Rare Book Monthly Reviews - May - 2009 Issue

A 30th Anniversary Catalogue from James Cummins Bookseller

A 30th Anniversary Catalogue from James Cummins Bookseller

By Michael Stillman

James Cummins Bookseller hits two major milestones with the issuance of his latest catalogue. This represents the century mark for Cummins - Catalogue 100. It also celebrates 30 years in business (slightly more), having founded the firm in 1978. For those who follow his catalogues, the good news is that Mr. Cummins informs us that he is good "for another 30." We have been reviewing Cummins' catalogues for the last five of those years, starting with number 86 (you can find those reviews in the archives of AE Monthly). We will try to stick around for at least a few of t...

A Spring Miscellany from Austin's Antiquarian Books

A Spring Miscellany from Austin's Antiquarian Books

By Michael Stillman

We have received our first catalogue from Austin's Antiquarian Books of Wilmington, Vermont: Spring Miscellany. Books, Manuscripts, Ephemera. It is, as it says, a "miscellan...

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Primarily English Firsts from I.D. Edrich's "Study"

Primarily English Firsts from I.D. Edrich's "Study"

By Michael Stillman

I.D. Edrich of the U.K. has followed up with its catalogues from various rooms with The "Study" Catalogue of Mainly Modern Firsts. As they explain, these are books housed in ...

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Old Western Books from...Old West Books

Old Western Books from...Old West Books

By Michael Stillman

Old West Books of Colorado Springs has issued Catalog 24 of Rare, Out of Print Books on the American West. If the name, but not the location sounds familiar, this is the same...

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Broadsides and Broadsheets from the William Reese Company

Broadsides and Broadsheets from the William Reese Company

By Michael Stillman

The William Reese Company has issued one of its occasional catalogues of American Broadsides and Broadsheets. These are single sheets, broadsides being printed on only one si...

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Film, Photography, Literature and More from James Pepper Rare Books

Film, Photography, Literature and More from James Pepper Rare Books

By Michael Stillman

James Pepper Rare Books has issued their Catalogue 181. It includes much in the way of material related to stage and screen, literature, and detective fiction, as we have com...

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Books About Books and More from Oak Knoll

Books About Books and More from Oak Knoll

By Michael Stillman

Oak Knoll Books has issued a new catalogue in its long-running series on books about books. This is number 290, and if you've missed most of the others, one of the items bein...

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More Inexpensive Americana from David Lesser Antiquarian Books

More Inexpensive Americana from David Lesser Antiquarian Books

By Michael Stillman

David M. Lesser Fine Antiquarian Books has issued their latest budget collection: Inexpensive Americana Part VIII. In keeping with the tough times, Lesser has issued a serie...

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Selections from the Zamorano 80 from Randall House Rare Books

Selections from the Zamorano 80 from Randall House Rare Books

By Michael Stillman

Randall House Rare Books has issued a list entitled Zamorano 80. This is the ultimate collecting list of California. In 1945, the Zamorano Club set about compiling a list of ...

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Natural History from Raymond M. Sutton

Natural History from Raymond M. Sutton

By Michael Stillman

Raymond M. Sutton, Jr., has issued his Catalog No. 197 of Natural History with a Large Selection of Orchid Books. Actually, there is a large selection of all types of natural...

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Photography from McLean Arts and Books

Photography from McLean Arts and Books

By Michael Stillman

McLean Arts and Books has issued a catalogue of Photography and Photographers, subtitled Early Photography, Collections and Surveys, Art Photography. This is a collection of ...

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Books Exhibited in New York by Librairie Thomas-Scheler

Books Exhibited in New York by Librairie Thomas-Scheler

By Michael Stillman

Librairie Thomas-Scheler printed a List of the Books Exhibited at the New York Antiquarian Bookfair. The French bookseller made the long journey to New York last month bringi...

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A Director's Report from the Arader Galleries

A Director's Report from the Arader Galleries

By Michael Stillman

We have received the March/April edition of the Arader Galleries' Director's Report. These reports update us on what is going on, and a few of the items available at the vari...

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Rare Book Monthly

  • Sotheby’s
    Book Week
    December 9-17, 2025
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society, Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 1997, first edition, hardback issue, inscribed by the author pre-publication. £100,000 to £150,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Autograph sketchleaf including a probable draft for the E flat Piano Quartet, K.493, 1786. £150,000 to £200,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Hooke, Robert. Micrographia: or some Physiological Descriptions of Minute Bodies made by Magnifying Glasses. London: James Allestry for the Royal Society, 1667. $12,000 to $15,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Chappuzeau, Samuel. The history of jewels, first edition in English. London: T.N. for Hobart Kemp, 1671. $12,000 to $18,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Sowerby, James. Exotic Mineralogy, containing his most realistic mineral depictions, London: Benjamin Meredith, 1811, Arding and Merrett, 1817. $5,000 to $7,000.
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  • Swann
    Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books
    December 9, 2025
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 156: Cornelis de Jode, Americae pars Borealis, double-page engraved map of North America, Antwerp, 1593.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 206: John and Alexander Walker, Map of the United States, London and Liverpool, 1827.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 223: Abraham Ortelius, Typus Orbis Terrarum, hand-colored double-page engraved world map, Antwerp, 1575.
    Swann
    Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books
    December 9, 2025
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 233: Aaron Arrowsmith, Chart of the World, oversize engraved map on 8 sheets, London, 1790 (circa 1800).
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 239: Fielding Lucas, A General Atlas, 81 engraved maps and diagrams, Baltimore, 1823.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 240: Anthony Finley, A New American Atlas, 15 maps engraved by james hamilton young on 14 double-page sheets, Philadelphia, 1826.
    Swann
    Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books
    December 9, 2025
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 263: John Bachmann, Panorama of the Seat of War, portfolio of 4 double-page chromolithographed panoramic maps, New York, 1861.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 265: Sebastian Münster, Cosmographei, Basel: Sebastian Henricpetri, 1558.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 271: Abraham Ortelius, Epitome Theatri Orteliani, Antwerp: Johann Baptist Vrients, 1601.
    Swann
    Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books
    December 9, 2025
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 283: Joris van Spilbergen, Speculum Orientalis Occidentalisque Indiae, Leiden: Nicolaus van Geelkercken for Jodocus Hondius, 1619.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 285: Levinus Hulsius, Achtzehender Theil der Newen Welt, 14 engraved folding maps, Frankfurt: Johann Frederick Weiss, 1623.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 341: John James Audubon, Carolina Parrot, Plate 26, London, 1827.

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