• Sotheby’s
    Fine Books & Manuscripts
    June 24-25
    Sotheby’s, June 25: Keats, John. The most significant collection of Keats’s love letters to come to market since 1885. $1,500,000 to $2,500,000.
    Sotheby’s, June 25: Chassériau, Benoît. The “Expedicion secreta” of the Free State of Cartagena de Indias against the forts of Portobelo (Panama). $50,000 to $70,000.
    Sotheby’s, June 25: (Hamilton, Alexander, James Madison, and John Jay). "One of the new nation's most important contributions to the theory of government”. $150,000 to $180,000.
    Sotheby’s, June 24: Benjamin Franklin. "the Day of the Declaration of Independence is everywhere annually celebrated". $80,000 to $120,000.
    Sotheby’s, June 24: (Johann Conrad Beissel). A Sammelband of two of Benjamin Franklin's rarest imprints. $70,000 to $100,000.
    Sotheby’s, June 25: [Pernambuco]. First printed work in favor of Brazilian Independence. $150,000 to $200,000.
  • June 23rd, 24th & 25th 2026
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Medical Incunabula: Petit (Jean)publisher & Kerver (Thielman)printer. Regimen Sanitatis Salernitanum, sm. 8vo, Paris [1498]
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Hugo (Victor) [Wraxall (Lascelles)]. Les Miserable, 3 vols., 8vo, L. (Hurst & Blackett) 1862, First Authorized English Translation (copyright).
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Shelley (Mary Wollstonecraft). Frankenstein: or The Modern Prometheus, 8vo, 2 vols. in one, L. (G. & W.B. Whittaker, Ave-Maria-Lane) 1823.
    June 23rd, 24th & 25th 2026
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Cuisine: Anon. Cookery, Pastry, and Sweet Meats in three Books, Alphabetically Digested, 8vo 1710.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Lambert (Aylmer Bourke). A Description of the Genus Pinus, with Directions Relative to the Cultivation…, 2 vols. Sm. folio L. (Messrs. Weddell) 1832.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Botany: Curtis (William). Flora Londinensis: or Plates and Descriptions of such Plants as Grow Wild in the Environs of London, 2 vols. folio, London (B. White) 1777 – 1798.
    June 23rd, 24th & 25th 2026
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Le Moire (J.M.) Maple Leaves, Canadian History and Quebec Scenery (Third Series) 8vo Quebec (Hunter, Rose & Co.) 1865. First Edn.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: The Earliest Extant Printed House Contents Sale Catalogue in Ireland: Baillie, Auctioneer, Abby Street. A Catalogue of the Goods and Stock of the late Edward Wingfield…
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: William III King of England. Autograph Letter Signed ("William R") to an unnamed correspondent [possibly Charles-Henri de Lorraine] discussing his strategy against the French forces during the siege of Namur.
    June 23rd, 24th & 25th 2026
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: [Austen (Jane) (1785-1817]. Pride and Prejudice, 3 vols. sm. 8vo, L. (T. Egerton) 1813.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Heaney (Seamus). Ugolino, sm. folio D. (Dolmen) 1979, Limited Edn. No. 78/125 Copies, Signed by Seamus Heaney, Louis le Brocquy, Liam Miller and Andrew Carpenter.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Voltaire (F.M. Avouet de). Petits Ouvrages, attribues a M. de Voltaire, sm. folio manuscript, dated 1776, containing 9 works.
  • Bonhams, June 14-23: Franklin D. Roosevelt Presentation Gold Pocket Watch. Estimate: $20,000 - 30,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Presentation Copy of the First Issue of the Lincoln Douglas Debates Signed by Abraham Lincoln in Pencil to a Sangamon County Illinois Republican. Estimate: $150,000 - 250,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: A Senate Resolution Signed in the Tense Days After the Union's Humiliating Defeat at the First Battle of Bull Run. Estimate: $80,000 - $120,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Seven Passages to a Flight, an Artists Book with a Story Quilt by Faith Ringgold, the Publisher's Own Copy. Estimate: $80,000 - 120,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: A New Charter for Virginia, A Response to the First Armed Rebellion in the American Colonies. Estimate: $15,000 - 25,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Earliest obtainable printing of the Bill of Rights. Estimate: $8,000 - 12,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Edward Curtis Orotone. Estimate: $7,000 - 9,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Owned by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis: A Butter or Dessert Plate from FDR's State Dinner Service. Estimate: $3,000 - 5,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: An Early Large-Format Plan of the City of Washington. Estimate: $1,500 - 2,500
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Containing the First Map to Name the Hudson River. Estimate: $20,000 - 30,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: America's First Major Novelist, a Complete Chapter in Autograph Manuscript by James Fenimore Cooper. Estimate: $15,000 - 20,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: The Only Full-Length Book by Jefferson, with the Justly Famous Map. Estimate: $12,000 - 18,000
  • June 25, 2026
    Doyle, June 25: Houdini's biography, boldly signed. $3,000 to $5,000.
    Doyle, June 25: A volume from Abraham Lincoln's library, signed just before heading to Washington for his inauguration. $20,000 to $30,000.
    Doyle, June 25: A very early Confederate recruiting manual belonging to the chief commissary in Lee's Army. $600 to $800.
    Doyle, June 25: Rare hand-colored lithographs of the life of Napoleon. $20,000 to $30,000.
    Doyle, June 25: The "Holster Atlas" of the American Revolution. $5,000 to $8,000.
    Doyle, June 25: Jewish ceremonies in fine hand-colored engravings. $7,000 to $10,000.
    Doyle, June 25: A very rare work on Turkish military costume. $1,000 to $1,500.
    June 25, 2026
    Doyle, June 25: The most important illustrated work on the Mexican-American War. $10,000 to $15,000.
    Doyle, June 25: The finest illustrated book on Afghanistan. $10,000 to $15,000.
    Doyle, June 25: Henry Justice Ford St. George rescues the Princess from the horrible Dragon. $2,000 to $3,000.
    Doyle, June 25: A rare work of Prussian Army uniforms under Frederick William II, with exquisite hand-colored engravings. $800 to $1,200.
    Doyle, June 25: Lenny Bruce typed letter signed to a Village bohemian during his obscenity trials, with a manuscript note and drawing. $300 to $500.
    Doyle, June 25: Schiff's scarce Shanghai Sketchbook. $300 to $500.
    Doyle, June 25: The first accurate published representation of the American flag. $2,000 to $4,000.

