Important Antiquarian Maps and Atlases from Martayan Lan
North America, as seen through French eyes in the 17th century.
Item 178 has been described as the "first modern atlas." This is Abraham Ortelius' great Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, the 1592 edition of a work first published in 1570. The atlas grew by 80 maps between the first edition and this. It is called the "first" as this was the first systematic collection of maps of the world since the time of Ptolemy, when the known world was much smaller. At the time, Ortelius' atlas was the most expensive book ever published, with hand-colored copies such as this even more expensive. The world map is pictured on the cover of Martayan Lan's catalogue (click the thumbnail image on page 1 to enlarge), and it dramatically displays the gigantic, imagined southern continent, with an arm reaching into what is now known as Australia. Priced at $225,000.
Item 27 is a circa 1710 edition of the Jaillot 1674 map of North America, based on Sanson's 1650 map. What is today the United States is broken into five regions. The smallest is the British colonies along the Atlantic coast, the largest is New France, including Canada. Canada then borders on Florida to the South, New Mexico to the west. Finally, to the far west is an island -- California. The Northwest is simply left out, as it was unknown territory at the time. Though published in Amsterdam, it is French in origin, explaining why the most accurate inland feature is the St. Lawrence River, with a reasonable look at the Great Lakes considering the era. The California island myth would persist into the 1700s before finally being reattached to the mainland. Click the thumbnail image on this page to see the map. $12,500.
There are many more maps of the world and western hemisphere within this catalogue, but that's only the tip of the iceberg. There are also many regional U.S. maps, Canada, South and Central America, Asia, Africa, numerous European countries, and various other regional maps, plus atlases and celestial charts. You may visit Martayan Lan online at www.martayanlan.com, telephone 212-308-0018.
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. 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, 2025
Sotheby’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>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.")
