Rare Book Monthly

Book Catalogue Reviews - March - 2015 Issue

Voyages and the Golden West from Pacific Coast Books

0cdf5698-95fd-4f09-9e03-8f89db524c33

Voyages and the Golden West.

Pacific Coast Books of Lincoln City, Oregon, has issued a catalogue of Voyages and the Golden West. Part One. Lincoln City is situated along the Oregon coast, and undoubtedly some of the voyages herein described could have been seen from Lincoln City, had the community existed a couple of centuries ago. Pacific Coast Books specializes in material pertaining to the west coast of North America, much of it relating to early explorations, mainly by sea, occasionally by land. Other books simply provided information about what it was like within these then almost unknown places. Add to that a few titles about areas somewhat farther inland, and a tale or two from the land, and we have the 33 items that are offered in this selection. Here are a a few samples.

 

George Anson made an early stop in North America. He stopped at Acapulco, but this was long before the place was a luxurious resort. Anson eventually made it all the way around the world, a harrowing voyage that killed most of his crew, but made Anson a very rich man. Anson set off for South America in 1740 with 8 ships. The mission was to harass Spanish shipping, the two nations seemingly involved in perennial warfare. Anson's real aim was to secure a load of Spanish treasure, he being a privateer, or licensed pirate. Anson reached Mexico in 1742, only two of the original 8 ships left, and with very little in treasure to show for the loss of ships and loss of most of his men. They regrouped along the Mexican coast before heading west, eventually capturing one enormously treasure-laden ship that made the journey a great financial success for Anson. Offered is a first edition of Anson's account, Voyage Round the World in the Years MDCCXL, I, II, III, IV... published in 1748. It is accompanied by a discharge document from 1747 signed by Anson and three other commanders. Priced at $7,500.

 

Captain James Cook led three of the most important exploring expeditions in the history of voyages, though only one reached North America. That was his third and final voyage. Here is the official account, prepared by Cook and Captain James King (King had to complete it as Cook died on the voyage): A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean. Undertaken, by the Command of His Majesty, for Making Discoveries in the Northern Hemisphere. Cook reached the west coast of North America in what is now northern California. He charted the coast, proceeding all the way up the coast of Alaska and through the Bering Strait. He, like so many others, hoped to find the elusive northwest passage. Cook never made it back home. He was killed in a dispute with the natives in Hawaii. This 1785 first edition includes the three volumes, but the plates and charts usually found in the separate atlas are bound into the text volumes in the appropriate places. Also bound in to volume three is the rare “Death of Cook” plate which was issued later to subscribers separately and so is often missing. The folding map is housed in a separate cloth clamshell. $14,500.

 

Captains George Dixon and Nathaniel Portlock sailed with Cook on his third voyage, and headed up their own voyage to the Pacific coast a few years later. They sailed together on a mission to chart the coast, but also split off for much of the time. Portlock went farther north, sailing along the Alaskan coast and visiting with the Russians then living in Alaska. Dixon headed south, around Nootka Sound, to conduct his explorations. Dixon and Portlock each compiled separate accounts of the expedition. Both were published in 1789, and to make it really confusing, each used the exact same title for their book: A Voyage Round The World, But More Particularly To The Northwest Coast Of America: Performed in 1785...1788... Dixon's book is priced at $8,000, Portlock's $7,500.

 

Into the valley of death rode William Manly and a group of other gold seekers and their families in 1849. They were heading to California, and sought a shortcut that took them straight into Death Valley. They could not find their way out. As they unsuccessfully sought their exit under mounting thirst and weakness, Manly and another set out on foot, hoping to find rescue for the party. They finally did, and with incredible bravery, led a rescue party back into the valley, though they had little hope of finding survivors. Amazingly, they did. Many years later (1894), Manly published this account of their terrible overland journey: Death Valley in '49. It was Manly's party that gave the foreboding place the name “Death Valley.” $1,000.

 

Next we have a first edition, second issue of Mark Twain's first book, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, and Other Sketches, published in 1867. Twain originally wrote the title story for inclusion in a collection being published by his friend Artemis Ward. However, it took Twain so long to complete the short story that it was too late for Ward's book. Instead, Ward sent it to a weekly literary newspaper, where it was a great success, Twain's first step to fame. When Twain was encouraged to publish a collection of his short stories, it was decided to make the Celebrated Jumping Frog its title. The book certainly jump started Twain's career. $7,500.

 

Pacific Coast Books may be reached at 541-994-7323 or pacificcoastbooks3@gmail.com. Their website is www.pacificcoastbooks.net.

