1839 – American Antiquities | WWI Confidential Naval Intelligence Ephemera

An Inquiry into the Origin of the Antiquities of America is a fascinating 1839 survey of the origins of people in the Americas. Written by John Delafield, this book addresses indigenous tribes such as the Aztec, Native American Indian tribes, and early Peruvians and Mexicans. Delafield remarks on the discovery of America but also focuses heavily on the influence of ancient tribes on the peoples in the Americas, specifically the Mongolians, ancient Cuthites, and nomadic Hindu who may have used the Bering Strait as means of travel into North and South America.

It is worth addressing that the content alone is not the sole selling point of this example. It includes 10 full page engravings and a collection of highly curious laid-in pieces of ephemera including two separate pieces of post-WWI confidential naval intelligence!

Bibliographic Details

• Title: An Inquiry into the Origin of the Antiquities of America
• Author(s): John Delafield
• Contributor(s): James Lakey (Editor); Chas. P. McIlvaine (Preface)
• Publisher: Cincinnati, N.G. Burgess
• Edition: First edition, 1839
• Binding: Full red Moroccan leather
• Format: (4to), single volume
• Size:  12 in x 10 in (30 cm x 25 cm)
• Collation: 142 pp
• Illustrations: 10 plates, including 5 color plates
  • Wanting large folding chart
• Contents Include:
  • Discovery of America
  • Mexican and Peruvian civilizations
  • Nomadic Native American tribes
  • Bering Strait migration theory
  • Cuthite traditions
  • The Aztecs
• Provenance:
  • Gilt ownership stamp – “John B. Wilbour” on front cover
  • Ephemera sheets: Four separate laid in sheets of personal, generational papers including post-World War I-era wartime intelligence paperwork for a Samuel L. Smith
    • A confidential ONI oath transmittal — likely secrecy/loyalty paperwork.
    • A confidential ONI application transmittal — formal recordkeeping for someone connected to naval intelligence.
    • A National Security League certificate — proof of membership in a patriotic defense organization.
    • An 1870 Connecticut mortgage deed — a legal land-transfer record

Condition:

Good. Full red Moroccan leather binding with gilt title retained on the cover; hinges show noticeable wear yet remain intact, with some loss of leather at the corners and spine. Text block tight and secure. Pages and plates clean. Large folding chart wanting.

Why Collect This?

• First edition early American archaeological study
• Includes confidential naval intelligences from World War I

• Relevant to collectors of Americana and Native American history

Item Number: #50139