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Fraunces Tavern, site of one of Kaller's exhibits
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An important act of the first U.S. Congress, signed by Thomas Jefferson in 1790, hangs on display at Fraunces Tavern, one of Lower Manhattan's oldest establishments. And it can be yours for $100,000. The piece is among dozens of historical documents currently on exhibit there, all of which are for sale by Kaller's America Gallery.
From its office on Wall Street, Kaller's America Gallery buys and sells museum-quality collections of historic manuscripts, letters, art, rare books, and other historical artifacts--many of which currently are housed in major museums--for its clients. Notable acquisitions include The Emancipation Proclamation and an original copy of the Declaration of Independence.
"The Fraunces Tavern exhibit is a great opportunity to show important documents to people interested in history, as well as to those who know nothing about it," says Gallery Director Seth Kaller.
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| Peter Stuyvesant Signed Land Grant, worth $35,000 |
Pointing to a Revolutionary War map of New York City, he notes the timeliness and educational value of these historical pieces. "These documents are particularly relevant now because they show that New York has been under siege before. Many students don't even know that a part of the Revolutionary War was fought in Lower Manhattan. People might be more interested if they realized how close to home it all was."
Kaller began exhibiting the documents at Fraunces Tavern in late spring of 2002. "We chose to exhibit our pieces in Lower Manhattan because the area is rich with history," says Kaller. "This is where our government began--Hamilton's and Jefferson's offices used to be down here."
In addition to Fraunces Tavern, documents from Kaller's collection adorn the walls at The Regent Wall Street hotel.
Outside of the City, the gallery has achieved worldwide recognition. In 1995, it appeared in The Guinness Book of World Records for the most expensive manuscript in the United States: a one-page script written by Abraham Lincoln in preparation for a speech, which sold for $1.54 million. The manuscript is the first surviving formulation of Lincoln's "House Divided" doctrine, written in 1857 or 1858.
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| Engraved portrait of Stanton |
But you don't have to be rich to purchase a piece of history. For as little as $250 you can own pieces from original newspapers dating back to the 1800s, such as an engraved portrait of Edwin M. Stanton, who served as Lincoln's secretary of war.
Whether you are a serious private collector, an institute in need of expert collection management, or simply an avid American history buff, Kaller's America Gallery can help you. The gallery's exhibits also are a great opportunity to learn more about U.S. history in honor of President's Day.
"We try to use these documents to connect people with their country's history," says Kaller. "Every American should know who Jefferson, Washington, and Adams were."
For more information or to view/inquire about available documents, visit the gallery's website at http://www.americagallery.com/ or send an e-mail to kallers@optonline.net. Images courtesy of Kaller's America Gallery, Inc.
See the exhibits downtown at:
Fraunces Tavern
54 Pearl Street (at the corner of Broad Street)
New York, NY 10004
The Regent Wall Street
55 Wall Street (at William Street)
New York, NY 10005
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