• Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: A RUTH BADER GINSBURG BEADED JUDICIAL COLLAR. $80,000 - $120,000
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: ONLY KNOWN COPY OF THE ONLY BOOK BY THE REMARKABLE EVE ADAMS. $8,000 - $12,000
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: A COMPLETE RUN OF VISIONAIRE MAGAZINE THROUGH 2010. $6,000 - $9,000
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: LAW REVIEW OFFPRINT SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BY RUTH BADER GINSBURG. $3,000 - $5,000
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: META REBNER'S WORKING SCRIPT OF THE LOVED ONE. $1,500 - $2,000
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: A KATHY GROVE PORTRAIT OF CYNDI LAUPER FOR THE FEBRUARY 1989 DETAILS COVER. $800 - $1,200
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: A PLASTIC COAT BY MILLIE DAVID FEATURED IN SOHO NEWS STYLE SECTION, FROM THE COLLECTION OF ANNIE FLANDERS. $500 - $700
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: A RUTH BADER GINSBURG JEWELRY BOX. $600 - $900
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: A SET OF JONI MITCHELL LYRICS FOR "IF I HAD A HEART." $2,000 - $3,000
  • 19th Century Shop
    Catalogue 198 just published
    19th Century Shop. Darwin and Wallace, first printing of the first paper on natural selection
    19th Century Shop. Shakespeare’s Poems, first collected edition
    19th Century Shop. Walt Whitman portrait inscribed with a Leaves of Grass poem
    19th Century Shop. Major Elizabeth Barrett Browning manuscript notebook
    19th Century Shop. Spock's Baby Book, original MS
    19th Century Shop. Cellarius, Harmonia Macrocosmica, the great celestial atlas
  • Potter & Potter Auctions
    How History Unfolds on Paper:
    Choice Selections from the Eric C. Caren Collection
    Part IX
    April 18, 2024
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: [RUTH, George Herman “Babe” (1895-1948)]. Signed photograph. Circa 1930s. 191 x 248 mm. $1,500 to $2,500.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: HARRISON, Benjamin. Document signed (“Benj Harrison”) as governor of Virginia, certifying the service of Daniel Cumbo, a Black Revolutionary soldier. $6,000 to $9,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: ONE OF THE FIRST PRINTED ANNOUNCEMENTS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. $4,000 to $6,000.
    Potter & Potter Auctions
    How History Unfolds on Paper:
    Choice Selections from the Eric C. Caren Collection
    Part IX
    April 18, 2024
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: FIRST PRINTING OF LINCOLN’S IMMORTAL GETTYSBURG ADDRESS. $4,000 to $6,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: HIGHLY IMPORTANT MORMON ARCHIVE. ALLEY, George. Archive of 23 Autograph Letters Signed by Mormon Convert George Alley to His Brother Joseph Alley. $10,000 to $20,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: [AVIATION]. [ARMSTRONG, Neil A.] Aviation Hall of Fame Gold Medal MS64 NGC, Awarded to Neil Armstrong in 1979. $2,000 to $3,000.
    Potter & Potter Auctions
    How History Unfolds on Paper:
    Choice Selections from the Eric C. Caren Collection
    Part IX
    April 18, 2024
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: NEWLY DISCOVERED FIRST PRINTING OF "WITH MALICE TOWARDS NONE... " FROM THE ONLY NEWSPAPER ACTUALLY ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN LINCOLN’S SECOND INAUGURAL PROCESSION. $4,000 to $8,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: THE MOST IMPORTANT GEORGE WASHINGTON DOCUMENT IN PRIVATE HANDS; GEORGE WASHINGTON’S COMMISSION AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF, 1775, ONE OF ONLY TWO ORIGINALS. $150,000 to $250,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: A VERY RARE ACCOUNT OF BLACKBEARD’S DEATH AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PIRATE ITEMS EXTANT. $3,000 to $5,000.
    Potter & Potter Auctions
    How History Unfolds on Paper:
    Choice Selections from the Eric C. Caren Collection
    Part IX
    April 18, 2024
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: EDISON, Thomas. Patent for Edison’s Improvements on the Electric-Light, No. 219,628. [Washington, D.C.: U.S. Patent Office], 16 September 1879. $2,000 to $3,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: [VIETNAM WAR]. The original pen used by Secretary of State William P. Rogers to sign the Vietnam Peace Agreement, Paris, 27 January 1973. $10,000 to $15,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: SONS OF LIBERTY FOUNDER COLONEL BARRÉ ANNOTATED TITLE-PAGE, “WHICH OUGHT TO ROUSE UP BRITISH ATTENTION”. $4,000 to $6,000.
  • Forum Auctions
    Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    28th March 2024
    Forum Mar. 28: [Langland (William)]. The vision of Pierce Plowman, nowe the seconde time imprinted..., Roberte Crowley, 1550. £8,000 to £10,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: [Shakespeare (William)]. [Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies], second folio edition, [by Tho.Cotes, for Robert Allot], [1632]. £30,000 to £40,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Bible, Czech Biblia Bohemica, first complete Bible printed in the Czech vernacular, Prague, August 1488. £30,000 to £40,000.
    Forum Auctions
    Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    28th March 2024
    Forum Mar. 28: Shabthai Tzvi.- Collection of four printed and illustrated broadsides detailing the appearance, rise and fall of the false messiah, Shabthai Tzvi, Augsburg, 1666-67. £40,000 to £60,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Leaf from the Beauvais Missal, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on parchment, [Northern France (perhaps Beauvais or Amiens)], [fourteenth century (c.1310)]. £4,000 to £6,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Aubrey (John). [Remaines of Gentilisme and Judaisme], manuscript in English, Latin and Greek, [c. 1693]. £30,000 to £50,000.
    Forum Auctions
    Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    28th March 2024
    Forum Mar. 28: Byron (George Gordon Noel, Lord). Poems on Various Occasions, first edition, Harriet Maltby's copy, Newark, Printed by S. & J. Ridge, 1807. £30,000 to £40,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Tolkien (J.R.R.) The Hobbit, first edition, second impression with dust-jacket, 1937 [but 1938]. £7,000 to £10,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Blake (William).- Thornton (Robert John). The Pastorals of Virgil, 2 vol., engraved plates by William Blake, 1821. £8,000 to £12,000.
    Forum Auctions
    Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    28th March 2024
    Forum Mar. 28: America.- Mount (William J.) & Thomas Page. The English Pilot…, [bound with] The Fourth Book, describing The West Indies Navigation from Hudson's-Bay to the River Amazones, 1721. £20,000 to £30,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Oldfield (Henry Ambrose), Rajman Singh Chitrakar & others. An album of 160 photographs and 13 original artworks, (1833-1919), [c. 1850s-1880s]. £20,000 to £30,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Audubon (John James) [and William MacGillivray]. Ornithological Biography…, 5 vol., first edition, presentation copy inscribed by Audubon, Edinburgh, 1831-49 [i.e. 1831-39]. £10,000 to £15,000.

