• 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 - November - 2016 Issue

eCatalogues: the future has arrived

- by Bruce E. McKinney

eCatalogues: the future has arrived

eCatalogues: the future has arrived

Tis’ the season to be jolly

 

From a distance the rare book business seems to be very similar to what it was twenty-five years ago but a closer look suggests not much is the same.  The Internet has changed the game.

 

This field, a few decades ago, was a combination of catalogues, shops, inventories, shows and reputations.  Today for most dealers the Internet has replaced their shops and their budgets for printed catalogues been reduced.  In their place fewer printed catalogues and more e-Catalogues are now the norm.

 

November ushers in the ‘high’ season and many dealers are issuing e-Catalogues.  Linked here are 30 that have been posted since October 1st and 20 more going back as far as September 7th.  Others will be posted as they are issued.  E-Catalogues are here to stay and their presence very welcome.  They are both flexible and highly appealing.

 

The appeal of printed catalogues will continue to linger but the emerging complexity and diversity of e-Catalogues confirm they are here to stay.

 

Online e-Catalogues

Sno Bookseller Catalogue Name Description URL Link Date Created
1 Antiquariaat Form The Islamic World 5 Books, maps, photographs, drawings and manuscripts celebrating 12 centuries of Islamic Culture Catalogue Link Oct 27, 2016
2 Bruce McKittrick Rare Books Material available at the 40th Annual Boston Int'l Antiquarian Book Fair 80 reasons to buy collectible material Catalogue Link Oct 27, 2016
3 J. Patrick McGahern Books, Inc. Catalogue 248 Early North America Travel & Emigration including autographed and association copies Catalogue Link Oct 27, 2016
4 James Cummins Bookseller Occultism, Witchcraft, and Horror A selection of our occult collection Catalogue Link Oct 27, 2016
5 Hordern House Rare Books Special Catalogue 2016 Catalogue of 45 items Catalogue Link Oct 27, 2016
6 Yesterday's Muse Books, ABAA 2016 Fall Highlights Recent acquisitions Catalogue Link Oct 26, 2016
7 Yesterday's Muse Books, ABAA Women Authors Women Authors, Mostly Signed First Editions Catalogue Link Oct 26, 2016
8 Dan Wyman Books Rare American Judaica From the Colonial Era to the Great Depression and Beyond Catalogue Link Oct 26, 2016
9 The Specialists of the South, Inc. 90 Highlighted Books Auction Including First Edition & Signed Books Catalogue Link Oct 25, 2016
10 J. Patrick McGahern Books Early North American Travel & Emigration Including autographed and association copies Catalogue Link Oct 25, 2016
11 Richard C. Ramer Old & Rare Books Special List 251: Medicine, Part II 100 items on medicine, 16th-21st centuries, color illustrations Catalogue Link Oct 25, 2016
12 J & J LUBRANO MUSIC ANTIQUARIANS LLC Catalogue 80 - AUTOGRAPH LETTERS OF COMPOSERS, SIGNED PHOTOGRAPHS, &c. Part I: A-L Catalogue Link Oct 25, 2016
13 The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd A Selection of 30 Antiquarian Folios E-List 30 Items Catalogue Link Oct 25, 2016
14 B. L. Rootenberg Boston Book Fair Catalogue A catalogue prepared of material selected for the fair Catalogue Link Oct 24, 2016
15 Michael S Kemp Bookseller Catalogue 84 British & Irish local history, topography, genealogy, architecture, etc Catalogue Link Oct 20, 2016
16 Bruce McKittrick Rare Books Covers Collectible early material Catalogue Link Oct 18, 2016
17 David M. Lesser, Fine Antiquarian Books LLC A selection for the Boston Book Fair A one hundred item sampler Catalogue Link Oct 18, 2016
18 Lorne Bair Rare Books, Manuscripts & Ephemera A selection of Material for the Book Book Fair A mix of radical social movement materials, graphics and ephemera Catalogue Link Oct 18, 2016
19 James Cummins bookseller Sporting Books & Prints No. 133 We are pleased to send you our latest sporting catalogue, with books, prints and manuscript material Catalogue Link Oct 18, 2016
20 Charles Kutcher - Kaaterskill Books Catalogue 22: Latin Americana items from the early 18th to the later 20th centuries: books and rare broadsides, hand-drawn maps an Catalogue Link Oct 18, 2016
21 Richard C. Ramer Old & Rare Books Special List 250: China, Including Macau & Hong Kong Eighty-five items on China, including Macau and Hong Kong, from the 17th to 21st centuries, with ful Catalogue Link Oct 18, 2016
22 The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd 30 Recent Antiquarian Acquisitions E-List 30 Items Catalogue Link Oct 18, 2016
