Oak Knoll Offers The Inventory Of Questor Rare Books
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For those who do not believe Shakespeare was Shakespeare, there is Sir Edwin Durning-Lawrence's The Shakespeare Myth. You might call this work an "aside of Bacon." Durning-Lawrence argues in this 1912 book that the real author of the works attributed to William Shakepeare was Sir Francis Bacon. Bacon is best known for his development of the scientific method, using observation, rather than inductive reasoning, to explain events. Bacon was also involved in politics during Shakespeare's lifetime, although his habit of getting into debt may have led him to make a few bad choices. He ended up disgraced, but permitted to live his life in relative ease through the support of King James. While Bacon was once the leading candidate for the "real" Shakespeare, today there are numerous others who compete for that title among the skeptics. But, maybe Bacon was the one who really shot JFK. Item 736. $15.
Here is a great title to interest children in the book arts: Bob the Binder's Progress. We all know how influential "Bob the Builder" is with children. Can "Bob the Binder" do the same? Actually, the bibliophilic Bob came first, as this is a 1955 work. It contains reprints of advertising which used "Bob the Binder" as its spokesman. However, it will certainly take an enormous effort to make the art of bookbinding as exciting to children as huge bulldozers scraping up mountains of dirt. Item 76. $40.
Item 184 is a rare book that carries an important association. It is Marciano; or, the Discovery. A Tragi-Comedy, by William Clark. This is a privately published 1871 edition of this old Scottish poem, one of only 75 copies printed. What makes it particularly notable is that it carries the bookplate of Algernon Swinburne, one of the most popular poets of the 19th century. Swinburne died in 1909, and the main sale of his library was conducted in 1916. $250.
You may find Oak Knoll Books, and its catalogues, online at www.oaknoll.com or call them at 302-328-7232.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("Martinus Luther") to His Friend the Theologian Gerhard Wiskamp ("Gerardo Xantho Lampadario"). $100,000 - $150,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: An Exceptionally Fine Copy of Austenís Emma: A Novel in Three Volumes. $40,000 - $60,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Presentation Copy of Ernest Hemmingwayís A Farewell to Arms for Edward Titus of the Black Mankin Press. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Manuscript Signed Integrally for "The Songs of Pooh," by Alan Alexander. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Manuscript of "Three Fragments from Gˆtterd‰mmerung" by Richard Wagner. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Original Preliminary Artwork, for the First Edition of Snow Crash. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("T.R. Malthus") to Economist Nassau Senior on Wealth, Labor and Adam Smith. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides Finely Bound by Michael Wilcox. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: First Edition of Lewis and Clark: Travels to the Source of the Missouri River and Across the American Continent to the Pacific Ocean. $8,000 - $12,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Original Artwork for the First Edition of Neal Stephenson's Groundbreaking Novel Snow Crash. $100,000 - $150,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: A Complete Set Signed Deluxe Editions of King's The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King. $8,000 - $12,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("John Adams") to James Le Ray de Chaumont During the Crucial Years of the Revolutionary War. $8,000 - $12,000.
Sotheby’s Book Week December 9-17, 2025
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Francesco Colonna. Hypnerotomachie, Paris, 1546, Parisian calf by Wotton Binder C for Marcus Fugger. €200,000 to €300,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Nausea. De principiis dialectices Gorgias, and other works, Venice, 1523, morocco gilt for Cardinal Campeggio. €3,000 to €4,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Billon. Le fort inexpugnable de l'honneur, Paris, 1555, Parisian calf gilt for Peter Ernst, Graf von Mansfeld. €120,000 to €180,000.
Sotheby’s Book Week December 9-17, 2025
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: Salinger, J.D. The Graham Family archive, including autographed letters, an inscribed Catcher, a rare studio photograph of the author, and more. $120,000 to $180,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of Sense and Sensibility, the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: Massachusetts General Court. A powerful precursor to the Declaration of Independence: "every Act of Government … without the Consent of the People, is … Tyranny." $40,000 to $60,000.
![<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 16:</b> [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of <i>Sense and Sensibility,</i> the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/9a74d9ff-42dd-46a1-8bb2-b636c4cec796.png "<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 16:</b> [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of <i>Sense and Sensibility,</i> the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.")