Rare Book Monthly

  • <b><center>Dominic Winter Auctioneers<br>June 14/15<br>Printed Books, Maps, Playing Cards & Games, English Literature, Private Press & Illustrated Books</b>
    <b>Dominic Winter, June 14/15:</b> Chinese School. Album of Chinese rice paper paintings of St Helena and Napoleon, circa 1830s/1840s. £700 to £1,000.
    <b>Dominic Winter, June 14/15:</b> Speed (John).<i> The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine...,</i> 1676. £3,000 to £5,000.
    <b>Dominic Winter, June 14/15:</b> Laroon (Marcellus). <i>The Cryes of the City of London drawne after the Life,</i> 1st edition, 1688. £1,000 to £1,500.
    <b><center>Dominic Winter Auctioneers<br>June 14/15<br>Printed Books, Maps, Playing Cards & Games, English Literature, Private Press & Illustrated Books</b>
    <b>Dominic Winter, June 14/15:</b> Thomas Sedgley binding. <i>The Holy Bible,</i> London, 1701, large folio. £2,000 to £3,000.
    <b>Dominic Winter, June 14/15:</b> Kipling (Rudyard). The Sussex Edition of the <i>Complete Works in Prose and Verse,</i> 1937-1939. £5,000 to £8,000.
    <b>Dominic Winter, June 14/15:</b> Dodgson (Charles). <i>Alice's Adventures in Wonderland,</i> 1886, presentation copy. £500 to £800.
    <b><center>Dominic Winter Auctioneers<br>June 14/15<br>Printed Books, Maps, Playing Cards & Games, English Literature, Private Press & Illustrated Books</b>
    <b>Dominic Winter, June 14/15:</b> German tarot cards. Napoleon tarock, Leipzig: Johann Gottfried Herbert, circa 1808. £1,500 to £2,000.
    <b>Dominic Winter, June 14/15:</b> Milne (A.A.). <i>The House at Pooh Corner,</i> 1928, inscribed limited deluxe edition of 20. £15,000 to £20,000.
    <b>Dominic Winter, June 14/15:</b> Peter Pan. A unique 13.5m (44ft) long needlework nursery frieze, by Helen Stebbing M.R.S.T., 1936. £7,000 to £10,000.
    <b><center>Dominic Winter Auctioneers<br>June 14/15<br>Printed Books, Maps, Playing Cards & Games, English Literature, Private Press & Illustrated Books</b>
    <b>Dominic Winter, June 14/15:</b> Peak (Bob, 1928-1992). <i>U.S.A,</i> a mural produced for Trans World Airlines (TWA), 1971. £200 to £400.
    <b>Dominic Winter, June 14/15:</b> Austen (Jane). <i>Pride and Prejudice: a novel,</i> 3 volumes, 2nd edition, London: T. Egerton, 1813. £8,000 to £12,000.
    <b>Dominic Winter, June 14/15:</b> Hughes (Ted). Crow, 1st edition, London: Faber and Faber, 1970, signed presentation copy. £400 to £600.
  • <b><center>Swann Auction Galleries<br>Fine Books, Autographs & Illustration Art:<br>At Auction June 15, 2023</b>
    <b>Swann June 15:</b> J.R.R. Tolkien, <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> trilogy, first American editions, finely bound by The Chelsea Bindery, Boston, 1954-56. $9,000 to $12,000.
    <b>Swann June 15:</b> John Carleton Atherton, <i>Fall Bounty,</i> oil on board, cover design for The Saturday Evening Post, 1943. $10,000 to $15,000.
    <b>Swann June 15:</b> George Washington, Endorsement Signed, “G:Washington,’ as President of the Potomac Company, 1787.
    <b>Swann June 15:</b> Gustav Klimt, <i>Das Werk von Gustav Klimt,</i> complete with 50 collotype plates, one of 300 copies, Vienna, 1918. $25,000 to $35,000.
    <b>Swann June 15:</b> Pancho Villa, Autograph Letter Signed, to the governor of Chihuahua soliciting help in persuading authorities to release him from prison, Mexico City, 1912. $7,000 to $10,000.
    <b>Swann June 15:</b> Charles Monroe Schulz, <i>The Peanuts gang,</i> Complete set of 13 drawings, 1971. $8,000 to $12,000.
  • <center><b>Forum Auctions<br>A fourth selection of 16th and 17th Century English Books from the Fox Pointe Manor Library<br>15th June 2023</b>
    <b>Forum, June 15:</b> Hobbes (Thomas). <i>Leviathan, or The Matter, Forme & Power of a Common-Wealth,</i> first edition, first issue, 1651. £10,000 to £15,000.
