Swann Galleries’ On Thursday, March 31, 2016 auction of Printed & Manuscript African Americana sold an illustration by E. Simms Campbell, a lively A Night-Club Map of Harlem, pen and brush, 1932 to the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library at Yale University.
The piece features images of Harlem Renaissance hot spots and popular figures like Cab Calloway and Bill “Bojangles” Robinson.The map brought $100,000 and set a record for the artist at auction. It also happened to be the top lot ever sold in one of Swann Galleries’ Printed & Manuscript African Americana auctions.
Wyatt Houston Day, Swann Galleries’ Printed & Manuscript African Americana Specialist, noted after the sale, “I am really very gratified with the results… When I thought about the planning of this as an anniversary sale, it was my intent to try and make it a special one. I was very fortunate to have both the weight of 20 years of auctions and exposure behind this one, as well as just plain good luck in locating and acquiring some truly exceptional material in the course of the year.”
Culture Type reports that in addition to the map, the Beinecke purchased a pair of early 20th century periodicals, 19th century theater advertisements, a James Van Der Zee photograph, and 1922 almanac of Marcus Garvey’s Universal Negro Improvement Association. In addition, the map will be featured in a spring 2017 exhibition the library is presenting on the Harlem Renaissance.
Complete results are available online via www.swanngalleries.com.
*Prices include buyer’s premium.
Become a Harlem Insider!
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
