• Sotheby’s
    Fine Books and Manuscripts
    8 December 2023
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 8: [Austen, Jane] — Isaac D'Israeli. Jane Austen's copy of Curiosities of Literature. 100,000 - 150,000 USD
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 8: [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition in boards of the author's debut novel. 70,000 - 100,000 USD
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 8: Brontë, Charlotte. "I am no bird; and no net ensnares me..." 100,000 - 150,000 USD
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 8: Eliot, George. The author's magnum opus. 25,000 - 35,000 USD
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 8: Whitman, Walt. Manuscript written upon the Death of Lincoln, 1865. 60,000 - 80,000 USD
  • Sotheby’s
    Important Modern Literature from the Library of an American Filmmaker
    8 December 2023
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 8: Kerouac, Jack. Typescript scroll of The Dharma Bums. Typed by Kerouac in Orlando, Florida, 1957, published by Viking in 1958. 300,000 - 500,000 USD
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 8: Hemingway, Ernest. The autograph manuscript of "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber." [Key West, finished April 1936]. 300,000 - 500,000 USD
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 8: Miller, Henry. Typescript of The Last Book, a working title for Tropic of Cancer, written circa 1931–1932. 100,000 - 150,000 USD
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 8: Ruscha, Ed. Twentysix Gasoline Stations, with a lengthy inscription to Joe Goode. 40,000 - 60,000 USD
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 8: Hemingway, Ernest. in our time, first edition of Hemingway’s second book. 30,000 - 50,000 USD
  • Swann
    Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books
    December 7, 2023
    Swann, Dec. 7: Samuel Augustus Mitchell, A New Map of Texas, Oregon and California with the Regions Adjoining, Philadelphia, 1846. $3,500 to $5,000.
    Swann, Dec. 7: 17th–19th-century case maps of various locations. $1,500 to $2,000.
    Swann, Dec. 7: Andreas Cellarius, Haemisphaerium Stellatum Boreale Cum Subiecto Haemisphaerio Terrestri, celestial chart, Amsterdam, 1708. $2,500 to $3,500.
    Swann
    Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books
    December 7, 2023
    Swann, Dec. 7: Vincenzo Coronelli, Set of engraved gores for Coronelli’s monumental 42-inch terrestrial globe, Venice, circa 1688–97. $18,000 to $22,000.
    Swann, Dec. 7: Lucas Janszoon Waghenaer, group of four navigational charts, Antwerp, 1580s. $2,000 to $3,000.
    Swann, Dec. 7: Thomas Bros, Block Book of Berkeley, Oakland, 1920s. $800 to $1,200.
    Swann
    Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books
    December 7, 2023
    Swann, Dec. 7: John Nieuhoff & John Ogilby, An Embassy from the East-India Company of the United Provinces, map of China, plan of Canton, London, 1673. $1,200 to $1,800.
    Swann, Dec. 7: Frederick Sander, Reichenbachia, St. Albans, 1888-1894. $5,000 to $7,000.
    Swann, Dec. 7: Two early illustrated works on horsemanship and breeding, Nuremberg, early 18th century. $700 to $800.
    Swann
    Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books
    December 7, 2023
    Swann, Dec. 7: John Gould, A Monograph of the Ramphastidae, or Family of Toucans. Supplement to the First Edition, London, 1834; 1855. $40,000 to $60,000.
    Swann, Dec. 7: John Pinkerton, A General Collection of the Best and Most Interesting Voyages and Travels in All Parts of the World, London, 1808–14. $1,500 to $2,500.
    Swann, Dec. 7: Oakley Hoopes Bailey, Hackensack, New Jersey, Boston, 1896. $800 to $1,200.
  • CHRISTIE’S
    Valuable Books and Manuscripts
    London auction
    13 December
    Find out more
    Christie’s, Explore now
    TREW, Christoph Jacob (1695–1769). Plantae Selectae quarum imagines ad exemplaria naturalia Londini in hortus curiosorum. [Nuremberg: 1750–1773]. £30,000–40,000
    Christie’s, Explore now
    VERBIEST, Ferdinand (1623–88). Liber Organicus Astronomiae Europaeae apud Sinas restituate. [Beijing: Board of Astronomy, 1674]. £250,000–350,000
    Christie’s, Explore now
    PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF ALICE & NIKOLAUS HARNONCOURT. Master of Jean Rolin (active 1445–65). Book of Hours, use of Paris, in Latin and French, [Paris, c.1450–1460]. £120,000–180,000
    Christie’s, Explore now
    A SILVER MICROSCOPE. Probably by Antoni van Leeuwenhoek (1632–1723), c.1700. £150,000–250,000
    Christie’s, Explore now
    AN ENGLISH HORARY QUADRANT
    C.1311. £100,000–150,000

