Rare Book Monthly

Articles - January - 2017 Issue

Jan. 21: Antiquarian Books, Maps, Documents, and Autographs at Case Antiques

Items from Case Antiques' Winter Art and Antiques Auction

Items from Case Antiques' Winter Art and Antiques Auction

Case Antiques, a Knoxville, Tennessee-based auction house specializing in art and antiques, began having their rare books, maps, manuscripts, and ephemera lots added to the Rare Book Transaction History last year. Not all lots in their sales will appeal to members of Rare Book Hub, but with a little research, reasonably estimated and rare items are waiting to be bid on. January 21st marks one such occasion. Case Antiques’ Winter Art and Antiques Auction contains 949 lots, of which about 120 fall under the category of works on paper. These items hail from the collections of Dr. and Mrs. Benjamin Caldwell, Charles and Ann Harwell Wells, as well as several other fine Tennessee estates and collections. Dr. Caldwell’s contributions to the sale include a collection of medical books and early Tennessee imprints, and Ann Wells, a retired map dealer with a passion for Southern maps, has consigned material reflecting her interest.

The highest estimated print/paper lot is in fact a painting, though it also includes a signed document which qualifies it for Rare Book Hub’s focus. Cassily Adams was an American painter who served during the Civil War, though he is best known for his depictions of the post-war West. Lot 224 is a rare painting (in terms of subject) by him harkening back to his war experience during which he served on the USS Osage, one of the first river-going ironclad warships. The document included with the painting is a framed Civil War order for G.M. Rogers to detach from the USS Osage and report to the USS Ouichita, signed by Rear Admiral Samuel Phillips Lee, commander of the Mississippi Squadron, and co-signed by Adams as Acting Ensign. Estimated at $3,000 – 5,000, Adams’ work fits in the home of any Civil War collector.

Another highlight of the sale is an 1854 three octavo volume printing of John Audubon and John Bachman’s The Quadrupeds of North America, Audubon’s second monumental natural history work. Edition is not stated in the lot’s description, and it’s unclear whether this is a first or second edition as the printings overlapped and these copies are printed by J.T. Bowen & Co. of Philadelphia. If it is a first edition, then it’s one of the last printed as the first edition run ended in 1854 (the second edition was printed between 1852 and 1855). With an estimate of $2,400 – 3,400, I assume this is a second edition. Have a look for yourself under lot 555. 

It wouldn’t be right to cover a sale by a Tennessee-based auction house without referencing some items close to home, and stand outs are numerous and difficult to choose. Lot 198 is an 1803 imprint entitled Laws of the State of Tennessee by George Roulstone, which is the first such compilation for the state and also one of, if not the first book printed in Tennessee. The copy being auctioned also has a significant amount of genealogical information written in hand about the Gambill family with many births recorded from 1786 to 1805. It carries an estimate of $2,000 – 3,000. Another item that’s somewhat more photogenic is lot 191, being a first edition of Art Work of Chattanooga, Tennessee printed in 1906. The book, which was published in nine parts and is protected by a clamshell case, contains 69 leaves of photogravure prints depicting various scenes in and around Chattanooga. It is a superb view of the area during a much different time. Art Work of Chattanooga is estimated at $1,800 – 2,200. And returning to Civil War-era material, there are several lots of letters from Confederate Generals to Nashville educator and author John Berrien Lindsley whose contributions helped Lindsley to write his book The Military Annals of Tennessee. Lots 219 through 222 cover these letters, with high estimates not exceeding $700. Lot 219 is a letter from Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Lastly, it was mentioned in the introduction that the sale includes consignments from retired map dealer Ann Wells. One such map is an 1804 copper plate engraving of Tennessee, which depicts the state in its early setting, with towns and roads, county as well as Native American lines, rivers, and mountains included in detail. Tennessee was drawn by Samuel Lewis, engraved by Alexander Lawson, and published in Philadelphia by John Conrad and Company. It is estimated at $500 – 700 as lot 210.

The final category of note in the sale is that of autographs of prominent Americans, especially Presidents. A signed copy of JFK’s Profiles in Courage (lot 566, est. $1,200 – 1,500) and FDR’s personal and signed copy of Laura Thornborough’s The Great Smoky Mountains (lot 192, est. $1,500 – 1,800) are two books bearing presidential signatures. And as for autograph documents, Theodore Roosevelt, Andrew Johnson, James Polk, Sam Houston and the previously mentioned Jefferson Davis may all be had.

The full catalog of Case Antiques’ Winter Art and Antiques Auction is available online. Printed material and works on paper for sale are grouped into 3 separate runs, with items appearing from lots 191-236, 514-578, and 849-863. The sale takes place Saturday, January 21, 2017, and a preview is available the preceding day, Friday, January 20 from noon to 6pm eastern. Other preview appointments can be made by contacting Case Antiques directly at info@caseantiques.com or (865) 558-3033. Bidding will be available through all expected formats—live, absentee, phone, and internet. Bidding details can be viewed here.

