The EU Ambassadors Book Collection: A Gift from Europe to America on Her 250th Anniversary
- by Michael Stillman
The EU Ambassadors Books (EEAS - European External Action Service – photo).
The United States has received a gift from 27 of its closest friends for the nation's 250th anniversary. Those countries are the members of the European Union, and for the most part they were with us in 1776. For sure, France was. England wasn't, but they aren't in the EU. They are, however, our friends today. Time heals all wounds.
This project is officially known as the EU Ambassadors Book Collection: Words That Unite, Stories That Connect. The gifts are books, each selected by the EU ambassadors. They are English translations of books “that reflect its national spirit or connections to the U.S. The initiative honors shared history while investing in a future shaped by empathy and mutual respect, and it reaffirms the European Union and the United States’ commitment to literacy, cultural exchange, and the power of stories to bring people together. Together, the donated volumes form a collective gift symbolizing friendship and the power of ideas to transcend borders.”
Jovita Neliupšienė, EU Ambassador to the United States, explained, “I have always believed that books are one of the most meaningful forms of diplomacy. Long before we meet one another, we encounter each other through stories — through the characters, histories, humor, and values that shape our societies. This collection invites American readers to discover Europe not through headlines or politics, but through literature. It is both a celebration of America’s 250th anniversary and a tribute to the enduring friendship between Europeans and Americans.”
Some of these books will be very familiar to you. Other probably not. They all undoubtedly represent works that the giving country sees as important. Here is the list.
Austria: “The Marshall Plan - Since 1947. Saving Europe, Rebuilding Austria” (2017) by Günter Bischof & Hans Petschar
Belgium: “Maigret in New York” (1947) by Georges Simenon (Translated by Linda Coverdale)
Bulgaria: “Time Shelter” (2022) by Georgi Gospodinov (Translated by Angela Rodel)
Croatia: “The Goldsmith's Treasure” (1871) by August Šenoa
Cyprus: “American Dreams: The Story of the Cyprus Fulbright Commission” (2024) by Keith E. Peterson
Czech Republic: “Václav Havel: The Power of the Powerless in the 20th Century” (2023) by Martin Vopěnka
Denmark: “The Copenhagen Trilogy” (1971) by Tove Ditlevsen
Estonia: “Silverwhite” (1976) by Lennart Meri (Translated by Adam Cullen)
Finland: “Beasts of the Sea” (2025) by Iida Turpeinen (Translated by David Hackston)
France: “Democracy in America” (1835) by Alexis de Tocqueville (Translated by Arthur Goldhammer)
Germany: “The Long Road West,” Volume I 1789-1933 & Volume II 1933-1990 (2007) by Heinrich August Winkler
Greece: “The Iliad” (approx. 8th century BCE) by Homer (Translated by Peter Green)
Hungary: “Embers” (1942) by Sándor Márai (Translated in Carol Brown Janeway)
Ireland: “Outside History” (1990) by Eavan Boland
Italy: “A Thousand Wonders: A Journey to Discover Italy” (2020) and “A Thousand Wonders in Blue: Discovering Italy by Sea” (2023) by Geronimo Stilton (2023)
Latvia: “Birkerts. Libraries. Light.” Birkerts’ Centenary Edition (2025) by Latvian National Library Support Foundation
Lithuania: “White Shroud” (2018) by Antanas Skema (Translated by Karla Gruodis)
Luxembourg: “Luxembourg-America, 19th, 20th and 21st Centuries” (2015) by Georges Calteux, Paul Dostert, Ferdy Dumon, Jean Esch, Carlo Krieger, Paul Lesch, Sandra Schmit, Guy Thomas, Pauline Weis
Malta: “Diplomat by Destiny” (2025) by George Saliba
Netherlands: “Bells for America: The Cold War, Modernism, and the Netherlands Carillon in Arlington” (2021) by Diederik Oostdijk
Poland: “The Peasant Prince: Thaddeus Kosciuszko and the Age of Revolution” (2009) by Alex Storozynski
Portugal: “Above the Salt” (2023) by Katherine Vaz
Romania: “The Hooligan's Return: A Memoir” (2003) by Norman Manea (Translated by Angela Jianu)
Slovakia: “Sergeant Michael Strank: Mary (Strank) Pero’s Memory Book of Her Brother” (2009) by Bruce Bauer and Carol Bauer
Slovenia: “The Complete Plays” (2012) by Ivan Cankar
Spain: “The Revolt of the Masses” (1937) by José Ortega y Gasset
Sweden: “Swede Hollow” (2019) by Ola Larsmo (Translated by Tiina Nunnally)
European Union: “Memoirs” (1978) by Jean Monnet (Translated by Richard Mayne)
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
Freeman’s, June 30. Thomas Jefferson’s “Birth of the New Nation” letter, carried to Paris with the Treaty of Peace, by a Jewish patriot. $100,000-200,000.
Freeman’s, June 30. “The rockets’ red glare.” A British midshipman’s log recording the bombardment of Fort McHenry. $60,000-80,000.
Freeman’s, June 30. The Critical Promotion of a Naval Hero, Oliver Hazard Perry Commission signed by James Madison, 1812. $40,000-60,000.
Freeman’s, June 30. Born in the USA: First Day of Printing in the United States, July 4, 1776. $15,000-25,000.
Freeman’s, June 30. One of the Earliest Printed Announcements of American Independence, in the Exceedingly Rare Original Wrappers, 1776. $10,000-15,000.
Freeman’s, June 30. "The Two Big Guns of the N.Y. Yanks": A Striking Type 1 Press Photograph of Lou Gehrig's Hands. $8,000-12,000.
Freeman’s, June 30. A Unique Contemporary Manuscript Account of Joseph Smith's Final Words to His Followers, the Day Before his Violent Death. $8,000-12,000.
Freeman’s, June 30. The State of Minnesota Officially Certifies the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution Of the United States. $8,000-12,000.
Freeman’s, June 30. Extraordinarily Large Manuscript Petition Signed by a Who's Who of Colonial New York to Queen Anne from the Colony of New York. $8,000-12,000.
Freeman’s, June 30. Mickey Mantle's First Cover: The Earliest Front-Page Newspaper Image of Mickey Mantle, "Something Good from Joplin". $8,000-12,000.
Freeman’s, June 30. A Call to Arms in the Months Following the Declaration of Independence: An Early Continental Army Recruitment Poster. $6,000-9,000.
Freeman’s, June 30. Samuel Jones, the Statesman Behind the Newly Discovered "Jones Declaration": His Annotated Set Used in His Working Law Library. $6,000-9,000.
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
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.
