Historic Masterpieces by Noteworthy Explorers, Geologists, and Painters Come to Sale With Christie’s

Prince Alexander Philipp Maximilian was a German explorer who led momentous expeditions. In 1832, along with the Swiss painter Karl Bodmer, he embarked on a journey to the Missouri River in the United States. He recorded the cultures of Native people, including the Mandan and Hidatsa tribes. On his return, Maximilian wrote Reise in das innere Nord-America in den Jahren 1832 bis 1834. It is also noteworthy that Bodmer’s watercolor paintings for the publication are regarded as the most precise illustrations ever. The first copy of the fully hand-colored masterpiece is a key highlight of this upcoming auction, presented by Christie’s. It includes two large-paper “Imperial” quarto text volumes, one broadside folio atlas of tableaux and one folio atlas of vignettes. Encased in four modern half Morocco clamshell boxes, these comprise wood-engraved illustrations, 48 hand-colored aquatint and engraved plates, and 33 aquatint and engraved plates. 
Another striking lot is The Yellowstone National Park (1876) by Thomas Moran and Ferdinand Hayden. It includes the title page, preface, contents leaf, 13-page introduction, two lithographed maps, and 15 chromolithographed plates, signed with the artist’s monogram. Visit Christie’s to view the complete catalog and register to bid in the upcoming The Magnificent Library of Norman Bobins: Part One, American Color sale