Rare Book Monthly

Book Catalogue Reviews - September - 2008 Issue

Antiquarian Books From Librairie Thomas-Scheler Of Paris

Antiquarian books from Librairie Thomas-Scheler.

Antiquarian books from Librairie Thomas-Scheler.


By Michael Stillman

Librairie Thomas-Scheler of Paris has issued their 36th catalogue of Livres Anciens (antiquarian books). This catalogue is written in the French language, as are most of the books within. We did find two items in English, and some Latin and German, but this is primarily suited to collectors familiar with French. However, those who seek Americana will find several items pertaining to their interests from the time when France held colonies in the western hemisphere. Here are a few samples from the newest catalogue published by Librairie Thomas-Scheler.

Item 70 is a first edition of what could be described as the birth of psychoanalysis. Published in 1895 by Sigmund Freud and Joseph Breuer, it is Studien uber Hysterie (studies of hysteria). Freud and Breuer were studying patients suffering from hysteria. Breuer had been focused on hypnotism, while Freud was discovering that he could provide his patients with temporary relief by encouraging them to talk about their problems. This would lead to his technique of "free association," and all of the subconscious thoughts Freud believed he was able to elicit from his patients. Priced at €7,500 (euros, or approximately $11,105 in U.S. dollars).

Item 36 is an important work describing French laws in their American colonies in the early 18th century. Among those covered are laws which regulated the slave trade. The title is Le Commerce de l'Amerique par Marseille, by M. Chambon. The laws were dated 1719, though the two-volume set was published in 1764. €8,500 (US $12,586).

Paul Bert was a 19th century French scientist who conducted pioneering studies on the effects of low and high air pressure on humans and other animals. Among his discoveries was that altitude sickness was not caused by overall reduced air pressure, but by reduced oxygen pressure. His discoveries were presented in his 1878 book, La Pression barometrique. Recherches de physiologie experimentale. Item 18. €1,500 (US $2,220).

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck is primarily remembered for developing one of the early evolutionary theories, over half a century before Darwin. By 1800, he was propounding controversial theories about how organisms change over time. However, he believed there were forces pushing organisms to evolve, rather than the random changes of natural selection. Lamarck believed there was a force that led organisms to become more complex as time went by. Additionally, he believed that organisms could pass on adaptations they had learned to their offspring. Systeme analytique des connaissances positives de l'homme... is perhaps the greatest of his later works, where Lamarck delves more deeply into issues involving the central nervous system as well as issues of thought. Thomas-Scheler notes that, as with his earlier works, Lamarck received little respect or recognition for his revolutionary ideas, and as a result, this book is quite rare. Item 94. €4,000 (US $5,917).

This is not a pleasant subject to discuss, but a medically necessary one, especially in the 18th century when constant wars between the major powers left so many soldiers physically battered. Item 177 is De l'amputation a Lambeau, ou nouvelle methode d'amputer les membres, by Pierre Verduin. This book discusses the history and description of the latest technique in performing the amputation of limbs. Surely such a procedure must have been horrible at the time - 1756 - but the Lambeau procedure apparently reduced the amount of bleeding and risk of death that went with it. €650 (US $962).

Here is a voyage offered in the English language: A Missionary Voyage to the southern Pacific Ocean, performed in the years 1796, 1797, 1798, in the Ship Duff, commanded by Captain James Wilson (edited by Thomas Haweis). This was a missionary voyage sponsored by the London Missionary Society. The Society purchased the ship Duff, while Captain Wilson volunteered to take the missionaries to Tahiti and various South Sea islands. Suspicious natives did not always greet the newcomers with open arms, and many quickly retreated to England or Australia. Nevertheless, the Society was persistent in following up its calling (a later voyage by the Duff was intercepted by pirates). Item 182 is the preferred Gosnell printing of two simultaneously issued editions of 1799 of this account of the Duff's first journey. €3,500 (US $5,180).

You may reach Librairie Thomas-Scheler at 01 43 26 97 69 or BASANE@thomas-scheler.fr.

