Rare Book Monthly Reviews - July - 2005 Issue

Bizarre, Eccentric and Strange Books from Garrett Scott

Bizarre, Eccentric and Strange Books from Garrett Scott

By Michael Stillman

There are probably no more entertaining book catalogues than those of Garrett Scott, Bookseller. Scott has a knack for finding the eclectic, unusual, ridiculous, and just plain bad. One thing for certain is that few books are common, many having been privately printed, and for obvious reasons. If you are looking for scientific theories that weren't even close to being accurate, eccentric religion, weird occurrences, and, of course, bad poetry, here is the place. Of course we all know the difference between bad and good poetry is the former is entertaining, the latter...

Personal Letters, Books, Diaries and More from Michael Brown Rare Books

Personal Letters, Books, Diaries and More from Michael Brown Rare Books

By Michael Stillman

Michael Brown Rare Books of Philadelphia has issued its Catalogue 38 of Printed and Manuscript Americana. It offers a wide variety of interesting and uncommon items, includi...

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Unique Manuscripts From Thomas Cullen

Unique Manuscripts From Thomas Cullen

By Michael Stillman

This month, we review our first catalogue from Thomas Cullen, Rockland Bookman. Cullen is an Orchard Park, New York (think Buffalo) bookseller with a specialty in manuscript...

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Jesse James' Mother, Tom Mix's Horse, & More From Gene W. Baade

Jesse James' Mother, Tom Mix's Horse, & More From Gene W. Baade

By Michael Stillman

Gene W. Baade is offering his Catalogue 505 of "Books on the West." It is certainly an eclectic collection of items you don't often find. They range from old and collectible...

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A Look into America's Unusual Past from David Lesser Antiquarian Books

A Look into America's Unusual Past from David Lesser Antiquarian Books

By Michael Stillman

David M. Lesser Fine Antiquarian Books has released their 85th catalogue of "Significant and Unusual Imprints Relating to America." Another appropriate adjective for the c...

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British Gardening Books from Bernard J. Shapero Rare Books

British Gardening Books from Bernard J. Shapero Rare Books

By Michael Stillman

Bernard J Shapero Rare Books recently issued a catalogue of "British Gardening Books." This is an outstanding collection of old gardening books, some among the earliest such...

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Tales of the Old West from Arthur H. Clark

Tales of the Old West from Arthur H. Clark

By Michael Stillman

The Arthur H. Clark Company recently issued its catalogue #920 of Americana, the West and more. It is a collection of rare books recently acquired by the Old West specialist...

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Early Printing and Leaf Books from Oak Knoll

Early Printing and Leaf Books from Oak Knoll

By Michael Stillman

Oak Knoll Books' latest catalogue, number 263, is called "Early Printing and Leaf Books." Oak Knoll is a specialist in bibliography and other "books about books." This catal...

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American Autographs From Joe Rubinfine

American Autographs From Joe Rubinfine

By Michael Stillman

Joe Rubinfine has issued his List 154 of American Historical Autographs. They range from a colonial appointment in 1671 to a signed copy of Douglas MacArthur's 1964 Reminisce...

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Rare Book Monthly

  • 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: Bram Stoker. Dracula. Westminster: Archibald Constable & Co., 1897.
    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…
  • Rare Book Hub is now mobile-friendly!
  • 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.

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