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.

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

  • Sotheby’s
    Important Modern Literature from the Library of an American Filmmaker
    8 December 2023
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 8: Kerouac, Jack. Typescript scroll of The Dharma Bums. Typed by Kerouac in Orlando, Florida, 1957, published by Viking in 1958. 300,000 - 500,000 USD
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 8: Hemingway, Ernest. The autograph manuscript of "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber." [Key West, finished April 1936]. 300,000 - 500,000 USD
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 8: Miller, Henry. Typescript of The Last Book, a working title for Tropic of Cancer, written circa 1931–1932. 100,000 - 150,000 USD
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 8: Ruscha, Ed. Twentysix Gasoline Stations, with a lengthy inscription to Joe Goode. 40,000 - 60,000 USD
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 8: Hemingway, Ernest. in our time, first edition of Hemingway’s second book. 30,000 - 50,000 USD
  • Swann
    Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books
    December 7, 2023
    Swann, Dec. 7: Samuel Augustus Mitchell, A New Map of Texas, Oregon and California with the Regions Adjoining, Philadelphia, 1846. $3,500 to $5,000.
    Swann, Dec. 7: 17th–19th-century case maps of various locations. $1,500 to $2,000.
    Swann, Dec. 7: Andreas Cellarius, Haemisphaerium Stellatum Boreale Cum Subiecto Haemisphaerio Terrestri, celestial chart, Amsterdam, 1708. $2,500 to $3,500.
    Swann
    Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books
    December 7, 2023
    Swann, Dec. 7: Vincenzo Coronelli, Set of engraved gores for Coronelli’s monumental 42-inch terrestrial globe, Venice, circa 1688–97. $18,000 to $22,000.
    Swann, Dec. 7: Lucas Janszoon Waghenaer, group of four navigational charts, Antwerp, 1580s. $2,000 to $3,000.
    Swann, Dec. 7: Thomas Bros, Block Book of Berkeley, Oakland, 1920s. $800 to $1,200.
    Swann
    Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books
    December 7, 2023
    Swann, Dec. 7: John Nieuhoff & John Ogilby, An Embassy from the East-India Company of the United Provinces, map of China, plan of Canton, London, 1673. $1,200 to $1,800.
    Swann, Dec. 7: Frederick Sander, Reichenbachia, St. Albans, 1888-1894. $5,000 to $7,000.
    Swann, Dec. 7: Two early illustrated works on horsemanship and breeding, Nuremberg, early 18th century. $700 to $800.
    Swann
    Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books
    December 7, 2023
    Swann, Dec. 7: John Gould, A Monograph of the Ramphastidae, or Family of Toucans. Supplement to the First Edition, London, 1834; 1855. $40,000 to $60,000.
    Swann, Dec. 7: John Pinkerton, A General Collection of the Best and Most Interesting Voyages and Travels in All Parts of the World, London, 1808–14. $1,500 to $2,500.
    Swann, Dec. 7: Oakley Hoopes Bailey, Hackensack, New Jersey, Boston, 1896. $800 to $1,200.
  • CHRISTIE’S
    Valuable Books and Manuscripts
    London auction
    13 December
    Find out more
    Christie’s, Explore now
    TREW, Christoph Jacob (1695–1769). Plantae Selectae quarum imagines ad exemplaria naturalia Londini in hortus curiosorum. [Nuremberg: 1750–1773]. £30,000–40,000
    Christie’s, Explore now
    VERBIEST, Ferdinand (1623–88). Liber Organicus Astronomiae Europaeae apud Sinas restituate. [Beijing: Board of Astronomy, 1674]. £250,000–350,000
    Christie’s, Explore now
    PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF ALICE & NIKOLAUS HARNONCOURT. Master of Jean Rolin (active 1445–65). Book of Hours, use of Paris, in Latin and French, [Paris, c.1450–1460]. £120,000–180,000
    Christie’s, Explore now
    A SILVER MICROSCOPE. Probably by Antoni van Leeuwenhoek (1632–1723), c.1700. £150,000–250,000
    Christie’s, Explore now
    AN ENGLISH HORARY QUADRANT
    C.1311. £100,000–150,000
  • Fonsie Mealy’s, Dec. 12-13: Roberts (David) & Croly (George). The Holy Land, Syria, Idumae, Arabia, Egypt and Nubia. Lond. 1842 - 1843 [-49]. First Edn. €10,000 to €15,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Dec. 12-13: Incunabula: O'Fihily (Maurice). Duns Scotus Joannes: O'Fihely, Maurice Abp… Venice, 20th November 1497. €8,000 to €12,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Dec. 12-13: An important file of documents with provenance to G.A. Newsom, manager of the Jacob’s Factory in Dublin, occupied by insurgents during Easter Week 1916. €6,000 to €9,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Dec. 12-13: WILDE (Oscar), 1854-1900, playwright, aesthete and wit. A lock of Wilde’s Hair, presented by his son to the distinguished Irish actor Mícheál MacLiammóir. €6,000 to €8,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Dec. 12-13: Heaney (Seamus). Bog Poems, London, 1975. Special Limited Edition, No. 33 of 150 Copies, Signed by Author. Illus. by Barrie Cooke. €4,000 to €6,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Dec. 12-13: Binding: Burke, Thomas O.P. (de Burgo). Hibernia Dominicana, Sive Historia Provinciae Hiberniae Ordinis Praedicatorum, ... 1762. First Edition. €4,000 to €6,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Dec. 12-13: COLLINS, Michael. An important TL, 29 July 1922, addressed to GOVERNMENT on ‘suggested Proclamation warning all concerned that troops have orders to shoot prisoners found sniping, ambushing etc.’. €3,000 to €4,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Dec. 12-13: Scott Fitzgerald (F.) The Great Gatsby, New York (Charles Scribner's Sons) 1925, First Edn. €2,000 to €3,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Dec. 12-13: Yeats (W.B.) The Poems of W.B. Yeats, 2 vols. Lond. (MacMillan & Co.) 1949. Limited Edition, No. 46 of 375 Copies Only, Signed by W.B. Yeats. €1,500 to €2,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Dec. 12-13: Miller (William) Publisher. The Costume of the Russian Empire, Description in English and French, Lg. folio London (S. Gosnell) 1803. First Edn. €1,000 to €1,500.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Dec. 12-13: Miller (William) Publisher. The Costume of Turkey, Illustrated by a Series of Engravings. Lg. folio Lond.(T. Bensley) 1802. First Edn. €800 to €1,200.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Dec. 12-13: Mason (Geo. Henry). The Costume of China, Illustrated with Sixty Engravings. Lg. folio London (for W. Miller) 1800. First Edn. €1,400 to €1,800
  • Sotheby’s
    Fine Books and Manuscripts
    8 December 2023
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 8: [Austen, Jane] — Isaac D'Israeli. Jane Austen's copy of Curiosities of Literature. 100,000 - 150,000 USD
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 8: [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition in boards of the author's debut novel. 70,000 - 100,000 USD
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 8: Brontë, Charlotte. "I am no bird; and no net ensnares me..." 100,000 - 150,000 USD
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 8: Eliot, George. The author's magnum opus. 25,000 - 35,000 USD
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 8: Whitman, Walt. Manuscript written upon the Death of Lincoln, 1865. 60,000 - 80,000 USD

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