Rare Book Monthly

Book Catalogue Reviews - October - 2017 Issue

The William Reese Company Revisits the Thomas Streeter Americana Sale of 1967-69

Streeter revisted.

The William Reese Company has issued a catalogue that will appeal to anyone who loves printed Americana. The title is The Streeter Sale Revisited, Fifty Years Later. Thomas W. Streeter, Reese says without exaggeration, "was the foremost collector of Americana in the 20th century." A lawyer and businessman, Streeter began collecting books in his 30s. At age 56, he retired from other pursuits to devote the remainder of his life to collecting books and writing about them and about his collection. Americana was his subject, with Texas being a specialty within this specialty. He had by far the greatest collection in those specialties during his lifetime, which concluded in 1965 at the age of 82.

 

After completing his great bibliography of early Texana, Streeter sold his complete Texas collection to Yale University. Other portions were given to various institutions. However, he retained his main Americana collection for the rest of his life. He planned for it to be sold at auction, and prepared for that auction, but had no intention of sticking around to see it. One imagines that would have been too painful. So, the sale came after he died. Still, the descriptions used were primarily those had had prepared in advance. The Streeter Sale was conducted by Parke-Bernet, America's foremost auction house at the time, running for 21 sessions over three years, from 1966-1969. When finished, it was the highest grossing book sale ever in America, bringing in slightly over $3.1 million. Streeter provided an unusual bonus to certain institutions. He gave them a combined $400,000 in credits that had to be used at his sale. Nevertheless, most of the material in his collection went to private collectors and booksellers, leaving a trail of records in later years with which to follow the journey of his books.

 

Reese has done just that wherever possible. He has kept a record of to whom Streeter's items were sold, wherever that was obtainable, and subsequent sales of Streeter's material whenever such information is available. That provides a fascinating addition to the descriptions in this catalogue. Reese also provides the sale prices at the Streeter sale, and of subsequent sales when that is available. Most of the books in this catalogue were not Streeter's personal copies, but all are of titles sold in the Streeter sale. The catalogue does note when an item in it was actually Streeter's copy. It does mean that everything in here was deemed of at least sufficient significance for Streeter to believe they were worthy of a great collection. Here are a few.

