Unique New Catalogues from<br>Martayan Lan and Oak Knoll Books
Anatomy as it was studied five centuries ago.Martayan Lan #105
By Mike Stillman
Martayan Lan’s “Rare Books Fifteenth to Nineteenth Centuries” is a remarkable collection of old, rare, and important documents. This is not meant for the average person, but for those collectors or institutions with major collections and the means to support them. For those for whom this is appropriate, this is a wonderful catalogue.
The catalogue is broken into three subjects: travel, geography and voyages; history of science; arts and humanities. The offerings, which include works of many of history’s most significant personalities, are spectacular. Most are very old, including numerous items of incunabula.
We will only mention a few of the items offered, with a focus, at least within travels and voyages, on those related to America. However, there are 177 items in all, mostly European, and Martayan Lan provides thorough descriptions and histories for practically every one.
For example, item 3, Peregrinationes in terram sanctam by Bernhard von Breydenbach is described as the first illustrated travel book. It was a best seller in its time, with eight editions qualifying as incunabula. This is a first edition from 1486. The book recounts a journey to the Holy Land from 1483-1484, and is replete with numerous illustrations of cities in Europe and the Middle East. Priced at $235,000.
Item 8 is The Present State of New England…by William Hubbard. Published in 1677 (this is the first London edition, following one from Boston), it recounts much of the settlers’ history, but is most noted for its description of King Philip’s War. Metacomet (“King Philip”) was leader of the Wampanoag Indian tribe, and he was able to unite several tribes in an attempt to ward off the advancing settlers. Ultimately, like many Native Americans who followed, he was unable to stop their advance, but not before enormous casualties were inflicted, on both sides. This book includes what was, in the Boston edition, the first map produced entirely in America. $55,000.
Item 10, from Francisco Ibar, is Muerte Politco de la Republica Mexicana… This consists of 33 bound issues of a periodical describing Mexican-American relations in 1828-1829. Ibar did not believe that his neighbor to the north was acting in good faith, but that it had designs on parts of Mexican territory. He cannot be said to have been mistaken. $1,850.
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.
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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.
![<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.")
