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NEW YORK, July 2 /PRNewswire/ — Philadelphia businessman Jay T. Snider announced today, on the verge of the 232nd anniversary of American independence, the sale at auction of his preeminent Americana collection related to the City of Brotherly Love. Formed over the last fifteen years by Mr. Snider, this comprehensive collection chronicles the history and growth of the birthplace of freedom.
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The auction, to be held in November at Bloomsbury Auctions in New York, encompasses books, manuscripts, broadsides, maps and views of or concerning Philadelphia from its 1681 founding to the 1876 Centennial Exhibition. It is believed to be the largest such grouping of material in private hands and is expected to yield in excess of $3,000,000.
Highlights from the early colonial material in the collection include documents and letters by William Penn, Jonathan Dickinson, James Logan and other prominent early Philadelphians and a stunning hand-colored copy of Thomas Holme’s A Mapp of ye Improved Part of Pensilvania.
Material related to Benjamin Franklin is well represented by a 1729 unrecorded bound volume of mortgage deeds printed by Franklin and believed to be the earliest such imprint to appear at auction, as well as first editions of treaties with Native Americans printed by Franklin and other important works from his press. Other colonial material of note includes Nicholas Scull’s excessively rare 1759 Map of Pennsylvania, as well as a lovely example of Scull and George Heap’s East Prospect of the City of Philadelphia.
As Philadelphia played a central role in the movement for independence, the collection includes stellar pieces related to the American Revolution, including a remarkable 1781 Philadelphia newspaper extra detailing the fall of Yorktown and a rare broadside issued by the Continental Congress announcing the end of the war.
The Federal period is highlighted by a highly-important autograph letter signed by founding father James Madison, discussing in detail the relationship between the Constitution and the Common Law.
Pictorial material in the auction, much from the famed collection of Martin Snyder, includes the first edition of William Birch’s scarce volume of views of Philadelphia — the first American color plate book and a noted rarity, and a wonderful group of 19th century printed and original watercolor views of the city, including examples by William and Thomas Birch, Augustus Kollner, John Rubens Smith, James Queen, J.W. Hill and other noted Philadelphia artists. Also in the sale is a unique bound volume of some of the earliest photographs of the city, assembled by 19th century Philadelphia historian Joseph Jeanes.
Mr. Snider is planning on gifting a percentage of the sale to subsidize acquisitions by select Philadelphia institutions. A Philadelphia exhibition of highlights will be held prior to the November auction.
For further information or to request visuals for press, contact Mikel Lubrano at 646 454 8504,

Bloomsbury Auctions

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CLEVELAND, April 10, 2008 /PRNewswire/ — One of the largest collections of art, documents and historically significant objects from the Vatican ever to tour North America is coming to the Western Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland beginning May 31, 2008, for a limited, exclusive regional engagement. Vatican Splendors from Saint Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums and the Swiss Guard will present unique objects illustrating the Vatican’s impact on history and culture through 2,000 years. The timing of the exhibition commemorates the 500th anniversary of Saint Peter’s Basilica, the founding of the Vatican Museums, Michelangelo’s painting of the Sistine Chapel ceiling and the establishment of the Papal Swiss Guard.”Vatican Splendors is visiting only three U.S. cities, so we feel very fortunate to have it come here to Cleveland,” said Dr. Gainor Davis, president of the Western Reserve Historical Society. “Since such a large percentage of Northeastern Ohio’s population has Catholic roots, the Society felt that this exhibition meshed perfectly with its ongoing mission to educate our residents about the origins of their history, culture and traditions. People will be able to see some of the world’s greatest treasures without having to travel to the Vatican.”Approximately 200 rare objects will be presented in contextual environments, such as the recreated tomb of Saint Peter. Items in the collection — which includes tiaras; mosaics; paintings; works by well-known sculptors; papal rings and jewels; intricately embroidered silk vestments; precious objects from the Papal Mass; armor, swords and vestments of the Papal Swiss Guard; and gifts to the popes from notables such as Napoleon and the Dalai Lama — are on loan from the Vatican Museums, the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, the Office of the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff, the Reverenda Fabbrica of Saint Peter, the Apostolic Floreria, private collections and the Papal Swiss Guard.The exhibition also features actual objects relating to the election of Pope Benedict XVI, such as election ballots, patens and urns used in voting, a ceremonial vestment and an actual white smoke cartridge announcing the election.”Indeed, this exhibition is in itself significant, as it represents one of the largest collections of art and objects from the