Heritage Auctions is holding three auctions in Beverly Hills in mid-September and each of them will be of interest to those who covet valuable paper:
On Monday, September 12thThe Jerry Weist Collection of 20th century books and book-related art with an emphasis on monsters, science fiction and fantasy; with an online session later on the 12th and continuing on Tuesday the 13th with over 1,000 lots each opening bidding at $1.
On Tuesday the 13th the Historical Manuscripts & Autographs floor auction will take place; with an online session on Wednesday the 14th.
On the afternoon of the 13thRare Books. With an online session in the afternoon of Wednesday the 14th.
Three elaborate color catalogues have been prepared. For most items the bidding begins at half of the low estimate.
The firm held its first Beverly Hills sale in February 2010 and has been steadily building a west coast clientele. This past year Heritage also opened a gallery in New York. The company runs auctions across a wide range of collectibles, has an enormous following and a common accounting system that permits Heritage members to bid and buy in any of their categories and bid electronically at any location.
Here is a description of these sales.
The Jerry Weist Collection is very 20th century. It’s books and paperbacks, art and illustration with the focus on fantasy. It’s an important single owner sale and is offered with very reasonable estimates.
Some interesting lots
Lot 30225
Ray Bradbury. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Ballantine Books, [1953]. First edition. Number 199 of 200 limited edition copies, signed by Bradbury on the limitation page. Octavo. 199 pages. Illustrated by Joe Mugnaini. Publisher's binding of Johns-Manville Quinterra, "an asbestos material with exceptional resistance to pyrolysis."
Edward E. Smith, Ph.D. The History of Civilization:Triplanetary, First Lensman, Galactic Patrol, Gray Lensman, Second Stage Lensmen, Children of the Lens. Reading, Pennsylvania: Fantasy Press, Inc., 1955. Special six-volume set in the publisher's rare original red cardboard box (no lid). Number 37 of 75 sets signed and inscribed in the first volume and signed by the author in the remaining volumes on a limitation page bound into each volume.
H. P. Lovecraft. The Shadow Over Innsmouth. Everett: Visionary Publishing Company, 1936. First edition ("Published, April, 1936" on the copyright page). Twelvemo. 158 pages. Publisher's black cloth with silver lettering (Currey binding B). In the rare dust jacket variant on white paper with silver lettering on the front panel and spine matching that from the cloth binding, with no illustration (Currey dust jacket variant 3).
Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society, Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 1997, first edition, hardback issue, inscribed by the author pre-publication. £100,000 to £150,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Autograph sketchleaf including a probable draft for the E flat Piano Quartet, K.493, 1786. £150,000 to £200,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Hooke, Robert. Micrographia: or some Physiological Descriptions of Minute Bodies made by Magnifying Glasses. London: James Allestry for the Royal Society, 1667. $12,000 to $15,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Chappuzeau, Samuel. The history of jewels, first edition in English. London: T.N. for Hobart Kemp, 1671. $12,000 to $18,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Sowerby, James. Exotic Mineralogy, containing his most realistic mineral depictions, London: Benjamin Meredith, 1811, Arding and Merrett, 1817. $5,000 to $7,000.
Heritage Auctions Rare Books Signature Auction December 15, 2025
Heritage, Dec. 15: John Donne. Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death. London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.
Heritage, Dec. 15: Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
Heritage, Dec. 15: F. Scott Fitzgerald. Tender is the Night. A Romance.
Heritage, Dec. 15: Jerry Thomas. How to Mix Drinks, or the Bon-Vivant's Companion, Containing Clear and Reliable Directions for Mixing All the Beverages Used in the United States…
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Swann Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books December 9, 2025
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 156: Cornelis de Jode, Americae pars Borealis, double-page engraved map of North America, Antwerp, 1593.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 206: John and Alexander Walker, Map of the United States, London and Liverpool, 1827.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 223: Abraham Ortelius, Typus Orbis Terrarum, hand-colored double-page engraved world map, Antwerp, 1575.
Swann Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books December 9, 2025
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 233: Aaron Arrowsmith, Chart of the World, oversize engraved map on 8 sheets, London, 1790 (circa 1800).
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 239: Fielding Lucas, A General Atlas, 81 engraved maps and diagrams, Baltimore, 1823.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 240: Anthony Finley, A New American Atlas, 15 maps engraved by james hamilton young on 14 double-page sheets, Philadelphia, 1826.
Swann Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books December 9, 2025
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 263: John Bachmann, Panorama of the Seat of War, portfolio of 4 double-page chromolithographed panoramic maps, New York, 1861.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 265: Sebastian Münster, Cosmographei, Basel: Sebastian Henricpetri, 1558.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 271: Abraham Ortelius, Epitome Theatri Orteliani, Antwerp: Johann Baptist Vrients, 1601.
Swann Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books December 9, 2025
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 283: Joris van Spilbergen, Speculum Orientalis Occidentalisque Indiae, Leiden: Nicolaus van Geelkercken for Jodocus Hondius, 1619.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 285: Levinus Hulsius, Achtzehender Theil der Newen Welt, 14 engraved folding maps, Frankfurt: Johann Frederick Weiss, 1623.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 341: John James Audubon, Carolina Parrot, Plate 26, London, 1827.