Latin American and Spanish Books from Libreria de Antano
Image from Peter Schmidtmeyer's Travels into Chile...
By Michael Stillman
Libreria de Antano has released its latest catalogue electronically, in conjunction with the recently held book show in Madrid. Libreria de Antano is located in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and, as might be expected, there is a Spanish/Latin American influence to the material they carry. However, as you will see, that is not a requirement, so while those who collect Latin American material will be particularly interested in what they offer, others may find some works of interest too. Here are just a few of the items they featured at the Madrid show.
Item 3 is a most interesting Columbus work. Published in 1581, it is a poem, in which the writer imagines that Christopher Columbus relates his travels to Cardinal de Granville, an influential church figure of the time. However, while these conversations never took place (Columbus died eleven years before de Granville was born), this is more than just a fictional account. Author Lorenzo Gambara has carefully consulted the historical sources available to him, so that much of what is written is accurate history. The poem includes geographic data and information about the flora, fauna, and customs of the natives of the New World. This rare early look at America is entitled, De navigatione Christophori Columbi , libri quattuor, and was published in Rome (first edition). Price on request.
Item 6 should be of major interest to those who collect American bibliographies. Its title is Epitome de la Biblioteca Oriental y Occidental; nautica y geografica, written by Antonio de Leon Pinelo and published in Madrid in 1629. Leon Pinelo was a Spanish jurist and historian who wrote about the New World. Librerio de Antano describes this particular work as the first American bibliography. It is still considered one of the most important South American bibliographies. $12,000.
Item 31 is Peter Schmidtmeyer's Travels into Chile, over the Andes in the years 1820 and 1821, published in London in 1824. This book includes information on agriculture, mining, metals, history, and customs of the people of South America, Chile in particular. Schmidtmeyer began his journey in Buenos Aires, Argentina, then crossed the Andes, eventually arriving in Santiago, Chile. This rare travel book contains 28 engravings, some with contemporary color. $4,920.
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.")