Rare Book Monthly

Articles - March - 2014 Issue

Arader Galleries Auction on April 5th

Come April 5th, Arader Galleries in conjunction with Mid-Hudson Auction Galleries will be offering a sale of prints, paintings, books, and maps concerning Natural History and Americana. The auction is broken up into six sections covering Birds (lots 1-58), Quadrupeds (59-97), Prints by Mark Catesby (98-121), Paintings (122-125), Natural History Watercolors and Books (126-136) and rare books and maps from the Streeter Collection (137-186).

As some who follow Arader Gallery sales may have become accustomed to, works of John James Audubon, the exceptional naturalist, are well represented. The first two portions of the sale, Birds and Quadrupeds, are entirely devoted to him. Ninety-six individual prints are offered, as well as the seven volume, first octavo edition of The Birds of America, [1839-] 1840-1844 (lot 58, est. $40,000-50,000).

Collectors of prints from the southern colonies of British North America may be more drawn to the third section of the sale devoted to Mark Catesby. The English-born artist and naturalist undertook a series of expeditions beginning in 1712 to the southern colonies during which he drew and observed previously undocumented wildlife. These drawings and written observations eventually became the most complete and unique natural history study ever done. The publication, Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands, is widely considered the greatest achievement of eighteenth-century art and science; the twenty-four lots listed for auction come from that work. All lots are estimated $4,000 or less.

Some of the most heavyweight items can be found in the smallest part of the sale within Paintings. The Grand Canyon by Edward Potthast (lot 122, est. $450,000-600,000) is a beautiful rendition that words don’t do justice; it must be seen. Another painting being offered is The Polar Bear (70° North) by Frederick Judd Waugh (lot 123, est. $325,000-400,000). Waugh is known as one of the finest American painters of the twentieth century and is more specifically recognized as a great painter of the sea. This painting of the Arctic was done at a time when the public’s attention was focused on the area as “The Last Frontier,” and this is a great opportunity to own a stunning work of art from the era.

Lot 125 from the Painting portion is unique from any auction lot I’ve ever seen (having done data entry for AE as well as writing about auctions, I have seen thousands upon thousands of lots). Compared to the three other lots that have an average low estimate of over $300,000, this lot is cheap, estimated at $1,000-2,000. What would a winning bid get you? To start, four hours of legal advice. But the reason it’s included in this auction is that an oil painting influenced by primitive and surrealist art done by the attorney, Jeffery M. Leving, is included. His paintings have been exhibited in many prestigious galleries and shows, including: “Zen: The Spiritual in Art” at the Murphy Hill Gallery; “Floating Spaces” at the William Hill Gallery; the Xanadu Gallery; and the Floating World Gallery. His paintings may be viewed at his online gallery at www.levinggallery.com.

 

Of the ten lots of Natural History Watercolors & Books on offer, works from Joseph Redouté and Jacques le Moyne de Morgues comprise six. Redouté is the best known botanical illustrator in history, having been called both the “Rembrandt” and the “Raphael” of flower painting by his 19th century contemporaries. Four of his watercolors are for sale. Jacques le Moyne de Morgues on the otherhand was almost lost to history. Born in 1533, very little was known or recognized about him until the 20th century. As the Arader Galleries tell us:

 

“In 1922, however, Spencer Savage, librarian of the Linnean Society, made a discovery that opened the way to the subsequent definition of Le Moyne as an artistic personality; he recognized that a group of fifty-nine watercolors of plants contained

in a small volume, purchased by the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1856 solely for its fine sixteenth-century French binding, was in fact by Le Moyne. Savage’s publications relating to this discovery paved the way for subsequent attributions to the artist of other important groups of drawings and watercolors, the most notable being held by the British Museum and the Oak Spring Library of Virginia.”

 

Owning works of le Moyne de Morgues is not for the faint of heart—estimates for the two prints in the sale are both valued between $70,000-90,000.

