• Freeman’s, June 30. Thomas Jefferson’s “Birth of the New Nation” letter, carried to Paris with the Treaty of Peace, by a Jewish patriot. $100,000-200,000.
    Freeman’s, June 30. “The rockets’ red glare.” A British midshipman’s log recording the bombardment of Fort McHenry. $60,000-80,000.
    Freeman’s, June 30. The Critical Promotion of a Naval Hero, Oliver Hazard Perry Commission signed by James Madison, 1812. $40,000-60,000.
    Freeman’s, June 30. Born in the USA: First Day of Printing in the United States, July 4, 1776. $15,000-25,000.
    Freeman’s, June 30. One of the Earliest Printed Announcements of American Independence, in the Exceedingly Rare Original Wrappers, 1776. $10,000-15,000.
    Freeman’s, June 30. "The Two Big Guns of the N.Y. Yanks": A Striking Type 1 Press Photograph of Lou Gehrig's Hands. $8,000-12,000.
    Freeman’s, June 30. A Unique Contemporary Manuscript Account of Joseph Smith's Final Words to His Followers, the Day Before his Violent Death. $8,000-12,000.
    Freeman’s, June 30. The State of Minnesota Officially Certifies the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution Of the United States. $8,000-12,000.
    Freeman’s, June 30. Extraordinarily Large Manuscript Petition Signed by a Who's Who of Colonial New York to Queen Anne from the Colony of New York. $8,000-12,000.
    Freeman’s, June 30. Mickey Mantle's First Cover: The Earliest Front-Page Newspaper Image of Mickey Mantle, "Something Good from Joplin". $8,000-12,000.
    Freeman’s, June 30. A Call to Arms in the Months Following the Declaration of Independence: An Early Continental Army Recruitment Poster. $6,000-9,000.
    Freeman’s, June 30. Samuel Jones, the Statesman Behind the Newly Discovered "Jones Declaration": His Annotated Set Used in His Working Law Library. $6,000-9,000.
  • Sotheby's Book Week
    2 June - 9 July
    Sotheby’s, June 25: Smith, Adam. The Wealth of Nations, on its 250th anniversary. $180,000 to $250,000.
    Sotheby’s, June 17: Fontana, Lucio. Concetto Spaziale. 1967. Leporello en papier doré. Bel exemplaire signé. €4,000 to $€,000.
    Sotheby’s, June 25: Fitzgerald, F. Scott. "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past”. $150,000 to $200,000.
    Sotheby’s, June 25: Washington, George (as First President). Washington decries “an ostentatious imitation, or mimickry of Royalty” in his Presidency. $250,000 to $500,000.
    Sotheby’s, June 17: Lope de Vega. Rare manuscrit autographe signé de la préface dédicatoire de "El Cardenal de Belen" (le cardinal de Bethléem), pièce composée en 1610. €40,000 to €60,000.
  • June 23rd, 24th & 25th 2026
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Medical Incunabula: Petit (Jean)publisher & Kerver (Thielman)printer. Regimen Sanitatis Salernitanum, sm. 8vo, Paris [1498]
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Hugo (Victor) [Wraxall (Lascelles)]. Les Miserable, 3 vols., 8vo, L. (Hurst & Blackett) 1862, First Authorized English Translation (copyright).
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Shelley (Mary Wollstonecraft). Frankenstein: or The Modern Prometheus, 8vo, 2 vols. in one, L. (G. & W.B. Whittaker, Ave-Maria-Lane) 1823.
    June 23rd, 24th & 25th 2026
