1877 Auction Catalog

On December 7, 1876, Charlotte A. Calvert, widow of Charles Benedict and daughter-in-law of George and Rosalie, died. Less than a year after her death, auctioneers O. A. Kirkland & Co. dispersed the contents of Riversdale at a public sale. This, however, was no ordinary auction. It is clear from the sale catalog put out by the auctioneer that almost all of the items on the premises were sold, including "Antique Household Furniture, Handsome and Elaborate English & French Dinner, Tea & Toilet Ware, Fine Cut Glass, Oil Paintings, French Plate Mirrors, Law and Other Books" although Charlotte had at least four surviving children. Family members and people in the crowd bid against each other for everything from the family carriage to farming implements to the desk upon which Henry Clay reportedly wrote the Missouri Compromise to the Reubens painting "Romulus and Remus."

According to an article by Joyce McDonald, former Riversdale Facility Manager, "the auction was a social event, with the curious and the cream of Washington society in attendance," including Lucy Hayes, wife of President Rutherford B. Hayes; General Edward F. Beale, owner of Decatur House; and the widow of Supreme Court Chief Justice Waite. Many of the finest items for sale were those so carefully selected by Rosalie and sent to her from Europe by her family to decorate Riversdale.

Interestingly, for the Riversdale Bookshelf project, the sale catalog lists individual titles for many of the books in the library. Given the publication dates and topics of some of these books, it is likely that they were in the house during the occupancy of George and Rosalie. In one instance, there is a clear connection between a set of volumes for sale and a reference in one of Rosalie's letters.

On December 16, 1815, Rosalie wrote to her brother, Charles, thanking him for the two cases, which had just arrived. "Please accept, dear Brother, and pray express to your wife, our gratitude for the superb cups, the interesting architecture albums and the annals of the Musée." She goes on to write, "The architectural drawings are very interesting for us, as they give us an idea of the masterpieces of all countries, and the annals of the Musée are still more interesting since that beautiful collection has again been dispersed in returning the paintings to those from whom they were taken." It is likely that the sixteen volumes listed below under "Annales du Musee" are the same enjoyed by Rosalie and her children.

Below is the listing of books from the auction catalog. The first entry in bold reproduces the catalog entry. Using the online catalog, WorldCat, we found full citations for most of the titles. Occasionally, the notation in the auction catalog was too brief to make a definite identification. In these cases, explanatory notes appear in brackets after the given entry. If the University of Maryland Libraries owns a copy of a given work, the call number appears at the end of the entry. An asterisk marks those titles selected for inclusion in the Calvert Library.

At the end of the catalog the following statement appears, "About 150 volumes Miscellaneous Works, from Manuscript." Unfortunately, no known copy of this manuscript exists, so it is difficult to discern what other books the Calverts owned. Nonetheless, this catalog offers an exceptional peek into the hallways of Riversdale.

* 1 copy of Shakespeare, with Glossarial Notes and Engravings. Cost $150
[Without more information it is difficult to tell which edition the Calverts owned, but the following is currently at Riversdale:
Shakespeare, William. The Dramatick Works of William Shakespeare. Vol 7. Boston: Munroe and Francis, 1804.]

* 27 volumes Complete Set of Waverly Novels
[These books were extremely popular and went through many editions. The following is one example:
Scott, Sir Walter. The Waverly Novels: with a general preface and title introductions and notes by the author. 24 vols. Boston: DeWolfe, Fiske, 1829 ed.]

3 volumes Quadrupeds of North America
Audubon, John James Audubon, John Bachman, and John Woodhouse Audubon. The quadrupeds of North America. 3 vols. New York: V.G. Audubon, 1849.
UM Location: HBK Maryland Room Rare Stacks | QL715 .A92 1849
McK Periodicals Rm - Microfiche | QL715 .A92, 1851-1854

6 volumes Iconographic Encyclopedia
Heck, Johann Georg and Spencer Fullerton Baird. Iconographic encyclopaedia of science, literature, and art. 4 vols. and 2 vols. of atlas of plates and maps, New York: R. Garrigue, 1849.

