This breathtaking, signed rarity is consigned directly from the Manship family and includes a letter from Paul Manship confirming its purpose as a model for a key element of his Celestial Sphere masterpiece.

Fairfield, ME, November 3, 2017 – James D. Julia Inc., one of North America’s top 10 antique auctioneers, is honored to present an important Paul Manship (American, 1885-1966) bronze at its upcoming February 2018 sale, to be held February 7, 8 & 9, 2018. The truly out of this world discovery is from a model for his monumental “Celestial Sphere” masterpiece. The Celestial Sphere is recognized universally as a symbol of hope and peace and is among the finest works by Manship, unquestionably one of the foremost, highly respected, and influential American artists of the Art Deco period. The significance of this new Manship discovery cannot be underestimated.

The Celestial Sphere is best known as the memorial created to honor the founding father of the League of Nations, President Woodrow Wilson, at the organization’s headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The League of Nations officially became the United Nations in 1945. The 12’ Swiss version, installed in 1939, features 85 separately modeled constellations of the universe featured in both hemispheres – including the Sagittarius zodiac sign on offer through Julia’s sale. A smaller version of the Celestial Sphere, scaled to 5’ with 66 constellations, was produced for the Aero Memorial in Aviator Park in Philadelphia to honor aviators who died in World War I, while a 20” version dated 1934 is on display at Harvard University’s Fogg Museum. The University received it as a bequest in 1943 from Grenville Winthrop who purchased it through Martin Birnbaum in New York in 1935.

This once-in-a-lifetime offering, until most recently, hung unceremoniously for decades over a fireplace in the Manship family home. This Sagittarius sculpture appears faithfully in snapshots taken at gatherings over the years. The model itself measures 18-1/2” high by 19-1/2” wide. It depicts the half human, half horse archer centaur with his drawn bow and arrow, a series of stars, a crown, and the words “Sagittarius,” “Corona,” and “Australis.” Corona Australis is a constellation in the Southern hemisphere; its name translates to “southern crown.” This sculpture is signed both by the artist and by the foundry in the bronze; the words “Manship,” “A. Valsuani,” and “cire perdue” (lost wax casting) are clearly legible on the reverse. This first time ever offered model has been vetted and authenticated as a life-time cast authorized and overseen by Paul Manship by Rebecca Reynolds, a Manship scholar and curator who was formerly with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and currently is the board President for the Manship Artists Residency + Studios.

Manship, a Capricorn whose birthday was December 24, missed out on being a Sagittarius by three days (Sagittarians are born from November 22 – December 21.) Perhaps he had special affinity for this Sagittarius piece because it radiates curiosity, energy, exploration, optimism, and the eternal quest to know the meaning of life – all things important to him, and the key personality traits of the Sagittarius zodiac sign.

There is no question that collectors, museums, and Art Deco organizations around the world will have interest in this significant Manship discovery. Adding to the excitement is the fact that this bronze is accompanied by a note penned by Manship describing the piece and its purpose. In a letter dated July 3, 1956 Paul Manship writes in part to his nephews, “…from a model of the celestial sphere I made some years ago and represent constellations of the sky – Sagittarius = the zodiacal sign = Nov 22 to Dec 21-22 with the Corona Australis = the little band of stars is the outline of the milky way…curved as to conform to the sphere which is about 5 ft. in diameter = I made the sphere larger – about 12 ft. as a Woodrow Wilson Memorial at the Garden of the United Nations Bld. at Geneva Switz.”

According to James D. Julia’s Fine Art, Asian & Antiques Department Head, “We are thrilled to be able to offer this breathtaking Paul Manship bronze to our customers on behalf of the Manship family. Its design, full provenance, and place in history truly put it in a profound league of its own. The importance and pride of the sculptures were not lost on Paul’s nephew Will, who retained and treasured his sculpture and handed it down through the family over time. We are honored that the family has decided to place the Sagittarius sculpture model into our trusted hands for sale in our highly anticipated February, 2018 auction.”

For more information on this Paul Manship Sagittarius bronze relief model and our February 7-9, 2018 Fine Art, Asian & Antiques sale, please visit www.JamesDJulia.com.