Vatican ever to tour North America,” stated Monsignor Roberto Zagnoli, curator of the Vatican Museums. “Many of these works have never before been outside Vatican City.”After the three-city tour of St. Petersburg, Fla., Cleveland and St. Paul, Minn., the items featured in Vatican Splendors will return to Rome where they cannot be absent for more than a year.”It is a great privilege for Cleveland to host this wonderful collection,” said the Most Rev. Richard G. Lennon, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all — not just Catholics — to see these awe-inspiring treasures and significant pieces of art and beauty here in Northeast Ohio.”Highlights of the exhibition include a reliquary containing fragments of bones of Saint Peter and a gold Votive Plaque found in the area of the tomb, all displayed within a dramatic reproduction of the Tomb of Saint Peter; the Mandylion of Edessa, a third to fifth century image on linen considered one of the oldest known representations of Jesus present in Rome; a mosaic Bust of an Angel by the 14th century master, Giotto; personal items and tools of Michelangelo; an exquisite terra-cotta sculpture by Bernini; the Papal Tiara of Pope Pius VII, the symbol of the papacy, made of gold, precious stones, pearls, velvet and silk, and topped with an exquisite emerald; a Buddhist Thanka of embroidered cloth and pearls, given by the Dalai Lama to John Paul II; the Pastoral Staff of Pope John Paul II; and a special presentation of uniforms, armor and weapons from the legendary Papal Swiss Guard.”This exhibition is about art, history, culture and the Church’s legacy over the last 2,000 years,” said Mark Greenberg, president of Evergreen Exhibitions, producers of the exhibition. “The Vatican has had a profound impact on culture through the centuries by commissioning, collecting and preserving historical objects and art. Vatican Splendors is a moving tribute to an exquisite assemblage of art and objects associated with the papacy and the historic institution of the Vatican.”Greenberg added that the exhibition is not solely about religion, but rather a collection of fine and decorative arts that explores the Vatican’s influence on world history.Tickets for Vatican Splendors from Saint Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums and the Swiss Guard go on sale April 14 and will be available by calling 1-888-5VATICAN (1-888-582-8422) or online at . Tickets also may be purchased at the Western Reserve Historical Society box office located at 10825 East Blvd. in Cleveland. Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and $14 for children (age 6-12). Hours for Vatican Splendors will be Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information regarding group sales and special packages, contact Tickets for Groups at 1-800-840-1157 or visit .Vatican Splendors is made possible by the generosity of its sponsor, the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums of Ohio, Inc. More information about Vatican Splendors is available at . For information about the Western Reserve Historical Society, visit .Vatican Splendors is organized and circulated in conjunction with the Governatorato of the Vatican City State. The exhibition is produced by Evergreen Exhibitions in association with the Western Reserve Historical Society. Objects in the exhibition are on loan from the Office of the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff, the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, the Vatican Museums, the Reverenda Fabbrica of Saint Peter, and the Apostolic Floreria. Additional objects are on loan by the Papal Swiss Guard and private collections.The Western Reserve Historical Society was founded in 1867, making it the oldest cultural institution in Northeast Ohio. With headquarters in University Circle, the renowned arts and culture district of Cleveland, the Society operates eight separate but related collections at four historic properties throughout the region. Its mission is to collect, preserve and present the history of all the people of Northeast Ohio.Evergreen Exhibitions is a world leader in providing high quality, state- of-the-art exhibitions in collaboration with more than 200 leading museums and research institutions in the United States and internationally. Vatican Splendors

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ATLANTA, April 2, 2008 /PRNewswire/ — “Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs,” a new exhibition featuring more than 130 treasures from the tomb of the celebrated pharaoh King Tut and additional ancient sites, will begin a United States tour this fall. The premiere at the Atlanta Civic Center will be presented by the Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University from November 15, 2008 to May 22, 2009, followed by an engagement at the Indianapolis Children’s Museum from June to October 2009.The exhibition is organized by National Geographic, Arts and Exhibitions International and AEG Exhibitions, with cooperation from the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities. Northern Trust is the presenting sponsor of the tour, and American Airlines is the official airline.”Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs” is the second National Geographic exhibition dedicated to the remarkable treasures of King Tutankhamun and ancient Egyptian royalty. The first exhibition, “Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs,” was visited by nearly 4 million people during its four-city U.S. tour from 2005 to 2007, and will begin a three-city encore tour in Dallas later this year.”Tutankhamun’s magic still captures the hearts of people all over the world, even though more than 75 years have passed since the discovery of his amazing tomb,” said Zahi Hawass, secretary general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities. “America has welcomed the golden king, and now he returns, bringing with him all the great pharaohs of Egypt. This exhibition will raise much-needed funds for the preservation of Egypt’s monuments and the construction and renovation of museums throughout the country. I always say that Egyptian antiquities are the heritage of the world and that we are only their guardians.”Proceeds from the tour will go toward antiquities preservation and conservation efforts in Egypt, including the construction of a new grand museum in Cairo. Tickets can be reserved for the Atlanta run starting today at or .”Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs” will feature striking objects from some of the most important rulers throughout 2,000 years of ancient Egyptian history, from the 4th Dynasty into the Late Period (about 2600 B.C. - 660 B.C.). Derived from a variety of contexts, including temples and royal and private tombs, many of these artifacts have never before visited the United States.The exhibition will highlight more than 50 treasures from Tutankhamun’s tomb and more than 70 artifacts representing other pharaohs and notables, along with the latest scientific research about King Tut. The storyline will focus on the splendor of the Egyptian pharaohs, their function in the earthly and divine worlds, and what kingship meant to the Egyptian people.”Tutankhamun is truly a worldwide sensation, and now, with two touring exhibitions focused on this legendary king, Americans are fortunate to have access to such an unprecedented wealth of items representing Egypt’s heritage,” said John Norman, president, Arts and Exhibitions International. “The two prior visits of King Tut’s treasures to the U.S. were among the most successful exhibits in national history. We anticipate that this new exhibition of entirely new objects will similarly captivate the nation.”Visitors will encounter artifacts from some of the most powerful rulers of Egypt, such as Khefren, whose great pyramid is the only remaining structure of the seven wonders of the ancient world; Hatshepsut, the queen who became king; and Psusennes I, whose magnificent golden death mask will be on display.”Egypt’s ancient treasures are among the world’s greatest cultural legacies,” said Terry Garcia, executive vice president, National Geographic Society. “Even with the great wealth of research that already exists, new technologies continue to open up the past in ways never imagined. Visitors to this exhibit will not only see stunning artifacts spanning 2,000 years of ancient Egyptian history, but they will also learn more about the life and death of Tutankhamun through recent CT scans conducted on his mummy.”Four galleries devoted to King Tut will correspond to the four rooms of his nearly intact tomb where the treasures were discovered by British explorer Howard Carter in 1922. Legendary artifacts from the antechamber, the annex, the treasury and the burial chamber will include Tutankhamun’s golden sandals, jewelry, furniture, weaponry and statuary.The exhibition also will include the largest image of King Tut ever found — a 10-foot statue that originally may have stood at Tutankhamun’s mortuary temple and retains much of its original paint. One of the four gold and precious-stone-inlaid canopic coffinettes that contained his mummified internal organs also will be exhibited.The final gallery will feature CT scans of Tutankhamun that were obtained as part of a landmark, Egyptian research and conservation project, partially funded by National Geographic, that will CT-scan the ancient mummies of Egypt. The Tutankhamun scans were captured through the use of a portable CT scanner, donated by Siemens Medical Solutions, which allowed researchers to compile the first three-dimensional picture of Tutankhamun and discover more about his life and death.The Michael C. Carlos Museum will lead the development of educational materials in conjunction with the exhibition for elementary, middle and high school audiences. These supplemental materials will be downloadable for free to classrooms across the country and will address topics such as childhood in ancient Egypt and how the journey to the afterlife was believed to occur.Northern Trust, which serves as the presenting sponsor for “Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs,” will also be the presenting sponsor for this new exhibition.”For nearly 120 years, Northern Trust has worked to bring communities together to celebrate rich cultural experiences, such as the Tutankhamun exhibits, because we understand the importance of arts education and preservation,” said Frederick H. Waddell, president and chief executive officer of Northern Trust Corporation. “We have truly enjoyed being part of the Tutankhamun phenomenon, and we look forward to the launch of this second exhibit as we help preserve the history of Egypt and further the cause to protect these very important and invaluable treasures.”American Airlines will be the official airline of the exhibition.”American Airlines is thrilled to have a role in bringing this new exhibit to the U.S.,” said Dan Garton, executive vice president of marketing for American Airlines. “We realize that access