Walton Ford - Editions New York Wednesday, June 8, 2011 | Phillips

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  • Literature

    Benedikt Taschen pp 100, 101, 131, 152, 153 and 227-8

  • Catalogue Essay

    For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle has not been chosen as the Representative of our Country. He is
    a Bird of bad moral Character. He does not get his Living honestly. You may have seen him perch'd on some dead Tree near the River where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the Labour of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent Bird has at length taken a Fish, and is bearing it to his Nest for the Support of his Mate and young Ones, the Bald Eagle pursues him and takes it from him. With all this Injustice, he is never in good Case but like those among Men who live by Sharping and Robbing he is generally poor and often very lousy. Besides he is a rank Coward: The little King Bird not bigger than a Sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the District. He is therefore by no means a proper Emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America who have driven all the King birds from our Country, tho' exactly fit for that Order of the Knights which the French call Chevaliers d'Industrie. I am on this account not displeas'd that the Figure is not known as a Bald Eagle, but looks more like a Turkey. For in truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America. Eagles have been found in all Countries, but the Turkey was peculiar to ours, the first of the Species seen in Europe being brought to France by the Jesuits from Canada, and serv'd up at the Wedding Table of Charles the ninth. He is besides, tho' a little vain and silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier
    of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on.
    Benjamin Franklin in a letter to his daughter, Sarah Bache, January 26, 1784. (Benedikt Taschen, Walton Ford, Pancha Tantra, 2009, p. 302)

104

Swadeshi-cide, 1998; La Historia Me Absolvera, 1999; Benjamin's Emblem, 2000; Tale of Johnny Nutkin, 2001; Compromised, 2002; and Visitation, 2004

The complete series of six etchings in colors, on Somerset Satin paper, all with full margins,
all I. 35 3/4 x 23 7/8 in. (90.8 x 60.6 cm);
all S. 44 x 30 1/2 in. (111.8 x 77.5 cm)

all signed and numbered 31/50 in pencil (there were also 12 artist's proofs), published by Blue Heron Press, New York, all in excellent condition, all framed.

Estimate
$40,000 - 60,000 

Sold for $104,500

Editions

8 June 2011 New York