Rare 19th Century Beekeeping Museum Quality Items Honey Bee American History

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Rare 19th Century Beekeeping Museum Quality Items Honey Bee American History:
$75000.00

Rare 19th Century Beekeeping MuseumQuality Items

(January 7th-13ththese exact same items were on display at the American Beekeeping Federation conferenceand tradeshow.)

This sale includes all thefollowing items:

1852 Printer’s Copy “Hive and the Honey Bee”by Lorenzo Langstroth. This copy is inscribed by the author, and B.P. Sands, and T. S. K. Johannson. Thecopy has a cover with a black boarder, and a similar title page without a blackboarder. Slight pencil notationsthroughout text block. The C. C. Millerlibrary signed book plate is pasted prior to the signature page. This bookaccording to the Wisconsin Beekeeping Official Organ of The State BeekeepersAssociation printing dated December 1922 states the Miller Memorial Library, “A first editionof Langstroth on the Honey Bee was sent in by B. P. Sands, Brookline, Mass.” This copy has a book plate that states “Libraryof the University of Wisconsin” stamped DUPLICATE. Robin Rider, Ph.D. Curator of SpecialCollections at the University of Wisconsin wrote, “We have looked at our copiesof the Langstroth title… Old libraryrecords also refer to disposition of additional copies of titles in the MillerBee Collection, so it is our guess that such was the case for the copy youhave. If the bookplate or other pagebears a duplicate stamp, that would lend credence to this guess.” T.S.K. Johansson also signed this copy, hewas an avid collector as well as a published author on beekeeping from QueensUniversity.

Next is “A. B. C. of Bee Culture” 1878 by A. I. Root. The light blue paper cover states this is “FirstPart” of the initial series, with the inner title page displaying the date of1877. It is unknown if other partsfollowed, rather the full publication was printed in 1879. Cornel University has in their collection the1879 full edition copy, and the University of Wisconsin Special Collections hasa copy claiming to be the “first part” dated 1877, however it does not have thelight blue paper covers which would show it is an incomplete copy. This copy then is the first complete copy includingthe light blue paper covers dated both 1878 and 1877. No other known copies exist with the intactcover.

Next is a 1590 printing of “LaColtivazione Del Sig. Lvigi Alamanni, & le Api Del s. Giovanni Rvcellai”printed in Fiorenza by Per Filippo Givnti. Muliple sections exist in thisvelum bound book. “Le Api Di M. Giovanni Rvcellai, GentilhvomoFiorentino, Le Qvalicompose in Roma” 1524. 308p but some are notcounted. This book details a history of beekeeping and honey bees inFlorence Italy in the 16th century.Italian honey beesare predominately what is used for beekeeping in the US today.

Next is an 1831 1st edition printing of Jerome V. C. Smith M.D.“An Essay of the Practicality of Cultivating the Honey Bee, inMaritime Towns and Cities, as a Source of Domestic Economy and Profit”.This publication was the first book Rev. L. L. Langstroth read when he beganbeekeeping, according to the Dadant Library. On a front fly-page it isinscribed by the author” Walter Channing, M.D. with the respects of J.V.C.Smith Dec. 2nd 1831”. The inscription page matches the foxingof the following page if it is rotated. This book was re-backed with anew spine but a portion of the old spine is contained inside the book. Ornatestamped black leather with gilt. Listed in “American Bee Books” by PhilipA. Mason (434) as within the first 8 books written in the United States solelyon beekeeping.

Next, 1836 1st edition printing of John M Weeks “Manualor an Easy Method of Managing Bees, in the Most Profitable Manner to theirowner, with Infallible Rules to Prevent their Destruction by the Moth”.Printed Middlebury, VT by Knapp and Jewett. ½ leather with paper coverpasted over hard cover boards. The image on the cover is similar to thetitle page, but has a black boarder. This publication comes in anoriginal two-piece slip case with gilt, not mentioned in “American Bee Books”by Philip A. Mason (487). Identified as the 10th bookpublished in the United States solely on beekeeping.

Next is a handwritten court document, 1853 July 29th Original Court Transcripts from theState of Indiana, Switzerland County. This multiple page originalquill ink pen document details the theft by Peter Simmons, Levi Fay, AbramBoyd, & Isaac Boyd of a beehive from Joseph Pearce. A warrant of $300was issued. An unattached document details the arrest of Peter Simmons. Levi Fay, Abram Boyd, and Isaac Boyd wereacquitted of the crime.

Next, 1858 1st edition printing of K. P. Kidder “Kidder’sGuide to Apiarian Science, Being a Practical Treatise, in Every Department ofBee Culture and Bee Management. Embracing the Natural History of the Bee,from the Earliest Period of the World, Down to the Present Time; Giving theAnatomy and Physiology of the Different Species of Bees that Constitute aColony, &c.” Printed in Burlington, Vermont by Samuel B.Nichols. Produced the patented beehive called the “Kidder Hive”, whichprimarily was the reason for this publication. Lorenzo Langstroth had legal battles withKidder over patent conflicts.

Next, the last edited version ofLorenzo Langstroth’s book, “A Practical Treatise on the Hive And Honey-Bee”. 1859 3rd edition printing of L. L.Langstroth’s book “A Practical Treatise of the Hive and Honey-Bee,”.Printed in New York by A. O. Moore & Co. Green blind stampedhardcover 408p, with 12-page catalog in rear.

Next, a stamped 1867 Authorizationof “Exclusive Right” to manufacture for his own use, the “AmericanBee-Hive” by H. A. King to James McCallister from the State of MarylandOctober 10th 1867. The “American Bee-Hive” was patented to H.A. King of Nevada, Ohio 24th November 1863, later associated with asecond patent dated 10th October 1865. This rare “right tomanufacture” document has wood cuts on the top left and right corners of thisAmerican Bee-Hive. This document is signed in ink by H. A. King & Co.and J. T. Shriner his agent. A 5 cent Red GeorgeWashington stamp is affixed and marked. Nothing on the rear of the3-section folded letter. King andLorenzo Langstroth had legal battles over patent rights.

These are all original pieces and extremely rare or oneof a kind.