Rare Book Monthly

print Send Email to Friend Change Font Size Share Link

Articles - July - 2018 Issue

Great Catalogues by Master Booksellers

- by Bruce E. McKinney

John R. Payne, bookman and appraiser, has cut the collecting apple in an unusual way.  He has written a folio volume about the best, preferred, and desirable cataloguers and catalogues he happened upon in his decades in the rare book field.  He explains it this way.  “Catalogues are the windows to the soul of the rare book trade” and he has prepared a 485 page volume identifying and describing 140 of them.  It’s a very appealing read, inevitably to become a collecting structure for sophisticated collectors who will spend years, if not decades, trying to acquire examples of each of the catalogues identified. It will be an entertaining pursuit and an education.

 

The 140 catalogues selected are subjective as they should be.  Those in and around the trade are known, on occasion, to hold strong opinions.  This volume sottovoce asks “what are your personal choices” and there will be few who don’t have them.  The genius of this book is that it asks a relevant question about which the trade will have an opinion, but one that has been rarely considered.  Everyone will have opinions while few will have the gumption and determination to see this type of project through to its well bound, well written conclusion.

 

No two persons will have the same list of dealers and catalogues.  His short-title list is attached to this story with a circulating set of images of ten of his selections.

 

The print run of this very desirable book is small as will be the audience that appreciates it.  But, for the few who do, it is quite valuable.

 

Here is a list of them.

 

