Hamil-Swag: $2.6M Sotheby’s Auction of Hamilton Documents

On January 18, 2017, Sotheby’s held an auction titled: Alexander Hamilton: An Important Family Archive of Letters and Manuscripts.  This auction included it

Sotheby’s description of the auction items stated:

The material in the auction includes highly personal documents, such as love letters exchanged between Hamilton and his wife Eliza, as well as the condolence letter, sealed with black wax, his father-in-law, Phillip Skyler, sent to his daughter after Hamilton was killed in the duel with Burr (estimate $15/20,000). However, his public career is also well represented with notes he wrote for one of Washington’s annual addresses to congress (estimate $15/25,000) as well as legal papers from his private practice, among many others documents. Perhaps the most poignant relic in the sale is a lock of Hamilton’s hair with a letter of presentation from his wife Eliza (estimate $15/25,000).

Image from Sotheby’s

The New York Times coverage of the auction noted that Hamilton artifacts are now valued more than Washington artifacts:

“Hamilton has exceeded the value of George Washington with this auction,” John Reznikoff, a dealer from Stamford, Conn., said after the hammer dropped on the last of 77 lots of letters and documents, which had been held by Hamilton descendants for more than 200 years. “If you compare letters with comparable content, Hamilton’s now cost more.”

Hamil-Swag: On Pins and Needles

Here are some decorative Hamilton-themed pins and buttons from around the internet.

On Etsy, thefoundretail offers an enamel Hamilton pin for $9.75.

Hamilton Enamel Pin, Alexander Hamilton, Soft Enamel Pin, Jewelry, Art, Gift (PIN53)
Image from Etsy

LoganArch offers a “Hipster Alexander Hamilton” soft enamel pin for $9.95.

Hipster Alexander Hamilton Pin
Image from LoganArch

InkandMettle features a wooden, antique-style handmade pin on stained wood for $10.

Alexander Hamilton Handmade Antique-Style Pin on Stained Wood // Stocking Stuffer
Image from Etsy

On Etsy, Yeswarea11 offers a set of handmade Constitution and Founding Father buttons featuring Hamilton, Jefferson, Washington, and some famous quotes from the founders.

FOUNDING FATHERS American Constitution 12 Pinback 1" Buttons Badges Pins
Image from Etsy

 

 

Hamil-Swag: More Office Supplies

As an update to my older post about Hamilton-themed office supplies, here are some additional office supplies available!

My office still boasts a Hamilton bobblehead and the mini-bust that I got a few years ago!  Some newer supplies and office decorations are now on the market, including:

  • Alexander Hamilton Notebook (from the Signature Notebook Series)- Leather-bound notebook with Hamilton’s quotes.  The product description states: “Alexander Hamilton is arguably one of the most inspiring—if not the most significant—of our Founding Fathers, and today, Hamilton’s legacy of brilliance still rewards us all. His defense and advocacy of the Constitution continue to shape our political discourse, and his profound impact on our then-fledging nation was accomplished largely through the power of his written word. Now you can put pen to paper in your very own Alexander Hamilton Signature Notebook, and let his words encourage and inspire you as you record your daily musings.”  It is available from Target from $9.87.
Image from Target
  • Blue Hamilton Mousepad- The Alex in Blue mousepad is a nonstick blue mousepad with a rubber backing.  Available from Cafe Press for $9.99.

    Alex In Blue Mousepad
    Image from Cafe Press 
  • Alexander Hamilton Statue Sculpture Figurine- This 13 inch figurine is made of cold cast resin with a bronze powder finish and is available from Amazon for $56.25.
Alexander Hamilton Statue Sculpture Figurine
Image from Amazon
  • Alexander Hamilton Glass Paperweight- made of tempered glass with a felted base.  The product description states that it is “an enduring inspiration and reminder of personal commitment and excellence. A visable symbol of Americas rich heritage.”  It is available from Amazon for $9.95.

 

Image from Amazon

Hamil-Swag: New T-Shirts

On TeePublic, user crashboomlove designed a “Listen Up Fives” shirt for $20

Listen Up Fives
Image from Teepublic

Teepublic also offers an Alexander ‘HAM’ Hamilton shirt by Basement Mastermind for $20.

Hamilton Shirt - A Ham - Stunner Shades - Founding Father Alexander Hamilton - Sizes - Extra Small, Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large
Image from NostalgiaCollect on Etsy

Hamil-Swag: Hamiltine’s Day!

In preparation for Valentine’s Day, here are some Hamilton-themed Valentine’s Day gifts (and gifs)!

Slate recently featured these Hamilton musical inspired Valentine’s Day postcards from artist Casey Barber (who also came up with the My Shot cocktail recipe I featured on Hamil-Swag: Shot Glasses.  The postcards are available via Etsy for $20.

Image from Etsy

The New-York Historical Society sells a necklace for $78.00 that is inspired by one of Hamilton’s love letters to Eliza that has the inscription: “I meet you in every dream.”  The website’s description states:

Few figures in the history of the United States have left such a profound legacy as that of Alexander Hamilton, America’s first Secretary to the Treasury. This modern sterling silver pendant is inscribed with a delightful quotation from Hamilton’s intimate letter to Elizabeth Schuyler, dated October 5, 1780, only a few weeks before their marriage. It displays his elegance as a wordsmith, his charm and his humanity, often forgotten among the great issues of military history and statesmanship for which he is best remembered.

Hamilton’s complete sentence read: “I meet you in every dream – and when I wake I cannot close my eyes again for ruminating on your sweetnesses.”

