Rare Book Monthly

Articles - May - 2008 Issue

The Volkmann Collection Concludes with a Sale May 8th

An early Ansel Adams portfolio.

An early Ansel Adams portfolio.

Lot 75. Melville, Herman. Moby-Dick; or, The Whale. Printed in San Francisco in 1979 by the Arion Press.

577 pp. Illustrated with 100 wood engravings by Barry Moser; plus an original pen-and-ink sketch "Call Me Ishmael" signed by Moser matching wave illustration on page 2; and an unused printed illustration for the work signed by Moser, both laid in. 15x10, full blue Moroccan goatskin, spine lettered in silver, blue cloth slipcase. 1 of 265 copies (of which 250 were for sale) printed by Andrew Hoyem at the Arion Press, in handset Goudy Modern on paper handmade by Barcham Green at Hayle Mill. One of the masterpieces from the Arion Press, a superb printing of this American literary high spot, with striking illustrations drawn and engraved by Barry Moser. William Everson wrote in Fine Print: "Historically, the two great typographical edifices of West Coast printing are the Grabhorn Leaves of Grass and the Nash Divine Comedy. Now the Arion Press Moby-Dick takes its place beside them. This constitutes a feat of craftsmanship unexcelled in modern printing." Includes 6 related paper items: prospectus booklet, invitation, order form, autograph letter signed by Andrew Hoyem (on letterhead) to Patrick Perry dated May 30, 1978 discussing Moby Dick and the special edition of "about 25 copies" etc., the original mailing envelope to Mr. Perrym and an autograph note by Margaret Green (of Arion Press), all laid in. Estimated $7,000 to $10,000.

Lot 38. [Lowell, James Russell]. The Vision of Sir Launfal [Excerptus]. Printed in San Francisco in 1943 by the Allen Press.

3.75x4.5, silk-screened cloth over boards, string-tied inside, housed in recent 1/4 green morocco & fine cloth drop-back box with gilt-titled spine, interior with specially fitted section for book. 1 of 75 copies printed on all-rag paper by Lewis & Dorothy Allen. The third book from the Allen Press. Allen Press Biblio. 3. Estimated $5,000 to $8,000.

Lot 307. Shakespeare, William. Original Leaves from the First Four Folios of the Plays of William Shakespeare, 1623, 1632, 1663, 1685. Printed in San Francisco by the Grabhorn Press for David McGee.

Introduction by Edwin Eliott Willoughby. With an original leaf from each of the four folios tipped in; and facsimiles of the titles of the four folios. (Folio) 14.5x9.75, 1/4 red morocco and patterned paper over boards, spine lettered in gilt. No. 37 of 65 copies on Whatman paper, printed by The Grabhorn Press. The original leaves are as follows: first folio, The Winter's Tale, pp.293-294; second folio, The First Part of King Henry the Fourth, pp.59-60 (an old marginal ink note); third folio, The Tragedy of Macbeth, pp.727-728; fourth folio, The Tragedy of Hamlet, pp.81-82. GB 234.

Estimated $4,000 to $7,000

Rare Book Monthly

  • Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 11. Blaeu's Superb World Map on a Polar Projection (1695) Est. $5,500 - $7,000
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 36. Schedel's Ancient World Map with Humanoid Creatures (1493) Est. $14,000 - $17,000
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 49. One of the First Lunar Globes to Show the Far Side of the Moon (1963) Est. $1,000 - $1,300
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 5. The First World Map with Lavish Allegorical Vignettes of the Continents (1594) Est. $15,000 - $17,000
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 55. Anti-British Propaganda Map with Churchill as an Octopus (1942) Est. $2,000 - $2,300
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 197. One of the Most Influential Maps of Westward Expansion (1846) Est. $9,500 - $12,000
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 10. Scarce Pitt Edition of Carte-a-Figures Map of the World (1680) Est. $9,500 - $11,000
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 220. A Fine, Early Rendering of San Francisco (1874) Est. $2,200 - $2,500
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 707. Hand-Colored Image of the Presentation of Jesus with Gilt Highlights (1450) Est. $1,600 - $1,900
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 80. One of the Most Important Maps Perpetuating the Myth of the Island of California (1680) Est. $3,250 - $4,000
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 725. Homann's Atlas Featuring 26 Folio-Sized Maps in Original Color (1715) Est. $4,500 - $5,500
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 169. One of the Earliest Maps to Show Philadelphia (1695) Est. $4,750 - $6,000
  • Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: DALVIMART, Octavien ou d’ALVIMAR(T). The Costume of Turkey
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: DALVIMART, Octavien ou d’ALVIMAR(T)]. CLARK. The Military Costume of Turkey
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: HOMMAIRE DE HELL, Ignace-Xavier. LAURENS, Jules. Voyage en Turquie et en Perse
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: POSTEL, Guillaume. De la République des Turc
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: PREZIOSI, Amadeo. Stamboul. Souvenir d’Orient.
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: COSTUMES. EMPIRE OTTOMAN.
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: PRISSE D'AVENNES, Achille Constant T. Emile. L'Art Arabe
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: PRISSE D'AVENNES. Histoire de l'art Egyptie
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: BESANCENOT, Jean. Costumes et types du Maroc.
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: COSTUMES OTTOMANS. Suite de figures ottomanes à l’aquarelle
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: LES MILLE ET UNE NUIT, contes arabes
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: SCHLEGEL, Hermann et A. H. VERSTER van WULVERHORST. Traité de Fauconnerie - Planches
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: THEVENOT, Melchisédec. Relation de divers voyages curieux
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11:
  • Il Ponte, Feb. 25-26: HAMILTON, Sir William (1730-1803) - Campi Phlegraei. Napoli: [Pietro Fabris], 1776, 1779. € 30.000 - 50.000
    Il Ponte, Feb. 25-26: [MORTIER] - BLAEU, Joannes (1596-1673) - Het Nieuw Stede Boek van Italie. Amsterdam: Pieter Mortier, 1704-1705. € 15.000 - 25.000
    Il Ponte, Feb. 25-26: TULLIO D'ALBISOLA (1899-1971) - Bruno MUNARI (1907-1998) - L'Anguria lirica (lungo poema passionale). Roma e Savona: Edizioni Futuriste di Poesia, senza data [ma 1933?]. € 20.000 - 30.000
    Il Ponte, Feb. 25-26: IL MANOSCRITTO RITROVATO DI IPPOLITA MARIA SFORZA. TITO LIVIO - Ab Urbe Condita. Prima Decade. Manoscritto miniato su pergamena, metà XV secolo. € 280.000 - 350.000
  • Sotheby's Fine Books & Manuscripts
    Available for Immediate Purchase
    Sotheby’s: Balthus, Emily Brontë. Wuthering Heights, New York: The Limited Editions Club, 1993. 6,600 USD.
    Sotheby’s: Charles Dickens. Complete Works, Philadelphia & London: J.B. Lippincott Company & Chapman & Hall, LD, 1850. Limited Edition set of 30 volumes. 7,500 USD.
    Sotheby’s: John Lennon, Yoko Ono. Handwritten Letter from John Lennon and Yoko Ono to their Chauffer. 1971. 32,500 USD.
    Sotheby’s: Winston Churchill. First edition of War Speeches, Cassell and Company, Ltd., 1941. Set of 7 volumes. 5,500 USD.
    Sotheby’s: Andy Warhol, Julia Warhola. Holy Cats First Edition, Signed by Andy Warhol. 1954. 30,000 USD.

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