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Sothebys: Fine Books and Manuscripts, Including Americana

Auction Reports

Auction Name Fine Books and Manuscripts, Including Americana Total Sales (USD) 1,539,621.00
Auction Date December 16, 2025 - December 16, 2025 Low Estimate of Lots Sold (USD) 743,000.00
Sale Number #N11899 High Estimate of Lots Sold (USD) 1,103,200.00
Total Lots 99
Sold Lots 71.0 Low Estimate of All Lots (USD) 1,565,000.00
% of Lots Sold 71.72% High Estimate of All Lots (USD) 2,319,200.00
Unsold Lots 28 Total Sales as a % of High Est. 66.39%

Top twenty-five by sale price

Lot Number Author Name Book Title Year Published Estimate Actual Price
1017

The Freedman's Primer; or First Reader.

1864 USD 25,000.00 - 50,000.00 USD 241,300.00
1011

The Votes and Proceedings of the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Town of Boston, in Town Meeting Assembled, According to Law, the 5th and 18th days of November. 1773.

 1773 USD 10,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD 107,950.00
1023 Jefferson, Thomas

Printed document signed ("ThJefferson") as Secretary of State, being an official printing of "An Act respecting the Government of the Territories of the United States North West and South of the River Ohio."

1792 USD 35,000.00 - 50,000.00 USD 82,550.00
1048 [Austen, Jane]

Sense and Sensibility, a Novel

 1811 USD 60,000.00 - 80,000.00 USD 82,550.00
1079 Greenaway, Kate

An album of original drawings, mostly child studies or botanical illustrations, with a few other subjects, many finely hand colored.

 Circa 1880-1890 USD 10,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD 63,500.00
1095 Thucydides.

Thoukydidis. Thucydides [Greek].

May 1502 USD 10,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD 57,150.00
1059 Fitzgerald, F. Scott

Tender is the Night.

1934 USD 35,000.00 - 50,000.00 USD 53,340.00
1043 Washington, George

Autograph letter signed ("Go: Washington"), one page (329 x 203 mm) on a leaf of laid paper, New Windsor, [New York] 14 May 1781, to Jonathan Trumbull;

 14 May 1781 USD 20,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD 50,800.00
1094 Sendak, Maurice

Eight early drawings for Macbeth, made for Grace Warshauer's English class at Lafayette High School, Brooklyn, ca.1943, with a group of autograph letters signed (1960--1991)

 ca.1943 USD 20,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD 48,260.00
1096 Vergilius Maro, Publius

Opera. Edited by Sebastian Brant

 28 August 1502 USD 15,000.00 - 25,000.00 USD 48,260.00
1003 Anonymous 19th-Century American Maritime Artist

Album of 17 pen-and-ink, watercolor and wash drawings of American subjects (one of Canada)

 circa 1816-1827 USD 30,000.00 - 50,000.00 USD 38,100.00
1049 [Austen, Jane]

Emma, A Novel. In Three Volumes. By the Author of "Pride and Prejudice", &C. &C

 1816 USD 30,000.00 - 50,000.00 USD 38,100.00
1002 Pennsylvania. House of Representatives.

Instructions for Inlisting Rifle-Men, in the Service of Pennsylvania.

 ca.March 1776 USD 15,000.00 - 20,000.00 USD 31,750.00
1040 Simon, John

Tee Yee Neen Ho Ga Row

 N.D. circa 1755 USD 25,000.00 - 35,000.00 USD 31,750.00
1024 Jefferys, Thomas

The West-India Atlas; or, a Compendious Description of the West-Indies: Illustrated with forty correct charts and maps, taken from actual surveys.

1775 USD 25,000.00 - 35,000.00 USD 25,400.00
1042 Washington, George

Autograph letter signed ("Go: Washington"), one page (232 x 188 mm) on a bifolium, Mount Vernon, 15 February 1774, to the Rev. Mr. Jonathan Boucher in Prince George County

 15 February 1774 USD 15,000.00 - 20,000.00 USD 22,860.00
1057 Fitzgerald, F. Scott

Tender Is the Night, A Romance.

