AbeBooks, the world's largest used and rare book selling website, has compiled their list of the highest prices achieved on their site for the year 2019. There are 11 books and one letter in the top 12, but there are 83 volumes. This was a year when sets, some large, were popular. One major change among the most expensive of 2019 versus earlier years was the dominance of English language material. In recent years, the highest prices have become more European-centric, but for 2019, it was the English language and American and British books that dominated the top prices. Here is the Top 12 for 2019.
11 (tie). History of the Royal Residences of Windsor Castle, St. James's Palace, Carlton House, Kensington Palace, Hampton Court, Buckingham House, and Frogmore by W.H. Pyne. This is a three-volume “stunning pictorial book” published in 1819. Over 100 engravings, including the interior of Windsor Castle before major alterations were made. $15,000.
11. Sierra Nevada: The John Muir Trail by Ansel Adams. This major work by the American natural history photographer contains 50 tipped-in halftone photographs. First edition published in 1938. $15,000.
10. The Novels and Tales of Henry James. Twenty-six volumes, published 1907-1917, bound in red half morocco by Sangorski and Sutcliffe. $15,922.
9. Encyclopédie, ou dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers by Denis Diderot & Jean le Rond d'Alembert. The Encyclopédie (Encyclopedia), written by Diderot and many other major French writers, is considered the most important work of the Enlightenment. Seventeen volumes published 1751-1772. $16,868.
8. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. A 1960 first edition of a work that needs no introduction. $17,000.
7. An autograph letter by Greta Garbo to friend Mimi Pollak. The great actress of the 1920s and 30s retired at age 35, living her last 50+ years in retirement. She had lots of time to write letters. This one came after her last film, which was not a success, and it expresses the depression and sorrow that plagued her entire life. “I am afraid for myself. Soon I really won't have the right to live the way I am mishandling my life.” $18,000.
6. Casino Royale by Ian Fleming. A 1953 first edition of Ian Fleming's first James Bond book. This may sound surprising to the uninitiated, but this is a good price for the first Bond book. They can go for much more than... $19,600.
5. The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. Almost $20,000 for a facsimile? In this case, yes. This is the spectacular, 50 copy limited deluxe edition facsimile of the 15th century illuminated manuscript New Ellesmere Chaucer in the Huntington Library. $19,752.
3 (tie). The Writings of Mark Twain. Twenty-five volumes published 1899-1907, letter B of 12 lettered copies, vol. 1 signed “S. L. Clemens.” For those keeping score, the volumes in Twain's anthology went for $1,000 each vs. $615 for James. Score one for Twain. $25,000.
3. The Maltese Falcon, by Dashiell Hammett. A 1930 first edition in the original dust jacket. Even Sam Spade would have a hard time finding one of these. $25,000.
2. Harry Potter Series, Deluxe Set by J.K. Rowling. Seven volumes, published by Bloomsbury, all signed by Rowling and artist Cliff Wright. At over $5,500 per volume, Rowling leaves Twain in the dust. $38,560.
1. The Complete Works of Abraham Lincoln. The 1905 Presidential edition, 12 volumes limited to 50 copies. At $3,333 per volume, not even honest Abe can match Harry Potter. That is wizardry. $40,000
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
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.
