Rare Book Monthly

Articles - August - 2015 Issue

August 5th: Leslie Hindman Auctioneers presents Fine Books & Manuscripts

Faa3fbe5-1856-47bc-aae8-88f93d159d20

This month Leslie Hindman Auctioneers is pleased to present a sale of Fine Books and Manuscripts. Taking place in Chicago on August 5th, the auction includes 276 lots of books, maps, manuscripts, and ephemera from a wide range of locales on numerous topics. Americana is a particular strength, and several very significant items are on offer. The following is a brief rundown of said lots.

First editions of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark’s History of the Expedition… do not come to auction every day, and the copy included as lot 3 of Fine Books and Manuscripts also includes the folding map. Wagner-Camp describes the narrative as “the definitive account of the most important exploration of the North American Continent.” Estimated at $50,000 – 70,000, this item would be the centerpiece of many an Americana collection, and is certain to draw worthy attention.

John James Audubon is not a rare appearance at auction in this day and age, but he is most often sold as single engravings. Lot 90 is the first edition octavo edition of The Birds of America… printed in 1839, which added 65 new plates to the double-elephant folio edition making a total of 500 plates. Audubon’s prints, as always, are considered the gold standard of natural history engravings, and this copy is estimated $30,000 – 50,000.

For collectors of American maps, lot 19 may be of interest, being Thomas Hutchins and George Louis Le Rouge’s Partie Occidentale de la Virginie, Pensylvanie, Maryland et Caroline, a proof state double-page engraved map with later hand-coloring depicting the American Midwest between the Great Lakes and the Ohio River, west to the Mississippi. At the time of its publication (1781), this map was the largest and most accurate of the Midwest. It is estimated $8,000 – 12,000.

Coming forward quite a bit from the previous three items, lot 88 is a signed Presidential Proclamation from Harry S. Truman announcing the surrender of Germany at the end of World War II. The document states in part, “"The Allied Armies, through sacrifice and devotion and with God's help have wrung from Germany a final and unconditional surrender. The Western World has been freed of the evil forces which for five years and longer have imprisoned the bodies and broken the lives of millions upon millions of free-born men [...] Now, therefore, I, Harry S. Truman, President of the United States of America, do hereby appoint Sunday, May 13, 1945, to be a day of prayer. I call upon the people of the United States, whatever their faith, to unite in offering joyful thanks to God for the victory we have won and to pray that he will support us to the end of our present struggle and guide us into the ways of peace." This piece of 20th century history is estimated $6,000 – 8,000.

Other items in the sale include autograph items signed by various important historical figures, a large amount of maps and atlases, significant contemporary literature, and books by well-known artists. The sale is well-worth your consideration and the online catalog can be viewed here. The process of bidding can be started here at the Leslie Hindman Auctioneers website user registration, whether it be to bid in-person, over the phone, or online on their website.

The lots included in the slideshow are as follows:

  • Lot 3. LEWIS, MERIWETHER AND WILLIAM CLARK. History of the Expedition under the Command of Captains Lewis and Clark, to the Sources of the Missouri .... Philadelphia, 1814. 2 vols. First edition, with original folding map. $50,000-$70,000
  • Lot 90. AUDUBON, JOHN JAMES. The Birds of America, from Drawings Made in the United States and Their Territories. NY & Philadelphia, [1839], 1840-1844. 7 vols. First octavo edition. Complete. $30,000-$50,000
  • Lot 19. HUTCHINS, THOMAS AND GEORGE LOUIS LE ROUGE. Partie Occidentale de la Virginie, Pensylvanie, Maryland et Caroline.. Paris, 1781. Proof state $8,000-$12,000
  • Lot 88. TRUMAN, HARRY S. Signed Presidential Proclamation issued upon the Unconditional Surrender of Germany. Washington, D.C., May 8, 1945. $6,000-$8,000
  • Lot 15The American Military Pocket Atlas; Being an approved Collection of Correct Maps, both General and Particular, of The British Colonies... London, [1776] First edition, complete with six maps. $4,000-$6,000
  • Lot 124. BRACCIOLINI, POGGIO. Poggii Florentini Oratoris Clarissimi ... Argentinae, 1513. 2 parts in one. $3,000-$5,000
  • Lot 85. HOOVER, HERBERT. Autographed book signed by Hoover and over 190 members of his administration, 1929-1933. 48pp. $3,000-$5,000
  • Lot 252. (BAYNTUN) CARROLL, LEWIS. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass. London, 1872. 2 vols. Mixed issues, bound by Bayntun.$3,000-$5,000
  • Lot 78. CURRIER AND IVES. A Midnight Race on the Mississippi. New York, 1860. Large folio lithograph, hand-colored. $3,000-$5,000
  • Lot 268. (THE BEATLES) Autographed note card signed in pen by all four members. Framed and matted with repro photo. $3,000-$5,000