1934 USD 20,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD 21,590.00
1077 Dulac, Edmund

Caricature of John Singer Sargent

 USD 7,000.00 - 10,000.00 USD 21,590.00
1020 Grant, Ulysses S., Eighteenth President, as Major General, United States Army

Autograph letter signed ("U. S. Grant | Maj. Gen."), 3 pages (244 x 193 mm) on a bifolium, Head Quarters, Dept. of the Tenn., Holly Springs, Mississippi, 28 December 1862, to Brigadier General Isaac F. Quinby

 1862 USD 12,000.00 - 18,000.00 USD 20,320.00
1026 Lee, Robert E., as Confederate General

Autograph letter signed ("R E Lee") 1 page (247 x 196 mm) on blue paper, Camp Fredericksburg, 8 January 1863, to Mrs. Sarah A. Lawton;

 1863 USD 20,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD 20,320.00
1060 Hemingway, Ernest

Death in the Afternoon.

 1932 USD 8,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD 20,320.00
1083 Maxwell, James Clerk

A Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism. Oxford

 1873 USD 10,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD 20,320.00
1044 Washington, George

Document signed ("Go: Washington") as President of the Society of the Cincinnati, being a membership certificate for William Munson

 USD 8,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD 19,050.00
1071 Bemelmans, Ludwig

Illustration of a chef

 USD 4,000.00 - 6,000.00 USD 17,780.00
1074 Bunting, Heinrich

Itinerarium Sacrae Scripturae Das ist Ein Reisebuch Uber die Gantze Heilige Schrifft.

