Spectacular European Antiquarian Works From Thomas-Scheler
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Item 1 provides the earliest first-hand description of the Amazon River. Christobal de Acuna was a Jesuit who joined an expedition to explore the river in hopes of finding a shortcut across South America. Pedro Texeira's expedition spent nine months investigating the river. They found it a navigable waterway and the natives for the most part friendly. The explorers returned without major incident, and Acuna went home to write Nuevo Descubrimiento del gran rio de las Amazonas. This first edition was published in 1641. $80,000.
Item 22 is described as, "The most beautiful work ever published on pigeons." I'm not sure that this says much, but apparently it is quite an exquisite book, even if the subject matter now seems rather pedestrian. The title is Les Pigeons, and the French author of this 1811 first edition is Pauline Knip. It contains 87 plates taken from original paintings by Madame Knip. $40,000.
Rene-Primevere Lesson had a more beautiful bird to work with. His work is Les Trochilidees ou les Colibris et les Oiseaux-Mouches. This book is about very small birds, hummingbirds in particular. Lesson was a French naturalist who signed onto a round the world voyage as a ship's doctor from 1822-25. He wrote several books as a result, but his most noted work is on hummingbirds. This title includes 66 illustrations by some of the best artists of the day. Item 24, circa 1832. $35,000.
Here is a notable item of Americana: Relation ou Journal des operations du Corps Francais sous le commandement du Comte de Rochambeau. Count Rochambeau led French forces which assisted the Americans during their revolution. In particular, they aided Washington in his crucial victory at the Battle of Yorktown. Item 35 is a first edition of Rochambeau's account. $75,000.
Librairie Thomas-Scheler may be reached by email at basane@thomas-scheler.fr or by phone at +33 1 43 26 97 69.
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. 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.
Heritage Auctions Rare Books Signature Auction December 15, 2025
Heritage, Dec. 15: John Donne. Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death. London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.
Heritage, Dec. 15: Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
Heritage, Dec. 15: F. Scott Fitzgerald. Tender is the Night. A Romance.
Heritage, Dec. 15: Jerry Thomas. How to Mix Drinks, or the Bon-Vivant's Companion, Containing Clear and Reliable Directions for Mixing All the Beverages Used in the United States…
![<b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> John Donne. <i>Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death.</i> London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/8caddaea-4c1f-47a7-9455-62f53af36e3f.jpg "<b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> John Donne. <i>Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death.</i> London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.")