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Cuisine: Anon. Cookery, Pastry, and Sweet Meats in three Books, Alphabetically Digested, 8vo 1710.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Lambert (Aylmer Bourke). A Description of the Genus Pinus, with Directions Relative to the Cultivation…, 2 vols. Sm. folio L. (Messrs. Weddell) 1832.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Botany: Curtis (William). Flora Londinensis: or Plates and Descriptions of such Plants as Grow Wild in the Environs of London, 2 vols. folio, London (B. White) 1777 – 1798.
    June 23rd, 24th & 25th 2026
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Le Moire (J.M.) Maple Leaves, Canadian History and Quebec Scenery (Third Series) 8vo Quebec (Hunter, Rose & Co.) 1865. First Edn.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: The Earliest Extant Printed House Contents Sale Catalogue in Ireland: Baillie, Auctioneer, Abby Street. A Catalogue of the Goods and Stock of the late Edward Wingfield…
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: William III King of England. Autograph Letter Signed ("William R") to an unnamed correspondent [possibly Charles-Henri de Lorraine] discussing his strategy against the French forces during the siege of Namur.
    June 23rd, 24th & 25th 2026
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: [Austen (Jane) (1785-1817]. Pride and Prejudice, 3 vols. sm. 8vo, L. (T. Egerton) 1813.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Heaney (Seamus). Ugolino, sm. folio D. (Dolmen) 1979, Limited Edn. No. 78/125 Copies, Signed by Seamus Heaney, Louis le Brocquy, Liam Miller and Andrew Carpenter.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Voltaire (F.M. Avouet de). Petits Ouvrages, attribues a M. de Voltaire, sm. folio manuscript, dated 1776, containing 9 works.
  • Bonhams, June 14-23: Franklin D. Roosevelt Presentation Gold Pocket Watch. Estimate: $20,000 - 30,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Presentation Copy of the First Issue of the Lincoln Douglas Debates Signed by Abraham Lincoln in Pencil to a Sangamon County Illinois Republican. Estimate: $150,000 - 250,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: A Senate Resolution Signed in the Tense Days After the Union's Humiliating Defeat at the First Battle of Bull Run. Estimate: $80,000 - $120,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Seven Passages to a Flight, an Artists Book with a Story Quilt by Faith Ringgold, the Publisher's Own Copy. Estimate: $80,000 - 120,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: A New Charter for Virginia, A Response to the First Armed Rebellion in the American Colonies. Estimate: $15,000 - 25,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Earliest obtainable printing of the Bill of Rights. Estimate: $8,000 - 12,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Edward Curtis Orotone. Estimate: $7,000 - 9,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Owned by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis: A Butter or Dessert Plate from FDR's State Dinner Service. Estimate: $3,000 - 5,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: An Early Large-Format Plan of the City of Washington. Estimate: $1,500 - 2,500
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Containing the First Map to Name the Hudson River. Estimate: $20,000 - 30,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: America's First Major Novelist, a Complete Chapter in Autograph Manuscript by James Fenimore Cooper. Estimate: $15,000 - 20,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: The Only Full-Length Book by Jefferson, with the Justly Famous Map. Estimate: $12,000 - 18,000

