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Bonhams: Fine Books and Manuscripts, Including Americana

Auction Reports

Auction Name Fine Books and Manuscripts, Including Americana Total Sales (USD) 1,045,696.00
Auction Date December 18, 2025 - December 18, 2025 Low Estimate of Lots Sold (USD) 551,300.00
Sale Number #31200 High Estimate of Lots Sold (USD) 842,700.00
Total Lots 261
Sold Lots 224.0 Low Estimate of All Lots (USD) 949,900.00
% of Lots Sold 85.82% High Estimate of All Lots (USD) 1,446,000.00
Unsold Lots 37 Total Sales as a % of High Est. 72.32%

Top twenty-five by sale price

Lot Number Author Name Book Title Year Published Estimate Actual Price
251 WAGNER, RICHARD. 1813-1883.

Autograph Manuscript in German, 7 1/2 pages,

 1874-1875, USD 30,000.00 - 50,000.00 USD 40,960.00
168 HEMINGWAY, ERNEST. 1899-1961.

A Farewell to Arms.

 1929 USD 30,000.00 - 50,000.00 USD 38,400.00
227 SHEPARD, ERNEST H. 1879-1976.

Preliminary drawing in pencil, Pooh gathering fir-cones to drop into the river, from The Pooh Story Book

 1965 USD 6,000.00 - 9,000.00 USD 35,840.00
207 SAINT-EXUPERY, ANTOINE DE. 1900-1944.

Le Petit Prince.

 1943 USD 8,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD 30,720.00
158 BURNS, ROBERT. 1759-1796.

Autograph Manuscript Poem, "Sketch. NewYearDay. To Mrs. Dunlop,"

 USD 20,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD 28,160.00
232 LIBERALE DE VERONA. 1445-1526/29.

Illuminated manuscript on vellum, being David in prayer in an initial S, a historiated initial cut from a large-format choirbook,

 USD 10,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD 23,040.00
90 LAFAYETTE, GILBERT DE MOTIER, MARQUIS DE. 1757-1834.

Autograph Letter Signed ("Lafayette") to Col Joseph Vose unnamed giving marching orders to head for Trenton where they will reunite,

 USD 2,000.00 - 3,000.00 USD 21,760.00
164 GOETHE, JOHANN WOLFGANG VON. 1749-1832.

Die Leiden des jungen Werthers.

1774 USD 6,000.00 - 9,000.00 USD 21,760.00
208 SAINT-EXUPERY, ANTOINE DE. 1900-1944.

The Little Prince.

 1943 USD 5,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD 21,760.00
119 THUCYDIDES. ca 460-400 BCE.

History of the Peloponnesian War.

1930 USD 20,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD 20,480.00
178 KING, STEPHEN. b. 1947.

A complete set of signed limited first editions of King's The Dark Tower series including:

 USD 8,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD 20,480.00
254 EINSTEIN, ALBERT. 1879-1955.

Autograph letter signed ("Albert") to Hans Albert Einstein, Berlin, 21 January 1928. On physics and relativity.

 21 January 1928 USD 10,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD 19,200.00
88 JONES, JOHN. 1729-1791.

Plain Concise Practical Remarks on the Treatment of Wounds and Fractures.

1776 USD 6,000.00 - 9,000.00 USD 17,920.00
246 SMITH, ADAM. 1723-1790

An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.

 1778 USD 6,000.00 - 9,000.00 USD 17,920.00
114

Quatre Histoires de Blanc et Noir.

 1926 USD 1,000.00 - 1,500.00 USD 16,640.00
219 WILDE, OSCAR. 1854-1900.

Autograph Manuscript, being a partial draft of an untitled prose-poem or tale: "Every morning the Poet person went out of the gate of the city, and went into the waste land and wandered through it..."

 USD 7,000.00 - 10,000.00 USD 16,640.00
98 PRANG, LOUIS. 1824-1909; HOMER, WINSLOW. 1836-1910. et al.

American Card Album.

 1864 USD 8,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD 15,360.00
95 ADAMS, JOHN. 1735-1826.

Autograph Letter Signed ("John Adams") to James Le Ray de Chaumont, whose father had provided Adams and Benjamin Franklin lodging in Passy at the Hotel Valentinois during the crucial years of the Revolutionary War,

 USD 8,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD 14,080.00
199 NABOKOV, VLADIMIR. 1899-1977; NABOKOV, VERA. 1902-1991.

Archive of 28 typed letters signed or autograph notes signed ("V." or "V. and V." or "Vera" and "Volodya") to Peter and Joan De Peterson

USD 6,000.00 - 9,000.00 USD 14,080.00
215 STEIG, WILLIAM. 1907-2003.

58 original ink and wash drawings for About People, each individually titled by the artist in pencil with printers' notes on versos,

 USD 8,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD 12,800.00
126 TERIADE, editor.

Verve: Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Nos 1-38.

 1937-1960. USD 10,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD 12,160.00
205 RACKHAM, ARTHUR. 1867-1939.

Original watercolor, "All amidst the Gardens fair; Of Hesperus, and his daughters three; That sing about the golden tree, executed for his edition of Milton's Comus,

 USD 8,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD 11,520.00
99 GARDNER, ALEXANDER, Photographer; TIMOTHY O'SULLIVAN, Assistant; ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

Large contemporary photograph captioned in a contemporary hand on the mount, "The execution of the conspirators of President Lincoln, Jail yard, Washington D.C. July 7

 1865 USD 3,000.00 - 5,000.00 USD 10,880.00
159 CHEKHOV, MICHAEL. 1891-1955.

Illustrated Autograph Manuscript on paper, in Russian, "Skazka pro to, kak krivda chodko po zemle raspolzaetsia" in English, "A Tale About Lies and How Swiftly They Spread Across the Earth",

 USD 8,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD 10,240.00
242 NEWTON, ISAAC 1643-1727.

Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica...Editio tertia aucta & emendata

 1726 USD 7,000.00 - 10,000.00 USD 10,240.00
  • <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