Auction Reports

Sothebys

Auction Info

Sale Name
English Literature, History and Children's Books and Illustrations
Auction Date
07/10/2012 - 07/10/2012
Year of Sale
2012
Sale Number
#L12404
Total Lots
178
Sold Lots
105
Lots Sold
59.0%
Unsold Lots
73
Price Unknown
0
Total Sales (GBP)
1,437,100.00
Low Estimate of Lots Sold (GBP)
961,100.00
High Estimate of Lots Sold (GBP)
1,404,300.00
Low Estimate of All Lots (GBP)
1,983,500.00
High Estimate of All Lots (GBP)
2,878,200.00
Total Sales as a % of High Est.
49.93%
Currency
GBP
Inflation Adjusted Price in U.S. Dollars
2,653,840.00

Top twenty five by sale price

View All Auction Lots.
Top twenty five lots by sale price
Lot Number Author Name Book Title Year Published Estimate Actual Price
47 SHAKESPEARE, WILLIAM. COMEDIES, HISTORIES, AND TRAGEDIES. PUBLISHED ACCORDING TO THE TRUE ORIGINAL COPIES. UNTO WHICH IS ADDED, SEVEN PLAYS, NEVER BEFORE PRINTED IN FOLIO...

1685

 GBP 80,000.00 - 120,000.00 127,250.00
13 DORSET, LIONEL CRANFIELD SACKVILLE, FIRST DUKE OF. THREE VOLUMES OF CORRESPONDENCE AND PAPERS CONCERNING THE GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND

1731

 GBP 80,000.00 - 120,000.00 91,250.00
114 CHAUCER, GEOFFREY. THE WORKS OF GEOFFREY CHAUCER NOW NEWLY IMPRINTED [EDITED BY F.S. ELLIS].

1896

 GBP 50,000.00 - 70,000.00 73,250.00
62 [BRONTË, CHARLOTTE.] JANE EYRE. AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY. EDITED BY CURRER BELL.

1847

 GBP 60,000.00 - 80,000.00 67,250.00
161 POTTER, BEATRIX. COMPLETE SET OF FOUR WATERCOLOURS (ON THREE SHEETS) FOR 'THIS PIG WENT TO MARKET'

GBP 50,000.00 - 70,000.00 61,250.00
3 HOUSE OF COMMONS. HOUSE OF COMMONS. JOURNALS

GBP 40,000.00 - 60,000.00 61,250.00
158 POTTER, BEATRIX. THREE RABBITS EATING PLENTY OF BUNS

GBP 40,000.00 - 60,000.00 55,250.00
29 LLOYD, WILLIAM WHITELOCK. SKETCHES TAKEN WITH 1ST BATTALION 24TH REGT. IN BRITISH KAFFARIA. NATAL. ZULULAND AND ON THE VOYAGE HOME.

GBP 40,000.00 - 60,000.00 49,250.00
54 SWIFT, JONATHAN. SEVEN AUTOGRAPH LETTERS SIGNED, TO THE DUKE OF DORSET

GBP 40,000.00 - 60,000.00 49,250.00
73 IBSEN, HENRIK. HEDDA GABLER. SKUESPIL I FIRE AKTER.