23 J & J LUBRANO MUSIC ANTIQUARIANS LLC THE PAUL JACKSON OPERA COLLECTION Part VIII: T-Z Autograph Letters, Signed Scores, Printed Music, Books, Programs, Drawings, Posters, Prints, Photogr Catalogue Link Oct 13, 2016
24 Antiquariaat Forum & Asher Rare Books Autumn Catalogue 2016 Travel & Voyages, Maritime history, Medicine & Pharmacy, Natural history, Science and Islamic World Catalogue Link Oct 12, 2016
25 Richard C. Ramer Old & Rare Books Special List 249: India, Tibet & Ceylon India, Tibet & Ceylon: 128 items, 16th-21st centuries, with color illustrations Catalogue Link Oct 11, 2016
26 The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd 30 Recent Antiquarian Acquisitions E-List 30 Items Catalogue Link Oct 11, 2016
27 Antiquariaat Fragmenta Selecta Classical Antiquity & Middle Ages (126) 919 items. Rare and Scholarly Books on Antiquity, Middle Ages and Humanism. Catalogue Link Oct 10, 2016
28 Tavistock Books Fresh Meat! A Catalogue of Rare and Medium-Rare New Arrivals. 44 items ranging from a rare 18th C. mss journal, to a Wise forgery, to an anti-nuke protest poster. Catalogue Link Oct 05, 2016
29 Daniel Crouch Rare Books Catalogue VIII Views of London Catalogue Link Oct 04, 2016
30 The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd A Selection of 30 Antiquarian Titles 30 Items Catalogue Link Oct 04, 2016
31 Mullen Books Fall Sale Items (30% Off) Over 200 fine, rare, and esoteric tiles. Catalogue Link Sep 28, 2016
32 Antiquariaat Forum & Asher Rare Books Amsterdam Fair List 2 Charts & Maps Catalogue Link Sep 28, 2016
33 Antiquariaat Forum & Asher Rare Books Amsterdam Fair List 1 Books Catalogue Link Sep 28, 2016
34 J & J LUBRANO MUSIC ANTIQUARIANS LLC Catalogue 79 - MUSICAL MANUSCRIPTS Part II: N-Z, including autograph manuscripts, copyist manuscripts, and autograph musical quotations Catalogue Link Sep 27, 2016
35 Richard C. Ramer Old & Rare Books Special List 248: Music FIfteen items on music, 18th to 20th centuries, with full-color illustrations. Catalogue Link Sep 27, 2016
36 The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd Preview of Catalogue 84: Recently Acquired Books, Manuscripts and Ephemera Catalogue 84-209 Items Catalogue Link Sep 27, 2016
37 J & J LUBRANO MUSIC ANTIQUARIANS LLC Catalogue 79 - MUSICAL MANUSCRIPTS Part I: A-M, including autograph manuscripts, copyist manuscripts, and autograph musical quotations Catalogue Link Sep 20, 2016
38 Richard C. Ramer Old & Rare Books Special List 247: Portuguese Africa 114 items on Portuguese Africa, 16th to 21st centuries, with color illustrations. Catalogue Link Sep 20, 2016
39 The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd A Selection of 30 Antiquarian Titles E-list 30 Items Catalogue Link Sep 20, 2016
40 Thomas A. Goldwasser Rare Books From the Library of George and Ira Gershwin E-catalogue Catalogue Link Sep 16, 2016
41 J. Patrick McGahern Books Catalogue 246 Rare, Scarce and Interesting Books Catalogue Link Sep 15, 2016
42 Antiquariaat Forum & Asher Rare Books Medicine & Pharmacy E-catalogue Catalogue Link Sep 15, 2016
43 Nick Aretakis Americana New Acquisitions - September 2016 Printed, manuscript, & visual Americana Catalogue Link Sep 13, 2016
44 Richard C. Ramer Old & Rare Books Special List 246: Nine Recent Acquisitions Nine recent acquisitions, with full-color illustrations. Catalogue Link Sep 13, 2016
45 Bernard Quaritch Limited Women Travellers Books, manuscripts and photographs by and about women travellers from 1717 to 1968 Catalogue Link Sep 13, 2016
46 J & J LUBRANO MUSIC ANTIQUARIANS LLC THE PAUL JACKSON OPERA COLLECTION Part VII: R-S Autograph Letters, Signed Scores, Printed Music, Books, Programs, Drawings, Posters, Prints, Photogr Catalogue Link Sep 13, 2016
47 The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd A Selection of 30 Antiquarian Titles E-List 30 Items Catalogue Link Sep 13, 2016
48 Antiquariaat Forum & Asher Rare Books Medicine & Pharmacy E-catalogue Catalogue Link Sep 08, 2016
49 Andrew Cahan: Bookseller, Ltd PHOTOGRAPHIC PERIODICALS A - D I am please to offer for sale the first of a multi-part series of catalogues from our extensive hold Catalogue Link Sep 07, 2016
50 The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd A Selection of 30 Antiquarian Titles - September 6, 2016 E-List 30 Items Catalogue Link Sep 07, 2016

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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