• <b><center>Koller Auctions<br>Books & Autographs<br>29 March 2023</b>
    <b>Koller, Mar. 29:</b> DADA - <i>Cabaret Voltaire.</i> A collection of artistic and literary contributions. Edited by Hugo Ball. CHF 5,000 to 8,000.
    <b>Koller, Mar. 29:</b> EXPRESSIONISM - <i>Der Sturm.</i> Weekly magazine for culture and the arts. Almost complete suite from the years 1910 to 1932. CHF 20,000 to 30,000.
    <b>Koller, Mar. 29:</b> LISBON EARTHQUAKE - <i>Augsburg collection of copper engravings of Lisbon. CHF 40,000 to 60,000.
    <b>Koller, Mar. 29:</b> Hamilton, William. <i>Campi Phlegraei. Observations on the Volcanos of the Two Sicilies as they have been communicated to the Royal Society of London.</i> Naples, 1776-1779. CHF 50,000 to 70,000.
    <b><center>Koller Auctions<br>Books & Autographs<br>29 March 2023</b>
    <b>Koller, Mar. 29:</b> Leonardi, Domenico Felice. <i>Le Delizie della villa di Castellazzo descritte in verso dall'abbate Domenico Felice Leonardi lucchese fra gli Arcadi Ildosio Foloetico.</i> Milan, 1743. CHF 12,000 to 18,000.
    <b>Koller, Mar. 29:</b> Zwingli, Huldrych. <i>Von erkiesen und freyhait der speisen. Von ergernusz und Verbößerung. Ob man gewalt hab die speyß zu etlichen zeyten verbieten [...]</i>. CHF 2,500 to 4,000.
    <b>Koller, Mar. 29:</b> HENDRIK VAN VULLENHOE, UMKREIS. Benedictional and other texts for Johannes von Venningen, Bishop of Basel. Latin manuscript on parchment. CHF 50,000 to 80,000.
    <b>Koller, Mar. 29:</b> Gujer, Hans Rudolf. Master typist's book by Hans Rudolf Gujer from Wermetschweil (Wermatswil). German manuscript on paper. CHF 3,000 to 5,000.
  • <b>ALDE, Apr. 18:</b> CASAS (BARTOLOMÉ DE LAS). <i>La Découverte des Indes occidentales par les Espagnols,</i> Paris, 1697. €1,500 to €2,000.
    <b>ALDE, Apr. 18:</b> GARCILASO DE LA VEGA. <i>Primera parte de los commentarios reales, que tratan del orígen de los Yncas…,</i> Lisbonne, 1609 [1608 au colophon]. €8,000 to €10,000.
    <b>ALDE, Apr. 18:</b> GARCILASO DE LA VEGA. <i>Histoire des Yncas rois du Pérou. On a joint à cette édition l'Histoire de la conquête de la Floride,</i> Amsterdam, 1737. €800 to €1,000.
    <b>ALDE, Apr. 18:</b> LAET (JOHANNES DE). <i>L'Histoire du nouveau monde, ou description des Indes occidentales,</i> Leyde, 1640. €8,000 to €10,000.
    <b>ALDE, Apr. 18:</b> LAFITAU (JOSEPH-FRANÇOIS). <i>Mœurs des sauvages amériquains, comparées aux mœurs des premiers temps,</i> Paris, 1724. €1,200 to €1,500.
