Unique New Catalogues from<br>Martayan Lan and Oak Knoll Books
The world we used to know, circa 1603.Martayan Lan #21
Item 16 is one of the early Jesuit Relations, Relation de ce qui s’est passé en la Nouvelle France en l’annee 1639. In it Paul Le Jeune reports on their attempts to convince the Indians to settle in one area, rather than lead nomadic lives. It also announces the Ursuline Convent in Quebec City, the first female missionaries to come to the New World. $18,500.
Item 21 is Abraham Ortelius’ atlas Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. It is a 1603 Latin edition of what is in many ways the first modern atlas. It was the first uniformly sized collection of maps of the countries of the world since the days of Ptolemy. At the time it was published, it was apparently the most expensive book ever printed. It is not inexpensive today. $265,000.
Item 38 is an interesting work of Americana. It is a Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition…by Charles Wilkes. It consists of five volumes and an atlas printed in 1845 (second edition) covering the first U.S. naval expedition around South America, Hawaii, the Philippines, the South Pacific, Australia and Antarctica. These travels established that Antarctica was indeed a continent. The voyages were important for the U.S. as it established the country’s ability to undertake scientific journeys to Antarctica with comparable or better success than France or England. $12,000.
Within the fields of arts and humanities we find major works such as item 131, Diderot’s Encyclopedie, ou dictionnaire raisonne des sciences… This monumental work helps to usher in the age of the Enlightenment. It also undermines the old order which in turn leads to the French Revolution. In all, there are 35 volumes published between 1751 and 1780, including almost 3,000 illustrations. $75,000.
There are several Galileo items in this catalogue. Numbers 49-54 cover an interesting dialogue concerning three comets that were visible in Italy during 1618. In the debates concerning the celestial phenomena, Galileo clearly states his belief in the scientific method of observation and analysis over reliance on dogma and authority.
Item 105 is Mondino’s Anathomia [corpus human]. It is the first illustrated edition (1493) of an anatomical text which would be used for three centuries. Mondino is described as the first physician to practice dissection on a regular basis. $55,000.
And then there’s item 91, a first edition first issue of Sir Isaac Newton’s Principia. What more can be said? $300,000.
These, and many more major pieces can be found at Martayan Lan. They are on the web at www.martayanlan.com or by phone at 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.
Heritage Auctions Rare Books Signature Auction December 15, 2025
Heritage, 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: 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…
![<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.")
![<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.")