Rare Book Monthly

  • Fonsie Mealy’s
    Rare Books & Collectors’ Sale
    April 30th & May 1st
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Taylor (Geo.) & Skinner (A.) Maps of the Roads of Ireland, Surveyed 1777. Lond. & Dublin 1778. €500 to €750.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Messingham (Thos.) Florilegium Insulae Sanctorum seu Vitae et Acta Sanctorum Hibernia, Paris 1624. €350 to €500.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Heaney (Seamus). The Haw Lantern, L. (Faber & Faber) 1987, First Edn., Signed and dated. €225 to €350.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Valencey (Lt. Col. Chas.) Collectanea de Rebus Hibernicis, Vols. I-IV, 4 vols. Dublin 1786. €400 to €600.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Powerscourt (Viscount). A Description and History of Powerscourt, Lond. 1903. €350 to €500.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Moryson (Fynes). An Itinerary ... Containing His Ten Yeeres Travel Through the Twelve Dominions of Germany, Bohermerland, Sweitzerland…, Lond. (John Beale) 1617. €700 to €1,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: After Buffon, Birds of Europe, c. 1820. Approx. 120 fine hd. cold. plts., mor. backed boards. €125 to €250.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Dunlevy (Andrew). An Teagasg Criosduidhe De Reir Ceasda agus Freagartha... The Catechism or Christian Doctrine by Way of Question and Answer, Paris (James Guerin) 1742. €400 to €700.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: The Georgian Society Records of Eighteen-Century Domestic Architecture in Dublin, 5 vols. Complete, Dublin 1909-1913. €500 to €750.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Scale (Bernard). An Hibernian Atlas or General Description of the Kingdom of Ireland, L. (Robert Sayer & John Bennet) 1776. €625 to €850.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: [Johnson (Rev. Samuel)]. Julian the Apostate Being a Short Account of his Life, together with a Comparison of Popery and Paganism,L. (Langley Curtis) 1682. €300 to €400.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Nichlson (Wm.) Illustrator. An Almanac of Twelve Sports, Lond. 1898. €300 to €400.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Heaney (Seamus) trans. The Light of the Leaves, 2 vols., Mexico (Imprenta de los Tropicos/Bunholt) 1999. €1,500 to €2,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Fleming (Ian). Moonraker, L. (Jonathan Cape) 1955. €1,500 to €2,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Heaney (Seamus) & Egan (Felim) artist. Squarings, Twelve Poems, D. (Hieroglyph Editions Ltd.) 1991. €1,750 to €2,250.
  • Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: ANDERSEN'S EXTREMELY RARE FIRST APPEARANCE IN PRINT. "Scene af: Røverne i Vissenberg i Fyen." in Harpen, 1822.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: FIRST ISSUE OF THE FIRST THREE FAIRY TALE PAMPHLETS, WITH ALL INDICES AND TITLE PAGES. Eventyr, fortalte for Børn. 1835-1837.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: THE FIRST FAIRY TALES WITH A SIGNED CARTE DE VISITE OF ANDERSEN AS FRONTIS. Eventyr, fortalte for Børn. 1835-1837.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: KARL LAGERFELD. Original pastel and ink drawing in gold, red and black for Andersen's The Emperor's New Clothes (1992), "La cassette de l'Empereur."
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: PRESENTATION COPY OF THE SIXTH PAMPHLET FOR PETER KOCH. Eventyr, Fortalte For Børn, Second Series, Third Pamphlet. 1841. Publisher's wrappers, complete with all pre- and post-matter.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN RARE AUTOGRAPH QUOTATION SIGNED IN ENGLISH from "The Ugly Duckling," c.1860s.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: HEINRICH LEFLER, ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR FOR ANDERSEN'S SNOW QUEEN, "Die Schneekönigin," 1910.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: FIRST EDITION OF ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES IN ENGLISH. Wonderful Stories for Children. London, 1846.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: ANDERSEN ON MEETING CHARLES DICKENS. Autograph Letter Signed ("H.C. Andersen") in English to William Jerdan, July 20, 1847.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: PRESENTATION COPY FOR EDGAR COLLIN. Nye Eventyr og Historier. Anden Raekke. 1861.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: DOLL HOUSE FURNITURE BY HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON, DECORATED WITH FANTASTICAL CUT-OUTS, for the children of Jonna Stampe (née Drewsen), his godchildren.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: PRESENTATION COPY FOR GEORG BRANDES. Dryaden. Et Eventyr fra Udstillingstiden i Paris 1867. 1868.
  • Jeschke Jádi
    Rare Book Auction 155
    Saturday April 26, 2025
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 962. Baird. United States Exploring Expedition. Philadelphia 1858.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 772. Edith Holland Norton. Brazilian Flowers. Coombe Croft 1893.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 49. Petrarca. Das Gluecksbuch, Augsburg 1536.
    Jeschke Jádi
    Rare Book Auction 155
    Saturday April 26, 2025
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 1496. Jacob / Picasso. Chronique des Temps, 1956.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 8. Augustinus. De moribus ecclesie. Cologne 1480.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 17. Heures a lusaige de Noyon. Paris 1504.
    Jeschke Jádi
    Rare Book Auction 155
    Saturday April 26, 2025
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 13. Schedel. Buch der Chronicken. Nürnberg 1493.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 957. Donovan. Insects of China. London 1798.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 123. A holy martyr. Tuscany, Florence, mid-14th century.
    Jeschke Jádi
    Rare Book Auction 155
    Saturday April 26, 2025
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 438. Dante. La Divine Comédie. Paris 1963.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 602. Firdausi. Histoire de Minoutchehr. Paris 1919
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 994. Westwood. Oriental Entomology. London 1848.
  • 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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