Rare Book Monthly

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Articles - October - 2014 Issue

Auctions in October: one hundred and eight reasons to look carefully

- by Bruce E. McKinney

108 reasons to look at the October auctions

108 reasons to look at the October auctions

October is, as it always is, a busy month.  One hundred and eight events are scheduled.  The numbers seem to always increase but within the numbers the material and categories are also always changing.  We know so much more about rarity and importance these days than we did just a generation ago and I think the market is much stronger for this clarity.  But this is not to say that prices are consistently higher.  Many, once much admired, things have turned out to be more common than we knew while other things, once ignored, are now highly sought after if not quite yet highly valued.  We are living through the great re-pricing and it is giving auctions an added importance short term.  Longer term one expects dealers to reemerge as the diviners of taste and importance.  Rare books without discernment is a shrouded footpath, with judgment a highway. 

 

Wed. Oct. 1st 
Bonhams. London. The First World War Centenary Sale. 101 lots 
Swann Galleries. New York. Art, Press & Illustrated Books. 260 lots 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Texas State Historical Association Benefit Auction. 40 lots 
Autographes Encheres. Meinier. Autographs - Internet bidstart 9/17. 144 lots 
Keno Auctions. New York, NY 10021 . Modern and Contemporary Fine Art and Design Auction - Prints. 5 lots 
Bearnes Hampton and Littlewood. Exeter. Antiquarian Books. 614 lots 

Thu. Oct. 2nd 
Ader. PARIS. Performing Art Collection - Andre Bernard. 421 lots 
De Baecque and Associes. Lyon. Autographs and Documents. 545 lots 
Bloomsbury Auctions. London. Antiquarian Books. 353 lots 
Dorotheum . Vienna. Prints. 77 lots 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 9/25. 330 lots 

Fri. Oct. 3rd 
Keys Fine Arts Auctioneers. Norwich. Pictures and Prints. 123 lots 
De Baecque and Associes. Lyon. Old Photographs - Historical Memories - Decorations - Weapons. 23 lots 
Marc van de Wiele Auctions. Brugge. library of baron Reginald de Kerchove d'Ousselghem.. 432 lots 

Sat. Oct. 4th 
Marc van de Wiele Auctions. Brugge. Books, Maps, Prints. 830 lots 
Vermot de Pas. Paris. Comic Strips, Original Prints, Animation. 649 lots 

Sun. Oct. 5th 
Michaans Auctions. Alameda, CA . October Estate Sale - Prints and Books. 31 lots 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Comics - Internet bidstart 9/28. 677 lots 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 9/28. 549 lots 

Mon. Oct. 6th 
Cowans Auctions. Cincinnati. American History: Timed Online Auction - Internet bidstart 9/25. 264 lots 
Dorotheum . Vienna. Globes. 29 lots 
Winter Associates. Plainville, CT . Fine Prints. 34 lots 
Bruun Rasmussen. Copenhagen. Old Master Prints. 4 lots 

Tue. Oct. 7th 
Tooveys. West Sussex. Antiquarian Books. 
Sothebys. Paris. Bibliothèque R. et B.L. Éditions Originales Autographes et Manuscrits du XXe siècle. 222 lots 
Bonhams. London. The Library of Professor Brian Shefton. 90 lots 
Bruun Rasmussen. Copenhagen. Modern and Contemporary Prints. 44 lots 

Wed. Oct. 8th 
Tooveys. West Sussex. Prints. 
Heritage Auctions. Beverly Hills. Manuscripts. 417 lots 
Heritage Auctions. Beverly Hills. Rare Books. 495 lots 
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Gloucestershire. Books, Maps and Documents. 502 lots 
Neret Minet and Tessier. Paris. Centennial of the Great War - Day 1. 

Thu. Oct. 9th 
Swann Galleries. New York. African American Fine Art - Prints. 
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Gloucestershire. NATURAL HISTORY BOOKS, SPORTING & WILDLIFE ART. 
PBA Galleries. San Francisco. Rare Americana - Travel - Cartography. 
Pierre Berge and Associes. Paris. Books and Photography. 
De Baecque and Associes. Lyon. Ancient and Modern Books. 
ALDE. Paris. Versailles and the Grand Century - Collection of an Amateur. 288 lots 
Neret Minet and Tessier. Paris. Centennial of the Great War - Day 2. 
Bloomsbury Auctions. London. Bibliophile. 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 10/2. 
Northeast Auctions. Portsmouth. Books and Prints. 

Fri. Oct. 10th 
Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society. Lancaster. Rare and Used Books. 451 lots 
Neret Minet and Tessier. Paris. Movie Posters. 
Beaussant Lefevre. Paris. Prints. 6 lots 

Sat. Oct. 11th 
Clars Auction Gallery. Oakland. Prints. 
Skinner. Boston. European Decorative Prints. 
Arader Galleries. Philadelphia, . Mid-Hudson auction of Audubon Bird Prints, and others. 

Sun. Oct. 12th 
Bonhams. San Francisco. Period Art and Design - Prints and Books. 
National Book Auctions. Ithaca. Books, etc.. 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Comics - Internet bidstart 10/5. 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 10/5. 

Tue. Oct. 14th 
Henri Godts Books and Prints Auctions. Bruxelles . Books, Maps, Prints. 
Swann Galleries. New York. Rare and important Travel Posters. 
Bloomsbury Auctions. London. Vintage Posters. 
Bloomsbury Auctions. London. Prints. 
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. Chicago. Fine Natural History and Historical Prints. 