 

For most explorers that came to the America, the continent was a place to search for riches, create settlements, or just to learn what was there. For a few, however, America was just an obstacle. Greater trade was taking place between Europe and Asia, but to reach those markets, sailors had to go from the northern continent of Europe, all the way south of South America or Africa to make the long journey. The trip would be so much shorter if they could essentially go due west. However, North America stood in the way. Nevertheless, they believed a shorter route could be found by sailing along the north side of the continent, the legendary Northwest Passage. Many figured there must be a way from the southern inlet, Hudson Bay, to the Pacific along the north side of the continent. During the 17th century, explorers had already concluded such did not exist. Explorations ceased until Arthur Dobbs, unconvinced, financed a voyage led by Captain William Moor. Item 62 is an account of that attempt, A Voyage to Hudson's-Bay, by the Dobbs Galley and California, in the Years 1746 and 1747, for Discovering a North West Passage... The author was Henry Ellis, the mission's surveyor and hydrographer, published in 1748. He first recounts the many previous attempts before describing his own. Ultimately, it too failed. There is no Northwest Passage from Hudson Bay, and the more northerly route finally discovered a century and a half later is too shallow, and frozen too long, to be of any practical use. Priced at $1,750.

 

"Four score and seven years ago..." We all know those words, taken from one of the greatest speeches ever given. It's appeal is in its moving words and mercifully short duration. More about that later. Item 130 is the first appearance in book form of the Gettysburg Address. Published in 1843, the title is An Oration Delivered on the Battlefield of Gettysburg... by Edward Everett. Edward Everett? Wasn't it somebody else...? There is, of course, something more than a printer's error here. The main address that afternoon was given by Senator Edward Everett, a rambling affair that last one and a half to two hours. It wasn't until later that people realized that Abraham Lincoln said more to reach people's hearts in his few brief words than did Everett, though the latter was noted as a gifted orator. Even he immediately realized that he blew it. Thankfully, Lincoln's brief words also appear in this 48-page booklet, on page 40. $40,000.

 

Now, here's a word from the other side. Item 44 is the rare third and final draft of the Confederate Constitution. Not all of the southern states had yet seceded when a convention was called on February 4, 1861, in Montgomery, Alabama, to form a new government. It was patterned on the U. S. Constitution, with adjustments, of course, more suitable to the South. There is more in the way of states' rights, even allowing the individual states to maintain their own armies and navies. No internal improvements to facilitate commerce could be undertaken by the Confederate government, presidents would serve a single six-year term, and the President was granted a line item veto. American presidents would love that one. Not surprisingly, it includes a provision barring the adoption of any law prohibiting "the right of property in negro slaves." Presumably, laws could be passed prohibiting white slavery. The first two drafts of the Confederate Constitution were meant to be working copies, with space between lines for corrections, while this was the final document. The caption title reads, In Congress – March 9, 1861 – Amended Constitution – 100 Copies Ordered to Be Printed. Constitution of the Confederate States of America. Of the presumed 100 copies printed, only five are still known. $175,000.

 

Item 76 is sheet music for the 1864 song Idaho. This ode describes the Idaho Gold Rush, and I will admit I never knew before there was a gold rush in Idaho. Sing along, if you know the tune:

 

"They say there is a land,

Where crystal waters flow,

O'er beds of quarts [sic] and purest gold,

Way out in Idaho...

We'll need to pick or spade,

No shovel, pan, or hoe,

The largest chunks are 'top a ground.,

Way out in Idaho..."

 

What a surprise it must have been when the prospectors realized those "gold" nuggets were really potatoes. The author of this song was Frank French, or maybe French Frank. $1,250.

 

William Henry Harrison was an American diplomat in 1829, and not a very diplomatic one. Harrison was appointed ambassador to Colombia in 1828, and soon managed to get himself into a battle with the George Washington of South America, Simon Bolivar. Not diplomatic at all. Harrison concluded that Bolivar was trying to become the Napoleon of South America, to make an emperor of himself and unwisely got himself too closely involved with opposing factions. Harrison wrote Bolivar a letter urging him to adhere to the principles of Republican government. That was out of line. Bolivar responded, calling Harrison a "dotard." Not really. However, his supporters were deeply offended. Fortunately, President Jackson had already sent a new ambassador to replace Harrison, who arrived the next day. The following year, Harrison published this book to justify his conduct: Remarks of General Harrison, Late Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States to the Republic of Colombia, on Certain Charges Made Against Him by that Government. In fairness to Harrison, Bolivar had earlier seized some dictatorial powers for himself, though it was more an attempt to keep the country from disintegrating among competing factions than to become an emperor. Harrison would be elected President of the United States a decade later, his only notable accomplishment being to die in office a few weeks later, achieving nothing other than making the unqualified John Tyler President for the next 3 years and 11 months. Another bad move. Item 87. $1,000.

