Historical

Historical

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About

The story of the human experience is told by our surviving material culture. The Leland Little Auctions Historical Department illustrates this collective narrative with important objects from all over the world, from a 16th century illuminated Koran to an Apollo 12 lunar module plate. In so doing, we regularly bring museum-quality artifacts to those individuals and institutions who will make sure these treasures survive for generations to come.

Contact

Rob Golan

Rob Golan

Rare Coins & Historical Director, AAA, ISA AM
rob@lelandlittle.com

Rob has been professionally cataloguing rare coins and historical objects for nearly 30 years. He joined Leland Little's team as a seasoned contract writer and researcher in 2005, becoming a full-time director in 2015. Rob is a certified member of the Appraisers Association of America and a Life Member of the American Numismatic Association.

Current and Upcoming Auctions

Exceptional Results

ancient-egyptian-depiction-of-horus-as-a-falcon

$38,000.00

Ancient Egyptian Depiction of Horus as a Falcon

 complete-first-american-octavo-edition-of-audubon-s-i-birds-of-america-i

$30,000.00

Complete First American Octavo Edition of Audubon's Birds of America...

 rarer-variant-of-the-union-is-dissolved-broadside

$25,000.00

Rarer Variant of THE UNION IS DISSOLVED Broadside

 original-set-of-i-the-federalist-i-pairing-1788-and-1799-editions

$21,000.00

Original Set of The Federalist Pairing 1788 and 1799 Editions

 large-and-important-pre-columbian-jalisco-seated-figure

$21,000.00

Large and Important Pre-Columbian Jalisco Seated Figure

 published-half-plate-ambrotype-of-a-north-carolina-confederate-officer

$16,500.00

Published Half Plate Ambrotype of a North Carolina Confederate Officer

 a-17th-century-state-9-edition-of-john-smith-s-virginia-map

$25,000.00

A 17th Century State 9 Edition of John Smith's Virginia Map

 rare-and-imposing-1825-map-of-charleston-harbor-engraved-by-william-j-stone

$16,000.00

Rare and Imposing 1825 Map of Charleston Harbor Engraved by William J. Stone

 important-abstract-bakota-reliquary-figure

$15,000.00

Important Abstract Bakota Reliquary Figure

 first-edition-of-albinus-and-wandelaar-anatomy

$14,000.00

First Edition of Albinus and Wandelaar Anatomy

 rare-cypriot-early-bronze-age-polished-red-ware-vessel

$13,000.00

Rare Cypriot Early Bronze Age Polished Red Ware Vessel

 captured-georgia-officer-s-mcelroy-confederate-presentation-sword

$10,000.00

Captured Georgia Officer's McElroy Confederate Presentation Sword

 wind-tunnel-model-of-loening-oa-10-flying-boat

$8,750.00

Wind Tunnel Model of Loening OA-10 Flying Boat

 a-rare-folded-1794-edition-of-mouzon-s-celebrated-map-of-the-carolinas

$8,000.00

A Rare Folded 1794 Edition of Mouzon's Celebrated Map of the Carolinas

Explore Recent Stories

landing-on-the-moon-on-earth

Landing on the Moon...on Earth

 a-window-onto-an-american-dynasty

A Window Onto An American Dynasty

As the record-breaking viewership of the current season of Netflix’s The Crown tells us, we are endlessly fascinated by what goes on behind the closed doors of the world’s royals.

the-collection-of-art-historian-and-designer-sterling-boyd

The Collection of Art Historian and Designer Sterling Boyd

A great eye is rarely confined to a single category. For Sterling Boyd, the synthesis of his extensive knowledge and impeccable style was a personal collection of art and antiques that brought together beauty and history.

on-the-hunt

On The Hunt

The world turns, the millennia pass, and the hunter becomes the hunted. But possibly not until the hunter is long-extinct and thoroughly fossilized. Robert E. Wilke, who spends his leisure time at the bottom of the ocean, hunting for Megalodon teeth, has reason to be glad for that reliable passage of time.

 five-things-what-the-emancipation-proclamation-organized-philanthropy-the-chicago-fire-suffrage-have-in-common

Five Things: What The Emancipation Proclamation, Organized Philanthropy, The Chicago Fire, & Suffrage Have In Common

 historical-archive-documenting-the-final-weeks-of-ulysses-s-grant

Historical Archive Documenting the Final Weeks of Ulysses S. Grant

I have fought a Good Fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith. - 2 Timothy 4:7 KJV

exquisitely-beautiful-specimens-of-the-ambrotype

Exquisitely Beautiful Specimens of the Ambrotype

Our Rare Coins & Historical Director, Rob Golan, is proud to present a remarkable quarter-plate ambrotype of two young Confederate cavalrymen from Louisiana. This rare ambrotype, along with other ambrotypes and tintypes, was offered in our June Estate Auction.

 an-insider-s-look-inspired-by-the-european-grand-tour

An Insider's Look: Inspired by the European Grand Tour

Back from your European getaway and longing for some of its beauty at home? We get it. Feeling inspired by our own travels and the tradition of the Grand Tour, we have curated this timeless selection of continental art, furniture, and decorative accessories from our End of Summer Estate Auction.

the-science-of-shadows

The Science of Shadows

Measuring the Days with Shadow and Light

 a-revolution-in-sound

A Revolution in Sound

Portable and Affordable Mechanical Music, A Revolution in Sound