Some Artistic Gifts Offered by the Arader Galleries
Gift Catalogue 2007 from Arader Galleries.
By Michael Stillman
The Arader Galleries have issued their Gift Catalogue 2007 for those who appreciate the artistic side of printing. Included are many framed plates, some from books, others separately published, of illustrations (often hand colored) and maps. In other words, most of this printed material is meant to go on the wall, rather than in the bookshelf. However, there are a few books here as well.
Unlike the typical gift catalogue, designed for Christmas or some particular holiday, Arader has designed this for any holiday. It can be used year ‘round. That's smart. It is described as "our annual catalogue of gift ideas for any occasion and budget." Certainly these are appropriate for any occasion, and will fit most, though perhaps not all, budgets. Prices range from $400 to $165,000.
The largest groups of colored engravings are those of botanical and zoological specimens from 17th through 19th century printings. Among the earliest are 1613 botanical specimens by Basil Besler taken from Hortus Eystettensis. From the 18th century are framed illustration from Mark Catesby's Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands. Catesby was an Englishman who spent several years in America and the West Indies, from which he produced his book filled with illustrations of flora and fauna from the New World.
From the early 19th century are a series of plates of Pierre Joseph Redoute's Roses. Redoute would be an artist and instructor for many of France's leading women, from Marie Antoinette to both of Napoleon's wives. However, it is his roses for which Redoute is best known. He used stipple engravings, that is, those based on dots rather than lines to create shading. Arader offers twelve hand-colored Redoute plates.
When it comes to wildlife drawings, there is no greater name than Audubon. Offered are eight plates from the octavo edition of Birds of America, and five from the double-elephant folio. Offered from the folio are the Trumpeter Swan, Wild Turkey, Wood Ibis, Iceland or Jer Falcon, and Hooping Crane. This is not the group that will fit any budget, but they certainly are spectacular. Also offered are six engravings from Audubon's Quadrupeds of America.
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.
Sotheby’s Book Week December 9-17, 2025
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.
![<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 11:</b> Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] <i>Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society,</i> Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/00d5fd41-2542-4a80-b119-4886d4b9925f.png "<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 11:</b> Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] <i>Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society,</i> Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.")