Rare Book Monthly

  • Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    APRES DE MANNEVILLETTE
    Le Neptune Oriental
    Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    CASSAS
    Eaux fortes de la Sicile et quelques vues d’Espagne
    Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    CASSINI DE THURY
    Carte générale et particulière de la France.
    Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    JOUY; GARNERAY
    Vues des côtes de France dans l'Océan et dans la Méditerranée
    Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    LA PÉROUSE
    Voyage autour du monde
    Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    LE GENTIL DE LA GALAISIERE
    Voyage dans les Mers de l’Inde
    Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    LICENT
    Hoang Ho, Pai Ho, Loan Ho, Leao Ho. Itinéraires suivis dans le bassin du golfe du Pei Tcheuly
    Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    FRENCH SCHOOL FROM THE 19th CENTURY
    Panorama d’Athènes
    Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    PEETERS
    Description des principales villes, havres et isles du golfe de Venise
    Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    PÉRON; FREYCINET
    Voyage de découverte aux terres australes
    Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    STACKELBERG
    La Grèce : vues pittoresques et topographiques.
    Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    VALENTINER
    Atlas des Sonnensystems.
  • Forum Auctions
    Online Sale:
    The Detective Fiction Collection of John Cooper
    Ending 7th November, 2024
    Forum, Nov. 7: Christie (Agatha). The Thirteen Problems, first edition, The Crime Club, 1932. £15,000 to £20,000.
    Forum, Nov. 7: Christie (Agatha). Dumb Witness, first edition, 1937. £3,000 to £4,000.
    Forum, Nov. 7: Christie (Agatha). Cards on the Table, first edition, The Crime Club, 1936. £2,000 to £3,000.
    Forum, Nov. 7: [Carr (John Dickson)], "Carter Dickson" and John Rhode. Drop to his Death, first edition, Heinemann, [1939]. £600 to £800.
    Forum, Nov. 7: Berkeley (Anthony). Jumping Jenny, first edition, Hodder and Stoughton, 1933. £800 to £1,200.
    Forum Auctions
    Online Sale:
    The Detective Fiction Collection of John Cooper
    Ending 7th November, 2024
    Forum, Nov. 7: Marsh (Ngaio). Overture to Death, first edition, The Crime Club, 1939. £600 to £800.
    Forum, Nov. 7: [Day-Lewis (Cecil)] "Nicholas Blake". The Beast Must Die, first edition, 1938. £750 to £1,000.
    Forum, Nov. 7: Brand (Christianna). Green for Danger, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author, John Lane the Bodley Head, 1945. £600 to £800.
    Forum, Nov. 7: Christie (Agatha). Murder is Easy, first edition, signed by the author, 1939. £3,000 to £4,000.
    Forum, Nov. 7: Sayers (Dorothy L.) Lord Peter Views the Body, first edition, Gollancz, 1928. £6,000 to £8,000.
  • Doyle
    Stage & Screen
    November 14 & 15
    Doyle, Nov. 14-15: A studio-sanctioned Darth Vader Touring Costume from The Empire Strikes Back. $50,000 to $100,000.
    Doyle, Nov. 14-15: An original Al Hirschfeld's illustration of the cast of On Golden Pond. $4,000 to $6,000.
    Doyle, Nov. 14-15: The largest trove of personal Grace Kelly letters to come to market. $60,000 to $80,000.
    Doyle, Nov. 14-15: An Important Archive of Musical Manuscripts of Truman Capote and Harold Arlen's House of Flowers. $40,000 to $60,000.
    Doyle, Nov. 14-15: The archive of an original Merrily We Roll Along Broadway cast member. $5,000 to $10,000.
    Doyle, Nov. 14-15: Jerry Herman's Yamaha Model C7 Ebonized Grand Piano. $6,000 to $9,000.
    Doyle, Nov. 14-15: A large group of Jerry Herman musical posters. $300 to $500.
    Doyle, Nov. 14-15: Group of awards presented to Jerry Herman. $300 to $400.
    Doyle, Nov. 14-15: Six pages of original art for "The MAD Game of Basebrawl," a complete story published in MAD #167, pages 31-36, June 1974. $3,000 to $4,000.
    Doyle, Nov. 14-15: A MAD book made for Al Jaffee, containing original art and writings from many MAD contributors. 2011. $1,200 to $1,800.
    Doyle, Nov. 14-15: A Jaffee-themed MAD Fold-In - "What honor should the creator of the MAD Fold-Ins be given?" $800 to $1,200.
    Doyle, Nov. 14-15: MAD Fold-In - "What developing news story has many Americans totally transfixed?" $800 to $1,200.
  • Sotheby's
    Fine Books, Manuscripts & More
    Available for Immediate Purchase
    Sotheby’s: J.R.R. Tolkien. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. 11,135 USD
    Sotheby’s: Edgar Allan Poe. The Raven and Other Poems, 1845. 33,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: Leo Tolstoy, Clara Bow. War and Peace, 1886. 22,500 USD
    Sotheby’s: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, 1902. 7,500 USD
    Sotheby’s: F. Scott Fitzgerald. This Side of Paradise, The Great Gatsby, and Others, 1920-1941. 24,180 USD
  • Freeman’s | Hindman
    Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts, Including Americana
    November 14
    Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: LEROUX, Gaston. The Phantom of the Opera. FIRST AM. ED, FIRST ISSUE IN THE VERY RARE DUST JACKET. 1911. $6,000 – 8,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: GOULD, John. A Monograph of the Trochilidae...Humming-Birds. L., [1849-] 1861. $60,000 – 80,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: A COMPLETE RUN of Limited Editions Club publications, v.p. [mostly New York], 1929-2010. $50,000 – 60,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: ORWELL, George. Nineteen Eighty-Four. Lon., 1949. FIRST EDITION IN A VERY FINE DUST JACKET. $6,000 – 8,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: GOULD. A Monograph of the Ramphastidae...Toucans. L., [1852-] 54. SECOND ED. $35,000 – 45,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: The Federalist. NY, 1788. FIRST EDITION, THICK PAPER COPY. $60,000 – 80,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: SELBY. Plates to Selby’s Illustrations of British Ornithology. Edin., [1833-] 34. $20,000 – 30,000.

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