Rare Book Monthly

Articles - November - 2022 Issue

Old World Auctions: Maps and More at Auction

Old World:  always busy!

Old World: always busy!

RICHMOND, Va. (October 27, 2022) – Henry Briggs’ first English map to show California as an island and the earliest collectible map of Eastern North Carolina and Virginia by John White/Theodor De Bry are among the more than 750 items from consigners all over the world that will be featured in Old World Auctions’ November online auction. The auction opens November 2 at 8 a.m. ET and closes November 16 at 10 p.m. ET.

 

While the majority of the items are rare and historic maps, historic documents, rare books and illuminated manuscripts also will be for sale in the auction.

 

One of the highlights is a circa 1625 edition of “The North Part of America Conteyning Newfoundland, New England, Virginia, Florida, New Spaine, and Nova Francia” by Briggs, estimated at $16,000-$19,000. This is the first English map, and very likely the very first map overall, to show California as an island that features a flat northern coastline.

 

The earliest collectible map of Eastern North Carolina and Virginia also will be a part of the November auction. Published circa 1590, “Americae Pars, nunc Virginia” by White/De Bry is a remarkable map of eastern North Carolina and a portion of Virginia and is one of the most significant milestones in the cartographic history of North America. It is the most accurate 16th century map of any portion of North America and is the earliest collectible map of the region. It is the first to show and name the Chesapeake Bay (Chesepiooc Sinus), and the second map of Roanoke. It is estimated at $15,000-$18,000.

 

Other items of note include:

  • Magnificent Carte-a-Figures World Map with Rare Blank Verso: “Nova Totius Terrarum Orbis Geographica ac Hydrographica Tabula” by Blaeu (1635). Estimate $12,000-$15,000.
  • Complete Elephant Folio Atlas in Contemporary Color with 112 Maps: “Atlas Universel” by Robert de Vaugondy/Delamarche (1788). Estimate $9,000-$11,000.
  • Gorgeous Chart of the Mid-Atlantic & New England: “Pas Caerte van Nieu Nederlandt en de Engelsche Virginies” by Goos (1666). Estimate $7,000-$8,500.
  • Rare Example of Limited Edition Serio-Comic Map Depicting Outset of World War II: “L'Europe en Sept 1939” by Vlaanderen (1939). Estimate $7,500-$8,500.
  • Complete First Edition of Tanner’s Universal Atlas: “A New Universal Atlas” by Tanner (1836). Estimate $7,000-$8,500.
  • Superb Gradual with Manuscript and Printed Music: “Graduale Iuxta Morem Sacrosancte Ecclesie Romane” by Liechtenstein (1551). Estimate $6,000-$7,500.
  • Rare Chart of Iceland and the Mythical Island of Frisland: “Carta Particolare dell’ Isole di Islandia e Frislandia” by Dudley (1661). Estimate $3,750-$4,500.
  • Very Rare First Edition, First State of Fred W. Rose’s Iconic “Octopus” Map: “Serio-Comic War Map for the Year 1877” by Fred W. Rose (1877). Estimate $3,500-$4,250.

 

Old World Auctions features five auctions each year. Its September event sold nearly 80% of the auction lots totaling more than $343,000. Those interested in bidding in the auction can create an online account at www.oldworldauctions.com/register. Previously registered customers can bid or view auction items by logging into their account at www.oldworldauctions.com/login.

 

For more information on Old World Auctions, visit www.oldworldauctions.com

  

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About Old World Auctions

Established in 1977, Old World Auctions is the leading specialist in antique maps. The company has researched and listed over 100,000 maps and atlases in its auctions and offers its research free to the public through its online archive. Old World Auctions offers a 100% money-back guarantee on the authenticity and condition report of every item sold and maintains an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. The company is owned and operated in Richmond, Virginia, by University of Virginia alumni Eliane and Jon Dotson. Discover more at www.oldworldauctions.com.

