This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/24/2025
[ART IN AMERICA]. QUINN, John (1870-1924). Memorandum Against the Imposition of Any Duty on Original Works of Art. New York: John Quinn, [n.d., ca. 1913]. 8vo. 27, [1, blank] pp. Publisher's staple-bound wrappers (some toning, rubbing to edges of wrappers, one faint vertical crease at center of wrappers and text, occasional toning, foxing to text, first few leaves of text with paperclip rust marks at top). Fine. THE SCARCE FIRST EDITION OF THIS LEGAL BRIEF WITH THE OBJECT OF REPEALING THE 1909 TARIFF LAW ON FOREIGN WORKS OF ART. With: PAGES 12 AND 13 OF A TYPED LETTER SIGNED BY QUINN, in which he discusses the Memorandum (on plain white paper in blue ink, creased, worn with tears, rust marks from paperclip). Good. Quinn was a corporate attorney in New York, but, more importantly, was a major patron of modern art, and a major book collector of British and Irish literature. He was also one of the organizers and spokesperson for the legendary 1913 Armory Show (The International Exhibition of Modern Art) in New York. It was also in 1913, where Quinn was successful in convincing the United States Congress to repeal the 1909 Tariff Law, which imposed a duty of foreign works of art less than 20 years old (thus discouraging American collectors for acquiring modern European art). His success in overturning this tariff caused a major increase in acquisitions of modern art in the United States.