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

  • SD Scandinavian Art & Rare Book Auctions
    The Odfjell Collection
    Polar – History – Ornithology – Colour Plate Books
    Ending December 4th
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: ROALD AMUNDSEN: «Sydpolen» [ The South Pole] 1912. First edition in jackets and publisher's slip case.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: AMUNDSEN & NANSEN: «Fram over Polhavet» [Farthest North] 1897. AMUNDSEN's COPY!
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: ERNEST SHACKLETON [ed.]: «Aurora Australis» 1908. First edition. The NORWAY COPY.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: ERNEST SHACKLETON: «The heart of the Antarctic» + SUPPLEMENT «The Antarctic Book», 1909.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: SHACKLETON, BERNACCHI, CHERRY-GARRARD [ed.]: «The South Polar Times» I-III, 1902-1911.
    SD Scandinavian Art & Rare Book Auctions
    The Odfjell Collection
    Polar – History – Ornithology – Colour Plate Books
    Ending December 4th
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: [WILLEM BARENTSZ & HENRY HUDSON] - SAEGHMAN: «Verhael van de vier eerste schip-vaerden […]», 1663.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: TERRA NOVA EXPEDITION | LIEUTENANT HENRY ROBERTSON BOWERS: «At the South Pole.», Gelatin Silver Print. [10¾ x 15in. (27.2 x 38.1cm.) ].
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: ELEAZAR ALBIN: «A natural History of Birds.» + «A Supplement», 1738-40. Wonderful coloured plates.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: PAUL GAIMARD: «Voyage de la Commision scientific du Nord, en Scandinavie, […]», c. 1842-46. ONLY HAND COLOURED COPY KNOWN WITH TWO ORIGINAL PAINTINGS BY BIARD.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: JAMES JOYCE: «Ulysses», 1922. FIRST EDITION IN ORIGINAL WRAPPERS.
  • Sotheby’s
    Book Week
    December 9-17, 2025
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society, Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 1997, first edition, hardback issue, inscribed by the author pre-publication. £100,000 to £150,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Autograph sketchleaf including a probable draft for the E flat Piano Quartet, K.493, 1786. £150,000 to £200,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Hooke, Robert. Micrographia: or some Physiological Descriptions of Minute Bodies made by Magnifying Glasses. London: James Allestry for the Royal Society, 1667. $12,000 to $15,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Chappuzeau, Samuel. The history of jewels, first edition in English. London: T.N. for Hobart Kemp, 1671. $12,000 to $18,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Sowerby, James. Exotic Mineralogy, containing his most realistic mineral depictions, London: Benjamin Meredith, 1811, Arding and Merrett, 1817. $5,000 to $7,000.
  • Rare Book Hub is now mobile-friendly!
  • Swann
    Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books
    December 9, 2025
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 156: Cornelis de Jode, Americae pars Borealis, double-page engraved map of North America, Antwerp, 1593.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 206: John and Alexander Walker, Map of the United States, London and Liverpool, 1827.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 223: Abraham Ortelius, Typus Orbis Terrarum, hand-colored double-page engraved world map, Antwerp, 1575.
    Swann
    Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books
    December 9, 2025
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 233: Aaron Arrowsmith, Chart of the World, oversize engraved map on 8 sheets, London, 1790 (circa 1800).
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 239: Fielding Lucas, A General Atlas, 81 engraved maps and diagrams, Baltimore, 1823.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 240: Anthony Finley, A New American Atlas, 15 maps engraved by james hamilton young on 14 double-page sheets, Philadelphia, 1826.
    Swann
    Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books
    December 9, 2025
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 263: John Bachmann, Panorama of the Seat of War, portfolio of 4 double-page chromolithographed panoramic maps, New York, 1861.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 265: Sebastian Münster, Cosmographei, Basel: Sebastian Henricpetri, 1558.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 271: Abraham Ortelius, Epitome Theatri Orteliani, Antwerp: Johann Baptist Vrients, 1601.
    Swann
    Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books
    December 9, 2025
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 283: Joris van Spilbergen, Speculum Orientalis Occidentalisque Indiae, Leiden: Nicolaus van Geelkercken for Jodocus Hondius, 1619.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 285: Levinus Hulsius, Achtzehender Theil der Newen Welt, 14 engraved folding maps, Frankfurt: Johann Frederick Weiss, 1623.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 341: John James Audubon, Carolina Parrot, Plate 26, London, 1827.

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