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

  • 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

Article Search

Archived Articles