    <b>ALDE, Apr. 18:</b> ORRIO (FRANCISCO XAVIER ALEXO DE). <i>Solución del gran problema acerca de la población de las Americas,</i> Mexico, 1763. €1,500 to €2,000.
    <b>ALDE, Apr. 18:</b> [ROCHEFORT (CHARLES DE)]. <i>Histoire naturelle et morale des Îles Antilles de l'Amérique,</i> Amsterdam, 1716. €800 to €1,000.
    <b>ALDE, Apr. 18:</b> TURGOT (ANNE-ROBERT-JACQUES). <i>Mémoire sur les colonies américaines, sur leurs relations politiques avec leurs métropoles…,</i> Paris, 1791. €1,000 to €1,200.
  • <b><center>Stargardt Autographenhandlung<br>Autographs: Literature, Music, Art, Science, History, Theatre & Film<br>March 28, 2023</b>
    <b>Stargardt Autographenhandlung, Mar. 28:</b> Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Autograph album leaf signed, 1826. €9,000 to €12,000.
    <b>Stargardt Autographenhandlung, Mar. 28:</b> Franz Kafka: Autograph letter unsigned, 1924. €15,000 to €20,000.
    <b>Stargardt Autographenhandlung, Mar. 28:</b> Torquato Tasso: Autograph poem signed, no date. €12,000 to €16,000.
    <b><center>Stargardt Autographenhandlung<br>Autographs: Literature, Music, Art, Science, History, Theatre & Film<br>March 28, 2023</b>
    <b>Stargardt Autographenhandlung, Mar. 28:</b> Charles Darwin: Autograph letter signed, 1866. €4,500 to €6,000.
    <b>Stargardt Autographenhandlung, Mar. 28:</b> Albert Einstein: Autograph letter signed, 1933. €6,000 to €8,000.
    <b>Stargardt Autographenhandlung, Mar. 28:</b> Heinrich Hertz: Autograph manuscript signed, 1889. €18,000 to €24,000.
    <b><center>Stargardt Autographenhandlung<br>Autographs: Literature, Music, Art, Science, History, Theatre & Film<br>March 28, 2023</b>
    <b>Stargardt Autographenhandlung, Mar. 28:</b> Giambattista Bodoni: Autograph letter signed, 1787. €900 to €1,200.
    <b>Stargardt Autographenhandlung, Mar. 28:</b> Francisco de Goya: Autograph letter signed, 1789. €18,750 to €25,000.
    <b>Stargardt Autographenhandlung, Mar. 28:</b> Martin Luther: Notes from his desk, no date. €30,000 to €40,000.
    <b><center>Stargardt Autographenhandlung<br>Autographs: Literature, Music, Art, Science, History, Theatre & Film<br>March 28, 2023</b>
    <b>Stargardt Autographenhandlung, Mar. 28:</b> Ludwig van Beethoven: Autograph letter signed, 1816. €22,500 to €30,000.
    <b>Stargardt Autographenhandlung, Mar. 28:</b> Gustav Mahler: Foto portrait signed and annotated, 1907(?). €7,500 to €10,000.
    <b>Stargardt Autographenhandlung, Mar. 28:</b> Bed?ich Smetana: Autograph letter signed, 1883. €4,500 to €6,000.

