Americana and the American West from Clark Rare Books
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Item 107 is a book I don't particularly want to read, but it makes an interesting collectible: Scatalogic Rites of All Nations, by John G. Bourke. Clark quotes Sigmund Freud's review of this 1891 book, "Most of our information, as well as the best of it, on the role of scatology in the life of mankind has been gathered together in this volume by Burke...a courageous...and valuable undertaking." This copy comes with a laid-in copy of the ever-popular The Urine Dance of the Zuni Indians... $340.
Item 3 is not exactly a book on what most people think of as the West, unless, perhaps, you come from Maine: Historic Views of Boston and Vicinity. This is a collection of late 19th, early 20th century photographs of colonial and revolutionary war sites from that area, published in 1902. $15.
Since most people from Nebraska don't have loads of money (Warren Buffet excluded), here's an inexpensive item for Cornhusker collectors: The Prairie Capital [Lincoln, Neb.], 1880-1930. It tells of commerce and life in Lincoln in the half century up to its date of publication, 1930. Item 9. $8.50.
Item 1 is a very limited edition, yet comprehensive collection of women's tales from the overland trail: Kenneth L. Holmes' Covered Wagon Women: Diaries and Letters from the Western Trails, 1840-1890. This eleven-volume set was published by the Arthur H. Clark Co. from 1984-1993. This is one of only 33 copies bound in leather (copy #26). The work represents 15 years of research into the accounts written by women of their journeys, many published here for the first time. Along with each volume is a separately printed accompanying "keepsake," mostly additional writings by women or girls (including 12-year-old Mae Stone's account). $4,950.
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…
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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.