Rare Book Monthly

Book Catalogue Reviews - June - 2013 Issue

A Post-Fair List from John Windle Antiquarian Bookseller

George Harrison graces the cover of John Windle's latest catalogue.

George Harrison graces the cover of John Windle's latest catalogue.

This is not a George Harrison catalogue despite the appearance of the cover. That is just one item. It is actually Occasional List Three from John Windle Antiquarian Bookseller, also known as The Post 53rd New York Antiquarian Book Fair List. We receive a lot of fair lists, but this is the first post-fair one I have seen. As to what is in a post-fair list, the answer is a little bit of everything. At least that's true of this one. There is something for everyone here. Let's take a look at a few examples.

Item 71 is an account of The History of the World. It spelled bad times for its author, Sir Walter Raleigh. Raleigh was a leader in the court of Queen Elizabeth. He is most noted for his visits to the New World, establishing the doomed but precedent setting colony in Roanoke, and bringing tobacco to England. He had a falling out with Queen Elizabeth when he married one of her ladies in waiting without her permission, but good relations were restored and he thrived during her rule. Unfortunately, not even Elizabeth lived forever, and he was not well liked by King James. He was accused of being in a plot against him and sent to the Tower of London, where he was imprisoned from 1603-1616. It was during this enforced vacation from other matters that he wrote this book. Published in 1614, it covered from biblical to Greek and Roman times. It was originally to carry through to modern times, but was never completed. King James was not fond of it, banning it for a while as being “too sawcie in censuring princes.” Though it covered times of many centuries earlier, the King believed Raleigh was drawing parallels to modern times. Raleigh was finally released to attempt to find a legendary city of gold in South America, but some of his men attacked the Spanish, who demanded James execute Raleigh for their action. James complied, perhaps seeing this as an opportunity to do away with him. Priced at $9,500.

That picture of George Harrison on the cover of this catalogue is from George Harrison's book I, Me, Mine. Published in 1980, you can probably guess what it is about. It is the closest thing to an autobiography of the most notable Beatle not named “John” or “Paul,” as he discusses many events and important things in his life. This copy is inscribed by Harrison to a friend. Item 40. $3,500.

Item 63 is a printed leaf announcing the sale of the library of the most noted of all fine press printers. William Morris, of the famed Kelmscott Press, died in 1896, and his library was turned over to Sotheran's to be sold as a complete collection. Morris' library was particularly strong in old manuscripts, around 110 in number, plus around 800 books, many illustrating early typography. This leaf, from 1896, is headed Announcement for the Sale of William Morris' Library. It continues, “For sale en block, the library of the late William Morris, consisting of his unrivalled collection of medieval manuscripts and printed books. Full particulars on application to Mssrs. Henry Sotheran & Co.” Reportedly, the library was purchased by a Manchester collector for £20,000, who kept what he wanted and sold the rest at Sotheby's in 1898 for £10,992. The leaf is priced at $100.

Benjamin Franklin was a many talented man – scientist, politician, printer, and certainly a great salesman. Item 34 is Constitutions de Treize Etats-Unis de l'Amerique, the constitutions of the 13 American states. This was published before there was a United States as we know it today, just the loosely confederated states of 1783, shortly after the formal peace treaty with England was ratified. This first edition in French also includes the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and peace treaties with France, Belgium, and Sweden. Franklin's purpose was to sell Europe on the virtues of America, both to forge friendships with foreign powers and to encourage European immigrants to come and help settle the new land. $4,750.

Item 75 is a biography of a most unusual man: Memoir of Richard Robert Jones, or Aberdaron... He was more commonly called Dick Aberdaron for his hometown. Dick was a beggar, a man abused as a boy who did not hold down a job. He suffered personal hygiene issues, also earning the nickname “Dirty Dick.” His clothes were ragged and worn. His formal education was limited, but Dick was nonetheless a self-taught man. He was a linguist. He knew some 12 to 15 languages, including ancient ones such as Hebrew and Greek, along with Arabic and Persian, Latin and numerous European languages. Oddly, he was said not to be very good with English, but perhaps that was because he was Welsh. Dick compiled a couple of inter-language dictionaries as he felt those available were inadequate, though his work was never published. He was said to excel in his understanding of the grammar of the languages he learned. It was also said that his knowledge was utterly useless, as he never taught or made other use of his extensive language skills. Mr. Jones at times was supported by those who befriended him, and that would include the author of this book published in 1822, the writer and historian William Roscoe. Dick outlived Roscoe, surviving to the age of 63 in 1843. $475.

John Windle Antiquarian Bookseller may be reached at 415-986-5826 or johnwindle@aol.com. The website is www.johnwindle.com.

