Item 1a is a spectacular, rare item, a privately printed work created for the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII, to give away. Edward VIII was the British King who abdicated the throne for “the woman I love.” It is called TheLegionBook, and was published to raise money for the British Legion. It was edited by Capt. H. Cotton Minchin, and contains the writings and artwork of many notable figures of the era. Among the authors included are Winston Churchill, Lloyd George, P.G. Wodehouse, Aldous Huxley, G.K. Chesterton, Vita Sackville West, and Georges Clemenceau. The latter, France's World War I Prime Minister, died in its year of publication, 1929. The book was printed in an edition of just 100 copies at the Curwen Press. All 100 were given to the Prince to be used as presentation copies. Each copy is signed by all of the contributors, along with the Prince's presentation inscriptions. This copy was presented to George, Earl Haig, and is signed “Edward P.” George was but 11 years old at the time, but his father was the founder of the British Legion, having died the year before. This copy was given to his son “in remembrance of his father.” £8,500 (US $13,287).
Item 167 represents a production long in the making: WoodEngravingsbyGertrudeHermesbeingIllustrationstoSelborne, published by Gwasg Gregynog in 1988. Gwasg Gregynog was operated by the University of Wales at the time, and is now a charitable company. However, this book was originally meant to be printed by its private predecessor, the Gregynog Press, in the 1930s. Hermes was commissioned to create engravings for a proposed edition of Gilbert White's NaturalHistoryofSelborne. However, Hermes had personal issues that preoccupied her at the time, and production of the engravings was seriously delayed. In 1932, now in the midst of difficult financial times, the Directors of the Gregynog Press decided to postpone the printing until more favorable times. That time did not arrive until 1988, when the illustrations were published on the 200th anniversary of the original release of White's work. £498 (US $778).
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.
Heritage Auctions Rare Books Signature Auction December 15, 2025
Heritage, Dec. 15: John Donne. Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death. London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.
Heritage, Dec. 15: Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
Heritage, Dec. 15: F. Scott Fitzgerald. Tender is the Night. A Romance.
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…
![<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.")