3 volumes The Indian Tribes of North America
McKenney, Thomas Loraine and James Hall. History of the Indian tribes of North America : with biographical sketches and anecdotes of the principal chiefs : embellished with one hundred and twenty portraits, from the Indian gallery in the Department of War, at Washington. 3 vols. Philadelphia: E.C. Biddle, 1836-1844.

9 volumes American Mythology
[Without more information it is difficult to ascertain the complete citation for this entry.]

* 50 volumes French Novels
[It is unfortunate that these titles are not listed individually in the auction catalog, for many of them could have been Rosalie's. See the entries under Literature in the Calvert Library bibliography for some possible titles.]

* 16 volumes Annales du Musee
Landon, C. P. Annales du musée et de l'école moderne des beaux-arts. Recueil de gravures au trait, contenant la collection complète des peintures et sculptures de Musée Napoléon; et de celui de Versailles; les objets les plus curieux du Musée des monumens français; les principales productions des artistes vivans, en peinture, sculpture et architecture, édifices publics, etc; aven des notices historiques et critiques. 21 vols. Paris: C.P. Landon, 1801, 1815.

* 8 volumes Byron's Works
[It is difficult to say with certainty which of Byron's many works were owned by the Calverts given the vagueness of the auction catalog listing, but the following eight volumes are possibilities: The Bride of Abydos; Childe Harold; The Corsair: A Tale; Hours of Idleness; Don Juan; The Dream; English Bards and Scottish Reviewers; and Manfred.]

2 volumes Thirty Years in the U. S. Senate by Thomas H. Benton
Benton, Thomas Hart. Thirty years' view; or, A history of the working of the American government for thirty years, from 1820 to 1850. Chiefly taken from the Congress debates, the private papers of General Jackson, and the speeches of ex-Senator Benton, with his actual view of men and affairs; with historical notes and illustrations, and some notices of eminent deceased contemporaries. 2 vols. New York, London: D. Appleton and Company, 1854-1856.

* 3 volumes Ottis' Botta
Botta, Carlo, George Alexander Otis, Lydia R Bailey, James Maxwell, and Peter W. Collins. History of the war of the independence of the United States of America. 3 vols.
Philadelphia : printed for the translator, Lydia R. Bailey, printer, 1820-1821.
UM Location: HBK Maryland Room Rare Stacks | E208 .B74
McK Periodicals Microfiche | E208 .B74 1820-1821
McK Stacks | E208 .B744 1839

* 2 volumes American Revolution. Balto. 1819.
Allen, Paul, John Neal, and Tobias Watkins. A history of the American revolution: comprehending all the principal events both in the field and in the cabinet: to which are added the most important resolutions of the Continental Congress and many of the most important letters of General Washington. 2 vols. Baltimore: Printed for John Hopkins. Thomas Murphy, printer, 1819.
UM Location: McK Periodicals - Microprint | EAI II no. 46965

* 8 volumes Mitford's Greece
Mitford, William. The History of Greece. 8 vols. Third Edition. London: Printed for T. Cadell, 1795-1810.
[There are several editions of this title, but this is the earliest edition with eight volumes.]

1 volume Dr. Smith's History of Greece
Smith, Sir William. A history of Greece, from the earliest times to the Roman conquest, with supplementary chapters on the history of literature and art. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1854.
[There are many editions of this title; this is the earliest.]

* 6 volumes Gibbon's Rome
Gibbon, Edward. The history of the decline and fall of the Roman Empire. 6 vols. London: Printed for W. Strahan and T. Cadell, 1776-1788.
[There are many, many editions of this title, but this is the earliest dated edition in WorldCat.]

