Doyle New York: Rare Books, Autographs & Maps on November 7th

- by Bruce E. McKinney

Highlights from Doyle's Nov. 7 sale

On 7 November Doyle New York will hold an appealing sale of material that is both rare and unusual.  Two hundred and thirty-three lots will traverse the written, printed and photographic landscape that is seeded with the widely known as well as the obscure.  Collectors that run their searches are going to find things they want.

 

Such a sale is not easily characterized.  Abbie Hoffman, Albert Einstein and George Washington never met but if they are watching from a distance they instinctively understand why they are sharing pages with each other:  they are famous and, in their individual ways, important.  They are also not alone.  In addition to these three gentlemen there are others.

 

Lot 1 is the cabinet-maker’s guide that is attributed to G. A. Siddons.  There are books about high ideals and then there is this book which has helped would-be cabinet makers know the rules for finishing.  A copy of this book belongs on a shelf near your antiques.

 

Lot 5 is Catlin’s North American Indian Portfolio, the 1845 first American edition.  This is the Frank T. Siebert copy that brought $211,500 in 1999.  The estimate is $100,000 - $200,000.

 

Gun collectors will find lots 8 and 9 interesting.  They both relate to Samuel Colt including in one case, a lithophane portrait of Mr. Colt.

 

For those with a preference for the 20th century Lot 19 is Empire State [Building]:  a Pictorial Record of its construction.  Bidders from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania on a very clear day can see the subject.  The estimate is $300 - $500.

 

Lot 33 is a Three-Rotor Service Enigma Machine [Enigma 1].  No World War II collection is complete without it.  Estimated $80,000 - $120,000.

 

Lot 38.  Abbie Hoffman.  Manuscript notebook of interview responses.  Bergen, New Jersey:  circa 24 November 1987.  Estimated $1,200 - $1,800.

 

Lot 100.  [George Cruikshank] The Comic Almanack for 1835.  Estimated $400 - $600.

 

Beatrice Potter.  Lots 107 to 114.  Many choices.

 

Those of you of a certain age will remember Daniel DeFoe’s Robinson Crusoe.  Lot 158 is the 1719 second edition, estimated at $1,500 - $2,500. 

 

Lot 193.  James Joyce.  Single typescript leaf, consisting of page 23 from the printer’s typescript for Chapter Twelve of Ulysses.  Estimated $60,000 to $90,000.

 

Lot 213.  Olafur Eliasson.  Your house.  Someone will buy this and be happy.  Estimated $10,000 - $15,000.

 

A link to the sale:  http://doyle.com/auctions/17bp02-rare-books-autographs-maps/catalogue

 

The Sale:  Tuesday, November 7, 2017 at 10am EST

 

Bidding:  Online, on the phones and in person.

 

175 East 87th Street

New York, New York 10128

Telephone 212.427.2730