Pendant measures 1″ diameter.

 

And here is my favorite from Comediva’s series of Founding Fathers Pick Up Lines:

 

Hamil-Swag: Shotglasses

Fishs Eddy offers this dueling gift box of Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton shot glasses on their website for $12.  I received these as a Christmas present this year, and love them! They are very sturdy and well made (but be warned, they pour pretty large shots).

duelingshotglasses.PNG

Cafe Press offers this Fight Club Hamilton shot glass, combining A. Ham + one of my favorite movies, for $13.99.

Fight Club - Alexander Hamilton Shot Glass

Cafe Press also offers this I Love Federalists shot glass for $13.99.

I love Federalists Shot Glass

And if you’re looking for something to put into these shot glasses, food writer Casey Barber has an exciting recipe for an Alexander Hamilton cocktail she named “My Shot” on Good Food Stories.  She writes:

As the Hamilton musical grows into more of a phenomenon, I feel compelled to celebrate its genius. I don’t have an acre of land, a troop to command, or a dollop of fame, but I can make a damn good cocktail. So here’s my way of adding my voice to the narrative: a boozy homage to the checkered, complex life of Alexander Hamilton, using spirits—rum, whiskey, cider, pimento dram, and applejack—that were popular during Hamilton’s lifetime.

Hamil-Swag: Odds & Ends

Here is some random Hamil-Swag I’ve come across in the past few weeks.

A. Hamster: this sticker from Red Bubble features an adorable Hamiltonian hamster.  Small stickers are $2.40 and medium stickers are $6.00.

Alexander Hamilton - Hamster by imaginedworlds
Image from Red Bubble

Wrapping Paper: It’s too late for this holiday season, but there are apparently a few varieties of Hamilton wrapping paper:

  • Founding Father Joy offers a nifty green and red Hamilton wrapping paper for $15.80 per roll on Zazzle.
  • Fine Art Museum Gifts offers this wrapping paper featuring a John Trumbull portrait of Hamilton for $23.95, also on Zazzle.
2016-01-04_15-57-12
Picture from Zazzle

Capitalism Rocks Hamilton mug: from Cafe Press, this mug is $9.95.

HamiltonRocks Mugs
Image from Cafe Press

Translucent Pint Glass:  Designed by Stephen Harmon and available from Cafe Press, this pint glass is $12.95

Founding Fathers: Alexander Hamilton Drinking Glas
Image from Cafe Press

 

Hamil-Swag: Even More T-Shirts!

Here are some cool new Hamilton-themed t-shirt designs I’ve seen around the internet!  If you’re interested in previously featured t-shirt designs, check out some posts from the archives here and here!

(1) Break All the Twenties: I love this clever design, featuring Hamilton surrounded by ten dollar bills.  This t-shirt was designed by user roanoke, and is available for $24.80 from Red Bubble

Break All The Twenties by roanoke

(2) Election Girls: this shirt is a play on Mean Girls featuring John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison.  The designer’s description states: “The election of 1796 photoshopped onto the Mean Girls Poster.”  The shirt is available for $24.80 from Red Bubble and was created by user .

Election Girls by jadenshop

(3) High Noon at the Hudson: this t-shirt, selling for $9 from Headline Shirts offers an irreverent take on the Hamilton-Burr duel.

Model is wearing a size Medium. He is 6'1".

(4) Let Us Go Ham: Designer vforvery created this shirt, available on Red Bubble for $24.80.  The artist’s description states: “Even the one of the founding fathers has to let loose every once in a while. Alex likes to get wild when he goes out with his BFFLs.”

Alexander Hamilton is a Party Animal by vforvery

(5) “Hamilton is not amused” shirt from Zazzle on sale for $21.95 by user hamiltonislove.

Alexander Hamilton Tshirts

Hamil-Swag: Hip, Hip, Hipster Hamilton!

What is a hipster?

Urban Dictionary’s lengthy top definition of a hipster states in part:

Hipsters are a subculture of men and women typically in their 20’s and 30’s that value independent thinking, counter-culture, progressive politics, an appreciation of art and indie-rock, creativity, intelligence, and witty banter. The greatest concentrations of hipsters can be found living in the Williamsburg, Wicker Park, and Mission District neighborhoods of major cosmopolitan centers such as New York, Chicago, and San Francisco respectively. Although “hipsterism” is really a state of mind,it is also often intertwined with distinct fashion sensibilities. Hipsters reject the culturally-ignorant attitudes of mainstream consumers, and are often be seen wearing vintage and thrift store inspired fashions, tight-fitting jeans, old-school sneakers, and sometimes thick rimmed glasses.

Founding Father Joy has a “Hamilton is Hip” mousepad available at Zazzle for $11.95 that portrays a scruffy Hamilton with hipster glasses.

1-27-2015 5-38-06 PM
Image from Zazzle: http://www.zazzle.com/hamilton_is_hip_mousepad-144566932712494264

There is also a “Hipster Hamilton” design (which I have previously featured as a t-shirt design) that is available as a mug for $16.95 from Zazzle.  The description states: “Hipster Hamilton loves tall boys, cloves, indie bands and all things hipster. He’s also on the $10 bill, but you’ve probably never heard of it.”

hamhip

Instagram user fwacata shared this illustrated $10 bill featuring a bespectacled, scruffy Hamilton.

Hipster10

Interestingly (and I don’t know if there is a connection with our Hamilton), I just discovered Hamilton the Hipster Cat on the interweb!  He is a California rescue cat who just happens to have an adorable hipster mustache.