to global transportation was an important component of making this exhibit a reality, and it is exciting to know that American Airlines will be helping to make it possible for this remarkable exhibit to be seen by millions of visitors.”Tutankhamun was one of the last kings of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty and ruled during a crucial, turmoil-filled period in Egyptian history. The boy king died under mysterious circumstances around age 18 or 19, in the ninth year of his reign (1323 B.C.).National Geographic Books will publish a companion book to the exhibition, written by Zahi Hawass.Ticket information: Tickets are available to reserve now at or .About National GeographicThe National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 300 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 8,700 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program combating geographic illiteracy. For more information, visit .About AEG LIVE / AEG ExhibitionsAEG LIVE is a collection of companies dedicated to all aspects of live contemporary music performance and is the live-entertainment division of Los Angeles-based AEG, one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters in the world. AEG LIVE, the nation’s second largest concert promotion and touring company with five regional offices, also includes stand-alone affiliate divisions including: AEG LIVE Events, creators and producers of special events of all sizes; AEG-TV (formerly Spring Communications), devoted to creation and marketing of live events for television, DVD, pay-per-view, cinema and other electronic media and Creative Battery, producers of live entertainment for a variety of media and venues. AEG LIVE Tours & Special Events and AEG Exhibitions, the company’s national promotion divisions, currently are producing national tours and productions. Recently promoted national concert tours have included artists and groups such as Celine Dion’s A New Day … presented by Chrysler, the Eagles, Usher, Fleetwood Mac, Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera among others. Goldenvoice, the company’s southern California-based regional promotion division created and operates the award winning annual Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival.About Arts and Exhibitions InternationalA private company founded in 2003 by president John Norman and international vice president Andres Numhauser, AEI currently produces the award-winning exhibition “Diana: A Celebration” in association with the Althorp Estate in the United Kingdom. Norman and Numhauser have nearly 40 years combined experience in the entertainment and exhibition business, working over the years on such projects as “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibit” and “Saint Peter and the Vatican: The Legacy of the Popes.” The company has relationships with the most important museums in the world and has presented traveling exhibitions on four continents. For more information, log onto .About the Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory UniversityThe Michael C. Carlos Museum, founded in 1919, has long been dedicated to collecting, preserving, exhibiting, and interpreting art and artifacts from antiquity to the present. Some 16,000 artifacts from ancient Egypt, the Near East, Greece, Rome, the Americas, Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa, as well as works on paper from the Renaissance to the present day, provide visitors with a glimpse into the art and history of world cultures. The museum aims to provide unique opportunities for education and enrichment in the community, and to promote interdisciplinary teaching and research at Emory University. The Carlos Museum’s educational programming — with an active schedule of lectures, symposia, workshops, performances, and summer camps — benefits all who interact with the museum community. Annual participation from 100,000 visitors, 30,000 children, and almost 1 million internet users of Odyssey Online, Carlos Museum’s interactive Web site accessed by English-speaking classrooms around the world, reveals the Museum’s commitment to making art and artifacts relevant and accessible to all. In addition to conducting scientific analysis and treatment of museum collections, the Carlos Conservation Laboratory also offers teaching and training opportunities for students interested in pursuing careers in art, conservation, preservation, and science. Located at the heart of Emory University’s Atlanta campus, the Carlos Museum serves as the South’s premier museum of ancient art.About The Children’s Museum of IndianapolisThe Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is a non-profit institution committed to creating extraordinary family learning experiences that have the power to transform the lives of children and families. The 433,000 square-foot facility houses 11 major galleries. Visitors can explore the physical and natural sciences, history, world cultures, the arts, see how dinosaurs lived 65 million years ago in Dinosphere: Now You’re in Their World(R), experience Dale Chihuly’s Fireworks of Glass and examine children’s impact in shaping history in The Power of Children: Making a Difference. The Children’s Museum, situated on 13 acres of land in Indianapolis, presents hundreds of programs and activities each year. For more information about The Children’s Museum in English and Spanish, visit .Nicole Okoneski, GolinHarris213-438-8793; AEG Exhibitions

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