Wed. Oct. 15th 
RR Auction. Amherst. Rare Manuscript, Document & Autograph - bidstart 9/26. 960 lots 
Galerie Bassenge. Berlin-Grunewald . Books. 

Thu. Oct. 16th 
Heritage Auctions. New York. Illustration Art. 755 lots 
Freemans. Philadelphia. Books, Manuscripts and Maps. 
Ader. PARIS. Books - Library of an Amateur. 
Skinner. Marlborough. Discovery - Online Auction - Prints. 
ALDE. Paris. First Editions. 
AntiquarianAuctions.com. Cape Town. Books Online bidstart 10/9. 
Heritage Auctions. New York. Photographs. 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 10/9. 

Fri. Oct. 17th 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Animation Art. 
Swann Galleries. New York. Fine Photographs. 
Kiefer Buch und Kunstauktionen. 75172 Pforzheim. Books, Graphics modern and ancient Arts, Antiques. 6546 lots 
Profiles in History. Calabasas Hills. Hollywood. 
Vermot de Pas. Paris. Books. 

Sat. Oct. 18th 
Dorotheum . Vienna. Automobilia. 
Jeschke van vliet Buch und Kunstauktionen GmbH. Berlin-Schoneberg. Books, Prints, Photographs. 

Sun. Oct. 19th 
Bonhams. London. Autumn Stafford Sale - Automobilia. 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Comics - Internet bidstart 1012. 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 10/12. 

Tue. Oct. 21st 
Swann Galleries. New York. Early Printed, Medical & Scientific Books. 
PIASA. Paris. Ancient and Modern Prints. 
Bonhams. San Francisco. Prints and Multiples. 
Rossini. Paris. Prints. 

Wed. Oct. 22nd 
Ader. PARIS. Judaica. 
Binoche et Giquello. rue La Boetie, Paris. Photography. 
Bonhams. New York. History of Science. 
Morton Casa de Subastas. México DF CP 11000. Books and Ancient Documents. 

Thu. Oct. 23rd 
RR Auction. Amherst. Marvels of Modern Music - Internet bidstart 10/16. 
PBA Galleries. San Francisco. Fine Literature with Literature Manuscripts and Archives. 
Bloomsbury Auctions. London. 20th Century Books and Manuscripts. 
Christies. New York. Prints and Multiples. 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 10/16. 

Fri. Oct. 24th 
Ader. PARIS. Letters and Autograph Manuscripts. 
Hauff and Auvermann. Berlin-Wilmersdorf. Fall Auction. 

Sat. Oct. 25th 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Americana, Political. 
Archives International Auctions. FORT LEE,. U.S. & Worldwide Scripophily, Autographs & Historic Objects and Artifacts,. 
Nosbüsch & Stucke. Berlin. Books. 
Rachel Davis Fine Arts. Cleveland. Works on Paper. 

Sun. Oct. 26th 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Comics -Internet bidstart 10/19. 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 10/19. 

Mon. Oct. 27th 
Doyle New York. New York. Old Master, Modern and Contemporary Prints. 
PIASA. Paris. Protest! Art and Design. 
Dorotheum . Vienna. Books and Decorative Prints. 

Tue. Oct. 28th 
Artcurial. Paris. Posters. 
Bonhams. New York. Photographs. 

Wed. Oct. 29th 
Swann Galleries. New York. Old Master Through Modern Prints. 
Christies. Paris. Books and Manuscripts. 
Binoche et Giquello. rue La Boetie, Paris. Modern Books. 

Thu. Oct. 30th 
Sothebys. New York. Prints. 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 10/23. 

Fri. Oct. 31st 
Bonhams. London. London to Brighton Run - Automobilia. 