 

The William Reese Company may be reached at 203-789-8081 or amorder@reeseco.com. Their website is www.williamreesecompany.com.

Rare Book Monthly

  • Forum Auctions
    Colour Plate Books from the Library of Norman Bobins
    Part 2
    27th March 2024
    Forum Auctions, Mar. 27: Alken (Henry). Sporting Notions, first edition, T.McLean, 1832-33. £800 to £1,200.
    Forum Auctions, Mar. 27: Bardi (Lorenzo). Nuova Raccolta delle piu interessanti Vedute della Citta di Firenze…, Florence, Lorenzo Bardi, [c.1840]. £1,500 to £2,000.
    Forum Auctions, Mar. 27: Crawfurd (John). Journal of an Embassy from the Governor-General of India to the Court of Ava..., first edition, 1829. £1,000 to £1,500.
    Forum Auctions
    Colour Plate Books from the Library of Norman Bobins
    Part 2
    27th March 2024
    Forum Auctions, Mar. 27: Dawe (George, engraver). The Life of a Nobleman, first edition, Geo. Henderson, [c.1825]. £1,000 to £1,500.
    Forum Auctions, Mar. 27: [Doyle (John)], "H.B.". Political Sketches &c., 10 vol. including The Descriptive Key to H.B., Thomas McLean, [1829-51]. £4,000 to £6,000.
    Forum Auctions, Mar. 27: Eben (Adolphus Christian Frederick, Baron von) and Nicolaus Heideloff. Modèles de l'Uniforme Militaire Adopté dans l'Armée Royale de Suède, Rudolph Ackerman, 1808. £1,500 to £2,000.
    Forum Auctions
    Colour Plate Books from the Library of Norman Bobins
    Part 2
    27th March 2024
    Forum Auctions, Mar. 27: Geissler (J.G.G.) and Friedrich Hempel. Mahlerische Darstellungen der Sitten, Gebrauche und Lustbarkeiten bey den Russischen, Tartarischen…, 4 parts in 1, Leipzig and Paris, [1804]. £1,000 to £1,500.
    Forum Auctions, Mar. 27: Hunt (Charles). Portraits of Winning Horses...of the Derby, Oaks, & St. Leger, from the Year 1842 to 1849…, Rock Brothers & Payne, 1849. £1,500 to £2,000.
    Forum Auctions, Mar. 27: Kunike (Adolf Friedrich). Zwey hundert und sechzig Donau-Ansichten nach dem Laufe des Donaustromes…, Vienna, Leopold Grund, 1826. £3,000 to £5,000.
    Forum Auctions
    Colour Plate Books from the Library of Norman Bobins
    Part 2
    27th March 2024
    Forum Auctions, Mar. 27: Lasinio (Carlo). [Matrimony], Florence, 1790. £1,500 to £2,000.
    Forum Auctions, Mar. 27: Reinhardt (Joseph). A Collection of Swiss Costumes, in Miniature, second English edition, James Goodwin, [1828]. £800 to £1,200.
    Forum Auctions, Mar. 27: Wengen (Gottfried Durst von). Die Öffentliche Maskerade Bamberg am Fastnachts-Montage 1833…, Bamberg, [1833]. £2,000 to £3,000.
  • Sotheby’s
    Modern First Editions
    Available for Immediate Purchase
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: Winston Churchill. The Second World War. Set of First-Edition Volumes. 6,000 USD
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: A.A. Milne, Ernest H. Shepard. A Collection of The Pooh Books. Set of First-Editions. 18,600 USD
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: Salvador Dalí, Lewis Carroll. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Finely Bound and Signed Limited Edition. 15,000 USD
    Sotheby’s
    Modern First Editions
    Available for Immediate Purchase
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: Ian Fleming. Live and Let Die. First Edition. 9,500 USD
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter Series. Finely Bound First Printing Set of Complete Series. 5,650 USD
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: Ernest Hemingway. A Farewell to Arms. First Edition, First Printing. 4,200 USD

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