John Heath and George Armstrong Custer each met an untimely demise.
Speaking of New Orleans during the Civil War, item 28 is a Proclamation, issued by General Benjamin Butler shortly after Union forces seized the city in 1862. Martial law was declared, and the proclamation requires the surrender of arms, no flags other than that of the U.S. be flown, oaths of allegiance be given, and so on. Butler established a no-nonsense rule, at times harsh, leaving him an unpopular man in the South. That did not bother him. $7,500.
We usually expect to find attractive or important scenery on postcards, the Grand Canyon or the Washington Monument. This postcard instead features a picture of a hanging. The man dangling from the rope is John Heath, a one-time Deputy Sheriff of Cochise County, Arizona (Tombstone), who was not unwilling to ply the other side of the law. He moved to Bisbee, south of Tombstone, and opened a saloon. It was there he was alleged to have conspired with, most likely directed, five other men in what would be a robbery of a local store. It was expected there would be a payroll for a local mine at the store. There wasn't, but the five men stole other money they found, as well as robbing some customers. Then, something went awry, shooting started, and by the time it was over, four citizens of Bisbee lay dead. Heath did not participate in the crime. He said he was hiding behind his bar when the shooting broke out. The five were all convicted of murder and hanged for their crime. Heath was convicted of second degree murder for his involvement and sentenced to life in prison. That was not sufficient for the good folks of Bisbee. They dragged him from his cell and strung him up from a telegraph pole. Someone had a camera and caught the dangling Heath surrounded by a group of participants and spectators of the lynching. Another enterprising person turned the photograph into a postcard. Having fun, wish you were here. The lynching took place in 1884, while the postcard is dated 1885. Item 68. $2,250.
Item 39 is a photograph of General George Armstrong Custer, taken by Mora of New York in 1876. That was the year of a major life changing event for General Custer. We need say no more. This was taken at the last formal photography session for the Civil War General and Indian fighter. In his profession, you cannot afford to make even one mistake. Armstrong is dressed in his military uniform, looking as much debonair as military. $2,500.
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. 17: Francesco Colonna. Hypnerotomachie, Paris, 1546, Parisian calf by Wotton Binder C for Marcus Fugger. €200,000 to €300,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Nausea. De principiis dialectices Gorgias, and other works, Venice, 1523, morocco gilt for Cardinal Campeggio. €3,000 to €4,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Billon. Le fort inexpugnable de l'honneur, Paris, 1555, Parisian calf gilt for Peter Ernst, Graf von Mansfeld. €120,000 to €180,000.
Sotheby’s Book Week December 9-17, 2025
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: Salinger, J.D. The Graham Family archive, including autographed letters, an inscribed Catcher, a rare studio photograph of the author, and more. $120,000 to $180,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of Sense and Sensibility, the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: Massachusetts General Court. A powerful precursor to the Declaration of Independence: "every Act of Government … without the Consent of the People, is … Tyranny." $40,000 to $60,000.
![<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 16:</b> [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of <i>Sense and Sensibility,</i> the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/9a74d9ff-42dd-46a1-8bb2-b636c4cec796.png "<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 16:</b> [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of <i>Sense and Sensibility,</i> the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.")