8 volumes Rollins' Ancient History
Rollins, Charles and Robert Lynam. The ancient history of the Egyptians, Carthaginians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Medes and Persians, Grecians, and Macedonians. From the 15th London ed., rev. and cor. 8 vols. Hartford, Ct.: Andrus, Judd, and Franklin, 1839.

* 5 volumes The World Displayed
Possibly:
Smart, Christopher, Oliver Goldsmith, Samuel Johnson, and William Harrison. The world displayed, or, A curious collection of voyages and travels. First American edition corrected & enlarged. 8 vols. Philadelphia: Published by Dobelbower, Key, and Simpson, 1795-1796.

OR
Robbins, Royal. The world displayed in its history and geography: embracing a history of the world from the creation to the present day: with general views of the politics, religion, military and naval affairs, art, literature, manners, customs, and society, of ancient as well as modern nations. 2 vols. in 1. New York: W. W. Reed & Co., 1830.

* 3 volumes Thiers' History of the Revolution
Thiers, Adolphe and Frederic Shoberl. The history of the French revolution. 3 vols Philadelphia; Carey & Hart, 1840.

OR
Thiers, Adolphe. The history of the French revolution. 3 vols. London: G. B. Whittaker, 1825.
[There are many editions of this title; the following are three volume editions.]

3 volumes Prescott's Philip II
Prescott, William Hickling, John Foster Kirk, and Philip, King of Spain. History of the reign of Philip the second, king of Spain. 3 vols. London: Routledge, 1848.
[There are many editions of this title; this is the earliest in WorldCat. UM owns 1855, 1859, and 1895]
UM Location: McK Stacks | DP178 .P8 1855a
McK Stacks | DP178 .P96 1859
McK Stacks | DP178 .P96 1895

* 3 volumes Prescott's Ferdinand and Isabella
Prescott, William Hickling. History of the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic. Ninth Edition. 3 vols. Boston: C.C. Little and J. Brown, 1837.
[There are many editions of this title.]
UM Location: McK Stacks | DP162 .P8 1839
McK Periodicals Rm - Microfiche | E18 .S46 no. 65282 (1842)
McK Stacks | DP162 .P8 1854
McK Stacks | DP162 .P8 1859
McK Stacks | DP162 .P8 1895
McK Stacks | DP162 .P8 1962a

2 volumes Macaulay's History of England
Could be:
* Macaulay, Catherine. The history of England from the accession of James I to the elevation of the House of Hanover. 8 vols. London: Printed for the author and sold by J. Nourse, 1766-1783.

OR
Macaulay, Thomas Babington. The history of England : from the accession of James the Second. 5 vols. Philadelphia: E.H. Butler & Co., 1849.
[Volumes 1-2 are a reprint of the London edition of the same year published by Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans.]

4 volumes National Portrait Gallery
Possibly:
The national portrait gallery. 4 vols. London, Paris, New York: Cassell, Petter & Galpin, n.d.

* 12 volumes The Writings of Washington
Washington, George and Jared Sparks. The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. 12 vols. Boston: American stationers' Co.; J.B. Russell [etc.], 1833-1837.
UM Location: HBK Maryland Room Maryland Rare Stacks | E312.7 1834

* 5 volumes Royal and Noble Authors
Walpole, Horace and Thomas Park. A catalogue of the royal and noble authors of England, Scotland, and Ireland; with lists of their works. 5 vols. London: Printed for J. Scott, 1806.
[There are many editions for this title; this is the first listed in WorldCat with five volumes.]

* 2 volumes Life of Wm. Pitt
Possibly:
Almon, John. Anecdotes of the life of the Right Honourable William Pitt, earl of Chatham, and of the principle events of his time : with his speeches in Parliament, from the year 1736 to the year 1778. Dublin: Printed for Messrs. P. Wogan [et. al.], 1792.

OR
Tomline, George, Sir Bart. Memoirs of the life of the right honorable William Pitt. 2 vols. London: J. Murray, 1821.

