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
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.
![<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.")
