The Volkmann Collection Concludes with a Sale May 8th
- by Bruce E. McKinney
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.
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. 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.
Heritage Auctions Rare Books Signature Auction December 15, 2025
Heritage, Dec. 15: John Donne. Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death. London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.
Heritage, Dec. 15: Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
Heritage, Dec. 15: F. Scott Fitzgerald. Tender is the Night. A Romance.
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…
![<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.")