  1. Tony Appleton.  The Writings of Stanley Morrison, 1976
  2. George Bates.  Murder:  Rare and Interesting Books Illustrating the Development of The Detective and Mystery Story [1934]
  3.  Birrell & Garnett, Ltd.  I Catalogue of Typefounders’ Specimens; II Books Printed in Founts of Historic Importance; III Works on Typefounding Printing & Bibliography, 1928
  4. Blackwell’s Rare Books.  B. H. Blackwell Ltd.  Rare and interesting books on Science mainly related to Transport and Technology, 1969, 1970, [1972]
  5. Henry G. Bohn.  A Catalogue of Books [The “Guinea Catalogue”], 1841
  6. The Book Sail.  Literature, Art and Artifacts That Will Forever Remain Among the Undead, 1984
  7. J. W. Bouton.  Bibliotheca Piscatoria, 1873
  8. Martin Breslauer, Inc.  Fine Books in Fine Bindings from the Fifteenth to the Present Century, [1979], and Fine Books in Fine Bindings from the Fourteenth to the Present Century, [1981]
  9. Martin Breslauer, Inc.  Fine Books and Manuscripts in Fine Bindings from the Fifteenth to the Present Century, [1992]
  10. Broadfoot’s Bookmark.  Confederate Imprints, 1982
  11. The Caveat Book Shop.  A Catalog of Rare Books & Manuscripts, 1946
  12. John Cochran.  A Catalogue of Manuscripts, 1829, together with A Second Catalogue of Manuscripts, 1837
  13. Charles Cox.  John Fowles:  The Collection, 2007, 2008, 2010
  14. William and Victoria Dailey, Antiquarian Books & Fine Prints.  Phantastica:  Rare & Important Psychoactive Drug Literature 1700 to the Present, 1979
  15. Wm. Dawson & Sons Ltd.  Medicine and Science, [1950]
  16. Peter Decker.  The George Soliday Collection of Western Americana, 1940-1945
  17. Bertram Dobell.  Catalogue of Books Printed for Private Circulation, 1891-1906
  18. Percy John Dobell.  The Literature of the Restoration, 1918
  19. P. J. & A. E. Dobell.  A Catalogue of XVIIIth Century Verse and A Catalogue of Books by and Relating to Dr. Jonathan Swift, 1933, six catalogues [combined]
  20. Dodd, Mead & Company.  Alexander Pope, [1909]
  21. Dulau & Company Limited.  A Collection of Original Manuscripts, Letters & Books of Oscar Wilde. [1928]
  22. Dulau & Company Limited.  A Catalogue for Typophiles of Books of Typographical Interest, 1932
  23. Edward Eberstadt & Sons.  The Northwest Coast, 1941
  24. Edward Eberstadt & Sons.  Indian Captivities & Massacres, 1943
  25. Edward Eberstadt & Sons.  Texas, [1963]
  26. Francis Edwards Ltd.  Catalogue of the Australasian Collection of Books and Pictures Formed by the late James Edge Partington, 1934
  27. Frederick Startridge Ellis (J. J. Holdsworth and George Smith).  Ellis’s Catalogue of British and American Book-Plates (Ex Libris) Collected by the late Sir Augustus Wollaston Franks, K. C. B., etc., 1905-1906
  28. Frederick Startridge Ellis (J. J. Holdsworth and George Smith).  A Collection of Armorial Bookbindings of the Tudor, Stuart and Hanoverian Periods, 1927
  29. Les Enluminures Ltd.  Colorful!  Color in Medieval and Renaissance Manuscript Illumination, 2005
  30. Ex-Libris.  Constructivism & Futurism:  Russian & Other, 1977
  31. James Fergusson Books & Manuscripts.  David Garnett’s Family Books The Property of the Estate of David Garnett, 2009
  32. John. F. Fleming Incorporated.  English Books:  Literature, History, Religion, Science, Printed before 1640, 1958, and English Books:  Literature, History, Religion, Science, 1641-1700, 1962
  33. John F. Fleming Incorporated and Priscilla Juvelis Incorporated.  The Book Beautiful and The Binding as Art, 1983, and The Book Beautiful and the Binding as Art II, 1985
  34. Colin & Charlotte Franklin.  A Catalogue of Early Colour Printing from Chiaroscurro to Aquatint, 1977
  35. Gimbel Brothers.  An Important Collection of Incunabula, 1467-1500, 1941
  36. E. P. Goldschmidt & Co., Ltd.  The Revival of Learning, [1938]
  37. E. P. Goldschmidt & Co., Ltd.  Sources of English Literature Before 1640, [1938]
  38. E. P. Goldschmidt & Co., Ltd.  Old Books on Various Subjects and A Collection of Early Photographs and Books Commemorating the Centenary of Fox Talbot and Daguerre, 1839-1939, 1939
  39. E. P. Goldschmidt & Co., Ltd.  Catalogue One Hundred, [1955]
  40. Goodspeed’s Book Shop.  Rare Americana, 1927
  41. Goodspeed’s Book Shop.  Printed in the Confederacy, [1987]
  42. Herbert E. Gorfin.  Catalogues no. 1-38 and five supplements, 1913-1930
  43. Gotham Book Mart.  We Moderns, 1920-1940, 1940
  44. Lathrop C. Harper, Inc.  Catalogue of a Selection of Incunabula from over 150 Presses, [1927-1930]
  45. Peter Harrington.  The Winnie-The-Pooh Collection of Pat McInally, 2011
  46. Michael D. Heaston, Rare Books & Manuscripts.  How They Went West! [1988]
  47. W. Heffer & Sons Ltd.  E. M. Forster’s Library, 1971
  48. J. N. Herlin, Inc.  Brain Storms, 1983
  49. Jonathan A. Hill.  Catalogus  Catalogorum, 1987-1992
  50. Walter A. Hill.  Robert Louis Stevenson, 1916
  51. The Holmes Book Company.  California & the Far West, 1948
  52. Michael Hosking.  The Golden Hind Bookshop.  David Garnett, C. B. E.:  A Writer’s Library, 1983
  53. John Howell – Books.  California:  Spanish Exploration to American Statehood; The Library of Jennie Crocker Henderson, 1979-1980
  54. Jarndyce Antiquarian Booksellers.  The Library of a Dickensian, 2012
  55. The Jenkins Company.  American Celebration, 1976, a bookseller’s leaf catalogue
  56. The Jenkins Company.  Early American Imprints, 1977,1979, and 1983
  57. Alan Keen Ltd.  The Venetian Library collected at the close of the XVI century by Doctor Odorico Pillone, [1947]
  58. Ben Kinmont, Bookseller.  Eat Drink & Be Merry!  A Holiday List of Gastronomy, 2002
  59. C. C. Kohler, Antiquarian Bookseller.  The Darwin Collection, [2003-2005]
  60. H. P. Kraus.  The Cradle of Printing from Mainz and Bamberg to Westminster and St. Albans, [1954]
  61. H. P. Kraus.  Thirty-five Manuscripts, 1962
  62. H. P. Kraus.  Monumentia Xylographica et Typographica:  The Cradle of Printing, Part II, 1971
  63. H. p. Kraus.  In Retrospect, 1978, together with Fifty Years, 1982
  64. H. P. Kraus.  Cimelia:  A Catalogue of Important Illuminated and Textual Manuscripts, 1983
  65. H. p. Kraus.  The Printed Book, 1995
  66. J. & J. Leighton.  Catalogue of Early-Printed, and Other Interesting Books, Manuscripts and Fine Bindings, 1905-1911
  67. Leon & Brother.  Catalogue of First Editions of American Authors, 1885
  68. C. F. Libbie & Company.  Catalogue of an Extraordinary Collection of Children’s Books of Olden Times, [1925]
  69. Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown.  Bibliotheca Anglo-Poetica, 1815