Rare Book Monthly

Book Catalogue Reviews - May - 2020 Issue

New Acquisitions, Typography, Leaf Books, Books in Greek, and More from the Veatchs Arts of the Book

E579564b-d705-49ac-8c66-2407f7551de0

An endangered species – the printed catalogue.

The Veatchs Arts of the Book has issued a new catalogue, #93. It features New Acquisitions, Books Printed in Greek, Leaf Books, Typographic Treasures, Etc. Actually, anything related to the book arts is fair game for a Veatchs' catalogue. They note, “This small catalogue comes to you as a modest diversion in these trying times.” In a time when printed catalogues have gone the way of hugs and kisses – they have disappeared from the landscape – it is nice to see one. There are still lots of electronic catalogues, but since we now spend most of our time in front of a computer or cellphone screen (what else is there to do?) it's nice to have something you can actually hold, physically touch, experience tactually, even if you can no longer do so with people you love. This is a welcome reminder of how life used to be. Here are a few samples of the items to be found in this real printed catalogue.

 

Antonio Frasconi grew up in Uruguay, where he developed a love for art and American culture. At the end of World War II, and at the age of 26, Frasconi emigrated to America. There he stayed until his death at the age of 93. With no recognition of his artistic skills, he took a job that would be close to his love, as a gardener at the Museum of Art in Santa Barbara. It was there that he was recognized, his medium being woodcuts. He was soon putting on dedicated exhibitions. Item 15 is Frasconi's Seven Woodcuts Illustrating Creation Myths of the World, from 1978. There actually are eight of them, the eighth being on the title page. The others are tipped onto leaves with printed frames. Frasconi has also created marbled papers for the binding. The woodcuts were issued individually in an edition of 50. The number of bound editions is unknown. This is #2 and the Veatchs think the run may have been as low as three, one for Frasconi, two for his sons. They have not seen another copy. This copy belonged to Frasconi and was exhibited at the Grolier Club. Priced at $3,750.

 

Next we will reverse the numbers of stated and actual illustrations with this work from another woodworker, Barry Moser. Moser is a wood engraver, among other things, and this selection of his engravings was issued at his Pennyroyal Press in 1980. The title is Eight Wood Engravings on a Theme of Pan. While Frasconi only promised seven woodcuts and delivered eight, Moser has promised eight wood engravings but provided only seven. The explanation is that a label was to be placed on the cover which contained the eighth engraving, but after the book was printed, the binding design was changed. This copy makes up for that shortcoming. The edition was printed in 130 copies, but this is a patron's copy, and unlike others, each engraving is signed by Moser. Item 42. $750.

 

This book is now more than half a century old, but it contains a leaf that goes back much farther. The title is The Book Called Holinshed's Chronicles, an Account of Its Inception, Purpose, Contributors, Contents, Publication, Revision and Influence on William Shakespeare. With a Leaf from the 1587 Edition. That would be the second edition, the first having been published in 1577. The book was conceived several decades earlier by printer Reginald Wolfe to be a history of all the nations of the world, but he died before the project could be completed. It fell to Raphael Holinshed to finish, and he limited the scope to England, Scotland, and Ireland. Shakespeare used this book as his primary historical source for some his plays, including Macbeth. It was this 1587 second edition that he used. This leaf book was written by Stephen Booth and published in 1968. There were 500 copies of the book published, but only five had a title page leaf. This is one of them, containing the title page from the second volume. These originally sold for $100, while those with internal leaves went for $50. Item 9. $700.

 

Here is another leaf book, though this is a particularly generous copy. The title is The Great Polyglot Bibles. Including a Leaf from the First: The Complutensian of Acalá, 1514–17. As an explanation of the title of the bible, it was published at Complutense University in Alcala, Spain, part of Madrid. It was the first polyglot bible, with columns printed in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. The purpose was not to make it understandable to people who spoke different languages, but to enable multilingual scholars to better understand the passages as a single translation may not express every section well. Three translations may clear up confusion. The title page features the coat of arms of Cardinal Jiminez de Cisneros, who spearheaded and financed the translations and production, which took 15 years. While the book was issued, as the title says, with “a leaf,” this copy contains nine. There are five text leaves, a title page for volume 4, and three pages of the prologue. This book is the work of Basil Hall, published in 1966. Item 22. $2,000.

 

This is a massive type specimen book. The Veatchs tell us it is “the largest type foundry specimen book ever issued.” The total page count in 1,485, but that is a bit of an exaggeration as sectional dividers, section titles, gaps in pagination, etc., are included in that. It is more like a modest 1,198 pages. The weight is 14 pounds. The Veatchs note that it is “a gorgeous production with most pages printed in at least 2 colors.” The title is Die Haupt Probe der Schriftgiesserei und Messinglinienfabrik D. Stempel. This is why German is so hard to understand and spell. This translates to something like “the main sample of the font foundry and the brass line factory of D. Stempel.” It is circa 1920s. This specimen book was published for many years, so there is some variation between copies. David Stempel died in 1927, but his business survived until 1986. This copy was presented to Deberny & Peignot, a French type foundry. Item 52. $475.

 

The Veatchs Arts of the Book can be reached at 716-648-0361 or veatchs@veatchs.com. Their website is www.veatchs.com.