 

Rare Book Monthly

  • Il Ponte, Feb. 25-26: HAMILTON, Sir William (1730-1803) - Campi Phlegraei. Napoli: [Pietro Fabris], 1776, 1779. € 30.000 - 50.000
    Il Ponte, Feb. 25-26: [MORTIER] - BLAEU, Joannes (1596-1673) - Het Nieuw Stede Boek van Italie. Amsterdam: Pieter Mortier, 1704-1705. € 15.000 - 25.000
    Il Ponte, Feb. 25-26: TULLIO D'ALBISOLA (1899-1971) - Bruno MUNARI (1907-1998) - L'Anguria lirica (lungo poema passionale). Roma e Savona: Edizioni Futuriste di Poesia, senza data [ma 1933?]. € 20.000 - 30.000
    Il Ponte, Feb. 25-26: IL MANOSCRITTO RITROVATO DI IPPOLITA MARIA SFORZA. TITO LIVIO - Ab Urbe Condita. Prima Decade. Manoscritto miniato su pergamena, metà XV secolo. € 280.000 - 350.000
  • Sotheby's Fine Books & Manuscripts
    Available for Immediate Purchase
    Sotheby’s: Balthus, Emily Brontë. Wuthering Heights, New York: The Limited Editions Club, 1993. 6,600 USD.
    Sotheby’s: Charles Dickens. Complete Works, Philadelphia & London: J.B. Lippincott Company & Chapman & Hall, LD, 1850. Limited Edition set of 30 volumes. 7,500 USD.
    Sotheby’s: John Lennon, Yoko Ono. Handwritten Letter from John Lennon and Yoko Ono to their Chauffer. 1971. 32,500 USD.
    Sotheby’s: Winston Churchill. First edition of War Speeches, Cassell and Company, Ltd., 1941. Set of 7 volumes. 5,500 USD.
    Sotheby’s: Andy Warhol, Julia Warhola. Holy Cats First Edition, Signed by Andy Warhol. 1954. 30,000 USD.
  • Forum Auctions
    Online: India
    Ends 19th February 2026
    Forum, Feb. 19: Lot 40
    Ramasvami (Kavali Venkata). A Digest of the Different Castes of India, 83 charming hand-coloured lithographed plates, Madras, 1837. £5,000-7,000
    Forum, Feb. 19: Lot 50
    Watson (John Forbes) & John William Kaye. The People of India: A Series of Photographic Illustrations...of the Races and Tribes of Hindustan, 8 vol., 480 mounted albumen prints, 1868-75. £4,000-6,000
    Forum, Feb. 19: Lot 53
    Afghanistan.- Elphinstone (Hon. Mountstuart). An Account of the Kingdom of Caubul, first edition, hand-coloured aquatint plates, a fine copy, 1815. £2,000-3,000
    Forum, Feb. 19: Lot 57
    [Album and Treatise on Hinduism], manuscript treatise on Hinduism in French, 31 watercolours of Hindu deities, Pondicherry, 1865. £3,000-4,000
    Forum, Feb. 19: Lot 62 Allan (Capt. Alexander). Views in the Mysore Country, [1794]. £2,000-3,000
    Forum Auctions
    Online: India
    Ends 19th February 2026
    Forum, Feb. 19: Lot 76
    Bird (James). Historical Researches on the Origin and Principles of the Bauddha and Jaina Religions..., first edition, lithographed plates, Bombay, American Mission Press, 1847. £3,000-4,000
    Forum, Feb. 19: Lot 100
    Ceylon.- Daniell (Samuel). A Picturesque Illustration of the scenery, animals, and native inhabitants, of the Island of Ceylon: in twelve plates, 1808. £5,000-7,000
    Forum, Feb. 19: Lot 123
    D'Oyly (Charles). Behar Amateur Lithographic Scrap Book, lithographed throughout with title and 55 plates mounted on 43 paper leaves, [Patna], [1828]. £3,000-5,000
    Forum, Feb. 19: Lot 139
    Gandhi (known as Mahatma Gandhi,) Fine Autograph Letter signed to Jawaharlal Nehru, Sevagram, Wardha, 1942, emphasising the importance of education in rural communities. £10,000-15,000
    Forum Auctions
    Online: India
    Ends 19th February 2026
    Forum, Feb. 19: Lot 140
    Gantz (John). Indian Microcosm, first edition, Madras, John Gantz & Son, 1827. £10,000-15,000
    Forum, Feb. 19: Lot 146
    Grierson (Sir George Abraham). Linguistic Survey of India, 11 vol. in 20, folding maps, original cloth, Calcutta, Superintendent Government Printing, 1903-28. £2,000-3,000
    Forum, Feb. 19: Lot 195
    Madras.- Fort St. George Gazette (The), No.276-331, pp.493-936 and Index to all of 1834 at end, modern half calf, Madras, 2nd July - 31st December 1834. £2,000-3,000
    Forum, Feb. 19: Lot 205
    Marshall (Sir John) and Alfred Foucher. The Monuments of Sanchi, 3 vol., first edition, 141 plates, most photogravure, [Calcutta], [1940]. £3,000-4,000

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