December 15th: Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers hosts a sale
- by Thomas C. McKinney
Though they may be known primarily as specialists in Irish material, Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers’ December 15th sale of Rare Books, Manuscripts, Literature & Maps contains more than just that. With over 700 lots, and low estimates to boot, this is a sale worth investing time and money into. Let’s take a look at some of this sale’s special lots.
Virtually anyone who has used a computer and done a search is familiar with the term Boolean Logic. But I would guess fewer people are familiar with where this name comes from (I personally had no idea). Lot 276 enlightened me with the facts, being a first issue first edition of George Boole’s An Investigation into the Laws of Thought, published in 1854 London. This rare publication eventually made possible the development of the digital computer by establishing the first practical system of logic in algebraic form. Furthermore, this specific copy is inscribed by the author. The landmark scientific book is estimated 5,000 – 7,000 EUR.
Better known than George Boole is Bond, James Bond. And for an estimated 3,500 – 5,000 EUR, a complete set of Ian Fleming’s first editions of Bond are for sale as lot 235. The novels included are Casino Royale, L. 1953; Live and Let Die, L. 1954; Moonraker, L. 1955; Diamonds are Forever, L. 1956; From Russia with Love, L. 1957; Dr. No, L. 1958; Goldfinger, L. 1959; For Your Eyes Only, L. 1960; Thunderball, L. 1961; The Spy who Loved Me, L. 1962; On her Majesty's Secret Service, L. 1963; You Only Live Twice, L. 1964; The Man with the Golden Gun, L. 1965; Octopussy and The Living Daylights, L. 1966.
It wouldn’t be write to cover a Fonsie Mealy auction without highlighting some Irish material. Lot 565, known as the First Cuala Broadsides, is a complete set of 84 monthly broadside issues with illustrations by Irish artists Jack Butler Yeats. Yeats is a respected painter, with one of his works commanding nearly £350,000 at auction in 2010. Two hundred of his illustrations are present in this lot and the set is estimated 6,000 – 7,000 EUR.
Another strength of the sale is first editions of famous literature. Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book as well as The Second Jungle Book, are available for an estimated 800 – 1,400 EUR as lot 237. Bram Stoker’s Dracula is listed under lot 621, and is a first edition as well. It is estimated 3,500 – 5,000 EUR.
Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers’ sale of Rare Books, Manuscripts, Literature & Maps takes place December 15th, 2015, at 10:15 AM GMT in the center of of Castlecomer town at the Old Cinema, Chatsworth Street, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland. Bidding will also be available through the phone as well as online through The Saleroom. Please register online if you plan to bid. The entire sale's catalog may be viewed here.
Koller, Mar. 25: KAFKA, FRANZ, SCHRIFTSTELLER. Eigenh. Brief mit Unterschrift. Prag, 20. Oktober [19]15. CHF 30,000-40,000.
Koller, Mar. 25: EINSTEIN, ALBERT. Zwei eigenhändige Briefe an Ernst Gabor Straus, unterschrieben "A.E" bzw. "A. Einstein". [Princeton], [19]45. und [1950]. CHF 30,000-40,000.
Koller, Mar. 25: HORTENSE DE BEAUHARNAIS, MUTTER VON NAPOLEON III. Album aus ihrem Besitz mit 69 Aquarellen und Pinselzeichnungen in Sepia oder Grau… CHF 14,000-18,000.
Koller, Mar. 25: ZOOLOGIE - ORNITHOLOGIE - Seligmann, Johann Michael. Verzameling van uitlandsche en zeldzaame Vogelen. Teile 1-8 (von 9) in 2 Bänden. Mit 421 prächtig altkolorierten Kupfertafeln. CHF 14,000-20,000
Koller, Mar. 25: BOTANIK - Berlèse, Lorenzo und Johann Jakob Jung. Iconographie du genre camellia... 3 Bände. Mit 300 Farbstichtafeln "a la poupée.” Paris, [1839-]1841-1843. CHF 12,000-18,000.
Forum Auctions Natural History: The remaining stock of Antiquariaat Junk, 1899-2026 25 March 2026
Forum, Mar. 25: Botany.- Andrews (H.C.) Coloured Engravings of Heaths, 4 vol. in 2, first edition, [1710,--94]-1802-1809-[1830]. £10,000 - £15,000.
Forum, Mar. 25: Butterflies.- Cramer (Pierre) and Caspar Stoll. De Uitlandsche Kapellen voorkomende in de drie Waereld-Deelen…,, 5 vol., Amsterdam & Utrecht, 1779-91. £8,000 - £12,000.
Forum, Mar. 25: Voyages.- Darwin (Charles) and others. Narrative of the Surveying Voyages of His Majesty's Ships Adventure and Beagle, 3 vol. in 4, including Appendix to vol.2, first edition, 1839. £8,000 - £12,000.
Forum, Mar. 25: Butterflies.- de Graaf (Willem Diederik Vincent). [Inlandsche Kapellen in beeld], 170 fine original watercolours, [Enkhuizen], [1800-40]. £8,000 - £12,000.
Forum Auctions Natural History: The remaining stock of Antiquariaat Junk, 1899-2026 25 March 2026
Forum, Mar. 25: Birds.- Dresser (Henry Eeles). A History of the Birds of Europe, 9 vol., including supplement, first edition, by the author, 1871-96. £6,000 - £8,000.
Forum, Mar. 25: Zoology.- Felines.- Elliot (Daniel Giraud). A Monograph of the Felidæ or Family of the Cats, first edition, for the Subscribers, by the Author, [1878]-1883. £25,000 - £30,000.
Forum, Mar. 25: Birds.- Frisch (Johann Leonard). Vorstellung der Vögel Deutschlandes, 2 vol., first edition, Berlin, Friedr. Wilhelm Birnsteil, [1736]-1763. £40,000 - £60,000.
Forum, Mar. 25: Birds.- Gould (John). The Birds of Great Britain, 5 vol., first edition, by the author, 1862-1873. £30,000 - £40,000.
Forum Auctions Natural History: The remaining stock of Antiquariaat Junk, 1899-2026 25 March 2026
Forum, Mar. 25: Pomology.- France.- Poiteau (A.) Pomologie Française. Recueil des Plus Beaux Fruits cultivés en France, 4 vol., Paris, 1846. £30,000 - £40,000.
Forum, Mar. 25: Botany.- [Robin (Jean)]. Histoire des Plantes, nouvellement trouvées en l'Isle Virgine…,, 1620; with Geoffrey Linocier L'Histoire des plantes, second edition, 1619-20. £3,000 - £4,000.
Forum, Mar. 25: Asia.- Japan.- Siebold (P.F. von). Nippon. Archiv zur Beschreibung von Japan, 7 parts in 6 vol., first edition, Leyden, [1832]-1852. £35,000 - £45,000.
Forum, Mar. 25: Asia.- Valentijn (Francois). Oud en Nieuw Oost-Indiën..., 5 vol. in 8, first edition, Dordrecht [&] Amsterdam, 1724-26. £8,000 - £12,000.
Forum, Mar. 25: Botany.- Australia.- Redouté (P.J.).- Ventenat (Étienne Pierre). Jardin de la Malmaison, 2 vol.,, Paris, 1803-04[-05]. £30,000 - £40,000.