Rare Book Monthly

  • <b><center>Swann Auction Galleries<br>Printed & Manuscript African Americana:<br>March 30, 2023</b>
    <b>Swann March 30:</b> Victor H. Green, <i>The Negro Motorist Green Book,</i> New York, 1949. $10,000 to $15,000.
    <b>Swann March 30:</b> Papers of pianist-composer Lawrence Brown relating to Paul Robeson & more, various places, 1925-54. $5,000 to $7,500.
    <b>Swann March 30:</b> Freedom Summer archive of civil rights activist Karen Haberman Trusty, Atlanta & elsewhere, 1963-64. $5,000 to $7,500.
    <b>Swann March 30:</b> E. Simms Campbell, <i>A Night-Club Map of Harlem,</i> New York, 1933. $8,000 to $12,000.
    <b>Swann March 30:</b> Archive of letters from the sculptor Richmond Barthé to a close Jamaican friend, various places, 1966-85. $25,000 to $35,000.
  • <center><b>Forum Auctions<br>Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper<br>30th March 2023</b>
    <b>Forum, Mar. 30:</b> Roman binding.- Pindar. <i>Olympia, Pythia, Nemea, Isthmia,</i> translated by Johannes Lonicer, contemporary Roman binding by Niccolo Franzese, Basel, 1535. £40,000 to £60,000.
    <b>Forum, Mar. 30:</b> Raverat (Gwen). Comprehensive album of 530 wood engravings, circa 1909-1950. £40,000 to £60,000.
    <b>Forum, Mar. 30:</b> Hemingway (Ernest). <i>Fiesta,</i> first English edition, first impression dust-jacket, 1927. £15,000 to £20,000.
    <center><b>Forum Auctions<br>Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper<br>30th March 2023</b>
    <b>Forum, Mar. 30:</b> Fleming (Ian). <i>Casino Royale,</i> first edition, first impression, 1953. £12,000 to £18,000.
    <b>Forum, Mar. 30:</b> Dickens (Charles). <i>Great Expectations,</i> 3 vol., first edition, first impression, Chapman and Hall, 1861. £10,000 to £15,000.
    <b>Forum, Mar. 30:</b> Campbell (Colen) & others. <i>Vitruvius Britannicus, or The British Architect...,</i> 5 vol., vol.1-3 later editions, vol.4 & 5 first editions, [?1731]-31-67-71. £10,000 to £15,000.
    <center><b>Forum Auctions<br>Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper<br>30th March 2023</b>
    <b>Forum, Mar. 30:</b> Geography.- Mela (Pomponius). <i>Cosmographia, sive De situ orbis,</i> Venice, Franciscus Renner de Heilbronn, 1478. £8,000 to £12,000.
    <b>Forum, Mar. 30:</b> America.- [?Espinosa y Tello (José)]. <i>Relacion del Viage hecho por las Goletas Sutil y Mexicana en el Año de 1792,</i> 2 vol. including Atlas, first edition, Madrid, 1802. £8,000 to £12,000.
    <b>Forum, Mar. 30:</b> Australasia.- Péron (Francois) and Louis-Claude de Saulces de Freycinet. <i>Voyage de Découvertes aux Terres Australes,</i> 5 vol. including Atlas, second edition, Paris, 1824. £8,000 to £12,000.
    <center><b>Forum Auctions<br>Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper<br>30th March 2023</b>
    <b>Forum, Mar. 30:</b> Botany.- Curtis (William). <i>The Botanical Magazine; or, Flower-Garden Displayed,</i> 83 vol. in 62, 1794-1956. £8,000 to £12,000.
    <b>Forum, Mar. 30:</b> Darwin (Charles).- Lecky (W.E.H.) <i>The Rise and Influence of Rationalism in Europe,</i> 2 vol., Darwin's copy with inscription "Charles Darwin 1865", pencil marginalia and pencil notes, 1865. £7,000 to £10,000.

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