Rare Book Monthly

  • <center><b>Forum Auctions<br>Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper<br>30th March 2023</b>
    <b>Forum, Mar. 30:</b> Roman binding.- Pindar. <i>Olympia, Pythia, Nemea, Isthmia,</i> translated by Johannes Lonicer, contemporary Roman binding by Niccolo Franzese, Basel, 1535. £40,000 to £60,000.
    <b>Forum, Mar. 30:</b> Raverat (Gwen). Comprehensive album of 530 wood engravings, circa 1909-1950. £40,000 to £60,000.
    <b>Forum, Mar. 30:</b> Hemingway (Ernest). <i>Fiesta,</i> first English edition, first impression dust-jacket, 1927. £15,000 to £20,000.
    <center><b>Forum Auctions<br>Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper<br>30th March 2023</b>
    <b>Forum, Mar. 30:</b> Fleming (Ian). <i>Casino Royale,</i> first edition, first impression, 1953. £12,000 to £18,000.
    <b>Forum, Mar. 30:</b> Dickens (Charles). <i>Great Expectations,</i> 3 vol., first edition, first impression, Chapman and Hall, 1861. £10,000 to £15,000.
    <b>Forum, Mar. 30:</b> Campbell (Colen) & others. <i>Vitruvius Britannicus, or The British Architect...,</i> 5 vol., vol.1-3 later editions, vol.4 & 5 first editions, [?1731]-31-67-71. £10,000 to £15,000.
    <center><b>Forum Auctions<br>Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper<br>30th March 2023</b>
    <b>Forum, Mar. 30:</b> Geography.- Mela (Pomponius). <i>Cosmographia, sive De situ orbis,</i> Venice, Franciscus Renner de Heilbronn, 1478. £8,000 to £12,000.
    <b>Forum, Mar. 30:</b> America.- [?Espinosa y Tello (José)]. <i>Relacion del Viage hecho por las Goletas Sutil y Mexicana en el Año de 1792,</i> 2 vol. including Atlas, first edition, Madrid, 1802. £8,000 to £12,000.
    <b>Forum, Mar. 30:</b> Australasia.- Péron (Francois) and Louis-Claude de Saulces de Freycinet. <i>Voyage de Découvertes aux Terres Australes,</i> 5 vol. including Atlas, second edition, Paris, 1824. £8,000 to £12,000.
    <center><b>Forum Auctions<br>Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper<br>30th March 2023</b>
    <b>Forum, Mar. 30:</b> Botany.- Curtis (William). <i>The Botanical Magazine; or, Flower-Garden Displayed,</i> 83 vol. in 62, 1794-1956. £8,000 to £12,000.
    <b>Forum, Mar. 30:</b> Darwin (Charles).- Lecky (W.E.H.) <i>The Rise and Influence of Rationalism in Europe,</i> 2 vol., Darwin's copy with inscription "Charles Darwin 1865", pencil marginalia and pencil notes, 1865. £7,000 to £10,000.
  • <b><center>Swann Auction Galleries<br>Printed & Manuscript African Americana:<br>March 30, 2023</b>
    <b>Swann March 30:</b> Victor H. Green, <i>The Negro Motorist Green Book,</i> New York, 1949. $10,000 to $15,000.
    <b>Swann March 30:</b> Papers of pianist-composer Lawrence Brown relating to Paul Robeson & more, various places, 1925-54. $5,000 to $7,500.
    <b>Swann March 30:</b> Freedom Summer archive of civil rights activist Karen Haberman Trusty, Atlanta & elsewhere, 1963-64. $5,000 to $7,500.
    <b>Swann March 30:</b> E. Simms Campbell, <i>A Night-Club Map of Harlem,</i> New York, 1933. $8,000 to $12,000.
    <b>Swann March 30:</b> Archive of letters from the sculptor Richmond Barthé to a close Jamaican friend, various places, 1966-85. $25,000 to $35,000.
  • <b><center>Koller Auctions<br>Books & Autographs<br>29 March 2023</b>
    <b>Koller, Mar. 29:</b> DADA - <i>Cabaret Voltaire.</i> A collection of artistic and literary contributions. Edited by Hugo Ball. CHF 5,000 to 8,000.
