• <b><center>Case Auctions<br>Fall Fine Art & Antiques Auction<br>October 6-7, 2023</b>
    <b>Case Auctions, Oct. 7:</b> John Speed 1676 Map of Virginia, Maryland, and Chesapeake Bay. $1,000 to $1,200.
    <b>Case Auctions, Oct. 7:</b> Andrew Jackson Coffin Handbill and Political Cartoon. $800 to $900.
    <b>Case Auctions, Oct. 7:</b> Three Andrew Jackson Bank War Cartoons, incl. Way to Arabay. $800 to $900.
    <b>Case Auctions, Oct. 7:</b> Three Andrew Jackson period Political Cartoons inc. Petticoat Affair. $500 to $600.
    <b>Case Auctions, Oct. 7:</b> Cdre. Jesse D. Elliott ALS and Sarcophagus Print, Andrew Jackson & USS Constitution elated. $500 to $600.
    <b><center>Case Auctions<br>Fall Fine Art & Antiques Auction<br>October 6-7, 2023</b>
    <b>Case Auctions, Oct. 7:</b> Presidential Autographs & Portrait Prints incl. Eisenhower Photo, 18 items. $400 to $500.
    <b>Case Auctions, Oct. 7:</b> Group of three Robert E. Lee Cabinet Card Photographs, Miley Studio. $400 to $500.
    <b>Case Auctions, Oct. 7:</b> Eight Fugitive Writer related books incl. Andrew Lytle, R.P. Warren, J.C. Ransom, Allen Tate. $400 to $500.
    <b>Case Auctions, Oct. 7:</b> Group Early Southern and Civil War Era Sheet Music. $300 to $350.
    <b>Case Auctions, Oct. 7:</b> Henry Miller, <i>Insomnia or the Devil at Large;</i> Signed; Loujon Press 1970. $500 to $600.
  • <b><center>Australian Book Auctions<br>Voyages, Natural History &c.<br>October 4, 2023<br>9:00 AM Australian Western Time</b>
    <b>Australian Book Auctions, Oct. 4:</b> PURCHAS, Samuel (circa 1577-1626). <i>HAKLUYTUS POSTHUMUS OR PURCHAS HIS PILGRIMES…,</i> London, 1625-1626. First edition. $40,000 to $60,000 AUD
    <b>Australian Book Auctions, Oct. 4:</b> GOULD, John. <i>THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA,</i> Volume IV. Folio, 104 fine handcoloured lithographed plates. London, 1848. $20,000 to $30,000 AUD
    <b>Australian Book Auctions, Oct. 4:</b> REICHENOW, Dr. Ant. <i>VOGELBILDER AUS FERNER ZONEN, abbildungen und beschreibungen der Papageien.</i> Kassel, 1878-1883. Folio, 33 hand-finished chromolithograph plates. $3,000 to $5,000 AUD
    <b>Australian Book Auctions, Oct. 4:</b> WALLIS, <i>E. WALLIS’S ELEGANT AND INSTRUCTIVE GAME exhibiting the Wonders of Nature, in Each Quarter of the World.</i> Handcoloured view, 26 numbered scenes. $400 to $600 AUD.
    <b>Australian Book Auctions, Oct. 4:</b> GREENAWAY, Kate. <i>ALMANACK FOR 1883</i> [and following years]. Twenty-two volumes, including six duplicates in variant bindings. $1,400 to $1,800 AUD.
  • <b><center>Sotheby’s<br>Bibliotheca Brookeriana: A Renaissance Library<br>Magnificent Books and Bindings<br>11 October 2023</b>
    <b>Sotheby’s, Oct. 11:</b> Francesco Colonna, Hypnerotomachie, Paris, 1546, Parisian calf by Wotton Binder C for Marcus Fugger. $300,000 to $400,000.
    <b>Sotheby’s, Oct. 11:</b> Leonardo da Vinci, Trattato della pittura, manuscript on paper, [Rome, ca. 1638–1641], a very fine pre-publication manuscript. $250,000 to $300,000.
