A little research in the Æ Database finds an interesting Dampier document sold by Maggs Bros. back in 1922. It was a 1703 codicil to his will revoking a 200-pound bequest to his wife. It is believed that this did not reflect any marital problems but simply that Dampier was spending his wife’s inheritance to finance his next voyage. Among those who would participate in this next adventure was Alexander Selkirk, the real Robinson Crusoe. Selkirk would eventually end up stranded on Juan Fernandez Island, to be rescued in 1709 by Captain Woodes Rogers. Dampier was Rogers’ pilot.
Have you always wanted a Declaration of Independence? There’s one in the Reese catalogue, Item 71, and it’s only $15,000. This one is a Guatemalan Declaration of Independence, but if the history of that other Declaration of Independence is any guide, this could be a good long-term investment.
A few items are reminiscent of more recent events. Item 226 from Thomas Wilson describes an 1851 military expedition from America to Cuba in attempt to start a revolution. Reese points to the “strange resemblance” to the Bay of Pigs invasion a little over a century later. This earlier expedition was not successful in fomenting a revolution either, and was quickly put down by Spanish authorities. $850. Item 7 is an 1807 treaty between Britain and Argentina. The British had attacked Argentina, hoping to force it to open its markets, but were beaten back. They decided to accept the treaty, requiring their exit. Of course, England would get its revenge on Argentina many years later in the Falklands’ war. Take that, Argentina! $1,500.
Another document of war is George Kendall and Carl Nebel’s The War Between the United States and Mexico…This is a major written and illustrated work describing the Mexican-American War. The twelve hand-colored lithographs are evidently spectacular works. $35,000.
A couple of works herein will also be of interest to collectors of the American West and Texas. Julius Froebel’s 1859 Seven Years’ Travel in Central America, Northern Mexico, and the Far West of the United States describes three of his journeys. The last brought him from Galveston through San Antonio, El Paso, New Mexico, Arizona, and finally Los Angeles. $1,500. Items 129 and 130 will be of interest to Texas collectors. These are collections of pre-Republic Mexican laws that relate to Texas, along with attacks on rebellious Texans. $650 and $850.
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.
Sotheby’s Book Week December 9-17, 2025
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.
![<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.")
