By Mike Stillman
Three Catalogues from Reese, Brown, and Truepenny
The three catalogues up for review this month come from the William Reese Company of New Haven, Michael Brown Rare Books in Philadelphia, and Truepenny Books of Tucson. The first two cover early Americana, in one case including much, the other all, manuscript material. The last offers a smorgasbord of primarily more recent material, including some very interesting items from the bookseller’s home in the Southwest.
William Reese Co. Catalogue #223 – American Financial History
The first catalogue is the William Reese Company's #223: American Financial History. It seems that so much of what we learn about history is centered around wars. Few people think of Alexander Hamilton’s efforts to save the nation financially as carrying the same significance as Lincoln’s efforts to save the Union physically. And Hamilton is probably the best remembered figure of American public finance. Still, it’s money, not war, that makes the world go ‘round. And war requires money, while the reverse is not true. Here in the Reese catalogue, you will find many economic documents, from signed copies of major congressional papers to simple notes due to soldiers and investors in the Revolution.
One thing that jumps out from many of these items is how many things never change. Item #1 contains a recommendation from Abigail Adams to her niece encouraging her to invest in government bonds paying 5 ½%. Sage advice. Who wouldn’t jump at 5 ½% government bonds today? She also mentions that husband John will be sitting for a portrait by Gilbert Stuart. There’s an artist known to anyone who’s ever had a dollar to his name. Price: $15,000.
Item #3 comes from John Adams, where he praises Congress for a resolution praising the troops for putting down Fries’ rebellion. This “rebellion” came from Pennsylvanians unhappy with new taxes. Nothing new here. The taxes were being raised to defend against an undeclared coastal war by our allies the French. Even then we managed to get under each other’s skin. Price: $39,500.
Item #4 could have been written today. Ex-President Adams vents his anger at some of his fellow Federalists, notably Alexander Hamilton, for earlier attempts to deprive him of the presidency. He also expresses caution about going to war with either France or
formerly the
Americana Exchange
Americana Exchange
US / Canada Toll Free
(877)-323-RARE [7273]
(877)-323-RARE [7273]
Rare Book Monthly
-
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. -
![<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 16:</b> [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of <i>Sense and Sensibility,</i> the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/9a74d9ff-42dd-46a1-8bb2-b636c4cec796.png "<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 16:</b> [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of <i>Sense and Sensibility,</i> the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.")
Sotheby’s
Book Week
December 9-17, 2025Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Francesco Colonna. Hypnerotomachie, Paris, 1546, Parisian calf by Wotton Binder C for Marcus Fugger. €200,000 to €300,000.Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Nausea. De principiis dialectices Gorgias, and other works, Venice, 1523, morocco gilt for Cardinal Campeggio. €3,000 to €4,000.Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Billon. Le fort inexpugnable de l'honneur, Paris, 1555, Parisian calf gilt for Peter Ernst, Graf von Mansfeld. €120,000 to €180,000.Sotheby’s
Book Week
December 9-17, 2025Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: Salinger, J.D. The Graham Family archive, including autographed letters, an inscribed Catcher, a rare studio photograph of the author, and more. $120,000 to $180,000.Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of Sense and Sensibility, the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: Massachusetts General Court. A powerful precursor to the Declaration of Independence: "every Act of Government … without the Consent of the People, is … Tyranny." $40,000 to $60,000. -
![<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.")
Heritage Auctions
Rare Books Signature Auction
December 15, 2025Heritage, 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: Bram Stoker. Dracula. Westminster: Archibald Constable & Co., 1897.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… -
Rare Book Hub is now mobile-friendly!