<i>In The News:</i> Another Transylvania Book Theft, World's Worst Poet at Auction, Abe's Top Ten
- by Michael Stillman
AbeBooks announced its ten most expensive books for April, a mix of languages, with French, Italian, and lots of Latin to go with English. At the top, is an item in English, but Abe notes that it was sold to an Italian collector on their newly opened Italian site, AbeBooks.it.
10. Histoire de l'oeil by Lord Auch, written by Georges Bataille. It is described as being about "the sexual experimentation of two teenage lovers, and their increasing perversion." Sounds artistic. $4,566.
9. Memoire pour le Sieur de Boishebert by Charles Deschamps of Boishebert. The Quebec-born Deschamps recounts his role as a French soldier from 1746-1760. $4,719.
8. The Works of Samuel Beckett, number 195 of a 200 set limited edition from 1970, signed by Beckett. $5,182.
7. Comedias Verdaderas by Tirso de Molina, three volumes published from 1734-1736 by the Spanish poet. $5,300.
6. AMBIX, 53 volumes of the journal of the Society for the History of Alchemy and Chemistry, published from 1937-2006. $5,688.
5. Viaggio Negle Stati Uniti Dell'America Settentrio by Luigi Castiglioni, the travels of this Italian Count to the American South. $7,500.
4. Corpus Nummorum Italicorum, a 20-volume reference on Italian coins published from 1910-1943. $7,500.
3. Historia Plantarum Universalis by Johann Bauhin, an important botanical work published in 1650-1651.
2. Biblia Latina, a newly translated Bible printed by Johannes Herbort de Seligenstadt in 1484. $10,807.
1. An autographed letter signed by Edward Lear dated September 9, 1867, containing a self-character sketch. Lear is best known as author of The Owl and the Pussycat. $11,491.
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…
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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.
![<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.")