* 83 volumes Dr. Rees' Encyclopedia
Rees, Abraham. The cyclopædia, or, Universal dictionary of arts, sciences, and literature. 1st American ed. 47 vols. Philadelphia: Published by Samuel F. Bradford and Murray, Fairman and Co., 1805-1825.

* 80 volumes The Law Library, from No. 1 to 80
[Full citations for the first and last volumes of this series are given as examples. Subjects and authors varied by volume.]

Vol. I
Theobald, William, William Blanshard, James John Wilkinson, James Bradby, and John Adams. A practical treatise on the law of principal and surety particularly with relation to mercantile guaranties, bills of exchange, and bail bonds. Philadelphia: J.S. Littell, 1833.

Vol. 80
Grant, James. A practical treatise on the law of corporations in general, as well aggregate as sole: including municipal corporations, railway, banking, canal and other joint stock and trading bodies ... Philadelphia: T. & J.W. Johnson, 1854.

* 2 volumes Tomlin's Law Dictionary
Jacob, Giles and Thomas Edlyne Tomlins, Sir. The law-dictionary : explaining the rise, progress, and present state, of the English law, in theory and practice; defining and interpreting the terms or words of art; and comprising copious information, historical, political, and commercial, on the subjects of our law, trade, and government. 11th edition. 2 vols. London: Printed by A. Strahan, for T. Longman, 1797.
[The 1809, 1810, and 1820 editions also have three volumes. The dictionary was originally compiled by Giles Jacob with additions and corrections by Tomlins.]
UM Location: McK Periodicals Microfilm | HB161 .G64 no. 22788 (1820)

* 6 volumes Condensed Reports of the Supreme Court of the U. S. Phila. 1830
Peters, Richard, Alexander James Dallas, William Cranch, and Henry Wheaton. Condensed reports of cases in the Supreme court of the United States, containing the whole series of the decisions of the court from its organization to the commencement of the Peter's Reports at January term 1827. With copious notes of parallel cases in the Supreme and Circuit courts of the United States. 6 vols. Philadelphia: J. Grigg, 1830-1834.

* 2 volumes Evans' Harris Balto. 1831
Harris, Thomas and Hugh Davey Evans. Modern entries, or Approved precedents, of declarations, pleadings, entries, and writs, to which are prefixed forms of affidavits, references, awards and certificates, and select precedents in conveyancing, comprising all that is valuable in the compilation of the late Thomas Harris, esquire, newly arranged with additions and improvements, by Hugh Davey Evans. 2 vols. Baltimore: Lucas and Deaver, 1831-1832.

* 3 volumes Kent's Commentaries, 3rd edition. Vols 2, 3, and 4
Kent, James. Commentaries on American law. Third Edition. New York: E.B. Clayton, James van Norden, 1836.

* 3 volumes Thomas Coke. Phila. 1827
Thomas, J.H.; Thomas Littleton, Sir; Edward Coke, Sir; and Matthew Hale, Sir. A systematic arrangement of Lord Coke's First institute of the laws of England on the plan of Sir Matthew Hale's analysis ... 1st Am. ed. from last Lond. 3 vols. Philadelphia: Robert H. Small, 1827.

* 2 volumes Tucker's Commentaries. Winchester, 1836
Tucker, Henry St. George. Commentaries on the laws of Virginia, comprising the substance of a course of lectures delivered to the Winchester law school. 2 vols. Winchester: Printed at the office of the Republican for the author, 1836-1837.

* 5 volumes Tucker's Blackstone. Phila. 1803
Blackstone, William, Sir; St. George Tucker; and Edward Christian. Blackstone's Commentaries with notes of reference, to the Constitution and laws, of the federal government of the United States; and of the commonwealth of Virginia. In five volumes. With an appendix to each volume, containing short tracts upon such subjects as appeared necessary to form a connected view of the laws of Virginia, as a member of the federal union. 5 vols. Philadelphia: Published by William Young Birch, and Abraham Small, no. 17, South Second-street, Robert Carr, printer, 1803.

