Rare Book Monthly

Articles - April - 2024 Issue

Eric Caren: A Consignor who is making his case: Potter and Potter April 18

Eric C. Caren is writing about his 9th Single Owner Auction of "How History Unfolds on Paper" at Potter & Potter, April 18th.  Highlights include George Washington's Commission to be Commander in Chief, 1775!  as well as a splendid new art form "Reincarnated Art": an enormous paper collage portrait of Abraham Lincoln (54" x 36"), made solely from damaged and period originals, from Caren's Collection by Jeffrey Adam Meszaros.

 

There are 561 lots of Printed, Manuscript, and Photographic originals now online at Potter & Potter and ready for bidding, which ends Live on April 18.  The auction starts at 10:00 am CDT in Chicago.  Here’s a link to the upcoming sale and you’ll find another at the end of this pitch. https://auctions.potterauctions.com/Catalog.aspx?auctionid=1180

 

There is literally something for every collector and for every budget...all lots are unreserved, and Eric Caren knows that this will mean lots of bargains: "This hobby has been very good to me for 60 of my 64 years, and I am happy to continually share part of my 1 million item archive with others," says Caren.  It is fitting that in this Presidential election year there are well over 60 lots ranging from Washington to Watergate.

 

Here are just some of the highlights and fun items without regard to price according to Eric:

 

Lot 10 is a Laws of New York book owned and signed by Alexander Hamilton, and printed in 1762. Estimated at $8,000/$12,000

 

Lot 16 is a unique 1876 newspaper that reports on the front page that both R.B. Hayes and Samuel J. Tilden, have somehow, both been elected President! Estimated at $400/$800

 

Lot 22 is a Richmond imprint from 1827, with the only known contemporary reference to the illegitimate children that Thomas Jefferson had with his Slave, Sally Hemings Estimated at $1,500/$2,500

 

Lot 23 Only extant first book printing of Jefferson's Message on Completion of Lewis and Clark Expedition Estimated at $1,500/$2,500

 

Lot 29 First Printing of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address Estimated at $4,000/$6,000

 

Lot 37 Newly discovered first printing of "With Malice towards None..." Lincoln's fabled 2nd Inaugural Address Estimated at $4,000/$8,000

 

Lot 37A The exquisite Lincoln Collage by Jeffrey Adam Meszaros using damaged originals from The Caren Archive Estimated at $10,000/$15,000

 

Lot 44 President Taft ALS reacting to Woman Suffrage  Amendment.  Estimated at $800/$1,200

 

Lot 46 George Washington's Commission to be Commander in Chief, 1775 Estimated at $150,000/$250,000

 

Lot 58 Black Bordered broadside on Death of George Washington Estimated at $2,000/$3,000

 

Lot 95 Important Custer's Last Stand Manuscript Estimated at $2,000/$4,000

 

Lot 100 One of the first announcements that United Colonies had declared Independence on July 2, 1776 Estimated at $4,000/$6,000

 

Lot 101 A large fragment of the Fall of Richmond Confederate Flag Estimated at $1,000/$2,000

 

Lot 102 The Confederate Telegram that Started The Civil War Est $3,000/$5,000

 

Lot 107 A Signer of The Declaration of Independence and a Patriot Virginia Continental Black Soldier DS Estimated at $6,000/$9,000

 

Lot 146 The pen that signed the treaty ending The Vietnam War Estimated at $10,000/$15,000

 

Lot 161 A large collection of photographs and manuscripts from Alaska Gold Rush forward Estimated at $2,000/$4,000

 

Lot 213 Fake News in 1836, that Davy Crockett had survived at the Alamo.  Estimated at $300/$500

 

Lot 214...First Davy Crockett's Almanac, 1834.  Estimated at $800/$1,200

 

Lot 220 Woodblock...original block of wood used to engrave 2 18th century American Women. Estimated at $800/$1,200

 

Lot 223 Edison Labs own Patent for "The Electric Light".  Estimated at $2,000/$3,000

 

Lot 225 Edison Labs Archive on the start of Electric Lighting.  Estimated at $7,000/$10,000

 

Lot 238 Original photo of armed Hatfield Brothers.  Estimated at $600/$800

 

Lots 245-249 Books owned and/ or signed by First Chief Justice John Jay.  Estimates vary

 

Lot 258 Invitation to Dine with General Lafayette.  Estimated at $300/$500

 

Lot 263 Newly Discovered earliest announcement for Levi's Blue Jeans, 1874.  Estimated at $800/$1,200

 

Lot 274 Birth of American Science Fiction and Intentional Fake News!  The famous Moon Hoax, first printing.  Estimated at $500/$700

 

Lot 275 Personal Diary of Daniel Nash Morgan, Treasurer of USA for important 1893 Silver Panic year.  Estimated at $500/$1,000

 

Lot 276 Extremely Historical Mormon Manuscript archive of 23 lengthy and detailed letters from Nauvoo to Salt Lake City,1843-1859.  Estimated at $10,000/$20,000

 

Lot 292 Famous Boudoir Cabinet photo of Geronimo, 1884.  Estimated at $800/$1,200

 

Lot 315 Bonnie and Clyde birthday calendar pages inscribed by Clyde.  Estimated at $600/$800

 

Lot 318 2 letters related to James-Younger Gang Northfield Robbery, 1876.  Estimated at $1,500/$3,000

 

Lot 326 Prohibitively Rare Newsbook with 2 sensational accounts of the killing of Blackbeard The Pirate, published by Daniel Defoe 1719.  Estimated at $3,000/$5,000

 

Lot 327 Uncut Sheet of Hand Colored Playing Cards including a Native American, 1660. Estimated at $800/$1,200

 

