Rare Book Monthly Reviews - February - 2007 Issue

The Polar Regions from Aquila Books

The Polar Regions from Aquila Books

By Michael Stillman

By February, the snow outside has turned from delightful to oppressive. Most have become tired of bone-chilling cold, the icy landscape, the boots and heavy overcoats. Well, if the theory is correct that hearing how others are suffering even worse than you makes things better, here is the perfect catalogue. This is Catalogue 206 from Aquila Books. Their specialty is "books and ephemera related to all aspects of the polar regions." Here you will read the adventures of people who braved the bitterest of cold, some of the worst natural elements to be found on earth. Min...

A Sold Out Catalogue from deHartington and Weiss

A Sold Out Catalogue from deHartington and Weiss

By Michael Stillman

Here is a catalogue unlike any others we have reviewed. It is unique both for its subject and the fact that it is the first catalogue which sold out before we even received ...

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A Variety from Patrick King Rare Books

A Variety from Patrick King Rare Books

By Michael Stillman

This month we review our first catalogue from Patrick King Rare Books of Stony Stratford, UK. It is titled merely Bulletin 43, but that is sufficient since this catalogue is...

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Early Americana from Kaaterskill Books

Early Americana from Kaaterskill Books


By Michael Stillman

Among the catalogues we review for the first time this month is one from Kaaterskill Books of East Jewett, New York. For those who don't know where East Jewett is, welcome...

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Texana from Maggie Lambeth Rare Books

Texana from Maggie Lambeth Rare Books


By Michael Stillman

This month we review our first catalogue from Maggie Lambeth Rare Books, Maps & Prints, of Blanco, Texas. Blanco is located in the Texas Hill Country, west of Austin, nort...

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Treasures from the Attic of the 19th Century Shop

Treasures from the Attic of the 19th Century Shop

By Michael Stillman

The 19th Century Shop has issued a catalogue of Treasures From Our Attic. Everyone dreams of finding valuable old books in their attic, but few are as fortunate as the 19th ...

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Colonial and Revolutionary American Maps (and a few more) from Arader Galleries

Colonial and Revolutionary American Maps (and a few more) from Arader Galleries

By Michael Stillman

This month we review our first catalogue from the Arader Galleries of New York (also Philadelphia, San Francisco and Houston). The galleries are those of W. Graham Arader II...

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Discounted Western Books and Ephemera from Johns' Western Gallery

Discounted Western Books and Ephemera from Johns' Western Gallery

By Michael Stillman

Johns' Western Gallery, a notable west coast auction house and bookseller, has issued a catalogue of discounted goods. It's called A Discounted Selection from our Bookshop I...

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Books from Northern North America from Helen R. Kahn

Books from Northern North America from Helen R. Kahn


By Michael Stillman

Catalogue 70, the latest from Helen R. Kahn & Associates, was recently published. Kahn specializes in 16th-20th century North America, and here you can place a special emp...

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Fine Press Books from Oak Knoll

Fine Press Books from Oak Knoll

By Michael Stillman

Catalogue 281 has rolled off the press at Oak Knoll Books and it represents a departure, or perhaps evolution from their typical catalogue. The usual Oak Knoll catalogue con...

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New Acquisitions at Wessel and Lieberman

New Acquisitions at Wessel and Lieberman


By Michael Stillman

The latest catalogue from Wessel and Lieberman Booksellers recently arrived in our mailbox. This is Catalogue 38 for the Seattle, Washington, booksellers, and it covers a ...

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European and American Autographs from David Schulson

European and American Autographs from David Schulson


By Michael Stillman

This review may be a day late for a January Sale Catalog, but for those who collect autographs, and aren't too proud to beg for an extension, it is worth a look. The catal...

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American Revolution Manuscripts from Joe Rubinfine

American Revolution Manuscripts from Joe Rubinfine

By Michael Stillman

Joe Rubinfine has issued a new catalogue -- The American Revolution. A Catalog of Manuscripts. Rubinfine specializes in American historical autographs, though some of these ...

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Antiquarian Books from Librairie Thomas-Scheler

Antiquarian Books from Librairie Thomas-Scheler

By Michael Stillman

Recently published is the 33rd catalogue of Livres Anciens (or Old Books) from Librairie Thomas-Scheler of Paris. This catalogue is written in the French language, as are t...

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Celebrities and Writers Featured by James Pepper Rare Books

Celebrities and Writers Featured by James Pepper Rare Books

By Michael Stillman

This month we review Catalogue 157 from James Pepper Rare Books. While this issue does not specify a topic, Pepper catalogues tend to carry many items related to celebrities...

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Back to Childhood with Aleph-Bet Books

Back to Childhood with Aleph-Bet Books

By Michael Stillman

It's time for a trip down memory lane with the latest catalogue from Aleph-Bet Books, number 84. Titled Children's Books and Illustrated Books, it is filled with stories an...

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New Material from Bauman Rare Books

New Material from Bauman Rare Books

By Michael Stillman

We find ourselves a bit late with this catalogue, a December Holiday Catalogue, so we will pretend it was really meant for Presidents' or Valentine's Day and review it anyw...

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Rare Book Monthly

  • 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: 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…
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