Part I of the Rare and Historic Book Collection of the Springfield Museums of Springfield,
Massachusetts is up for auction on May 27th at Knotty Pine Auction Service in New Hampshire. Much of
the material is marked ex-lib and condition is for many lots an issue. Nevertheless there are unusual
rarities that warrant consideration. This is the first of a series of sales to disperse substantial
holdings.
The material was acquired in the 19th century and was for many years part of museum resources. They are being sold to raise funds for future museum projects and Knotty Pine Auction
Service of West Swanzey, New Hampshire is handling the sales.
Because of the complex, sophisticated and in many cases rare nature of the material full electronic
catalogues are being prepared. The first sale, containing 310 lots, has been documented and researched
by Kathleen Pew who has worked on this project for several months.
Among the interesting items are --
[000026] Braund, J.. Illustrations of Furniture, Candelabra, Musical Instruments From the Great
Exhibitions of London & Paris with Examples of Similar Articles From Royal Palaces and Noble
Mansions. London: J. Braund, 1858. First Edition. Elephant Folio - over 15" - 23" tall. Ex-Library.
Very Good condition. 1p. l., 3, 1 subscribers (Prince Albert listed first), 48 engraved plates. Bound
in 3/4 buckram and marbled paper, leather paste-on spine label with gilt. Covers show edge wear.
BINDING AND HINGES TIGHT. EST: $1600.00 - $2,000.00
[000044] Garnier, Edouard [with historical Introduction by]. The Soft Porcelain of Sevres - 10 Parts
in 1. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1891. Elephant Folio - over 15" - 23" tall. Ex-Library.
Very Good condition. LIMITED TO 283 EDITIONS, this being #21. 32pp text, 50 chromolithographic plates
enhanced with gold, & captioned tissue guards. Plus 250 water-colour subjects after the originals. Ten
parts in one, unbound in cloth portfolio with ties. EST: $2500.00 - $3,000.00
[000056] Bull-Us, Hector [pseudonym for Paulding, James Kirke]. The Diverting History of John Bull
and Brother Jonathan. New York: Inskeep & Bradford, 1812. First Edition. 24mo - over 5" - 5 3/4"
tall. Ex-Library. Good condition. 135pp bound in 3/4 leather and marbled paper. Cover show wear, front
cover detached, light foxing. SCARCE. EST: $400.00 - $600.00
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…
Rare Book Hub is now mobile-friendly!
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. 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.
![<b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> John Donne. <i>Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death.</i> London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/8caddaea-4c1f-47a7-9455-62f53af36e3f.jpg "<b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> John Donne. <i>Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death.</i> London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.")
![<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 11:</b> Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] <i>Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society,</i> Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/00d5fd41-2542-4a80-b119-4886d4b9925f.png "<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 11:</b> Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] <i>Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society,</i> Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.")