* 3 volumes Harris' Digest. Phila. 1835
Possibly:
Harrison, S. B. An analytical digest of all the reported cases, determined in the House of Lords, the several Courts of Common Law, in banc and at nisi prius; and the Court of Bankruptcy : and also the crown cases reserved, from Mich. term, 1756, to Mich. term, 1834. Together with a full selection of equity cases, and the manuscript cases cited from the best modern treatises not elsewhere reported. 1st American from 2nd London ed.
3 vols. Philadelphia: Desilver, Thomas & Co., 1835.

* 13 volumes Peters' Reports. Phila. 1828
Peters, Richard. Reports of cases argued and adjudged in the Supreme Court of the United States. January term, 1828-January term, 1843. 17 vols. Philadelphia: P.H. Nicklin, 1828, 1843.

* 1 volume Vattel's Law of Nations, 4th edition
de Vattel, Emer and Joseph Chitty. The law of nations : or, Principles of the law of nature, applied to the conduct and affairs of nations and sovereigns. 4th American ed. Philadelphia: P.H. Nicklin & T. Johnson, 1835.

* 2 volumes Williams on Executors, Phila. 1832.
Williams, Edward Vaughan, Sir and Francis J Troubat. A treatise on the law of executors and administrators. 2 vols. Philadelphia: R.H. Small, 1832.

* 2 volumes Comyn on Contracts, 3rd edition
Comyn, Samuel. A treatise of the law relative to contracts and agreements not under seal: with cases and decisions thereon in the action of assumpsit. 3rd American ed., with corrections, and the addition of notes and references. 2 vols. Brookfield, Massachusetts: Elisha Hammond, 1823.

* 1 volumes Zoller's Law of Executors, 4th edition
Toller, Sir Samuel and Francis Whitmarsh. The law of executors and administrators. 4th ed., corr. London: A. Strahan, 1818.

* 1 volume Angel & Ames on Corporations. Boston, 1832
Angell, Joseph Kinnicut and Samuel Ames. A treatise on the law of private corporations aggregate. Boston: Hilliard, Gray, Little & Wilkins, 1832.

* 1 volume Elements of Law. Boston, 1835
Hilliard, Francis. The elements of law; being a comprehensive summary of American civil jurisprudence. For the use of students, men of business, and general readers. Boston, New York: Hilliard, Gray, and Co.; Halsted and Voorhies, 1835.

* 1 volume Law Summary. Hallowell, 1833
Oliver, Benjamin L. The law summary : a collection of legal tracts on subjects of general application in business. 2nd ed., corr. and enl. Hallowell, Me.: Glazier, Masters, 1833.

* 2 volumes Latrobe's Justices' Practice, 2nd edition
Latrobe, John H. B. The justices' practice under the laws of Maryland; including the duties of a constable. To which is added a collection of forms used in conveyancing. 2d ed. Rev., enl. and improved. Baltimore: F. Lucas, jr., 1835.
UM Location: HBK Maryland Room Maryland Rare Stacks | KFM1720.A9 L3 1835
HBK Maryland Room Maryland Rare Stacks | KFM1720.A9 L3 1826

* 51 volumes Niles' Register
The Niles Weekly Register was published from 1811 to 1849 in Baltimore, Washington, and Philadelphia, and the description from the American Periodical Series database reads, "Founded and edited for 25 years by Hezekiah Niles, this weekly contained 'political, historical, geographical, scientifical, statistical, economical, and biographical documents, essays and facts together with notices of the arts and manufactures and a record of the events of the times.' Described by a contemporary as "precise in everything," Niles was non-partisan and reliable in reporting facts although he did have some editorial expression in the early volumes. Because of its presentation of factual material, the Register performed an invaluable service to newspaper editors, the public and historians by providing statistics about the first half of the 19th century. A great deal of print was devoted to reports of Congressional sessions, news of Indian tribes and settlements and wars and upheavals in Europe."

