Although collectors typically come to Old World Auctions (OWA) for antique maps, the September sale also offers an outstanding selection of rare books. Included are atlases, history books, geography books, books on exploration, and even reference works. One example is the very rare first edition of Jeremiah Greenleaf's A New Universal Atlas, published in 1840. Although a reissue of David Burr's 1836 edition atlas of the same name, Greenleaf added two important and highly collectible maps of Texas, Wisconsin and Iowa. The map of Texas features an independent Republic of Texas with interesting boundaries and early county configurations. The map of Wisconsin and Iowa shows "Carvers Tract," a 10,000 square area of land that Jonathan Carver contended had been granted to him by the Sioux Indians. Overall the atlas contains 65 maps in beautiful, original full-wash color. The atlas is estimated at $5500-7000.
Other unique items are Samuel Griswold Goodrich's A National Geography, for Schools, which includes a removable, fan-shaped map of the world, and a seemingly mundane municipal report for the city of San Francisco that features a nefarious map of Chinatown locating all of the Chinese gambling houses, opium "resorts," "Joss Houses," and brothels. Goodrich's geography book is estimated at $350-450 and the San Francisco Municipal Report is estimated at $500-650.
Several highly sought-after 20th century pieces are included in the auction as well. There will be three different satirical serio-comic maps of Europe during WWI, as well as Ruth Taylor White's Our U.S.A. - A Gay Geography, which is filled with humorous pictorial maps of each US state. And for the first time, OWA will be offering a set of three USGS master copper plates for Doswell, Virginia, that were created in 1918. The copper plates are estimated at $1000-1500.
As always, OWA will offer hundreds of antique maps. There are no less than 50 maps by celebrated cartographer Abraham Ortelius, including his famous map of Iceland filled with sea monsters, and his rare two-sheet map of Egypt. Another featured item is Johan Michael Seligmann's Carolinae Floridae nec non Insularum Bahamensium, a German edition of Catesby's scarce and important map of the southeastern United States. For those with dwindling wall space, there will be dozens of miniature maps and maps from Mercator's Atlas Minor from regions all over the world.
Old World Auctions' September sale will feature over 800 lots of antique maps, charts, atlases, books, globes, and prints and will close on September 13. With such variety, there will be something of interest for every collector. And with OWA's long-standing expertise in the industry coupled with their 100% money-back guarantee on everything they sell, there is little risk in placing a bid. Please go to www.oldworldauctions.com to register and bid.