    <b>Forum, June 15:</b> [Burton (Robert)] "Democritus Junior". <i>The Anatomy of Melancholy,</i> first edition, Oxford, Printed by John Lichfield and James Short, 1621. £8,000 to £12,000.
    <b>Forum, June 15:</b> Fletcher (Giles). <i>Of the Russe Common Wealth,</i> first edition, Printed by T[homas] D[awson] for Thomas Charde, 1591. £7,000 to £10,000.
    <center><b>Forum Auctions<br>A fourth selection of 16th and 17th Century English Books from the Fox Pointe Manor Library<br>15th June 2023</b>
    <b>Forum, June 15:</b> Shakespeare source book.- Fraunce (Abraham). <i>The Lawiers Logike, exemplifying the praecepts of Logike by the practise of the common Lawe,</i> first edition, 1588. £4,000 to £6,000.
    <b>Forum, June 15:</b> Fireworks.- Babington (John.) <i>Pyrotechnia or, A discourse of artificiall fire-works…,</i> 2 parts in 1 vol., first edition, Thomas Harper for Ralph Mab, 1635. £4,000 to £6,000.
    <b>Forum, June 15:</b> Gardening.- [Bonnefons (Nicolas de)]. <i>The French Gardiner instructing how to cultivate all sorts of Fruit-Trees and Herbs for the Garden, translated by John Evelyn,</i> third edition, 1675. £3,500 to £4,500.
    <center><b>Forum Auctions<br>A fourth selection of 16th and 17th Century English Books from the Fox Pointe Manor Library<br>15th June 2023</b>
    <b>Forum, June 15:</b> Witchcraft.- F. (H.) <i>A true and exact Relation Of the severall Informations, Examinations, and Confessions of the late Witches…,</i> first edition, 1645. £3,000 to £4,000.
    <b>Forum, June 15:</b> Science.- Boyle (Robert). <i>The Origine of Formes and Qualities (According to the Corpuscular Philosophy),</i> first edition, Oxford, H. Hall for Ric: Davis, 1666. £3,000 to £4,000.
    <b>Forum, June 15:</b> Massinger (Philip). <i>The Unnaturall Combat. A Tragedie,</i> first edition, Printed by E.G. for John Waterson, 1639. £2,000 to £3,000.
    <center><b>Forum Auctions<br>A fourth selection of 16th and 17th Century English Books from the Fox Pointe Manor Library<br>15th June 2023</b>
    <b>Forum, June 15:</b> Plastic Surgery.- Read (Alexander). <i>Chirurgorum Comes: or the Whole Practice of Chirurgery,</i> first edition, Printed by Edw. Jones, for Christopher Wilkinson, 1687. £2,000 to £3,000.
    <b>Forum, June 15:</b> Hall (Edward). <i>The Union of the two noble and illustre famelies of Lancaster & Yorke…,</i> [by Richard Grafton], 1550. £2,200 to £2,500.
    <b>Forum, June 15:</b> Cosmetics.- Jeamson (Thomas). <i>Artificiall Embellishments. Or Arts Best Directions How to Preserve Beauty or Procure it,</i> first edition, Oxford, Printed by William Hall, 1665. £1,000 to £1,500.
  • <b><center>Sotheby's<br>The Joanne Woodward & Paul Newman Collection<br>26 May - 12 June</b>
    <b>Sotheby’s, May 26 – Jun. 12:</b> "Cool Hand Luke" | Paul Newman Academy Award® Nomination Plaque. USD$2500 - $3500
    <b>Sotheby’s, May 26 – Jun. 12:</b> "Hud" | Bound presentation script incorporating photographic stills. USD$1000 - $1500
    <b>Sotheby’s, May 26 – Jun. 12:</b> "The Long, Hot Summer" | Movie Poster. USD$1000 - $1500
    <b>Sotheby’s, May 26 – Jun. 12:</b> Joseph Heller | "Catch-22," inscribed to Woodward & Newman by author. USD$500 - $800
    <b><center>Sotheby's<br>The Joanne Woodward & Paul Newman Collection<br>26 May - 12 June</b>
    <b>Sotheby’s, May 26 – Jun. 12:</b> George H. W. Bush | Typed Letter Signed, Issuing a "Pardon" to Paul Newman. USD$1500 - $2000
    <b>Sotheby’s, May 26 – Jun. 12:</b> William Jefferson Clinton | Inscribed Color Photograph. USD$1000 - $1500
    <b>Sotheby’s, May 26 – Jun. 12:</b> Ken Kesey | Typed letter to “Paulnewman,” asking for further compensation for "Sometimes a Great Notion". USD$1000 - $1500
    <b>Sotheby’s, May 26 – Jun. 12:</b> "They Might Be Giants" | Costume sketches by Edith Head. USD$1000 - $2000

Review Search

Archived Reviews

Ask Questions