Rare Book Monthly

  • Fonsie Mealy’s
    Rare Books & Collectors’ Sale
    April 30th & May 1st
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Taylor (Geo.) & Skinner (A.) Maps of the Roads of Ireland, Surveyed 1777. Lond. & Dublin 1778. €500 to €750.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Messingham (Thos.) Florilegium Insulae Sanctorum seu Vitae et Acta Sanctorum Hibernia, Paris 1624. €350 to €500.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Heaney (Seamus). The Haw Lantern, L. (Faber & Faber) 1987, First Edn., Signed and dated. €225 to €350.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Valencey (Lt. Col. Chas.) Collectanea de Rebus Hibernicis, Vols. I-IV, 4 vols. Dublin 1786. €400 to €600.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Powerscourt (Viscount). A Description and History of Powerscourt, Lond. 1903. €350 to €500.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Moryson (Fynes). An Itinerary ... Containing His Ten Yeeres Travel Through the Twelve Dominions of Germany, Bohermerland, Sweitzerland…, Lond. (John Beale) 1617. €700 to €1,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: After Buffon, Birds of Europe, c. 1820. Approx. 120 fine hd. cold. plts., mor. backed boards. €125 to €250.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Dunlevy (Andrew). An Teagasg Criosduidhe De Reir Ceasda agus Freagartha... The Catechism or Christian Doctrine by Way of Question and Answer, Paris (James Guerin) 1742. €400 to €700.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: The Georgian Society Records of Eighteen-Century Domestic Architecture in Dublin, 5 vols. Complete, Dublin 1909-1913. €500 to €750.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Scale (Bernard). An Hibernian Atlas or General Description of the Kingdom of Ireland, L. (Robert Sayer & John Bennet) 1776. €625 to €850.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: [Johnson (Rev. Samuel)]. Julian the Apostate Being a Short Account of his Life, together with a Comparison of Popery and Paganism,L. (Langley Curtis) 1682. €300 to €400.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Nichlson (Wm.) Illustrator. An Almanac of Twelve Sports, Lond. 1898. €300 to €400.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Heaney (Seamus) trans. The Light of the Leaves, 2 vols., Mexico (Imprenta de los Tropicos/Bunholt) 1999. €1,500 to €2,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Fleming (Ian). Moonraker, L. (Jonathan Cape) 1955. €1,500 to €2,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Heaney (Seamus) & Egan (Felim) artist. Squarings, Twelve Poems, D. (Hieroglyph Editions Ltd.) 1991. €1,750 to €2,250.
  • Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: ANDERSEN'S EXTREMELY RARE FIRST APPEARANCE IN PRINT. "Scene af: Røverne i Vissenberg i Fyen." in Harpen, 1822.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: FIRST ISSUE OF THE FIRST THREE FAIRY TALE PAMPHLETS, WITH ALL INDICES AND TITLE PAGES. Eventyr, fortalte for Børn. 1835-1837.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: THE FIRST FAIRY TALES WITH A SIGNED CARTE DE VISITE OF ANDERSEN AS FRONTIS. Eventyr, fortalte for Børn. 1835-1837.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: KARL LAGERFELD. Original pastel and ink drawing in gold, red and black for Andersen's The Emperor's New Clothes (1992), "La cassette de l'Empereur."
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: PRESENTATION COPY OF THE SIXTH PAMPHLET FOR PETER KOCH. Eventyr, Fortalte For Børn, Second Series, Third Pamphlet. 1841. Publisher's wrappers, complete with all pre- and post-matter.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN RARE AUTOGRAPH QUOTATION SIGNED IN ENGLISH from "The Ugly Duckling," c.1860s.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: HEINRICH LEFLER, ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR FOR ANDERSEN'S SNOW QUEEN, "Die Schneekönigin," 1910.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: FIRST EDITION OF ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES IN ENGLISH. Wonderful Stories for Children. London, 1846.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: ANDERSEN ON MEETING CHARLES DICKENS. Autograph Letter Signed ("H.C. Andersen") in English to William Jerdan, July 20, 1847.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: PRESENTATION COPY FOR EDGAR COLLIN. Nye Eventyr og Historier. Anden Raekke. 1861.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: DOLL HOUSE FURNITURE BY HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON, DECORATED WITH FANTASTICAL CUT-OUTS, for the children of Jonna Stampe (née Drewsen), his godchildren.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: PRESENTATION COPY FOR GEORG BRANDES. Dryaden. Et Eventyr fra Udstillingstiden i Paris 1867. 1868.
  • Jeschke Jádi
    Rare Book Auction 155
    Saturday April 26, 2025
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 962. Baird. United States Exploring Expedition. Philadelphia 1858.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 772. Edith Holland Norton. Brazilian Flowers. Coombe Croft 1893.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 49. Petrarca. Das Gluecksbuch, Augsburg 1536.
    Jeschke Jádi
    Rare Book Auction 155
    Saturday April 26, 2025
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 1496. Jacob / Picasso. Chronique des Temps, 1956.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 8. Augustinus. De moribus ecclesie. Cologne 1480.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 17. Heures a lusaige de Noyon. Paris 1504.
    Jeschke Jádi
    Rare Book Auction 155
    Saturday April 26, 2025
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 13. Schedel. Buch der Chronicken. Nürnberg 1493.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 957. Donovan. Insects of China. London 1798.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 123. A holy martyr. Tuscany, Florence, mid-14th century.
    Jeschke Jádi
    Rare Book Auction 155
    Saturday April 26, 2025
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 438. Dante. La Divine Comédie. Paris 1963.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 602. Firdausi. Histoire de Minoutchehr. Paris 1919
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 994. Westwood. Oriental Entomology. London 1848.
  • Sotheby's
    Sell Your Fine Books & Manuscripts
    Sotheby’s: The Shem Tov Bible, 1312 | A Masterpiece from the Golden Age of Spain. Sold: 6,960,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: Ten Commandments Tablet, 300-800 CE | One of humanity's earliest and most enduring moral codes. Sold: 5,040,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: William Blake | Songs of Innocence and of Experience. Sold: 4,320,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: The Declaration of Independence | The Holt printing, the only copy in private hands. Sold: 3,360,000 USD
    Sotheby's
    Sell Your Fine Books & Manuscripts
    Sotheby’s: Thomas Taylor | The original cover art for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Sold: 1,920,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: Machiavelli | Il Principe, a previously unrecorded copy of the book where modern political thought began. Sold: 576,000 GBP
    Sotheby’s: Leonardo da Vinci | Trattato della pittura, ca. 1639, a very fine pre-publication manuscript. Sold: 381,000 GBP
    Sotheby’s: Henri Matisse | Jazz, Paris 1947, the complete portfolio. Sold: 312,000 EUR

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