such bidder is the successful bidder to the credit card number provided by telephone or on the absentee bid form, unless payment in full or alternative payment instruction is received within 14 days after the date of the auction. No property will be released by Cowan's unless the purchase price has been paid in full.
Institutional billing may be available, and should be arranged prior to the auction.
14) SALES TAX
Buyers are required to pay any applicable state and local sales tax.
15) SHIPPING
Cowan's is happy to provide a shipping estimate in advance of the auction. We have partnered with an outside shipper - Wrap-It Postal. Their services to our respected customers are based inside the Cowans facility.Please contact Wrap-It Postal by email at shipping@cowans.com, or call 513.871.1670 (ext.19). You can also submit a request for an online quote . All shipping and packing costs will be charged separately by Wrap-It Postal to your credit card on file.
Cowan's is in no way responsible for the acts or omissions of independent handlers, packers or shippers of purchased items or for any loss, damage or delay from the packing or shipping of any property.
ADVICE TO INTERNATIONAL BUYERS: Cowan's will not ship any package containing a firearm to any location other than within the United States. Buyers outside the United States must make their own shipping arrangements taking full risk for the transportation of any firearm.
16) SHIPPING CHARGES
Buyers are required to pay for all packing, shipping and insurance charges. Overseas duty charges are the responsibility of the successful bidder. Be aware that for larger and/or valuable items, shipping charges can be substantial.
17) REMOVAL AND STORAGE OF PROPERTY
If purchased property has not been removed, or Cowan's has not received shipping instructions within 21 days after the auction date, a $10 per item per day storage fee may be charged to the buyer.
18) CANCELLATION OF SALE
If purchased property remains in the custody of Cowan's for a period of 60 days following the auction, Cowan's may, at its option, cancel the sale, retaining as liquidated damages any payments made by the buyer, or resell the property at auction or by any other commercially reasonable means, and in such event, buyer shall be liable for the payment of all of Cowan's costs, including but not limited to storage and costs of sale.