Seaport Autographs was founded by Norman F. Boas in 1976 and since that time has issued 109 catalogs covering a wide variety of subjects, as indicated in our directory at the left side of this window. We have sold large collections to universities and libraries as well as to many individual collectors throughout the United States and the world. All of our descriptions are based on The Manuscript Society Criteria for Describing Manuscripts and Documents, a system designed for precisely describing the material we offer. Since we do not operate an open shop, we will be happy at any time to forward scanned images of those items not illustrated. We are a charter member of the Professional Autograph Dealers Association (PADA) and also members of the Manuscript Society, and the Universal Autograph Collector's Club (UACC). All mandate the highest standards of ethics in the marketplace.

Warranty: All items we sell carry a full money-back guarantee of authenticity and any item which is not as described or in which you are not completely satisfied may be returned within three days of receipt. Using the Manuscript Society Criteria, our descriptions are precise and allow our customers a detailed preview of each document with listings of the author, content, number of pages, sizes, place and dates. The condition of each is graded into one of the six categories mentioned on the Abbreviations page.

SPECIAL DISCOUNT OFFER

BOAS, NORMAN F. FRANZ BOAS, 1858-1942, An Illustrated Biography, Seaport Autographs Press, Mystic, Connecticut, 2004. Anthropologist Franz Boas proved with compelling scientific evidence "that all men are created equal" and born with the same universal physical and mental attributes. The premise that "primitive man" was less endowed than the "highly civilized" white man was thus shown to be a myth. It was at Columbia University that Boas first established and defined anthropology as a scientific discipline. He was also intimately associated with the American Museum of Natural History as curator of anthropology and the Bureau of American Ethnology of  the Smithsonian Institution as a contributing research scientist and honorary philologist. Franz Boas, a passionate believer in the truth, devoted the last twenty years of his life to a relentless fight against the forces of racism, not only in Nazi Germany, but in the United States and throughout the world. Norman Francis Boas, grandson of Franz Boas, is a physician, teacher, author, and historian and the only person now alive who is able to write a biography of Franz Boas as a humanitarian and a loving family man, based on personal recollections and unpublished material. See reviews of same title under "Books." Franz Boas's 150th birthday will be on July 9, 2008.                                                                                      Paper. $19.95 + $3.00 for shipping

Norman F. Boas, ABRAHAM LINCOLN CHRONOLOGY, THE PRAIRIE YEARS (1809-1860), 36pp, Seaport Autographs Press, Mystic, Connecticut, 2007

 ISBN 0-9672626-4-X − Price: $9.95 + $3.00 (shipping)

The Abraham Lincoln Chronology is a useful quick guide to Lincoln's residences, activities, and travels from the time of his birth until he was sworn in as President of the United States.

 First Publication of the Boas Eskimo Story of 1883-84

Franz Boas, ESKIMO STORY (Written for my Children) MY ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 1883-1884, 56pp, Seaport Autographs Press, Mystic, Connecticut, 2007

ISBN 096726231 — Price: $6.00 + $3.00 (shipping)

Franz Boas, who chaired the first department of anthropology at Columbia University from 1899 until his retirement in 1936, has been referred to as the founder of American anthropology. As a young man, he was a polar explorer who spent one and one half years living with and as an Eskimo from 1883 to 1884. This extraordinary experience inspired him to devote his lifetime to the study of human races.  He emigrated from Germany and settled in America in 1886. He detailed the story of his life in the Arctic in several scientific publications, diaries, and in newspaper stories. About 15 or 16 years after returning from the North, he wrote a story of his Arctic adventure for his five young children. The typescript of this fascinating story has been read by his children, grandchildren and great grand-children. Over the years the original copies of the story have become brittle and yellowed with age.

   Presented here is the story as Franz Boas originally wrote it – a story never published.  It records the details of a culture that, in many aspects, no longer exists. It is a fascinating narrative of his experiences during most of his stay in the Arctic including a death-defying trek in the sub-zero frozen North. He never completed the children’s story, ending it in Cumberland Sound, before his mapping trek across the mountains of Baffin Island. We have added a brief summary of the remaining portion of his expedition. Included are a few photographs and sketches relating to Baffin Island that were not part of the children’s story, but have been used to illustrate other books by and about Franz Boas. As one of six grandchildren of Franz Boas, it has been my pleasure to make this story available for the first time to those outside of our family.                                                                                                                                     Norman F. Boas, M.D.

 WORKS OF ART AND ARTIFACTS

John Calabro. Sculptor, medalist and artist. Includes Lincoln, Babe Ruth & others. See listings under "Artists."

Sperm Whale Tooth. See listing under "Artists."

African Dagger. See listing under "Artists."

Colonial Map of Connecticut. See listing under "Colonial America."

Early Persian Battle Scene. See listing under "Artists."

Please visit us on the PADA website by just clicking on the PADA logo below. You will also find a detailed article on the language of autograph collecting, prepared by Seaport Autographs.

The Manuscript Society Criteria for Describing Manuscripts and Documents. The Manuscript Society has announced that this booklet is now available to all, at no charge, for down-loading by your computer. It is the standard reference used by collectors, dealers and archivists in dealing with autograph and archival material. Click on The Manuscript Society logo below to obtain your copy.

For a wide selection of fine antiquarian, business, rare books and books of broad general interest, visit www.rayboasbookseller.com

If you have any questions or comments please feel free to email us:
ndboas@sbcglobal.net or norm@seaportautographs.com

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© 2003 Seaport Autographs

Content updated by Dr. Norman Boas

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