    <b>Sotheby’s, Oct. 11:</b> Paradis, Ung petit traicte de Alkimie, [Paris, before 1540], contemporary morocco by the Pecking Crow binder for Anne de Montmorency. $300,000 to $350,000.
    <b>Sotheby’s, Oct. 11:</b> Capocaccia, Giovanni Battista, A wax relief portrait of Pius V, in a red morocco book-form box by the Vatican bindery, Rome, 1566–1568. $250,000 to $300,000.
    <b>Sotheby’s, Oct. 11:</b> Serlio, Il terzo libro; Regole generali, Venice, 1540, both printed on blue paper and bound together by the Cupid's Bow Binder. $400,000 to $500,000.
    <b>Sotheby’s, Oct. 11:</b> Tiraboschi, Carmina, manuscript on vellum, [Padua, c. 1471], the earliest surviving plaquette binding. $280,000 to $350,000.
    <b><center>Sotheby’s<br>Bibliotheca Brookeriana: A Renaissance Library<br>The Aldine Collection A–C<br>12 October 2023</b>
    <b>Sotheby’s, Oct. 12:</b> Anthologia graeca, Venice, Aldus, 1503, printed on vellum, Masterman Sykes-Syston Park copy. $150,000 to $200,000.
    <b>Sotheby’s, Oct. 12:</b> Castiglione, Il libro del cortegiano, Venice, Aldus, 1528, contemporary Italian morocco gilt, Accolti-Landau copy. $200,000 to $300,000.
    <b>Sotheby’s, Oct. 12:</b> Castiglione, Il libro del cortegiano, Venice, Aldus, 1545, contemporary morocco for Thomas Mahieu, Chatsworth copy. $200,000 to $300,000.
    <b>Sotheby’s, Oct. 12:</b> Cicero, Epistolae familiares, Venice, Aldus, 1502, printed on vellum, illuminated, Renouard-Vernon-Uzielli copy. $200,000 to $300,000.
    <b>Sotheby’s, Oct. 12:</b> Colonna, Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, Venice, Aldus, 1499, Gomar Estienne binding for Jean Grolier, Spencer copy. $400,000 to $600,000.
    <b>Sotheby’s, Oct. 12:</b> Crinito, Libri de poetis Latinis, Florence, Giunta, 1505, Cupid's Bow Binder for Grolier, Paris d'Illins-Wodhull copy. $250,000 to $300,000.
  • <center><b>Potter & Potter Auctions<br>Nobu Shirase and the Japanese Antarctic Expedition: the Collection of Chet Ross<br>October 12, 2023</b>
    <b>Potter & Potter, Oct. 12:</b> [BYRD]. VEER, Willard Van der and Joseph T. RUCKER, cinematographers. The 35mm motion picture Akeley camera that filmed the Academy Award-winning documentary “With Byrd at the South Pole”. $30,000 to $50,000.
    <b>Potter & Potter, Oct. 12:</b> [SHIRASE, Nobu, his copy]. RYUKEI, Yano. <i>Young Politicians of Thebes: Illustrious Tales of Statesmanship.</i> Tokyo(?), 1881-84. $15,000 to $20,000.
    <b>Potter & Potter, Oct. 12:</b> SHACKLETON, Ernest H. <i>The Antarctic Book.</i> Winter Quarters 1907-1909 [dummy copy of the supplement to: <i>The Heart of the Antarctic</i>]. London, 1909. $10,000 to $15,000.
    <b>Potter & Potter, Oct. 12:</b> [USS BEAR]. The original auxiliary deck wheel from the famed USS Bear, 1874-1933. “PROBABLY THE MOST FAMOUS SHIP IN THE HISTORY OF THE COAST GUARD” (USCG). $10,000 to $15,000.
    <b>Potter & Potter, Oct. 12:</b> HENSON, Matthew. <i>A Negro Explorer at the North Pole.</i> With a forward by Robert Peary. Introduction by Booker T. Washington. New York, [1912]. $3,000 to $4,000.