About James D. Julia, Inc.:
James D. Julia, Inc., one of the top ten antique auction houses in North America as measured by annual sales, is headquartered in Fairfield, Maine. The company also has an office in Boston, Massachusetts. In business for almost 50 years, the company conducts high-end antique, collectible, and fine art auctions throughout the year. James D. Julia has routinely established new world records through its sales events. The company consists of three key divisions, including Rare Firearms; Fine Art, Asian & Antiques; and Rare Lamps, Glass & Fine Jewelry. Each division is regarded for its excellence and is staffed with world-class specialists to guarantee fair and professional authentication, identification, and valuation services. For more information on James D. Julia, Inc., please visit www.jamesdjulia.com.

Contact:
Scott Wentzell
Director of Marketing for James D. Julia
SWentzell@JamesDJulia.com
207-453-7125

Image	Description
	Important and rare “Sagittarius” Bronze by Paul Manship, a relief from a model of his work “Celestial Sphere”, as it was displayed until recently in the Manship family home with Will Manship (nephew to the artist) and his wife Stella (Manship family photo, undated).
	Detail of artist and foundry signature on important and rare “Sagittarius” Bronze by Paul Manship, a relief from a model of his work “Celestial Sphere”
	Detail of important and rare “Sagittarius” Bronze by Paul Manship, a relief from a model of his work “Celestial Sphere”
	Detail of important and rare “Sagittarius” Bronze by Paul Manship, a relief from a model of his work “Celestial Sphere”
	Important and rare “Sagittarius” Bronze by Paul Manship, a relief from a model of his work “Celestial Sphere”
	The Celestial Sphere Aero Memorial by Paul Manship in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
	The Celestial Sphere Woodrow Wilson Memorial by Paul Manship in Geneva, Switzerland

by William A. Gage, Department Head

Inscription on the inside lid of the Freedom box

At dawn on Sunday morning, October 25th, 1812, the Frigate USS United States encountered an English Ship of War under full sail just off the island of Madeira, 500 miles west of the Canary Islands. Stephen Decatur, captain of the USS United States, resolved to overtake and engage the British vessel. Upon gaining ground on her adversary and in a constant barrage of fire from her long guns, USS United States was pummeling the foe, but was also receiving fire from the opposing ship. So outgunned was the British ship they decided to come to close quarters where their cannon could be more effective in the hopes that the tactic would save them. Upon closing in there became a ferocious battle with both ships having constant volleys of cannon fire. The British ship concluded that they had defeated the American ship as the amount of smoke generated must be the sign that the USS United States was on fire and going to be completely destroyed. Upon the smoke clearing it was the British ship that had sustained the bulk of the battle and Decatur’s ship was barely scratched. The American ship tacked and came along side and was ready for battle again but the British ship struck her colors and surrendered. It was only then that they learned of the ship’s name the HMS “Macedonian.”

Stephen Decatur’s signet ring

Decatur’s decision was to abandon her cruise and take the HMS Macedonian into an American port. On January 1, 1813 the HMS Macedonian anchored in the Harbor of New York where she was greeted with great joy as a “New Year’s Gift.” This ship was the first British war ship ever to be brought into an American harbor. For this effort Stephen Decatur was given the Freedom of the City in the form of a gold box.

It is this very box that James D. Julia auctions will bring to auction after being held by the Decatur descendants after so many years. It will be highlighted along with many other important historical item from this family archive, in their upcoming February 2018 Auction.

Freedom Boxes are very rare and have been received only on a few occasions by truly remarkable individuals and certainly Stephen Decatur fits the bill.

To see more of the items form this import and historic estate that will be offered in our February 2018 auction, CLICK HERE.

by Josh Loewensteiner, Consultant & Sales Representative

Julia’s Fall 2017 Extraordinary Firearms auction will include a selection of some of the finest guns in the world. Strangely enough, the most important marketing piece ever used by the A.H. Fox Gun Company was from President Teddy Roosevelt, who was quoted as saying his Fox FE Grade shotgun was “The Finest Gun In the World.”

Julia’s was honored to market Teddy’s Fox in our Fall 2010 sale and sold the gun for an astounding world record price which still stands today of $865,000! And while no one would argue the historic importance of Teddy’s Fox, there are other Fox shotguns that easily equal or even trump the gun for artistic beauty and workmanship. Several of the guns that Julia’s is presenting in it’s October 31st, November 1st and 2nd auction from the prestigious Dana Tauber Estate Collection would achieve this title.

