American Historical Ephemera & Early Photography
Department
The American Historical Ephemera & Early Photography Department at Freemans's brings to market exceptional artifacts, manuscripts, early photography, and more, illuminating the military, political, social, and cultural history of the United States from the Colonial Period into the 20th century.
The department handles a wide range of physical objects, textiles, manuscripts, print material, and early photography, from vernacular portraiture to rare images capturing seminal events in US history. Our Early American History auctions feature historically important pieces that tell a story: from ephemeral items like broadsides and flyers, to more durable relics like medals and campaign textiles, to diaries and archives that convey the depth and breadth of the American experience. Building upon the nationally-recognized excellence of Cowan's Auctions in Americana and historic photography and combining that legacy with the national reach of Freeman's, the department maintains its positions as a market leader in offering historic Americana.
Early American History Auctions
In recent years, our team has had the distinct honor of offering some of the category’s finest collections, achieving record-setting prices and setting the standard for how multi-faceted yet carefully curated collections can be most effectively brought to market.
Those collections include Property of N. Flayderman & Company; the Civil War Collection of James C. Frasca; Property from the James Milgram, M.D., Collection of Broadsides, Ephemeral Americana, and Historical Documents; and the Steve Turner Collection of African Americana.
Significant highlights include two daguerreotypes of miner William J. Jewell (1818-1885) in the California gold fields in July 1852 ($60,480); an Antebellum daguerreotype taken in Georgia, believed to be the earliest known image of enslaved African Americans with cotton ($324,500); an archive of materials mostly related to abolitionist George H. Hoyt's work as an attorney for John Brown ($43,750); and the earliest and rarest of the Lincoln Assassination Reward broadsides entitled $30,000 Reward. Description of John Wilkes Booth!, printed ca 16 April 1865 ($31,250).
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Team
Katie Horstman
VP, Head of Department, American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography
Latest Articles
Remarkable White-Glove Collection of Darwiniana Headlines Freeman’s $1.8 Million Books & Manuscripts Auction
The Braydon C. Guild Collection of Charles Darwin spurred Freeman’s November Books & Manuscripts auction well past its presale estimate and on to a $1.8 million day. The remarkable 37-lot collection led off the sale and sold all 37 lots, realizing a combined total of $621,440. “Coming in the midst of an election cycle and a turbulent week on Wall Street, it was encouraging to see collectors remain undeterred, with strong bidding throughout the sale,” said Christopher Brink, Freeman’s Associate Vice President of Books & Manuscripts and Head of Sale. “These results are worth keeping in mind as we consider where to place our assets, particularly as rare books and manuscripts have continued to demonstrate their stability year after year.” A Remarkable Collection of a True Nature Enthusiast Braydon “Brad” Charles Guild was a true renaissance man. By trade, he was a molecular biologist who made significant contributions to the scientific community around the globe, but those who knew him best will remember him for his love of art, music, carpentry, antiques, and, of course, as a devoted husband, father, and friend. Always quick with a joke and eager to share both a story and his time, Guild’s prized possession was his collection of material related to his idol, Charles Darwin. Over the years, Guild amassed an exceptional assemblage of Darwiniana encompassing every title published by the naturalist. It was the sort of collection that was the envy of the collecting community, as evidenced by the frenzied bidding it attracted at auction. “It was an honor to be entrusted with the Braydon C. Guild Collection of Charles Darwin. Many of these important works had not appeared on the market since the 1980s, and the results speak for themselves,” commented Brink. “Freeman’s has a long tradition of bringing important single-owner collections to market, and these results reflect both the strength of the market for exceptional material and our continued commitment to delivering outstanding results for our consignors.” The top lot of the collection, perhaps appropriately, was William Barton Rogers’ personal copy of Darwin’s seminal On the Origin of Species (lot 9), which more than tripled its presale estimate, selling for $256,000. A first edition with its iconic original green cloth covers, this