  70. Macmillan & Bowes.  A Catalogue of Books Printed at or Relating to the University Town & Country of Cambridge from 1521 to 1893, 1894
  71. Richard Macnutt Ltd.  Opera, 1751-1800, 1971
  72. David Magee / Antiquarian Books.  Victoria R. I., [1969-1970]
  73. Maggs Bros.  Bibliotheca Aeronautica, Part I, 1920, and Part II, 1923
  74. Maggs Bros.  The Huntingdon Papers, 1926
  75. Maggs Bros.  Catalogue of a Unique Collection of Early Editions of Ronsard, 1927
  76. Maggs Bros.  Manuscripts, Miniatures et Beaux Livres du XIVe au XIXe Siecle:  Les Debuts de la Photographie, 1939
  77. Maggs Bros Ltd.  Four Catalogues on Bookbinding in Great Britain and the British Isles in six volumes, 1964, 1975, 1987, and 11996
  78. Elkin Mathews, Ltd.  A Catalogue of Books by or relating to Dr, Johnson & Members of his Circle, 1925
  79. Elkin Mathews, Ltd.  Byron and Byroniana, 1930
  80. Elkin Mathews, Ltd.  First Editions in English Literature & Music, 1934
  81. Elkin Mathews, Ltd.  The Holbrook Jackson Library, 1951
  82. G. Michelmore & Co.  A Catalogue of Shakespeareana, 1927
  83. Edward Morrill & Son.  American Children’s Books, 1723-1939, [1941
  84. Jeremy Norman & Co. Inc.  Catalysts:  Books Which Influenced Western Civilization, 1977
  85. Oak Knoll Books.  The Alida Roochvarg Collection of Books About Books, 1979-1980
  86. David L. O’Neal Antiquarian Booksellers.  Early American Almanacs, [1979]
  87. Payne and Foss.  Series of Catalogues, 1825-1850
  88. J. Pearson & Co.  Catalogue of a Magnificent Collection of Papal Bindings, [1916]
  89. J. Pearson & Co.  Catalogue of a Highly Important Collection of Books Printed Entirely upon Vellum, [1920]
  90. Pickering & Chatto Ltd.  The Victorian Novel, 1837-1901, [1935]
  91. Bernard Quaritch Ltd.  A General Catalogue of Books, 1887-1898, six volumes plus Index volume dated 1892, plus ten supplementary volumes, 1889-1889
  92. Bernard Quaritch Ltd.  Catalogue of a Most Important Collection of Publications of the Aldine Press, 1494-1595, 1929
  93. Bernard Quaritch Ltd.  A Catalogue of Rare and Valuable Works relating to the History and Theory of the Game of Chess, 1929
  94. Bernard Quaritch Ltd.  A Catalogue of the Books and Pamphlets from the library of Maurice Buxton Forman, 1973
  95. Randall House.  What Katy Did:  A Recognition of Feminism in the American Experience, 2003
  96. William Reese Company.  Authors’ First Books, 1986
  97. William Reese Company.  The Streeter Sale Revisited, 1993
  98. William Reese Company.  The Literature of the Great War, [1995]
  99. William Reese Company.  The Streeter Sale Revisited, 2007
  100. William Reese Company.  A Tribute to Wright Howes, Parts I and II, 2012
  101. Kenneth W. Rendell Inc.  The American Frontier from the Atlantic to the Pacific, three volumes, 1981
  102. William H. Robinson Ltd.  Books and Manuscripts Relating to America… Including the Library of George Grenville, 1940
  103. William H. Robinson Ltd.  A Selection of Extremely Rare and Important Printed Books and Ancient Manuscripts, 1948
  104. William H. Robinson Ltd.  A Selection of Precious Manuscripts, Historic Documents and Rare Books, the majority from the renowned collection of Sir. Thomas Phillipps, Bt. (1792-1872), 1950
  105. William H. Robinson Ltd.  Rare Books and Manuscripts, 1953
  106. The Rosenbach Company.  1776 Americana, 1926
  107. The Rosenbach Company.  English Plays to 1700, including An Unique Shakespeare Collection, 1940
  108. The Rosenbach Company.  English Poetry to 1700, 1941
  109. The Rosenbach Company.  The History of America in Documents in three parts, 1949, 1950, 1951
  110. Leona Rostenberg & Madeleine B. Stern.  The Aldine Press, 1967
  111. Bertram Rota Ltd.  The Printer and the Artist, 1974
  112. Bertram Rota Ltd.  Poetry:  The Simon Nowell-Smith Collection, 2002
  113. Charles J. Sawyer.  A Dickens Library Exhibition Catalogue, 1936
  114. Walter Schatzki.  Children’s Books Old and Rare, [1941]
  115. Justin G. Schiller, Ltd.  Realms of Childhood, 1983
  116. Justin G. Schiller, Ltd.  Five Centuries of Childhood, 1497-1987, 2002
  117. E. K. Schreiber.   The Estiennes:  An Annotated Catalogue, 1982
  118. The Scribner Book Store.  First Editions of Music, [1935]
  119. The Scribner Book Store.  Detective Fiction, [1934]
  120. The Scribner Book Store.  Science and Thought in the 19th Century, [1938]
  121. The Scribner Book Store.  Scribners Present The Modern Library in First Editions, 1938
  122. The Scribner Book Store.  A Catalogue of Oriental Manuscripts, and First and Other Important Editions of the Tales of Sherlock Holmes, [194-], 1976, and the 2015 quasi-facsimile reproduction of the original edition – prepared as an accompaniment to the Special Copies of Great Catalogues
  123. Serendipity Books.  American Fiction of the 1960s, [1979]
  124. Seven Gables Bookshop.  Six catalogues of authors’ first books, 1936 – 1972
  125. Alfred Russell Smith, successor to John Russell Smith.  A Catalogue of Ten Thousand Tracts and Pamphlets, and Fifty Thousand Prints and Drawings, Illustrating the Topography and Antiquities of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, 1878.
  126. Henry Sotheran and Co.  Sotheran’s Price Current of Literature: “The Library of Charles Dickens,” 1878
  127. Henry Sotheran and Co.  Bibliotheca Pretiosa, 1907
  128. Henry Sotheran and Co.  Bibliotheca Chemico-Mathematica, 1921-1953
  129. Henry Sotheran and Co.  The Major Mullens Collection … on British Ornithology, 1924
  130. Henry Sotheran and Co.  Choice Books, Manuscripts and Engravings, Including the Isaac Newton Library, 1940
  131. Henry Stevens.  Historical Nugget:  Bibliotheca Americana, 1862 and 1885
  132. Henry Stevens, Son and Stiles.  Rare Americana [Rare 3], [1927
  133. James Toovey.  A Catalogue of an Extensive and Extraordinary Assemblage of the Productions of the Aldine Press, 1880
  134. Charles W. Traylen Antiquarian Bookseller.  The Wentworth Woodhouse Library, 1949 and 1951
  135. J. & M. L. Tregaskis “Caxton Head.”  International Bookbinding Exhibition by the Chief Craftsmen from all Parts of the World, 1894
  136. W. M. Voynich.  First to Ninth List of Books, 1898 – 1902
  137. B. Weinreb Architectural Books Ltd.  The Small English House, 1977
  138. John Windle Antiquarian Bookseller.  William Blake, 2009
  139. Charles B. Wood III, Inc.  The Photograph and the Book, Parts I and II, 1976 and 1978
  140. Ximenes Rare Books Inc.  English Verse, 1791-1750, three catalogues, [2010, 2011, 2012], with a related catalogue, The Works of Mr. Alexander Pope, [2011]

