Carey & Lea \Buchon, J. A. Atlas Geographique, Statistique ...1825 Martayan Lan Catalogue 30
Fine Antique Maps, Atlases, Globes, & City Views (Catalogue 30, Martayan Lan Company). A 99 page, 256 item long catalogue that certainly lives up to the description of the company’s strengths as stated on its website, and more. Indeed, it is an impressive physical and intellectual object chock-full of facts germane to Americanists interested in the history of exploration, voyages, and related activities from the world of Americana and European Americana, and beyond. The catalogue is organized not alphabetically but chronologically within subject, with a copious table of contents at the front (ranging from categories like “World Maps;” “World & Continents Set;” “Globes;” “New England - Regional;” “New York City;” “Artic & Canada;” “Caribbean, Bermuda;” “South America;” “Africa;” and over fifteen other categories) and an extensive bibliography of reference books for sale at the rear.
The entire catalogue is a pleasure to read. Offerings run from the fairly inexpensive ($1200) to the more highly priced items (starting at $11,000 and running up to $20,000 and beyond) Each item is backed up with copious research and citations and the flowing, articulate descriptions make the catalogue as much a history text as a list of items for sale; though it goes without saying that commerce is the overall intent of the catalogue, one learns a lot along the way, whether you a buyer or a browser be.
The catalogue reviewed above is available from Martayan Lan Company, 48 East 57th Street, New York, N.Y., 10022, (800) 423-3741 or (212) 308-0018, Email info@martayanlan.com. See also inventory listed at www.martayanlan.com.
The following four catalogues are all thematically-related inventory catalogues from William Reese Company, one of if not the preeminent dealer in Americana in the U.S. None of these catalogues are catalogues of material for auction; rather, they are inventory catalogues of material available for sale, thematically divided between catalogues and alphabetically arranged by author within each catalogue.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society, Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 1997, first edition, hardback issue, inscribed by the author pre-publication. £100,000 to £150,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Autograph sketchleaf including a probable draft for the E flat Piano Quartet, K.493, 1786. £150,000 to £200,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Hooke, Robert. Micrographia: or some Physiological Descriptions of Minute Bodies made by Magnifying Glasses. London: James Allestry for the Royal Society, 1667. $12,000 to $15,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Chappuzeau, Samuel. The history of jewels, first edition in English. London: T.N. for Hobart Kemp, 1671. $12,000 to $18,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Sowerby, James. Exotic Mineralogy, containing his most realistic mineral depictions, London: Benjamin Meredith, 1811, Arding and Merrett, 1817. $5,000 to $7,000.
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Swann Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books December 9, 2025
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 156: Cornelis de Jode, Americae pars Borealis, double-page engraved map of North America, Antwerp, 1593.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 206: John and Alexander Walker, Map of the United States, London and Liverpool, 1827.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 223: Abraham Ortelius, Typus Orbis Terrarum, hand-colored double-page engraved world map, Antwerp, 1575.
Swann Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books December 9, 2025
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 233: Aaron Arrowsmith, Chart of the World, oversize engraved map on 8 sheets, London, 1790 (circa 1800).
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 239: Fielding Lucas, A General Atlas, 81 engraved maps and diagrams, Baltimore, 1823.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 240: Anthony Finley, A New American Atlas, 15 maps engraved by james hamilton young on 14 double-page sheets, Philadelphia, 1826.
Swann Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books December 9, 2025
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 263: John Bachmann, Panorama of the Seat of War, portfolio of 4 double-page chromolithographed panoramic maps, New York, 1861.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 265: Sebastian Münster, Cosmographei, Basel: Sebastian Henricpetri, 1558.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 271: Abraham Ortelius, Epitome Theatri Orteliani, Antwerp: Johann Baptist Vrients, 1601.
Swann Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books December 9, 2025
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 283: Joris van Spilbergen, Speculum Orientalis Occidentalisque Indiae, Leiden: Nicolaus van Geelkercken for Jodocus Hondius, 1619.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 285: Levinus Hulsius, Achtzehender Theil der Newen Welt, 14 engraved folding maps, Frankfurt: Johann Frederick Weiss, 1623.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 341: John James Audubon, Carolina Parrot, Plate 26, London, 1827.