1890

 GBP 30,000.00 - 50,000.00 44,450.00
129 CARROLL, LEWIS . THE NURSERY "ALICE".

1889

 GBP 10,000.00 - 15,000.00 36,050.00
46 SHAKESPEARE--IRELAND, WILLIAM HENRY. SPECIMENS OF THE SHAKSPERIAN MANUSCRIPTS PRESENTED TO ALBANY WALLIS ESQ AT HIS PARTICULAR DESIRE

GBP 6,000.00 - 8,000.00 32,450.00
121 BARRIE, SIR J.M., AND THE LLEWELYN DAVIES FAMILY. COLLECTION OF 150 PHOTOGRAPHS OF MEMBERS OF THE LLEWELYN DAVIES AND DU MAURIER FAMILIES AND J.M. BARRIE, OVER 40 OF THEM THE ONLY KNOWN ORIGINAL PRINTS

GBP 12,000.00 - 18,000.00 32,450.00
61 BRONTË, CHARLOTTE. PORTRAIT OF A YOUNG WOMAN.

GBP 10,000.00 - 15,000.00 32,450.00
35 DOUGLAS, SENATOR JAMES G. DOUGLAS, SENATOR JAMES G. HIS SURVIVING ARCHIVE

GBP 25,000.00 - 35,000.00 30,000.00
57 [AUSTEN, JANE.] PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: A NOVEL.

1813

 GBP 20,000.00 - 30,000.00 22,500.00
20 BROWNE, LIEUTENANT GEORGE. HIS SEA CHEST FROM HMS VICTORY.

GBP 15,000.00 - 20,000.00 18,750.00
21 WHITTAKER, JOHN. MAGNA CARTA REGIS JOHANNIS XV. DIE JUNII ANNO REGNI XVII. A.D. MCCXV. J

1816

 GBP 10,000.00 - 15,000.00 18,750.00
87 FLEMING, IAN. FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE.

1957

 GBP 3,000.00 - 5,000.00 16,250.00
157 POTTER, BEATRIX. THE APPLE GATHERERS: PUSHING A LADEN WHEELBARROW.

GBP 8,000.00 - 10,000.00 16,250.00
60 BRONTË, CHARLOTTE. DERWENT WATER.

GBP 6,000.00 - 8,000.00 16,250.00
70 HARDY, THOMAS. UNDER THE GREENWOOD TREE: A RURAL PAINTING OF THE DUTCH SCHOOL.

1872

 GBP 10,000.00 - 15,000.00 15,000.00
17 -SYDENHAM, BENJAMIN AND MARRIOTT, THOMAS. LISTS OF THE SPOILS OF TIPPU SULTAN

GBP 15,000.00 - 20,000.00 15,000.00
5 PARLIAMENT. AN ACT FOR THE ABOLISHING THE KINGLY OFFICE IN ENGLAND, IRELAND, AND THE DOMINIONS THEREUNTO BELONGING. EDWARD HUSBAND, 19 MARCH 1648/9

1648

 GBP 3,000.00 - 5,000.00 13,750.00
67 DICKENS, CHARLES. A CHRISTMAS CAROL. IN PROSE. BEING A GHOST STORY OF CHRISTMAS. WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY JOHN LEECH.

1843

 GBP 11,000.00 - 15,000.00 13,750.00
View All Auction Lots.

  • Bonhams, June 14-23: Palm-reading, astrology, and more. Estimate: $2,000 - 3,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Benjamin Franklin. Sammelband of 45 papers on electricity. Estimate: $8,000 - 12,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: The basis for the whole modern electric-power industry. Estimate: $4,000 - 6,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Edgar Allen Poe. Poe on Mesmerism. Estimate: $2,500 - 3,500
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Reformation - The Architect of Lutheranism on Church Unity and Dissent. Estimate: $100,000 - 150,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: The Rare 3-Paper Offprint Identifying the Double Helix Structure of DNA, Signed by Crick, Wilkins, Wilson, Stokes and Gosling. Estimate: $40,000 - 60,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Autograph book and Report from the Thirtieth Indian National Congress, featuring the signatures of Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, and Dadabhai Naoroji. Estimate: $6,000 - 8,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: An Illustrated Miniature Hebrew Prayerbook Manuscript. Estimate: $30,000 - 50,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Autograph Working Draft of Arthur Conan Doyle's The Death Voyage. Estimate: $30,000 - 50,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: "Perhaps the most celebrated and most beautiful herbal ever published." Estimate: $15,000 - 20,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Izaak Walton. The Compleat Angler or the Contemplative man's Recreation. Being a Discourse of Fish and Fishing. Estimate: $12,000 - 18,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: A rare product of the Jaquard loom. Estimate: $8,000 - 12,000
  • 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.