The A.H. Fox shotgun is easily the most simple mechanism of any of the major American makers. The gun has the fewest moving parts and the action and design are solid with virtually no known flaws. So much so, that perhaps aside from the Parker Reproduction (offered at a much lower price point and built in Japan), the A.H. Fox shotgun was the most successfully produced reproduction in American shotgun history.

Julia’s October auction includes the Dana J. Tauber Estate collection which is unquestionably the finest collection of A.H. Fox shotguns ever to come to auction. Dana started collecting in the late 1980s and was careful and persistent, and became extremely knowledgeable on Fox Guns. He studied the guns and passionately pursued the finest conditioned examples he could obtain, in many instances “stepping up” to purchase the very best. He pursued quality over price and the final collection, which will be offered in its entirety in Julia’s Fall 2017 sale, shows just how refined and exceptional the grouping is.

The collection itself is approximately 40 exceptional Fox shotguns and includes 3 of the finest FE Grades known, including the finest FE grade 20 ga known. The 20 ga is offered with a pre-sale estimate of $150,000-225,000. The only known 12 ga FE with factory original double gold dogs, which Dana considered as a mate to the 20 ga is offered with a pre-sale estimate of $75,000-125,000, and it is well known that this gun was a special factory show gun. The third FE 12 ga is a near mint gun in more traditional FE grade styling (still fancier than Teddy’s gun with gold lightning bolts on the barrels) is offered with a pre-sale estimate of $60,000-90,000.

To give a sense as to the depth of the collection, Dana collected 5 A.H. Fox guns that are near mint with original boxes. Included in the grouping are Fox A grades in 12 ga, 16 ga, and 20 ga which are all near mint with original boxes. These three guns could be a collection all their own! There is also an early CE Grade 12 ga that is near mint with its original box (offered with a pre-sale estimate of $6,500-9,500), and a Sterlingworth 12 ga two barrel set (a true rarity) that is virtually mint with its original box!

Fox lovers will likely never again have an opportunity like the one we will see in the Julia’s sales room this fall. The Tauber Collection is a landmark collection for lovers of Foxes and American Sporting Shotguns alike. Having known Dana since about 1990, I can say unequivocally it is the single finest grouping of A.H. Fox shotguns I have ever seen. Dana preferred quality over quantity and condition over any other factor. This collection represents a once in a lifetime opportunity to see and collect some of the very finest A.H. Fox guns extant. No doubt, in years to come, guns from the Tauber collection will carry a certain monetary premium because of their provenance. Indeed, they are some of the “finest” in the world…

Josh Loewensteiner

 
About the author:
Josh Loewensteiner, Julia’s regional Sales Agent, is a lifelong firearms enthusiast who began studying, collecting and shooting guns with his father and brother when he was just eight years old- he has been studying firearms for nearly 30 years! He particularly enjoys the classic American sporting guns. Josh is a Life member of the Parker Gun Collectors Association, currently serving on the Board of Directors as well as Secretary, Life Member of the NRA, a member of the Lefever Arms Collectors Association, the L.C. Smith Collectors Association, the Colt Collectors Association, the A.H. Fox Gun Collectors Association, and the Winchester Arms Collectors Association. Josh has a proven track record in delivering outstanding customer service, as well as sales and marketing success. He has been a part of the Julia’s Team since 2013 and represents clients throughout the country counseling them on their treasured firearms and has become a trusted expert in helping clients to achieve success in the monetization of firearms at auction. Josh can be reached at firearms@jamesdjulia.com and 207-453-7125.

By John Sexton, Senior Consultant & Sales Representative

Many of the rarest and most unique Confederate revolvers remaining in private hands today, along with many other exquisite rarities, are part of the Morris Racker Estate Collection. I had the pleasure of knowing Morrie for many years and conversing with him at many shows. Few collectors loved their treasures more than he did. In the last few years of his life, Morrie resided in assisted living. When we talked on phone about upcoming guns in auctions that he had always wanted, he was so disappointed that he could not buy more. (His facility did not allow guns, although he told me he snuck in a few of his favorites occasionally.) Morrie truly had a passion for historic, extremely rare and unique arms as represented in his collection.

Morrie’s favorite gun and the single firearm which will receive the most attention is the only known surviving 1st Type 1st Model Confederate Spiller & Burr revolver, serial number 13 with remarkable provenance and collection history from direct descent from the Union solider who had captured it, first being discovered by William Albaugh. This remarkable gun is pictured in numerous articles and texts and is in beautiful condition, retaining its original holster and roller buckle belt ($30,000-50,000).

