Rare Book Monthly

Articles - July - 2004 Issue

Despite a Few Clouds Over Title,<br>Texas Auction a Huge Success

- by Michael Stillman

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The highest price went for a copy of the Texas Declaration of Independence. Patterned after the United States Declaration of Independence, Sotheby’s reports that this is one of only three copies remaining in private hands. This document went for $764,000, sold to a telephone bidder who chose to remain anonymous. Runner up was a first edition of Stephen Austin’s account of the first Anglo-American settlement in Texas. This was apparently the first copy of this book to go on the market since 1898, and the bidding soared past all expectations. With an estimate of $25,000 - $35,000, the bidding did not stop until it closed at $153,000. A letter from Austin as Commander of the Texas Militia ordering his forces to take the Alamo rose even more, from an estimate of $4,000 - $6,000 to a close of $78,000, while a letter from Austin to a cousin estimated at $10,000 - $15,000 sold for $54,000. In what could certainly be described as an understatement, Ms. Gioia called this “a very successful sale.”

Rare Book Monthly

Gonnelli
Auction 58
Books, Autographs & Manuscripts
March 11th-13th 2025

Gonnelli: Manuscript and illuminated book of hours, mid-15th century.

Gonnelli: Sumptuous Koran manuscript by Bukhara illuminators in the mid-nineteenth century.

Gonnelli: Rowling J. K., Harry Potter e la Pietra Filosofale. Firenze: Adriano Salani, 1998.

Gonnelli: Fontana Lucio, Dix eaux-fortes. Milano: Galerie Schwarz, 1962.

Gonnelli: Valli Antonio, Il canto de gl'augelli. In Roma, Nicolò Mutij, 1601.

Gonnelli: Moniglia Giovanni Andrea, Il Mondo Festeggiante. In Firenze: nella Stamperia di S.A.S., 1661.

Gonnelli: Alighieri Dante, [Divine Comedy with commentary and Life of Dante by Cristoforo Landino]. Danthe alegieri fiorentino. Venezia, Capcasa, 1493.

Gonnelli: Foresti, Novissime historiarum. Venezia, Rusconi, 1506.

Gonnelli: Hieronymus (santo), Vita di sancti Padri vulgariter historiada. Venezia, Otino da Pavia, 1501.

Gonnelli: Ghisi Andrea, Laberinto dato novamente in luce. In Venetia: per Euangelista Deuchino, 1616.

Gonnelli: Gouvea Antonio (de), Innocentia victrix. [China, Canton], 1671.

Gonnelli: Napier John, Rabdologiae, seu numerationis per virgulas libri duo. Edinburgi: Andreas Hart, 1617.

Gonnelli: Ortelius Abraham, Theatrum orbis terrarum. Antverpiae: Aegid. Coppenium Diesth, xx Maii 1570.
Sotheby's
Sell Your Fine Books & Manuscripts

Sotheby’s: The Shem Tov Bible, 1312 | A Masterpiece from the Golden Age of Spain. Sold: 6,960,000 USD

Sotheby’s: Ten Commandments Tablet, 300-800 CE | One of humanity's earliest and most enduring moral codes. Sold: 5,040,000 USD

Sotheby’s: William Blake | Songs of Innocence and of Experience. Sold: 4,320,000 USD

Sotheby’s: The Declaration of Independence | The Holt printing, the only copy in private hands. Sold: 3,360,000 USD

Sotheby's
Sell Your Fine Books & Manuscripts

Sotheby’s: Thomas Taylor | The original cover art for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Sold: 1,920,000 USD

Sotheby’s: Machiavelli | Il Principe, a previously unrecorded copy of the book where modern political thought began. Sold: 576,000 GBP

Sotheby’s: Leonardo da Vinci | Trattato della pittura, ca. 1639, a very fine pre-publication manuscript. Sold: 381,000 GBP

Sotheby’s: Henri Matisse | Jazz, Paris 1947, the complete portfolio. Sold: 312,000 EUR

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