 

The fine books and maps bring up the rear of the sale. The introductory paragraphs contain an interesting surprise for me upon reading: “These books, and others once owned by great American bibliophiles such as Frank T. Siebert, Jay T. Snider, Bruce McKinney, and James S. Copley, are by no means the extent of the collection of fine Americana in the Arader Galleries Library, but their inclusion in this auction is an opportunity to acquire a superb example of an icon of American history at a more than reasonable price.” Nice to see my Dad receiving recognition among those names! And in fact the first lot of the section is an item previously owned by him. Samuel de Champlain’s Les Voyages de la Nouvelle France occidentale… is offered as lot 137, for an estimated $180,000-200,000. This is the (Pierre S.) Du Pont copy which also features my father’s bookplate reading Liceat decernere foro, or “let the market decide.” It is three parts in one volume and includes the rare double sheet engraved map.

 

As the Arader Galleries are known as map specialists, it should surprise no one that maps are the main attraction in the fine books and maps part of the sale. Every book for sale contains maps and all parts of the United States are on display in the various lots. Whether you collect maps of California and the West, or New York State, there are items that will appeal.

 

For Mr. Arader this sale is one of perhaps six this year that continue his transition from an exclusively retail firm with four locations to a firm that continues its retail presences and augments them with a rising auction presence.

 

Link to the Arader Galleries

 

A link to the sale

Rare Book Monthly

  • ABAA VBF: Holiday Edition
    November 30-December 2
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    ABAA VBF: Holiday Edition
    November 30-December 2
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    ABAA VBF: Holiday Edition
    November 30-December 2
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    ABAA VBF: Holiday Edition
    November 30-December 2
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    ABAA VBF: Holiday Edition
    November 30-December 2
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    ABAA VBF: Holiday Edition
    November 30-December 2
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    ABAA VBF: Holiday Edition
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    ABAA VBF: Holiday Edition
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    ABAA VBF: Holiday Edition
    November 30-December 2
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    ABAA VBF: Holiday Edition
    November 30-December 2
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  • Fonsie Mealy’s, Dec. 12-13: Roberts (David) & Croly (George). The Holy Land, Syria, Idumae, Arabia, Egypt and Nubia. Lond. 1842 - 1843 [-49]. First Edn. €10,000 to €15,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Dec. 12-13: Incunabula: O'Fihily (Maurice). Duns Scotus Joannes: O'Fihely, Maurice Abp… Venice, 20th November 1497. €8,000 to €12,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Dec. 12-13: An important file of documents with provenance to G.A. Newsom, manager of the Jacob’s Factory in Dublin, occupied by insurgents during Easter Week 1916. €6,000 to €9,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Dec. 12-13: WILDE (Oscar), 1854-1900, playwright, aesthete and wit. A lock of Wilde’s Hair, presented by his son to the distinguished Irish actor Mícheál MacLiammóir. €6,000 to €8,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Dec. 12-13: Heaney (Seamus). Bog Poems, London, 1975. Special Limited Edition, No. 33 of 150 Copies, Signed by Author. Illus. by Barrie Cooke. €4,000 to €6,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Dec. 12-13: Binding: Burke, Thomas O.P. (de Burgo). Hibernia Dominicana, Sive Historia Provinciae Hiberniae Ordinis Praedicatorum, ... 1762. First Edition. €4,000 to €6,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Dec. 12-13: COLLINS, Michael. An important TL, 29 July 1922, addressed to GOVERNMENT on ‘suggested Proclamation warning all concerned that troops have orders to shoot prisoners found sniping, ambushing etc.’. €3,000 to €4,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Dec. 12-13: Scott Fitzgerald (F.) The Great Gatsby, New York (Charles Scribner's Sons) 1925, First Edn. €2,000 to €3,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Dec. 12-13: Yeats (W.B.) The Poems of W.B. Yeats, 2 vols. Lond. (MacMillan & Co.) 1949. Limited Edition, No. 46 of 375 Copies Only, Signed by W.B. Yeats. €1,500 to €2,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Dec. 12-13: Miller (William) Publisher. The Costume of the Russian Empire, Description in English and French, Lg. folio London (S. Gosnell) 1803. First Edn. €1,000 to €1,500.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Dec. 12-13: Miller (William) Publisher. The Costume of Turkey, Illustrated by a Series of Engravings. Lg. folio Lond.(T. Bensley) 1802. First Edn. €800 to €1,200.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Dec. 12-13: Mason (Geo. Henry). The Costume of China, Illustrated with Sixty Engravings. Lg. folio London (for W. Miller) 1800. First Edn. €1,400 to €1,800

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