Lot 342 Governor of South Carolina, Pickens 1861.  ALS on Secession.  Estimated at  $2,000/$4,000

 

Lot 355 Journals of Continental Congress in Weekly Parts, 1779.  Estimated at $4,000/$6,000

 

Lot 358 James Mann's own copies of Mann Act related White Slave Trade Documents, 1909-1910.  Estimated at $3,000/$5,000

 

Lot 368 One of the Earliest Accounts of African American Baseball,1871.  Estimated at $400/$600

 

Lot 378 Earliest printing of Lincoln's Emancipation save for the common and small General order.  Estimated at $2,000/$4,000

 

Lot 380 William Bradford printed 1712 Acts of New York related to famed Slave Rebellion in NYC.  Estimated at $4,000/$8,000

 

Lot 391 British 1709 Broadside on The Slave Trade.  Estimated at $700/$900

 

Lot 393 South Carolina Colonial Imprint on Laws passed in 1747, including much on Slavery. Estimated at $1,500/$2,500

 

Lot 407 Baseball  ticket to watch World Series ca. 1920's.  Estimated at $100/$200

 

Lot 413 Fabulous Babe Ruth Autographed Photograph of him swinging his bat.  Estimated at $1,500/$2,500

 

Lot 420 Local Boston Newspaper reports purchase of Babe Ruth from Minor League Orioles.  Estimated at $400/$600

 

Lot 438 Inventor of Computer/ENIAC annotated speech on computers, 1967. Estimated at $1,500/$2,500

 

Lot 447 TV Week magazine with front page photo of Donald Trump with Martha Stewart, 2005.  Estimated at $100/$200

 

Lot 450 Oversized famous photo of Marilyn Monroe Nude, used for famous calendars and Playboy Magazine.  Estimated at $300/$600

 

Lot 462 Marijuana poster "Reefer Madness" 1936.  Estimated at $400/$600

 

Lot 474 Breathtaking Sales Portfolio for Cadillac automobiles, pocket of colored plates,1932.  Estimated at $500/$1,000

 

Lots 483-485 Awards given to Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin for Walking on The Moon estimates vary

 

Lot 495 Birth of NASA document 1958.  Estimated at $400/$800

 

Lot 503 Incredible Mark Twain ALS relating to his early years on a riverboat.  Estimated at $2,000/$4,000

 

Lot 512 Countess Madame du Barry's death sentence, signed 1793.  Estimated at $4,000/$6,000

 

Lot 549 Huge Vellum Scroll of Lord High Admiral Russell's financial naval accounts, 1693.  Estimated at $600-$900

 

Here’s the link again to reach Potter & Potter:  https://auctions.potterauctions.com/Catalog.aspx?auctionid=1180

Rare Book Monthly

  • Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("Martinus Luther") to His Friend the Theologian Gerhard Wiskamp ("Gerardo Xantho Lampadario"). $100,000 - $150,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: An Exceptionally Fine Copy of Austenís Emma: A Novel in Three Volumes. $40,000 - $60,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Presentation Copy of Ernest Hemmingwayís A Farewell to Arms for Edward Titus of the Black Mankin Press. $30,000 - $50,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Manuscript Signed Integrally for "The Songs of Pooh," by Alan Alexander. $30,000 - $50,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Manuscript of "Three Fragments from Gˆtterd‰mmerung" by Richard Wagner. $30,000 - $50,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Original Preliminary Artwork, for the First Edition of Snow Crash. $20,000 - $30,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("T.R. Malthus") to Economist Nassau Senior on Wealth, Labor and Adam Smith. $20,000 - $30,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides Finely Bound by Michael Wilcox. $20,000 - $30,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: First Edition of Lewis and Clark: Travels to the Source of the Missouri River and Across the American Continent to the Pacific Ocean. $8,000 - $12,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Original Artwork for the First Edition of Neal Stephenson's Groundbreaking Novel Snow Crash. $100,000 - $150,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: A Complete Set Signed Deluxe Editions of King's The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King. $8,000 - $12,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("John Adams") to James Le Ray de Chaumont During the Crucial Years of the Revolutionary War. $8,000 - $12,000.
  • Sotheby’s
    Book Week
    December 9-17, 2025
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Francesco Colonna. Hypnerotomachie, Paris, 1546, Parisian calf by Wotton Binder C for Marcus Fugger. €200,000 to €300,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Nausea. De principiis dialectices Gorgias, and other works, Venice, 1523, morocco gilt for Cardinal Campeggio. €3,000 to €4,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Billon. Le fort inexpugnable de l'honneur, Paris, 1555, Parisian calf gilt for Peter Ernst, Graf von Mansfeld. €120,000 to €180,000.
    Sotheby’s
    Book Week
    December 9-17, 2025
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: Salinger, J.D. The Graham Family archive, including autographed letters, an inscribed Catcher, a rare studio photograph of the author, and more. $120,000 to $180,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of Sense and Sensibility, the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: Massachusetts General Court. A powerful precursor to the Declaration of Independence: "every Act of Government … without the Consent of the People, is … Tyranny." $40,000 to $60,000.
  • Heritage Auctions
    Rare Books Signature Auction
    December 15, 2025
    Heritage, Dec. 15: John Donne. Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death. London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.
    Heritage, Dec. 15: Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
    Heritage, Dec. 15: F. Scott Fitzgerald. Tender is the Night. A Romance.
    Heritage, Dec. 15: Bram Stoker. Dracula. Westminster: Archibald Constable & Co., 1897.
    Heritage, Dec. 15: Jerry Thomas. How to Mix Drinks, or the Bon-Vivant's Companion, Containing Clear and Reliable Directions for Mixing All the Beverages Used in the United States…
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