During the last month of 2005 we added interesting historical source material to the AED, the Americana Exchange Database, which now contains 1.293 million records. In some cases members requested specific material and in other cases our on-going research projects are facilitated by elaborating older source records. We are currently holding more than four million records which we are evaluating for addition to the AED.
Of items recently added three are catalogues issued by important dealers: John Jenkins, Thomas Madigan and Leekley Rare & Scholarly Books. All made important contributions to the field and we include their work both as a service to researchers and to honor their contributions. Two other sources are bibliographies issued by Glen Dawson of Dawson Books as part of the Early California Travel Series.
Leekley Catalogue 100: A Flourish for Wright Howes. This is a catalogue of 369 items issued in 1971 by Leekley Rare & Scholarly Books of Winthrop Harbor, Illinois which includes a tribute to Wright Howes. [Leekley-100]
In 1951 Glen Dawson issued Baja California 1533 - 1950. This is a bibliography of 60 titles on the area. It is No. 4 in the Early California Travel Series. [DawsonECTS-4]
In 1953 Mr. Dawson published "The Books of the Colorado River & the Grand Canyon." This is a selective bibliography by Francis P. Farquhar. It covers 125 titles. It is No. 12 in the Early California Travel Series. [DawsonECTS-12]
In 1929 Thomas F. Madigan of New York issued "A Catalogue of Lincolniana," an extensive collection of well-described Lincoln and Lincoln-related materials that were expensive then and today are exceptionally valuable. There are 211 lots. [Madigan-29]
American Celebration by John H. Jenkins. This catalogue was issued in 1976 to mark the American bicentennial. There are 617 lots, all well described, many exceptionally rare. [Jenkins JJ100]
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.
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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.