Some consider this the greatest scientific book ever written: The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy. Translated into English by Andrew Motte. This is the first English language edition of Isaac Newton's Principia, published in 1729, two years after he died. In it, he set down the laws of motion. Copernicus and Galileo had observed how celestial bodies moved, but Newton gave an explanation why, and showed that the force of gravity which determines the motion of the planets was the same force that operated on Earth. $68,000.
Here's a book with nothing in common with the previous one: Peanuts, by Charles Schulz. Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the gang appeared in newspapers for half a century, from 1950 through Schulz's death in 2000 (reruns continue to appear but Schulz did not permit anyone to continue the strip after him). It is undoubtedly the most successful comic strip ever. Its popularity was already sufficient to justify this compilation in 1952, the first Peanuts book. This copy has been signed and contains a drawing of Snoopy added by Schulz. $4,500.
Freeman’s, August 20. President Washington Reaffirms the US Treaty of Friendship and Peace with Morocco, the Longest Unbroken Treaty in US History. $50,000 – 80,000.
Freeman’s, August 20. Weeks After Victory at Yorktown, Benjamin Franklin Promises Repayment of a French Loan that Funded the American Revolution. $200,000 – 300,000.
Freeman’s, August 20. Rare First Edition of the Foundational Text of the Mormon Church. $100,000 – 150,000.
Freeman’s, August 20. President Washington Sends the First Major Law Passed by Congress, the Tariff Act of 1789. $100,000 – 150,000.
Freeman’s, August 20. A Scarce Example of Audubon's Depiction of a Brown Pelican, Plate CCLI from his Birds of America. $30,000 – 50,000.
Freeman’s, August 20. The Official and First Obtainable Broadside Printing of the Lincoln's Final Emancipation Proclamation. $30,000 – 50,000.
