Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - October - 2007 Issue
Exceptional Works in Catalogue 1 from Michael Sharp Rare and Antiquarian Books
Circa 1400 BC cuneiform tablet Epic of Gilgamesh.
Item 115 is a first edition of one of the greatest literary masterpieces, both for quality and quantity -- Voina I Mir. For those more comfortable with English, that translates to War and Peace. Published in six volumes from 1868-1869, this is an epic novel of Russia in the era of the Napoleonic Wars. Author Leo Tolstoy follows the lives of families both wealthy and poor through the bitter snowy winters and other trying times. It isn't always easy to follow the lives of so many characters (especially if you are English-speaking and trying to read an edition in Russian), but it is well worth the effort. $45,000.
Item 7 is a first edition, first state (with all misprints) of the children's classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum. This 1900 story would set off a whole series of Oz books and generate one of the most memorable of films. Offered is a near fine copy that was part of the H. Bradley Martin collection. Martin was one of the greatest bibliophiles of the 20th century. Heir to a steel fortune from a partner of Andrew Carnegie, Martin had both money and time at his disposal, which he used to create one of the century's great collections, covering many fields, children's books included. His collection was dispersed at auctions in 1989 and 1990, this book being one. Its exceptional condition is typical of the books Bradley Martin collected. $50,000.
Michael Sharpe Rare and Antiquarian Books may now be found on the internet at www.sharperarebooks.com, telephone 626-405-2934.