 

Rare Book Monthly

  • Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 123. Celebrate 250 Years of Independence with Original Stars and Stripes (1790) Est. $1,400 - $1,700
    Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 20. Keulen's Spectacular Chart of the World Featuring California as an Island (1728) Est. $12,000 - $15,000
    Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 42. Schedel's Ancient World Map with Fantastic Humanoid Creatures (1493) Est. $14,000 - $17,000
    Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 591. Matching Set of 3 Stunning Globe Gores of Eastern Asia from Coronelli's 3.5 Foot Globe (1688) Est. $5,500 - $7,000
    Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 9. Speed's Popular World Map with Allegorical Representations of the Elements (1651) Est. $14,000 - $17,000
    Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 168. First Separate Map of Kansas & Nebraska Territories (1854) Est. $5,500 - $7,000
    Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 43. Only Macrobius Map with Britain Attached to Europe (1515) Est. $800 - $950
    Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 250. Rare Map of Boston and One of the Earliest Maps of the Revolutionary War (1775) Est. $2,000 - $2,300
    Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 79. Schenk's Uncommon Map Featuring Two Figurative Title Cartouches (1696) Est. $1,200 - $1,500
    Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 681. Hand-Colored Image of the Annunciation to the Shepherds (1502) Est. $800 - $950
  • June 25, 2026
    Doyle, June 25: Houdini's biography, boldly signed. $3,000 to $5,000.
    Doyle, June 25: A volume from Abraham Lincoln's library, signed just before heading to Washington for his inauguration. $20,000 to $30,000.
    Doyle, June 25: A very early Confederate recruiting manual belonging to the chief commissary in Lee's Army. $600 to $800.
    Doyle, June 25: Rare hand-colored lithographs of the life of Napoleon. $20,000 to $30,000.
    Doyle, June 25: The "Holster Atlas" of the American Revolution. $5,000 to $8,000.
    Doyle, June 25: Jewish ceremonies in fine hand-colored engravings. $7,000 to $10,000.
    Doyle, June 25: A very rare work on Turkish military costume. $1,000 to $1,500.
    June 25, 2026
    Doyle, June 25: The most important illustrated work on the Mexican-American War. $10,000 to $15,000.
    Doyle, June 25: The finest illustrated book on Afghanistan. $10,000 to $15,000.
    Doyle, June 25: Henry Justice Ford St. George rescues the Princess from the horrible Dragon. $2,000 to $3,000.
    Doyle, June 25: A rare work of Prussian Army uniforms under Frederick William II, with exquisite hand-colored engravings. $800 to $1,200.
    Doyle, June 25: Lenny Bruce typed letter signed to a Village bohemian during his obscenity trials, with a manuscript note and drawing. $300 to $500.
    Doyle, June 25: Schiff's scarce Shanghai Sketchbook. $300 to $500.
    Doyle, June 25: The first accurate published representation of the American flag. $2,000 to $4,000.
  • Bonhams, June 14-23: Palm-reading, astrology, and more. Estimate: $2,000 - 3,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Benjamin Franklin. Sammelband of 45 papers on electricity. Estimate: $8,000 - 12,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: The basis for the whole modern electric-power industry. Estimate: $4,000 - 6,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Edgar Allen Poe. Poe on Mesmerism. Estimate: $2,500 - 3,500
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Reformation - The Architect of Lutheranism on Church Unity and Dissent. Estimate: $100,000 - 150,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: The Rare 3-Paper Offprint Identifying the Double Helix Structure of DNA, Signed by Crick, Wilkins, Wilson, Stokes and Gosling. Estimate: $40,000 - 60,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Autograph book and Report from the Thirtieth Indian National Congress, featuring the signatures of Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, and Dadabhai Naoroji. Estimate: $6,000 - 8,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: An Illustrated Miniature Hebrew Prayerbook Manuscript. Estimate: $30,000 - 50,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Autograph Working Draft of Arthur Conan Doyle's The Death Voyage. Estimate: $30,000 - 50,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: "Perhaps the most celebrated and most beautiful herbal ever published." Estimate: $15,000 - 20,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Izaak Walton. The Compleat Angler or the Contemplative man's Recreation. Being a Discourse of Fish and Fishing. Estimate: $12,000 - 18,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: A rare product of the Jaquard loom. Estimate: $8,000 - 12,000

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