Cultural Archives - 15 Stars Fine Aged Bourbon

Cultural

Kentucky was a growing and prosperous state during the time of the 15 Star US flag in 1795-1818, and Lexington, Kentucky was known as the “Athens of the West.” Far from being a pioneer state, there was a spirit of great potential as skilled craftsmen and artisans moved into the area to serve this growing cosmopolitan community. Kentucky was recognized across the country and in Europe as a place of opportunity.

Lexington Library Lottery Ticket

This 1811 lottery ticket, to raise funds for the Lexington Kentucky library, demonstrates early community commitment to learning and culture.

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Lexington Library Lottery Ticket

This 1811 lottery ticket, to raise funds for the Lexington Kentucky library, demonstrates early community commitment to learning and culture.

In early Lexington, Kentucky, there was a remarkable atmosphere, a renaissance, and a strong desire to establish culture and learning in what was the western United States. A library was a key element in building a proper progressive city like Lexington, and part of the reason why Lexington at the time was known as the Athens of the West.

On November 29, 1800, the Lexington Library Association was chartered by a special act of the Kentucky General Assembly. Funding for the new library came from many prominent families of the area. To further the library mission, on January 31, 1811, the legislature approved a lottery to raise funds for the Lexington library. Then as now, fundraisers were important to community-based organizations. This rare lottery ticket from 1811, printed By T Smith of Lexington, is an example of the aspirations of the people of Lexington to build a city of learning and culture.

Kentucky English Grammar, 1806

“The Kentucky English Grammar or New Grammatical Institute” was the third edition of this school reader, printed in Lexington, KY by Daniel Bradford.

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Kentucky English Grammar, 1806

“The Kentucky English Grammar or New Grammatical Institute” was the third edition of this school reader, printed in Lexington, KY by Daniel Bradford.

The Kentucky English Grammar or New Grammatical Institute is an extremely rare copy of this early 97-page educational book, printed in Lexington, Kentucky, with the first printing in 1797, by John Bradford – Kentucky’s first printer, and the second in 1802. This copy from the third printing in 1806 is one of five located copies, and the only one known in private hands. Kentucky at the time of this printing was a rapidly growing part of America, as citizens and immigrants alike moved into America’s First West.

This primer was written by Samuel Wilson, a “Teacher of Languages and Belles-Lettres”. Wilson and his works are described in Literature of the Middle Western Frontier as: “School readers, which of all the elementary literature of learning, must have had the greatest general cultural influence, were early produced in the West, and in some cases were notable for their emphasis on Western ideas and ideals. As early as 1803, Samuel Wilson, author of The Kentucky English Grammar, issued his prospectus of The Polyanthos; or Kentucky Elegant Selections, intended for schools, which, although it possibly never appeared in print, is worthy of note as exemplifying the ideals which inspired many frontier compilers of such texts.”

Audubon Swamp Sparrow

In 1808, John James Audubon moved to Kentucky, where he completed many of his famous bird paintings like this swamp sparrow.

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Audubon Swamp Sparrow

In 1808, John James Audubon moved to Kentucky, where he completed many of his famous bird paintings like this swamp sparrow.

America’s most famous naturalist and bird painter, John James Audubon, is renowned for his paintings and lithographs of the Birds of America. Audubon moved to fast growing Louisville, Kentucky in 1808, where he operated a general store and continued painting his series of bird subjects. In 1810, Audubon moved further west to Henderson, Kentucky and continued his interest in hunting, fishing, and recording America’s bird subjects.

The swamp sparrow is one of the birds that either Audubon, or his wife Lucy, painted while in Kentucky. Audubon asked for this work to be attributed to Lucy, as she played an important role in its production. Our example is a hand colored lithograph of the original work of the Audubons from 1812. This lithograph was produced between 1839 and 1844, and depicts the swamp sparrow grasping the stem of a blooming Mayapple plant, common to the woodlands of Kentucky in spring.

Farmer’s Almanac Handkerchief

This 1816/17 Farmer’s Almanac printed cotton handkerchief displays two 15 star flags representing the official 15 star US flag in 1816.

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Farmer’s Almanac Handkerchief

This 1816/17 Farmer’s Almanac printed cotton handkerchief displays two 15 star flags representing the official 15 star US flag in 1816.

This rare, printed cotton Farmer’s Almanac handkerchief from 1816, displays the Farmer’s Almanac for the years 1816 and 1817. The handkerchief displays two US flags, each held in the beak of an eagle, and each with 15 stars representing Kentucky as the 15th state. The 15 star flag was the official US flag at the time and until 1818.

This version of the almanac was “Calculated for the Meridians of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee” and is 21″ x 24.5″ in size. Another example of this scarce handkerchief is pictured in “Threads of History: Americana Recorded on Cloth 1775 to Present” by Herbert Collins, where it shows an identical example in the Winterthur Museum. Winterthur is the premier museum of American decorative arts, founded by Henry Francis du Pont.

The Philosophy of Human Nature, 1812

This rare first edition by Joseph Buchanon, was printed in Richmond, KY as lectures for a proposed medical school in Lexington, KY.

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The Philosophy of Human Nature, 1812

This rare first edition by Joseph Buchanon, was printed in Richmond, KY as lectures for a proposed medical school in Lexington, KY.

What an intriguing topic for a book written and published in Kentucky in 1812. This rare first edition of “The Philosophy of Human Nature” is a 336-page work in near fine condition, written by Joseph Buchanon and printed by John Grimes In Richmond, Kentucky in 1812.

Historian I. W. Riley, wrote of Buchanon, “Of native materialists, the most original was Joseph Buchanon….he may be called the earliest of physiological psychologists.” Buchanon was “essentially an intellectual pioneer working in an environment that encouraged versatility rather than specialization and profundity, he contributed substantially to the development of culture in the Ohio River valley.” These writings were “prepared as lectures to be delivered in the contemplated medical school of Transylvania University” located at Lexington, Kentucky.

This first printing has the ownership signature of the important, early American industrialist and elected member of the US House of Representatives, Samuel Gardiner Wright. It is bound in contemporary calf with a red morocco gilt spine label.

15 Star Snuff Box, c. 1812

This amazing snuff box depicts a patriotic eagle with 15 stars above its head, 15 arrows in its grasp, and 15 stripes on the shield.

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15 Star Snuff Box, c. 1812

This amazing snuff box depicts a patriotic eagle with 15 stars above its head, 15 arrows in its grasp, and 15 stripes on the shield.

In early America snuff boxes often captured patriotic scenes. This rare snuff box depicts the American eagle with 15 stars over its head, 15 arrows in its grasp, and 15 stripes on the shield. The 15 stars represent the first 15 states of the union as recognized on the 15 star flag of the time. The face includes the motto of the state of Kentucky, “United we Stand, Divided we Fall,” and below the image are the words “Liberty, Freedom, and Independence.” The opposite side has an image of the battle between the USS United States and British ship Macedonia from 1812. The USS United States is flying a 15 star and 15 stripe flag. Below the depiction of the battle from the War of 1812 is the inscription, “The Glorious Victory, Achieved in the short space of Seventeen Minutes by the American Frigate United States, Commanded by Commodore Decatur, over the British Frigate Macedonia mounting forty nine guns.”

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Cultural

Lexington Library Lottery Ticket

Kentucky English Grammar, 1806

Audubon Swamp Sparrow

Farmer’s Almanac Handkerchief

The Philosophy of Human Nature, 1812

15 Star Snuff Box, c. 1812