copy's value came from its original owner. William Barton Rogers (1804-1882), geologist, physicist, educator, and founder of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was one of the leading figures in nineteenth-century American scientific education. He was also among the earliest American scientific readers of Darwin's Origin, writing his brother just 30 days after its publication that he found the book “truly admirable.” In March 1860, the Boston Courier published his review of Origin of Species. He predicted that Darwin's arguments would "command the earnest attention of scientific men" and recognized that the book had opened what he called a "grand contest of observation and argument." Other highlights from the collection included: Lot 8 | A First Edition of Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace’s Joint Announcement of the Theory of Natural Selection. SOLD FOR $217,600 Lot 2 | First Editions of the Three Parts of Darwin’s Geology of the Beagle SOLD FOR $32,000 An Unrecorded Holy Book & The Exploration of Yellowstone The top lot in the Americana category was a first edition of The Book of Mormon (lot 265), printed on the eve of the church's formal organization. Adding to the allure of the lot, this copy was not recorded in the Book of Mormon census, which helped the book sell for $140,800, nearly ten times its presale estimate. Another standout from the category was a pair of manuscripts from Theodore Bryant Comstock (1849-1915) recounting his exploration of the Yellowstone wilderness that sold for $64,000, more than six times their presale estimate. Comstock was one of the first scientists to explore Yellowstone, and the manuscripts provide an invaluable scientific record of the natural wonders of the world’s first national park. Other Highlights Other highlights from the auction included: Lot 110 | A First Edition of John Gould's First Ornithological Monograph SOLD FOR $44,800 Lot 247 | A Copy of Perth Assembly, 1619. The Book That Forced the Pilgrims to North America SOLD FOR $28,800 Lot 248 | A Document Signed by Two Pilgrims and the Native American Sachem Quechataset, and Acknowledged in the Hand of John Alden, the Last Surviving Male Passenger of the Mayflower SOLD FOR $28,800 Lot 215 | An Autograph Endorsement Signed by President Lincoln in Response to an Anonymous Letter Accusing General Ulysses S. Grant of Drunkenness. SOLD FOR $25,600 About Freeman’s Freeman’s is a premier American auction house offering services in multiple categories including fine art, jewelry, design, books and manuscripts, furniture, decorative arts, antiquities, couture, and Asian works of art. With 16 regional locations nationwide, the firm provides auctions, appraisals, private sales, and art advisory services, connecting clients to the global art market. Freeman’s strives to bring art, history, and design to life by connecting people with extraordinary objects through exceptional service and expertise.
Beyond the Salon: Discovering the Collection of Sydell L. Miller
Tanner Branson, AVP, Head of Department, Luxury Handbags & Couture From redefining the beauty industry to cultivating an extraordinary personal collection, Sydell L. Miller understood that true style is an expression of individuality. On November 11, Freeman’s presents The Signature Edit: Property from the Collection of Sydell L. Miller, an exceptional offering of jewelry, haute couture, designer fashion, and luxury handbags celebrating the legacy of a remarkable woman.
Picasso and Warhol Shine as Freeman’s Prints & Multiples Auction Achieves $1.66 Million
Spirited bidding propelled Freeman’s marquee Prints & Multiples auction to an impressive $1,656,512 on November 4, as collectors competed for works spanning centuries of artistic innovation. The sale achieved 92% sell-through by lot and 123% by value, drawing buyers from 13 countries, with 20% of all buyers new to Freeman’s. Leading the auction was Pablo Picasso’s Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe, d’après Manet I, which realized $140,800, while Andy Warhol emerged as another standout, accounting for six of the sale’s ten highest-selling lots. A particular highlight was Property from the Estate of Ray Retzlaff, Sold to Benefit Charitable Organizations, which achieved a remarkable 100% sell-through rate by lot and 128% by value. The collection realized $785,216, led by Warhol’s Mick Jagger, which sold for $96,000. An artist, philanthropist, and avid traveler, Ray Retzlaff (1936–2026) assembled an eclectic collection reflecting his wide-ranging artistic interests and curiosity about the world. A longtime resident of the Milwaukee area, Retzlaff was equally devoted to charitable causes, making the sale of his collection to benefit charitable organizations a fitting continuation of his philanthropic legacy. “It