Rare Book Monthly

Articles - January - 2020 Issue

AbeBooks' Top 12 Prices for 2019

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Ansel Adams photograph, from the John Muir Trail.

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

Rare Book Monthly

  • <b><center>Swann Auction Galleries<br>Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books:<br>At Auction June 22, 2023</b>
    <b>Swann June 22:</b> George Mivart, <i>A Monograph of the Lories, or Brush-Tongued Parrots, Composing the Family Loriidae,</i> London, 1896. $5,000 to $7,000.
    <b>Swann June 22:</b> Johann Gabriel Doppelmayr, <i>Atlas Coelestis in Quo Mundus Spectabilis et in Eodem Stellarum Omnium Phoenomena Notabilia, Homann Heirs,</i> 1742. $8,000 to $12,000.
    <b>Swann June 22:</b> John Fisk Allen; & William Sharp, <i>Victoria Regia; or the Great Water Lily of America,</i> Boston, 1854. $15,000 to $20,000.
    <b>Swann June 22:</b> Schenk & Valk, <i>America Septentrionalis,</i> Amsterdam, circa 1694. $2,000 to $3,000.
    <b>Swann June 22:</b> Robert Burton, <i>The English Empire in America…Illustrated with Maps & Pictures,</i> London, 1685. $2,000 to $3,000.
  • <center><b>Forum Auctions<br>A fourth selection of 16th and 17th Century English Books from the Fox Pointe Manor Library<br>15th June 2023</b>
    <b>Forum, June 15:</b> Hobbes (Thomas). <i>Leviathan, or The Matter, Forme & Power of a Common-Wealth,</i> first edition, first issue, 1651. £10,000 to £15,000.
    <b>Forum, June 15:</b> [Burton (Robert)] "Democritus Junior". <i>The Anatomy of Melancholy,</i> first edition, Oxford, Printed by John Lichfield and James Short, 1621. £8,000 to £12,000.
    <b>Forum, June 15:</b> Fletcher (Giles). <i>Of the Russe Common Wealth,</i> first edition, Printed by T[homas] D[awson] for Thomas Charde, 1591. £7,000 to £10,000.
    <center><b>Forum Auctions<br>A fourth selection of 16th and 17th Century English Books from the Fox Pointe Manor Library<br>15th June 2023</b>
    <b>Forum, June 15:</b> Shakespeare source book.- Fraunce (Abraham). <i>The Lawiers Logike, exemplifying the praecepts of Logike by the practise of the common Lawe,</i> first edition, 1588. £4,000 to £6,000.
    <b>Forum, June 15:</b> Fireworks.- Babington (John.) <i>Pyrotechnia or, A discourse of artificiall fire-works…,</i> 2 parts in 1 vol., first edition, Thomas Harper for Ralph Mab, 1635. £4,000 to £6,000.
    <b>Forum, June 15:</b> Gardening.- [Bonnefons (Nicolas de)]. <i>The French Gardiner instructing how to cultivate all sorts of Fruit-Trees and Herbs for the Garden, translated by John Evelyn,</i> third edition, 1675. £3,500 to £4,500.
    <center><b>Forum Auctions<br>A fourth selection of 16th and 17th Century English Books from the Fox Pointe Manor Library<br>15th June 2023</b>
    <b>Forum, June 15:</b> Witchcraft.- F. (H.) <i>A true and exact Relation Of the severall Informations, Examinations, and Confessions of the late Witches…,</i> first edition, 1645. £3,000 to £4,000.
    <b>Forum, June 15:</b> Science.- Boyle (Robert). <i>The Origine of Formes and Qualities (According to the Corpuscular Philosophy),</i> first edition, Oxford, H. Hall for Ric: Davis, 1666. £3,000 to £4,000.
    <b>Forum, June 15:</b> Massinger (Philip). <i>The Unnaturall Combat. A Tragedie,</i> first edition, Printed by E.G. for John Waterson, 1639. £2,000 to £3,000.
    <center><b>Forum Auctions<br>A fourth selection of 16th and 17th Century English Books from the Fox Pointe Manor Library<br>15th June 2023</b>
    <b>Forum, June 15:</b> Plastic Surgery.- Read (Alexander). <i>Chirurgorum Comes: or the Whole Practice of Chirurgery,</i> first edition, Printed by Edw. Jones, for Christopher Wilkinson, 1687. £2,000 to £3,000.
    <b>Forum, June 15:</b> Hall (Edward). <i>The Union of the two noble and illustre famelies of Lancaster & Yorke…,</i> [by Richard Grafton], 1550. £2,200 to £2,500.
    <b>Forum, June 15:</b> Cosmetics.- Jeamson (Thomas). <i>Artificiall Embellishments. Or Arts Best Directions How to Preserve Beauty or Procure it,</i> first edition, Oxford, Printed by William Hall, 1665. £1,000 to £1,500.
  • <b><center>Sotheby's<br>The Joanne Woodward & Paul Newman Collection<br>26 May - 12 June</b>
    <b>Sotheby’s, May 26 – Jun. 12:</b> "Cool Hand Luke" | Paul Newman Academy Award® Nomination Plaque. USD$2500 - $3500
    <b>Sotheby’s, May 26 – Jun. 12:</b> "Hud" | Bound presentation script incorporating photographic stills. USD$1000 - $1500
    <b>Sotheby’s, May 26 – Jun. 12:</b> "The Long, Hot Summer" | Movie Poster. USD$1000 - $1500
    <b>Sotheby’s, May 26 – Jun. 12:</b> Joseph Heller | "Catch-22," inscribed to Woodward & Newman by author. USD$500 - $800
    <b><center>Sotheby's<br>The Joanne Woodward & Paul Newman Collection<br>26 May - 12 June</b>
    <b>Sotheby’s, May 26 – Jun. 12:</b> George H. W. Bush | Typed Letter Signed, Issuing a "Pardon" to Paul Newman. USD$1500 - $2000
    <b>Sotheby’s, May 26 – Jun. 12:</b> William Jefferson Clinton | Inscribed Color Photograph. USD$1000 - $1500
    <b>Sotheby’s, May 26 – Jun. 12:</b> Ken Kesey | Typed letter to “Paulnewman,” asking for further compensation for "Sometimes a Great Notion". USD$1000 - $1500
    <b>Sotheby’s, May 26 – Jun. 12:</b> "They Might Be Giants" | Costume sketches by Edith Head. USD$1000 - $2000

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