37031 [Evangelical Lutheran Ministerium of Pennsylvania and the Adjacent States]. Erbauliche Lieder-Sammlung zum Gottesdienstlichen Gebrauch in den Vereinigten Evangelisch Lutherischen Gemeinen in Nord-America.... Erste Auflage. Germantaun [Pennsylvania]: Gedruckt bey Leibert und Billmeyer, 1786. First edition.
37034 Joseph Smith, Junior. The Book of Mormon: An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon, Upon Plates Taken From the Plates of Nephi. By Joseph Smith, Junior, Author and Proprietor. Palmyra, [New York]: Printed by E. B. Grandin, for the Author, 1830. First edition. John Wesley Brackenbury's copy, with his name on front pastedown:"J. W. Brackenbury / His Book / White Cloud / Kansas" written in pencil by the owner, John Wesley Brackenbury. "John W. Brackenbury / Independence / Mo." in pencil on rear pastedown. Brackenbury's seal reading "John W. Brackenbury / Notary Public / Jackson Co., MO" on Testimony leaf at rear.
37038 Charles Darwin. The Different Forms of Flowers on Plants of the Same Species. London: John Murray, 1877. First edition, first issue. Inscribed by Darwin on the title page: "From the Author with kind regards." Also with three autograph letters signed by Darwin tipped in. Edouard Heckel's copy with his ink notes on blank preliminary page, and with his monogrammed anchor stamp on title page.
37052 René Descartes. Discours de la Méthodepour bien conduire sa raison, & chercher la vérité dans les sciences. Plus la Dioptrique. Les Météores. Et la Géométrie. Leyde [Leiden]: Jan Maire, 1637. First edition of Descartes' first published work. Quarto. 78, [2, section title], 413, [1, advertisement], [33, Table], [1, blank] pages. 3K4, the Dutch privilege leaf, in facsimile on old paper. Woodcut device on title page. Woodcut diagrams and initials. Late-nineteenth-century full black morocco by Georges Huser with gilt spine titles inside five raised bands. Red morocco pastedowns ruled in gilt. All edges gilt. Original vellum covers bound in (one partially detached). Housed in a decorative paper and leather slipcase. Text carefully washed, with only very minor occasional foxing. Minor paper flaw to D3. An excellent copy of the foundational work of modern science and philosophy.
This work contains the first appearance of one of the most famous and important phrases in the history of science and philosophy. "Cogito ergo sum" appeared for the first time in the present work in French, as "Je pense donc je suis" that translates into the English proposition "I think, therefore I am". Descartes was writing in French in order to reach a larger audience. The phrase first appeared in the better known Latin form "Cogito ergo sum" in the later published Principles of Philosophy (1644).
37070 H. A. Rey. Curious George. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1941. First edition. Quarto. Unpaginated. Illustrations by the author. Publisher's brick red cloth with Curious George vignette in black on front board and lettering in black on spine. Illustrated endpapers. Original dust jacket with $1.75 price.
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.
Rare Book Hub is now mobile-friendly!
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.
![<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 11:</b> Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] <i>Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society,</i> Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/00d5fd41-2542-4a80-b119-4886d4b9925f.png "<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 11:</b> Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] <i>Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society,</i> Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.")