One of the true rarities and among the most coveted revolvers in Confederate collecting is the brass framed percussion revolver made in Portsmouth, Virginia by Thomas W. Cofer. There are 13 known percussion specimens which were issued to the 5th Virginia Cavalry and are the rarest “Confederate contract” revolvers. Mr. Racker has the finest condition Cofer revolver of them all and the only example with any original finish. It is exquisite with great collector history and provenance ($100,000-150,000).

The “iron frame” Samuel Griswold revolver is a unique survivor among the largest Confederate revolver manufacturers’ production with over 3600 made; fully half of all CS revolver production. Serial number 1941 is the only known example with iron frame and has well known collecting history and provenance. It is ironic that Griswold could not perfect the iron frame as there were numerous excavated iron frames found at the factory site at various levels of completeness ($30,000-50,000).

The finest known Augusta Machine Works Confederate revolver was captured by a Colonel of the 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry in 1863 and descended in his family until sold by Christie’s in 1999. This revolver is in spectacular condition, retaining most of its original finish ($30,000-50,000).

The only factory cased Confederate used 1st Model LeMat Grapeshot revolver, noted in so many texts, is also offered in excellent condition.

This gun was owned by a Confederate surgeon and son of Confederate Secretary of Treasury, Christopher Memminger ($25,000-35,000).

The few Lemats in the Racker Collection are no doubt among the rarest and most unique. Also offered in one lot is an archive of LeMat patent papers, including the original 20” x 12-1/2” hand drawn patent illustration signed by LeMat. The archive also includes a letter of introduction signed by P.G.T. Beauregard and US Patent Office letter and drawing of the LeMat revolver ($8,000-12,000).

There are only about one dozen known examples of Confederate scoped Whitworth sniper rifles and Mr. Racker had a fine example which is being offered with an original Davidson scope, complete with fine optics and a great bore ($40,000-60,000). To accompany this extremely rare Confederate Whitworth is an equally rare British pattern 1862 Whitworth military rifle in the same configuration, in nearly new condition ($10,000-15,000).

From the renowned Alain Serpette Collection of LeMats which Julia’s originally sold in 1997, Mr. Racker bought the unique brass framed pinfire carbine which is illustrated in several texts. This extremely rare Civil War carbine is being offered in our fall sale ($10,000-20,000).

Other unique Confederate revolvers of Morrie’s offered here include: the personal sidearm of Augusta, Georgia manufacturer Charles H. Rigdon ($30,000-40,000); Arkadelphia marked revolver of General William Y. Slack of Missouri, killed in action at the Battle of Pea Ridge ($8,000-12,000); inscribed, beautiful condition Griswold revolver of Virginian killed in action at Picket’s Charge ($25,000-30,000); consecutive serial numbered pair of Confederate LeMats ($30,000-40,000); consecutive serial numbered pair of Kerr revolvers ($7,000-9,000); the rarest and finest consecutive pair of Columbus, Mississippi made Leech & Rigdon revolvers offered as successive lots ($30,000-40,000); only known “Leech & Co. – CSA” marked Confederate pistol once in the famous Sam Smith Collection ($12,000-15,000); extremely fine and early Texas made Dance Army revolver, serial number 14 ($40,000-60,000).

Mr. Racker also had other rarities including a National derringer owned by General George Armstrong Custer which is listed by serial number in the Custer archives in several texts ($20,000-30,000). There are also two George Custer signed letters being offered.

Also offered, from Mr. Racker’s estate: an exquisite collection of 18th and 19th century powder testers ($8,000-12,000); a Baby Paterson with additional matching cylinder and tools ($25,000-35,000); an extremely rare and well provenance North & Cheney flintlock pistol ($30,000-40,000); a beautiful pair of Kentucky flintlock pistols attributed to Henry Hunsicker ($8,000-12,000); two fine German Wheelocks, one of which the entire stock is veneered in white staghorn and all iron is chiseled ($8,000-12,000); other Confederate arms, and American arms of several genres. Mr. Racker had one additional Colt and it is just a Colt Army, but it was captured mostly likely at Brandy Station and inscribed by a member of the 12th Virginia Cavalry ($8,000-12,000).

The rarity of the Racker firearms is without peer, so many diverse items that are one-of-a-kind Civil War arms that may never be seen again in public venue, especially with such moderate pre-sale estimates and well known collection history and provenance.