1588 (1588) USD 8,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD 17,780.00
  • <b><center>Sotheby’s<br>Fine Manuscript and Printed Americana<br>27 January 2026</center></b> <b>Sotheby’s, Jan. 27:</b> An extraordinary pair of books from George Washington’s field library, marking the conjunction of Robert Rogers, George Washington, and Henry Knox. $1,200,000 to $1,800,000. <b>Sotheby’s, Jan. 27:</b> An extraordinary letter marking the conjunction of George Washington, the Marquis de Lafayette, and Benjamin Franklin. $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. <b>Sotheby’s, Jan. 27:</b> Virginia House of Delegates. The genesis of the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. $350,000 to $500,000. <b><center>Sotheby’s<br>Fine Manuscript and Printed Americana<br>27 January 2026</center></b> <b>Sotheby’s, Jan. 27:</b> (Gettysburg). “Genl. Doubleday has taken charge of the battle”: Autograph witness to the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg, illustrated by fourteen maps and plans. $200,000 to $300,000. <b>Sotheby’s, Jan. 27:</b> President Lincoln thanks a schoolboy on behalf of "all the children of the nation for his efforts to ensure "that this war shall be successful, and the Union be maintained and perpetuated." $200,000 to $300,000. <b>Sotheby’s, Jan. 27:</b> [World War II]. An archive of maps and files documenting the allied campaign in Europe, from the early stages of planning for D-Day and Operation Overlord, to Germany’s surrender. $200,000 to $300,000.
    Sotheby’s
    Fine Manuscript and Printed Americana
    27 January 2026
    Sotheby’s, Jan. 27: An extraordinary pair of books from George Washington’s field library, marking the conjunction of Robert Rogers, George Washington, and Henry Knox. $1,200,000 to $1,800,000.
    Sotheby’s, Jan. 27: An extraordinary letter marking the conjunction of George Washington, the Marquis de Lafayette, and Benjamin Franklin. $1,000,000 to $1,500,000.
    Sotheby’s, Jan. 27: Virginia House of Delegates. The genesis of the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. $350,000 to $500,000.
    Sotheby’s
    Fine Manuscript and Printed Americana
    27 January 2026
    Sotheby’s, Jan. 27: (Gettysburg). “Genl. Doubleday has taken charge of the battle”: Autograph witness to the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg, illustrated by fourteen maps and plans. $200,000 to $300,000.
    Sotheby’s, Jan. 27: President Lincoln thanks a schoolboy on behalf of "all the children of the nation for his efforts to ensure "that this war shall be successful, and the Union be maintained and perpetuated." $200,000 to $300,000.
    Sotheby’s, Jan. 27: [World War II]. An archive of maps and files documenting the allied campaign in Europe, from the early stages of planning for D-Day and Operation Overlord, to Germany’s surrender. $200,000 to $300,000.
  • <center><b>Forum Auctions<br>Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper<br>29th January 2026</b></center> <b>Forum, Jan. 29:</b> Plato. [<i>Apanta ta tou Platonos. Omnia Platonis opera</i>], 2 parts in 2 vol., editio princeps of Plato's works in the original Greek, Venice, House of Aldus, 1513. £8,000-12,000 <b>Forum, Jan. 29:</b> Book of Hours, Use of Rome, In Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum, [Southern Netherlands (probably Bruges), c.1460]. £6,000-8,000 <b>Forum, Jan. 29:</b> Correspondence and documents by or addressed to the first four Viscounts Molesworth and members of their families, letters and manuscripts, 1690-1783. £10,000-15,000 <center><b>Forum Auctions<br>Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper<br>29th January 2026</b></center> <b>Forum, Jan. 29:</b> Shakespeare (William). <i>The Dramatic Works,</i> 9 vol., John and Josiah Boydell, 1802. £5,000-7,000 <b>Forum, Jan. 29:</b> Joyce (James). <i>Ulysses,</i> first edition, one of 750 copies on handmade paper, Paris, Shakespeare and Company, 1922 £8,000-12,000 <b>Forum, Jan. 29:</b> Powell (Anthony). [<i>A Dance to the Music of Time</i>], 12 vol., first editions, each with a signed presentation inscription