was particularly exciting to see such strong enthusiasm for Warhol, whose work continues to attract collectors across generations,” said Matthew Stavro, Senior Specialist, Prints & Multiples at Freeman’s. “The depth of bidding throughout the auction was equally encouraging, reflecting an appreciation for both iconic images and exceptional examples of printmaking. The response to the Retzlaff collection was especially rewarding, knowing that the proceeds will benefit charitable organizations and carry forward his philanthropic legacy.” Auction Highlights Lot 107 | Pablo Picasso, Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe, d'après Manet I, 1962 Sold for $140,800 Leading the auction was Picasso’s vibrant 1962 linocut, which reimagines Édouard Manet’s celebrated composition through bold color, flattened perspective, and expressive distortions of the human figure. The work belongs to Picasso’s extensive exploration of Manet’s masterpiece, a subject he revisited across paintings, drawings, sculpture, and prints. The linocut realized $140,800, approaching its pre-sale high estimate of $150,000. Lot 29 | Andy Warhol, Mick Jagger, 1975 Sold for $96,000 Property from the Estate of Ray Retzlaff, sold to Benefit Charitable Organizations. The auction’s second-highest-selling lot was Warhol’s Mick Jagger, which realized $96,000. Created in 1975, the striking screenprint belongs to a portfolio of ten portraits based on Warhol’s own photographs of the Rolling Stones frontman. Reflecting the artist’s fascination with celebrity and popular culture, the work is signed by both Warhol and Jagger and numbered 98 from an edition of 250. Lot 30 | Andy Warhol, Love (complete portfolio of three), 1983 Sold for $64,000 Warhol’s Love, a complete portfolio of three screenprints from 1983, more than doubled its $30,000 low estimate to achieve $64,000. Published by Form K.K. in Tokyo and printed by Rupert Jasen Smith in New York, the portfolio comprises three individually signed and numbered works from an edition of 100. Lot 39 | Alex Katz, Springtime, 2026 Sold for $44,800 Contemporary works also attracted strong interest, including Alex Katz’s Springtime, a monumental, brightly colored screenprint measuring six feet across. Created in 2026 and published by Lococo Fine Art, the work is from an edition of just 50 and realized $44,800, near the top of its $35,000–45,000 estimate. Lot 33 | Andy Warhol, Chicken 'N Dumplings Soup (from Campbell's Soup II), 1969 Sold for $48,000 Lot 32 | Andy Warhol, Black Bean Soup (from Campbell's Soup I), 1968 Sold for $41,600 Warhol’s iconic Campbell’s soup cans continued to resonate with collectors, with two examples exceeding their low estimates. Chicken ’N Dumplings Soup, from the artist’s 1969 Campbell’s Soup II series, realized $48,000 against a $25,000–35,000 estimate, while Black Bean Soup, from the 1968 Campbell’s Soup I series, brought $41,600 against a $30,000–50,000 estimate. Among Warhol’s most recognizable subjects, the soup cans transformed an everyday consumer product into an enduring symbol of Pop Art. Additional Highlights Lot 31 | Andy Warhol, After the Party, 1979 Property from the Estate of Ray Retzlaff, sold to Benefit Charitable Organizations Sold for $38,400 Lot 14 | Ellsworth Kelly, 18 Colors (Cincinnati), 1979-82 Sold for $35,200 Lot 34 | Andy Warhol, Old Fashioned Vegetable (from Campbell Soup II), 1969 Sold for $32,000 Property from the Estate of Ray Retzlaff, sold to Benefit Charitable Organizations Lot 93 | After Marc Chagall, by Charles Sorlier, La Flûte Enchantée, 1967 Sold for $32,000 Lot 41 | Tom Wesselmann, Still Life with Liz (from Portfolio 90), 1993 Sold for $28,800 Property from the Collection of Jack and Joan Stein, River Hills, Wisconsin Lot 110 | Pablo Picasso, Nature morte à la bouteille, 1962 Sold for $28,800 Property from the Estate of Ray Retzlaff, sold to Benefit Charitable Organizations Lot 6 | Helen Frankenthaler, Southern Exposure, 2005 Sold for $25,600 Property from the Estate of Ray Retzlaff, sold to Benefit Charitable Organizations About Freeman’s Freeman’s is a premier American auction house offering services in multiple categories including fine art, jewelry, design, books and manuscripts, furniture, decorative arts, antiquities, couture, and Asian works of art. With 15 regional locations nationwide, the firm provides auctions, appraisals, private sales, and art advisory services, connecting clients to the global art market. Freeman’s strives to bring art, history, and design to life by connecting people with extraordinary objects through exceptional service and expertise.
Freeman’s Martin Estate Auction Achieves More Than $1.3 Million Amid Enthusiastic Bidding
Pennsylvania Impressionism Shines as Redfield’s Spring Veil Leads Sale at $365,000
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