Rare Book Monthly

Book Catalogue Reviews - March - 2017 Issue

Private Press, Fine Press, Illustrated Books from Sophie Schneideman Rare Books

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The book arts at a book fair.

Sophie Schneideman Rare Books prepared a catalogue for the California Antiquarian Book Fair entitled Private Press, Illustrated Books, Fine Bindings, Calligraphy & Prints. These are selections from what is generally known as the book arts. As such, I find them difficult to describe. Books focused on their text are more amenable to descriptions with words than is art. Not even a thousand words are worth a picture, but I will try just the same.

 

The granddaddy of the private press movement, and still the standard, is William Morris' Kelmscott Press, so this is a logical starting point. Morris is noted for his art, writing, close association with the Arts and Craft's movement, being an ardent socialist, and in the last years of his life, founder of the Kelmscott Press that followed traditional production methods to create beautiful books. The Kelmscott Press only operated for the final five years of Morris' life, plus a little longer to wind down operations. Morris died in 1896. Here is one of those books, one of 250 copies, published in 1893: The Life of Cardinal Wolsey. Thomas Wolsey was born of an unremarkable family in 1473, but after being ordained a priest, he rose rapidly in the church hierarchy. He entered the service of King Henry VII in 1507. Two years later, the King died, and Wolsey became a close advisor to the new King, Henry VIII. In 1515, Wolsey was appointed a Cardinal, securing the highest positions in both church and state. All went well for him until Henry wished to have his marriage annulled. Wolsey interceded with the Pope on his behalf, but was not successful. Henry blamed Wolsey, banished him, then called him back to London to face charges of treason. When Henry turned on his friends, his anger was fatal. However, he never had a chance to execute Wolsey. The Cardinal died of natural causes on his trip to London. This account of Wolsey's life was written by George Cavendish. Cavendish knew Wolsey well as his loyal aid. He remained loyal to Wolsey to the end, but was spared a similar fate as his loyalty to Wolsey was respected, even if Wolsey himself was not. Priced at $2,950.

 

Here is a less expensive way to own a production of William Morris, from the cause even dearer to his heart than fine printing – socialism. It didn't come from the Kelmscott Press, but this was more about message than art. It is a 16-page pamphlet of Chants for Socialists, written by Morris. Such favorites as The Day Is Coming, No Master, All for the Cause, The March of the Workers, and Down Among the Dead Men are found in this 1885 publication. These chants were actually placed to music on an album in 2015 by British singer Darren Hayman, with whom, I must admit, I am not familiar. The chants were published by the Socialist League, which was formed the prior year. Along with William Morris, league membership included some very familiar names to the cause – Friedrich Engels, and Karl Marx's daughter, Eleanor (Karl died the previous year or he probably would have been there too). The league was very active in the late 1880's, but its members drifted off to other groups after that. $250.

 

This next item combines a classic, very old sporting book with one of the early fine, private presses. The book is A Treatyse of Fysshynge wyth an Angle, by Dame Juliana Berners. You can tell by the spelling this was a very old book. The first edition goes all the way back to 1496 and the press of Wynkyn de Worde (they used a lot more "Y's" in 1496). It is remarkable that such a book was written by a woman that long ago, but truth be told, no one is certain Dame Berners actually wrote it, or that she even existed, for that matter. Still, one of the illustrations displays a woman with a fysshynge pole who, presumably, is supposed to be Dame Berners. The copy offered came from the Ashendene Press and was published in 1903. Ashendene was formed in 1895 by Charles Harold St. John Hornby. St. John Hornby operated a small, family run press for forty years. He took his time with his books, printing on average just one a year. In this edition, Ashendene has provided illustrations from the woodcuts in the original edition. $1,900.

 

After forty years, St. John Hornby decided that was enough. He closed his press, but not before saying goodbye to his fans. This is a four-page notice in red and black headed A Farewell Notice to the Subscribers to the Books of the Ashenedene Press, published in 1935. $160.

