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.
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.
Sotheby’s Shelf Life: Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper from the Library of Stanley J. Seeger and Christopher Cone 25 June – July 7
Sotheby’s, July 7: Ludwig van Beethoven. Autograph sketches for the overture "Die Weihe des Hauses", op.124, [1822], UNPUBLISHED. £150,000 to £200,000.
Sotheby’s, July 7: Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice, 1813, first edition, 3 volumes, contemporary half calf. £50,000 to £70,000.
Sotheby’s, July 7: Walt Whitman. Leaves of Grass, Brooklyn, 1855, first edition, first issue, original green cloth, the Doheny copy. £50,000 to £70,000.
Sotheby’s, July 7: Binding—Sangorski & Sutcliffe—Omar Khayyam. Rubaiyat, London, 1872, third edition, in a magnificent jewelled Peacock binding. £15,000 to £20,000.
Sotheby’s, July 7: George Eliot. Middlemarch, Edinburgh and London, 1871, first edition in the original parts. £20,000 to £30,000.
Forum Auctions The Private Library: Fine Printing & Private Press books, the collection of the late David Chambers July 9, 2026
Forum, July 9: Hassall (Joan) A large collection of over 300 original woodblocks of engravings for various books, v.d., with Hassall's engraver's glass water-globe (Qty) - Est. £10,000-15,000
Forum, July 9: Eragny Press.- [Bradley (Katherine Harris) & Edith Emma Cooper], "Michael Field." Whym Chow, Flame of Love, one of only 27 copies, inscribed by Bradley, the rarest book from the press, 1914. - Est. £3,000-4,000
Forum, July 9: [Moore (Thomas Sturge)] [Wood Engravings], 71 wood-engravings printed by David Chambers from the original blocks, the only set on Japanese Hosho paper, from an edition of 5 sets, [1970]. - Est. £3,000-4,000
Forum Auctions The Private Library: Fine Printing & Private Press books, the collection of the late David Chambers July 9, 2026
Forum, July 9: La Fontaine (Jean de) Contes et Nouvelles en vers, 2 vol., engraved plates after Eisen, fine early 19th century blue morocco, gilt, by Bradel l'ainé, Amsterdam [Paris], 1762. - Est. £2,000-3,000
Forum, July 9: Erotica.- Prostitution.- Pretty Women of Paris (The); Their Names and Addresses, Qualities and Faults..., [Paris], privately printed at the Press of the Prefecture de Police, 1883. - Est. £3,000-4,000
Forum, July 9: Vale Press.- Ricketts (Charles) & Lucien Pissarro. De la Typographie et de l'Harmonie de la Page Imprimée…, [one of 216 copies], bound in dark blue morocco tooled in gilt, by Sarah T.Prideaux, 1898. - Est. £1,000-1,500
Forum Auctions The Private Library: Fine Printing & Private Press books, the collection of the late David Chambers July 9, 2026
Forum, July 9: Martin (John) Illustrations of the Bible, complete set of 20 mezzotints, good impressions, rarely found in early states, [c.1831-1835]. - Est. £1,000-1,500
Forum, July 9: Golden Cockerel Press.- Four Gospels of the Lord Jesus Christ (The), one of 500 copies, Mary Gill's copy, Waltham St. Lawrence, 1931 with a signed proof of engraving on japon numbered 10/10 (2) - Est. £5,000-7,000
Forum, July 9: Boccaccio (Giovanni) The Decameron, 3 vol., vol.1 extra-illustrated by John Buckland Wright with c.150 erotic original drawings in pen & ink and pencil, 1886 [extra-illustrated c.1940]. - Est. £10,000-15,000
Forum Auctions The Private Library: Fine Printing & Private Press books, the collection of the late David Chambers July 9, 2026
Forum, July 9: Cox (Morris) Collection of Gogmagog Press Books, 35 vol., rare complete collection of printed books issued by the press, limited editions, most signed by Cox, 1957-83. - Est. £10,000-15,000
Forum, July 9: Wynkyn de Worde.- [Terentius Afer (Publius)] [Comedie...], [Paris, Josse Badius: sold in London by Wynkyn de Worde, & others], [15 July 1504]. - Est. £4,000-6,000
Forum, July 9: Mosley (James) Ornamented Types. Twenty-Three Alphabets from the Foundry of Louis John Pouchée, 2 vol., one of 10 copies for presentation, from an edition of 210, 1992-93. - Est. £1,000-2,000
Forum Auctions The 10th Anniversary Sale Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper July 16, 2026
Forum, July 16: Inundation papyrus. P.Michael 4, the ‘Inundation papyrus’, a geographical account of the Nile near Canopus, in Greek, remains of two columns from a manuscript scroll on papyrus, Egypt, second century CE. £12,000-18,000
Forum, July 16: Book of Hours, use of Sarum, manuscript on vellum, 6 full-page miniatures, with famous Middle English inscriptions, Southern Netherlands for the English market, [c.1430]. £30,000-50,000
Forum, July 16: Qu'ran, Arabic manuscript on burnished, stencilled, and gold-flecked paper, 447ff., Sultanate Gujarat, Ahmadabad, [after 1411 but no later than 1442]. £15,000-20,000
Forum Auctions The 10th Anniversary Sale Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper July 16, 2026
Forum, July 16: Turner (William). A New boke of the natures and properties of all wines that are commonly vsed here in England, rare first edition of the first English book on wine, By William Seres, 1568. £20,000-£30,000
Forum, July 16: Spenser (Edmund). The Faerie Queene. first edition, Printed [by John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, 1590. £30,000-40,000
Forum, July 16: Shakespeare (William). The Comedie of Errors, extracted from the first folio, Isaac Jaggard and Edward Blount, 1623. £15,000-20,000
Forum Auctions The 10th Anniversary Sale Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper July 16, 2026
Forum, July 16: Fleming (Ian). Casino Royale, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author, 1953. £40,000-60,000
Forum, July 16: d'Agoty (Jacques-Fabien Gautier). Anatomie de la Tête, first edition, Paris, chez le Sieur Gautier, 1748. £10,000-15,000
Forum, July 16: Martial Arts.- Lee (Bruce). 'Praying Mantis style' Kung Fu book, containing numerous annotations, diagrams and graphs in Bruce Lee's hand, c. 1960. £50,000-70,000
Forum Auctions The 10th Anniversary Sale Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper July 16, 2026
Forum, July 16: Warre (Capt. Henry James). Sketches in North America and the Oregon Territory, first edition, rare hand-coloured issue, 1848. £30,000-40,000
Forum, July 16: Norie (John William). The Marine Atlas, or Seaman's Complete Pilot for all the principal places in the known world..., 1826. £30,000-50,000
Forum, July 16: Mao Tse-tung.- Kim Il-sung.-[Note book for visitors from China to Korea], signed by Mao and Kim, [Beijing, 1954]. £10,000-15,000
