More Rare and Unusual Americana from David Lesser Antiquarian Books
Rare Americana from David M. Lesser.
Here is the story of another preacher, but a very different one: The Surprising Case of Rachel Baker, Who Prays and Preaches in Her Sleep... The writer of this 1814 book was Charles Mais, who observed Miss Baker's sleep-preaching, wrote down some of her sermons, and participated in attempts to cure her. Baker was but 11 when she started having violent fits as she fell off to sleep, acting terrified, as if visiting Hell. However, this soon changed to calm, apparently rather typical sermons, warning people of the consequences of the failure to coordinate their actions with God's will. Miss Baker became quite a sensation, eventually being taken from her rural upstate New York home to the big city where hundreds of people listened to her dreamy speeches. The experts were confounded. They were not prepared to believe she was divinely inspired, yet they believed her sermons too intelligent for a poorly educated girl. There was also much consternation about a woman preaching to men, as this was considered forbidden at the time. Ultimately, they attributed her performances to a mental condition, which they apparently cured with a combination of waking her from sleep and opium. Oddly, none of the experts seemed to come to the conclusion that perhaps Miss Baker was faking it. We have not been able to find out what ever happened to Rachel Baker after her 1816 opium induced cure. Item 82. $175.
Perhaps this medicine would have cured Miss Baker of her sleep-preaching, as it cured just about everything else: Great Southern Remedy. Jacob's Cholera, Dysentery and Diarrhea Cordial... This wondrous medicine was produced by Dr. William Bliss of Savannah. His promotional pamphlet was likely printed during the 1850s. Dr. Bliss assures his readers that his cordial is not "another of the 'thousand and one' quack nostrums spread throughout the length and breadth of the land, and for purposes of gain." Oh no. To the contrary, Dr. Bliss' remedy "is peculiar for its great efficacy in dysentery, diarrhea, cholera morbus, flatulent cholic, weakness of stomach and bowels, painful menstruation, &c." In keeping with the needs of his 1850s Georgia audience, Dr. Bliss notes his cordial "may save the life of some of your family, or the life of a valuable negro." Item 20. $350.
David M. Lesser Fine Antiquarian Books is reached at 203-389-8111 or dmlesser@lesserbooks.com. The website is www.lesserbooks.com.
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.
![<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.")
![<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.")