from the author to Osbert Lancaster, 1951-75. £6,000-8,000 <center><b>Forum Auctions<br>Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper<br>29th January 2026</b></center> <b>Forum, Jan. 29:</b> Chaucer (Geoffrey). <i>Troilus and Criseyde,</i> one of 225 copies on handmade paper, wood-engravings by Eric Gill, Waltham St.Lawrence, 1927. £3,000-4,000 <b>Forum, Jan. 29:</b> Borges (Jorge Luis). <i>Luna de Enfrente,</i> first edition, one of 300 copies, presentation copy signed by the author to Leopoldo Marechal, Buenos Aires, Editorial Proa, 1925. £3,000-4,000 <b>Forum, Jan. 29:</b> Nolli (Giovanni Battista). <i>Nuova Pianta di Roma,</i> Rome, 1748. £6,000-8,000 <center><b>Forum Auctions<br>Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper<br>29th January 2026</b></center> <b>Forum, Jan. 29:</b> Roberts (David). <i>The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt, & Nubia,</i> 3 vol., first edition, 1842-49. £15,000-20,000 <b>Forum, Jan. 29:</b> Blacker (William). <i>Catechism of Fly Making, Angling and Dyeing,</i> Published by the author, 1843. £3,000-4,000 <b>Forum, Jan. 29:</b> Herschel (Sir John F. W.) Collection of 69 offprints, extracts and separate publications by Herschel, bound for his son, William James Herschel, 3 vol., [1813-50]. £15,000-20,000
    Forum Auctions
    Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    29th January 2026
    Forum, Jan. 29: Plato. [Apanta ta tou Platonos. Omnia Platonis opera], 2 parts in 2 vol., editio princeps of Plato's works in the original Greek, Venice, House of Aldus, 1513. £8,000-12,000
    Forum, Jan. 29: Book of Hours, Use of Rome, In Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum, [Southern Netherlands (probably Bruges), c.1460]. £6,000-8,000
    Forum, Jan. 29: Correspondence and documents by or addressed to the first four Viscounts Molesworth and members of their families, letters and manuscripts, 1690-1783. £10,000-15,000
    Forum Auctions
    Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    29th January 2026
    Forum, Jan. 29: Shakespeare (William). The Dramatic Works, 9 vol., John and Josiah Boydell, 1802. £5,000-7,000
    Forum, Jan. 29: Joyce (James). Ulysses, first edition, one of 750 copies on handmade paper, Paris, Shakespeare and Company, 1922 £8,000-12,000
    Forum, Jan. 29: Powell (Anthony). [A Dance to the Music of Time], 12 vol., first editions, each with a signed presentation inscription from the author to Osbert Lancaster, 1951-75. £6,000-8,000
    Forum Auctions
    Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    29th January 2026
    Forum, Jan. 29: Chaucer (Geoffrey). Troilus and Criseyde, one of 225 copies on handmade paper, wood-engravings by Eric Gill, Waltham St.Lawrence, 1927. £3,000-4,000
    Forum, Jan. 29: Borges (Jorge Luis). Luna de Enfrente, first edition, one of 300 copies, presentation copy signed by the author to Leopoldo Marechal, Buenos Aires, Editorial Proa, 1925. £3,000-4,000
    Forum, Jan. 29: Nolli (Giovanni Battista). Nuova Pianta di Roma, Rome, 1748. £6,000-8,000
    Forum Auctions
    Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    29th January 2026
    Forum, Jan. 29: Roberts (David). The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt, & Nubia, 3 vol., first edition, 1842-49. £15,000-20,000
    Forum, Jan. 29: Blacker (William). Catechism of Fly Making, Angling and Dyeing, Published by the author, 1843. £3,000-4,000
    Forum, Jan. 29: Herschel (Sir John F. W.) Collection of 69 offprints, extracts and separate publications by Herschel, bound for his son, William James Herschel, 3 vol., [1813-50]. £15,000-20,000