* 2 volumes Starkie on Evidence, 6th edition
Starkie, Thomas; Theron Metcalf; Edward D. Ingraham; and Benjamin Gerhard. A practical treatise on the law of evidence and digest of proofs in civil and criminal proceedings. 6th American, from a new English ed. 2 vols. Philadelphia: P.H. Nicklin and T. Johnson, 1837, ©1834.

* 1 volume Sugden on Vendors, 9th edition
Sugden, Edward, Sir. A practical treatise of the law of vendors and purchasers of estates. From the 9th London ed. 2 vols. Brookfield, Mass.: E. & L. Merriam, 1836.

* 3 volumes Chitty's Practice, 1st edition
Chitty, Joseph. The practice of the law in all its departments; with a view of rights, injuries, and remedies, and as ameliorated by recent statutes, rules, and decisions. 1st American from the 1st English ed. 3 vols. Philadelphia; P.H. Nicklin & T. Johnson, 1834-1836.

* 4 volumes Cruise's Digest. In 2 books
Cruise, William. A digest of the laws of England respecting real property. 1st American ed., carefully corr. from the London copy. 5 vols. New York: Printed for Alsop, Brannan and Alsop, 1808.

* 2 volumes Equity Digest. Springfield, 1837
Barbour, Oliver L; E Burke Harrington; Richard Whalley Bridgman. An analytical digest of the equity cases decided in the courts of the several states, and of the United States, from the earliest period : and of the decisions in equity, in the courts of Chancery and Exchequer in England and Ireland, and the Privy Council and House of Lords, from Hilary term, 1822 : and forming, with the third edition of Bridgeman's digest, a complete abstract of all the American, English and Irish equity reports, down to 1836. 3 vols. Springfield, Mass.: G. and C. Merriam, 1837.

* 1 volume Bayley on Bills, 2nd edition
Bayley, John, Sir. Summary of the law of bills of exchange, cash bills, and promissory notes. 2nd ed. London : Printed for E. and R. Brooke, and J. Rider, and J. Butterworth, 1799.

1 volume Maryland Digest. Norris, Brown & Brune
Norris, William Henry, George William Brown, Frederick William Brune. Digest of the Maryland reports : comprising Harris & McHenry, four vols., Harris & Johnson, seven vols., Harris & Gill, two vols., Gill & Johnson, twelve vols., Bland's chancery reports, three vols. 2 vols. Baltimore: Cushing & Brother, 1847.

* 2 volumes Recuelle et Paralello
Possibly:
Durand, Jean Nicolas Louis; J G Legrand; Leopoldo Cicognara, conte. Recueil et parallèle des édifices de tout genre, anciens et modernes, remarquables par leur beauté, par leur grandeur ou par leur singularité ... Augmenté de plus de 300 autres bâtimens et de l'histoire générale de l'architecture de J.G. Legrand. Publié sous la direction de mrs. les professeurs de l'Académie I. et R. des beaux arts. Venise: J. Antonelli, 1833.

ALSO,

About 150 volumes Miscellaneous Works, from Manuscript

* Biography of Henry Clay, with Photograph
One possibility:
Prentice, George D. Biography of Henry Clay. Hartford: S. Hanmer, Jr. and J. J. Phelps, 1831.

Notes

i. Auction catalog. Calvert Family vertical file. Frederick DeMarr Historical Library, Prince George's County Historical Society and Nicklin, John Bailey. "The Calvert Family." Maryland

ii. Genealogies: a consolidation of articles form the Maryland historical magazine. 2 vols. Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1980, vol. 1, p. 162.

iii. McDonald, Joyce. "Riversdale Interior Design: Past and Future." Passport to the Past 2 (November/December 1991): 1.
Callcott, Margaret Law. Mistress of Riversdale: The Plantation Letters of Rosalie Stier Calvert, 1795-1821. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1991: 285-286.

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