    <b>Koller, Mar. 29:</b> EXPRESSIONISM - <i>Der Sturm.</i> Weekly magazine for culture and the arts. Almost complete suite from the years 1910 to 1932. CHF 20,000 to 30,000.
    <b>Koller, Mar. 29:</b> LISBON EARTHQUAKE - <i>Augsburg collection of copper engravings of Lisbon. CHF 40,000 to 60,000.
    <b>Koller, Mar. 29:</b> Hamilton, William. <i>Campi Phlegraei. Observations on the Volcanos of the Two Sicilies as they have been communicated to the Royal Society of London.</i> Naples, 1776-1779. CHF 50,000 to 70,000.
    <b><center>Koller Auctions<br>Books & Autographs<br>29 March 2023</b>
    <b>Koller, Mar. 29:</b> Leonardi, Domenico Felice. <i>Le Delizie della villa di Castellazzo descritte in verso dall'abbate Domenico Felice Leonardi lucchese fra gli Arcadi Ildosio Foloetico.</i> Milan, 1743. CHF 12,000 to 18,000.
    <b>Koller, Mar. 29:</b> Zwingli, Huldrych. <i>Von erkiesen und freyhait der speisen. Von ergernusz und Verbößerung. Ob man gewalt hab die speyß zu etlichen zeyten verbieten [...]</i>. CHF 2,500 to 4,000.
    <b>Koller, Mar. 29:</b> HENDRIK VAN VULLENHOE, UMKREIS. Benedictional and other texts for Johannes von Venningen, Bishop of Basel. Latin manuscript on parchment. CHF 50,000 to 80,000.
    <b>Koller, Mar. 29:</b> Gujer, Hans Rudolf. Master typist's book by Hans Rudolf Gujer from Wermetschweil (Wermatswil). German manuscript on paper. CHF 3,000 to 5,000.
  • <b><center>Stargardt Autographenhandlung<br>Autographs: Literature, Music, Art, Science, History, Theatre & Film<br>March 28, 2023</b>
    <b>Stargardt Autographenhandlung, Mar. 28:</b> Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Autograph album leaf signed, 1826. €9,000 to €12,000.
    <b>Stargardt Autographenhandlung, Mar. 28:</b> Franz Kafka: Autograph letter unsigned, 1924. €15,000 to €20,000.
    <b>Stargardt Autographenhandlung, Mar. 28:</b> Torquato Tasso: Autograph poem signed, no date. €12,000 to €16,000.
    <b><center>Stargardt Autographenhandlung<br>Autographs: Literature, Music, Art, Science, History, Theatre & Film<br>March 28, 2023</b>
    <b>Stargardt Autographenhandlung, Mar. 28:</b> Charles Darwin: Autograph letter signed, 1866. €4,500 to €6,000.
    <b>Stargardt Autographenhandlung, Mar. 28:</b> Albert Einstein: Autograph letter signed, 1933. €6,000 to €8,000.
    <b>Stargardt Autographenhandlung, Mar. 28:</b> Heinrich Hertz: Autograph manuscript signed, 1889. €18,000 to €24,000.
    <b><center>Stargardt Autographenhandlung<br>Autographs: Literature, Music, Art, Science, History, Theatre & Film<br>March 28, 2023</b>
    <b>Stargardt Autographenhandlung, Mar. 28:</b> Giambattista Bodoni: Autograph letter signed, 1787. €900 to €1,200.
    <b>Stargardt Autographenhandlung, Mar. 28:</b> Francisco de Goya: Autograph letter signed, 1789. €18,750 to €25,000.
    <b>Stargardt Autographenhandlung, Mar. 28:</b> Martin Luther: Notes from his desk, no date. €30,000 to €40,000.
    <b><center>Stargardt Autographenhandlung<br>Autographs: Literature, Music, Art, Science, History, Theatre & Film<br>March 28, 2023</b>
    <b>Stargardt Autographenhandlung, Mar. 28:</b> Ludwig van Beethoven: Autograph letter signed, 1816. €22,500 to €30,000.
    <b>Stargardt Autographenhandlung, Mar. 28:</b> Gustav Mahler: Foto portrait signed and annotated, 1907(?). €7,500 to €10,000.
    <b>Stargardt Autographenhandlung, Mar. 28:</b> Bed?ich Smetana: Autograph letter signed, 1883. €4,500 to €6,000.

Article Search

Archived Articles

Ask Questions