 

Next we have King Solomon and Morolf, written by Oscar Levertin and published in 1905. Levertin was a Swedish poet (he also wrote prose) from the turn of the century. This is said to be his finest work, though I am in no position to judge. It is based on an old tale, pitting the wise King in debate against the fun-loving peasant Morolf. However, this book appears in this catalogue not so much for its content as its binding. It has been bound in white vellum and illuminated with hand painting on the covers and spine. The artwork was done in 1916, with the artist being Augusta Grove. I have not been able to find any information about Ms. Grove but she obviously was a quite talented artist. $2,950.

 

This item is unrelated to everything else in this catalogue save for it being an illustrated book. It is not a work of art, being absolutely horrifying to look out. However, it is also the most important book in this catalogue, a reminder of one of the worst examples of man's inhumanity to man – the Holocaust. The title is KZ : Bildbericht aus funf Konzentrationslagern (photo report from five concentration camps), published in 1945, just after the conclusion of the war in Europe. The pictures are horrific, including piles of stacked bodies photographed when the Allies liberated the camps. One famous picture shows future Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel packed with many other emaciated men in bunks at Buchenwald. There are 44 pictures in this 32-page pamphlet produced by the American War Information Unit. It was printed for the purpose of letting the German public know exactly what was going on in the Third Reich. $1,620.

 

Sophie Schneideman Rare Books may be reached at +44 7909 963836 or sophie@ssrbooks.com. Their website is www.ssrbooks.com.

Rare Book Monthly

  • <center><b>Gonnelli: Auction 46 Books<br>Autographs & Manuscripts<br>Oct 3rd-5th 2023</b>
    <b>Gonnelli:</b> Tilson - Zanotto, Il vero tema. 2011. Starting price 150 €
    <b>Gonnelli:</b> Munari, Storia di un filo. Starting price 400 €
    <b>Gonnelli:</b> Debord, Contre le cinéma. 1964. Starting price 150 €
    <b>Gonnelli:</b> Futurism books and ephemera
    <b>Gonnelli:</b> Travel books
    <b>Gonnelli:</b> Medicine books
    <b>Gonnelli:</b> Levaillant, Histoire naturelle des perroquets. 1801-1805. Starting price 52.000 €
    <b>Gonnelli:</b> Carrera, Il gioco de gli scacchi. 1617. Starting price 3200 €
    <b>Gonnelli:</b> Vergilius, Opera. 1515. Starting price 800 €
  • <center><b>Swann Auction Galleries View Our Record Breaking Results</b>
    <b>Swann:</b> Charles Monroe Schulz, <i>The Peanuts gang,</i> complete set of 13 drawings, ink, 1971. Sold June 15 — $50,000.
    <b>Swann:</b> Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Family Archive of Photographs & Letters. Sold June 1 — $60,000.
    <b>Swann:</b> Victor H. Green, <i>The Negro Motorist Green Book,</i> New York, 1949. Sold March 30 — $50,000.
    <b>Swann:</b> William Shakespeare, <i>King Lear; Othello;</i> [and] <i>Anthony & Cleopatra;</i> Extracted from the First Folio, London, 1623. Sold May 4— $185,000.
    <center><b>Swann Auction Galleries View Our Record Breaking Results</b>
    <b>Swann:</b> William Samuel Schwartz, <i>A Bridge in Baraboo, Wisconsin,</i> oil on canvas, circa 1938. Sold February 16 — $32,500.
    <b>Swann:</b> Lena Scott Harris, <i>Group of approximately 65 hand-colored botanical studies, all apparently California native plants,</i> hand-colored silver prints, circa 1930s. Sold February 23 — $37,500.
    <b>Swann:</b> Suzanne Jackson, <i>Always Something To Look For,</i> acrylic & pencil on linen canvas, circa 1974. Sold April 6 — $87,500.
    <b>Swann:</b> Gustav Klimt, <i>Das Werk von Gustav Klimt,</i> complete with 50 printed collotype plates, Vienna & Leipzig, 1918. Sold June 15 — $68,750.

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