Name/Title
THE FIRST CELEBRATION OF THE FESTIVAL OF ST. NICHOLAS BY THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY, DECEMBER 6TH, 1810.Entry/Object ID
SS.2015.6Description
Folded oversized broadside; on front at top, two oval portraits; on left side; young man in eighteenth-century dress, with hair tied into wig bag; on right side: old man with long hair to collar, wearing dark suit and dark cravat; at bottom, printed text: "The New York [sic] Historic Society having, in compliment to the original settlers of this state, selected the Festival of St. Nicholas, usually pronounced Sancte Claus, the tutelar Saint of the Dutch, for their Anniversary discourse and dinner, the accordingly, on Thursday the 6th inst., assembled at 1 o'clock in the North Court Room, in the City Hall, where an excellent discourse... was delivered by Hugh Williamson... at 4 P.M. the society re-assembled at the Washington Hotel (Kent's, 42 Broad St.), where a table was most sumptuously spread for them by Kent in his best manner, both as to choice wines and delicate viands. The dining-hall was decorated in with an emblem of the banner, of the once renowned Dutch Republic, which wil'ome, proudly waved o'er the wall of Fort Amsterdam. After dinner amidst hilarity, jocularity, jocundity, and to crown all, fraternity, the following toasts were drank: 1. Sancte Claus, goed heylig man! 2. The President and Congress... On announcing the first Toast, a Print, admirably executed by Doctor Anderson, for the occasion, was distributed to each member of the Society, and the gentlemen who favored them with their company... the engraving for the print referred to executed by Doctor Alexander Anderson of this city, at the request of Mr. Pintard; and it is with peculiar pleasure that, after a lapse of more than half a century, I am able, at this time, to present the sheet in fac-similie--the engraving having been reproduced for me during the past week by the same venerable artist...I have added the portraits of Mr. Pintard and Doctor Anderson, both recently engraved by the latter./George H. Moore, Librarian, etc./Festival of St. Nicholas/NEW YORK, DECEMBER 6, 1864"; on the interior page, engraved illustrations; on left side, portrait of an elderly saint in long robe and stole, long beard and halo; man holds stick in right hand, miser's purse in left hand; barefoot; beehive visible on left; dog sits at his feet; over image, printed: "St. Nicholas/Dec. 6th. A.D. 343."; on right side, image the good girl and naughty boy; girl with apron full of dolls and treats; boys crying with switch in his buttonhole; over image of hearth with full stocking hanging at left and stocking with switches hanging at right; cat on hearth; Dutch-style andirons; waffles on plate; kettle hanging on hearth; teapot on floor; printed poem in Dutch and English: "Saint Nicholas, good holy man!/ Put on the tabard, best you can,/ Go clad therewith, to Amsterdam,/ From Amsterdam to Hispanje,/ where applies bright of Oranje,/ And likewise those granate surnam'd,/ Roll through the street, all free unclaimed/ SAINT NICHOLAS, my dear good friend!/ To serve you ever was my end,/ If you will, now, me something give,/ I'll serve you ever while I live."Made/Created
Artist Information
Artist
Dr. Alexander AndersonAttribution
ArtistDate made
Dec 6, 1810Notes
Dates: December 6, 1864Inscription/Signature/Marks
Type
InscriptionTranscription
(See Description)Dimensions
Dimension Description
FoldedHeight
13-1/2 inWidth
9-1/2 inDimension Notes
Display Dimensions: 13 1/2 x 9 1/2 in. (34.3 x 24.1 cm)Condition
Notes
Remarks: Some light foxing and yellowing overall.Relationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
John Pintard Jr.Notes
SubjectPerson or Organization
Dr. Alexander AndersonNotes
SubjectGeneral Notes
Note Type
Curatorial RemarksNote
Accessioned 2015, acquired earlier,this print arrived with a group of other prints by mail at HHV in February 2013 with no note or other identifying information. The name and address on the box were found to be false and attempts to contact the name given as a return address were unsuccessful. The object was cataloged as an item from an unknown source, but given an SS accession number, owing to the object's connection to "Knickerbocker" history in New York [Jessa J. Krick, Collections Manager, 10/14/ 2015].Note Type
General NoteNote
Printed in commemoration of event which took place December 6, 1810.Note Type
StorageNoteNote
Home Location: Historic Hudson Valley, Administrative Office, Collection Manager's OfficeNote Type
DepartmentNote
Curatorial