Heritage Auctions

Video Intro to the American Red Cross Collection Click here to get updates about the auction.

Ultimate Americana: Selections from The American Red Cross, presented by Heritage Auctions

Important illustration art, flags, decorative art, dolls, stamps and more highlight assortment from America's pre-eminent charitable organization; all proceeds to benefit Red Cross

The American Red Cross, the nation's most respected humanitarian and charitable organization, has chosen Heritage Auction Galleries to auction off more than 150 pieces of original materials, gifts of heads of State and artwork from its legendary archives. The American Red Cross Collection will be auctioned as part of several auction events — Historical Americana, Vintage Stamps, Decorative Arts, Civil War Artifacts and Illustration Art — beginning in November of this year and stretching into February 2010.

"We're extremely honored to be associated with the American Red Cross," said Jared Green, Vice President of Heritage. "Not only is the organization among the most iconic and respected in American history, the selections that they have given us, across the board, are world class. Many of these pieces are of obvious museum quality."

Highlights of the collection include a massive and exceedingly rare Sanitary Commission Flag (Signature Civil War Auction, November 2009); a rare 4-faced Cartier clock lamp (Decorative Arts Auction, November 2009); a Sevres compote gifted to the Red Cross in 1937 by Albert Lebrun, then President of France (Decorative Arts Auction, November 2009); the legendary Rose Percy doll, complete with Tiffany accessories (Signature Historical Americana, November 2009); vintage original Christmas Seals and assorted international stamps (Rare Stamps Auction, November 2009), and a superlative grouping of more than 75 significant original Red Cross illustration Art (Signature Illustration Art, February, 2010) featuring examples by numerous luminaries of the form including Haddon Sundblom, A.M. Upjohn, John White Alexander, Walter Beech Humphrey, Haskell Coffin and Pal Fried.

The American Red Cross was established in Washington, D.C. on May 21, 1881 by the legendary Clara Barton. The first meeting of the organization actually took place on May 12 of that same year at the home Michigan Senator Omar D. Conger. She decided to organize the American Red Cross after a trip to Europe in 1869, where she introduced to the International Red Cross and became involved in its work during the bloody Franco-Prussian War. Barton then returned to America and began her work in earnest in 1873. The rest, as the saying goes, is history.

Highlights of The American Red Cross Collection include:

• Cartier Fine And Extremely Rare Silver, Gold, Jadeite And Pearl Four Dial Eight Day Lamp-Form Desk Clock, No. 1611, circa 1930's.
• Walter Beach Humphrey. American Junior Red Cross Poster Art.
• Jes Wilhelm Schlaikjer. Red Cross Poster Art, 1947.
• Robert Kauffman. American Red Cross Poster Art, 1946.
• Haddon Hubbard Sundblom. White Cross Nurse.
• Jon Whitcomb. A. R. C. Nursing, 1944.
• Kenneth Pauling Riley. Portrait of a Nurse, November 25, 1945.
• A French Bleu Lapis Ground Porcelain Compote. Sèvres, Circa 1937.
• "Rose Percy" Doll with Extensive Wardrobe and Accessories, Sold in 1864 to Raise Funds for the Sanitary Commission, and on Display at the American Red Cross Museum since 1920.
• Civil War: United States Sanitary Commission Flag.
• Civil War: Coin Silver Presentation Set Given to Henry W. Bellows, President of the United States Sanitary Commission, by the Citizens of San Francisco, California.