  • <b><center>Dominic Winter<br>Books, Maps, Documents & Autographs<br>Ornithology, Music, Bookplates<br>28th January 2026</center></b> <b>Dominic Winter, Jan. 28:</b> Lot 26. Company School. An album of 85 Indian mica paintings, Madras, c. 1852. £700-1,000 <b>Dominic Winter, Jan. 28:</b> Lot 28. Ross & Hooker. <i>Notes on the Botany of the Antarctic Voyage,</i> 1st edition, 1843. £4,000-6,000 <b>Dominic Winter, Jan. 28:</b> Lot 44. Gould (John). <i>The Birds of Great Britain,</i> 5 volumes, 1st edition, 1862-73. £30,000-40,000 <b><center>Dominic Winter<br>Books, Maps, Documents & Autographs<br>Ornithology, Music, Bookplates<br>28th January 2026</center></b> <b>Dominic Winter, Jan. 28:</b> Lot 72. Edwards (George). <i>A Natural History of Uncommon Birds…</i> [and] <i>Gleanings of Natural History,</i> 7 volumes, 1st edition, 1743-64. £7,000-10,000 <b>Dominic Winter, Jan. 28:</b> Lot 87. Walcott (Charles D. et al.). <i>Geologic Atlas of the United States,</i> 227-volume set, U.S. Geological Survey, 1894-1945. £500-800 <b>Dominic Winter, Jan. 28:</b> Lot 236. <i>A New Dictionary of the Terms Ancient and Modern of the Canting Crew…,</i> By B. E. Gent., 1st edition, [1699]. £3,000-4,000 <b><center>Dominic Winter<br>Books, Maps, Documents & Autographs<br>Ornithology, Music, Bookplates<br>28th January 2026</center></b> <b>Dominic Winter, Jan. 28:</b> Lot 245. Frost Fair Broadside. Upon the Frost in the Year 1739-40, Printed on the Ice upon the Thames at Queen-Hithe, 1739/40. £1,500-2,000 <b>Dominic Winter, Jan. 28:</b> Lot 270. Micheli (Antonino di). <i>La Nuova Chitarra di Regole…,</i> 1st edition, Palermo, 1680. £10,000-15,000 <b>Dominic Winter, Jan. 28:</b> Lot 280. Elgar (Edward). <i>Concerto for Violin and Orchestra,</i> [1910], signed presentation copy. £500-800 <b><center>Dominic Winter<br>Books, Maps, Documents & Autographs<br>Ornithology, Music, Bookplates<br>28th January 2026</center></b> <b>Dominic Winter, Jan. 28:</b> Lot 286 - Walton (William, 1902-1983). Autograph manuscript full score for <i>Belshazzar’s Feast,</i> [1930-31]. £20,000-30,000 <b>Dominic Winter, Jan. 28:</b> Lot 304. Churchill (Winston). A terracotta maquette of Churchill by Oscar Nemon, c. 1955. £1,500-2,000 <b>Dominic Winter, Jan. 28:</b> Lot 364 - Russian Imperial Archaeological Commission. Mecheti Samarkanda..., Fascicule I Gour-Emir, St. Petersburg, 1905. £2,000-3,000
    Dominic Winter
    Books, Maps, Documents & Autographs
    Ornithology, Music, Bookplates
    28th January 2026
    Dominic Winter, Jan. 28: Lot 26. Company School. An album of 85 Indian mica paintings, Madras, c. 1852. £700-1,000
    Dominic Winter, Jan. 28: Lot 28. Ross & Hooker. Notes on the Botany of the Antarctic Voyage, 1st edition, 1843. £4,000-6,000
    Dominic Winter, Jan. 28: Lot 44. Gould (John). The Birds of Great Britain, 5 volumes, 1st edition, 1862-73. £30,000-40,000
    Dominic Winter
    Books, Maps, Documents & Autographs
    Ornithology, Music, Bookplates
    28th January 2026
    Dominic Winter, Jan. 28: Lot 72. Edwards (George). A Natural History of Uncommon Birds… [and] Gleanings of Natural History, 7 volumes, 1st edition, 1743-64. £7,000-10,000
    Dominic Winter, Jan. 28: Lot 87. Walcott (Charles D. et al.). Geologic Atlas of the United States, 227-volume set, U.S. Geological Survey, 1894-1945. £500-800
    Dominic Winter, Jan. 28: Lot 236. A New Dictionary of the Terms Ancient and Modern of the Canting Crew…, By B. E. Gent., 1st edition, [1699]. £3,000-4,000
    Dominic Winter
    Books, Maps, Documents & Autographs
    Ornithology, Music, Bookplates
    28th January 2026
    Dominic Winter, Jan. 28: Lot 245. Frost Fair Broadside. Upon the Frost in the Year 1739-40, Printed on the Ice upon the Thames at Queen-Hithe, 1739/40. £1,500-2,000
    Dominic Winter, Jan. 28: Lot 270. Micheli (Antonino di). La Nuova Chitarra di Regole…, 1st edition, Palermo, 1680. £10,000-15,000
    Dominic Winter, Jan. 28: Lot 280. Elgar (Edward). Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, [1910], signed presentation copy. £500-800
    Dominic Winter
    Books, Maps, Documents & Autographs
    Ornithology, Music, Bookplates
    28th January 2026
    Dominic Winter, Jan. 28: Lot 286 - Walton (William, 1902-1983). Autograph manuscript full score for Belshazzar’s Feast, [1930-31]. £20,000-30,000
    Dominic Winter, Jan. 28: Lot 304. Churchill (Winston). A terracotta maquette of Churchill by Oscar Nemon, c. 1955. £1,500-2,000
    Dominic Winter, Jan. 28: Lot 364 - Russian Imperial Archaeological Commission. Mecheti Samarkanda..., Fascicule I Gour-Emir, St. Petersburg, 1905. £2,000-3,000