This volume is available in two versions:

 

In red cloth:  $225

In one quarter morocco:  $450

 

To place an order you can call or email:

 

John Payne

512.328.4535

[email protected]

 

 

 

Sign In
Posted On: 2018-07-03 00:44
User Name: hermeticsurveyor

Wow, thanks for the list, very interesting and helpful. For decades I've collected dealer catalogs without thought to their perceived importance or value, but mainly for reading material and reference, and this list helps mollify my lingering fears that I was crazy to do so as many, perhaps a third of them I have, and some I've pondered extensively. It was the late Ian Jackson who inspired me, who sold me many of them, and encouraged my seemingly preposterous interest.

Rare Book Monthly

  • Aste Bolaffi, June 17-18: Galileo Galilei. Dialogo sopra i due massimi sistemi del mondo tolemaico, e copernicano. Firenze, 1632
    Aste Bolaffi, June 17-18: Saverio Manetti. Storia naturale degli uccelli. Firenze, 1771-76
    Aste Bolaffi, June 17-18: Fortunato Depero. Depero futurista. Rovereto, 1927
    Aste Bolaffi, June 17-18: Nicolas Visscher. Atlas minor sive totius orbis terrarum contracta delineat ex conatibus. Amsterdam, circa 1649-95
    Aste Bolaffi, June 17-18: Andreas Vesalius. Anatomia. Addita nunc. Antiquorum Anatome. Venezia, 1604
    Aste Bolaffi, June 17-18: Tristan Tzara and Salvador Dalì. Grains et Issues. Parigi, 1935
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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.

Article Search

Archived Articles