Rare Book Monthly Reviews - June - 2009 Issue

Captain Bligh and the Mutiny on the Bounty from Hordern House

Captain Bligh and the Mutiny on the Bounty from Hordern House

By Michael Stillman

Hordern House of Australia has issued a new catalogue, though this spectacular presentation has more the appearance of a fine press book than a bookseller's catalogue. Offered are selections from the collection of Robert and Mary Anne Parks of Michigan. Last year, Hordern House offered books from the Parks' collection of the great explorer James Cook. This latest collection is an homage to one of the most controversial men to sail the seas. Some see him as one of the bravest, most skillful navigators ever to captain a ship. Others see him as a tyrant deserving of the ...

The Laurence Urdang Collection of Maritime Books from the Ten Pound Island Book Co.

The Laurence Urdang Collection of Maritime Books from the Ten Pound Island Book Co.

By Michael Stillman

This month we have received our first catalogue from the Ten Pound Island Book Company of Gloucester, Massachusetts. The title could not be more appropriate for Gloucester: ...

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American Philosophy from Rudi Thoemmes Rare Books

American Philosophy from Rudi Thoemmes Rare Books

By Michael Stillman

Rudi Thoemmes Rare Books has issued a somewhat surprising catalogue, American Philosophy, 1738-1914. It's unexpected as Thoemmes is a British bookseller, located in Bristol. ...

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Americana and the West from Clark Rare Books

Americana and the West from Clark Rare Books

By Michael Stillman

Clark Rare Books has prepared a new catalogue, Catalog 938 of Americana, The West, and General. There are many new acquisitions available this month, along with a few new tit...

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The Wide World of Jo Mora from Carpe Diem Fine Books

The Wide World of Jo Mora from Carpe Diem Fine Books

By Michael Stillman

We recently received our first catalogue from Carpe Diem Fine Books, and it is dedicated to one individual that some of you may not know. The man is Jo Mora (or Joseph Jacint...

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The Dutch Overseas from Gert Jan Bestebreurtje Rare Books

The Dutch Overseas from Gert Jan Bestebreurtje Rare Books

By Michael Stillman

Gert Jan Bestebreurtje Rare Books has issued their 138th catalogue, The Dutch Overseas. The Netherlands was a major colonial power, particularly from the 17th through the 19t...

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Six Hundred Children's Books from Aleph-Bet Books

Six Hundred Children's Books from Aleph-Bet Books

By Michael Stillman

Aleph-Bet Books has released their Catalogue 91 of Children's Books and Illustrated Books. Actually, most are illustrated children's books, thereby qualifying under both head...

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Signed American Documents from Joe Rubinfine

Signed American Documents from Joe Rubinfine

By Michael Stillman

Joe Rubinfine of Cocoa, Florida, has published his List 163 of American Historical Autographs. Most of these autographs come on letters or other written documents, and most a...

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Fine Press, Artists' Books, History and More from Kelmscott Bookshop

Fine Press, Artists' Books, History and More from Kelmscott Bookshop

By Michael Stillman

Kelmscott Bookshop Rare Books has released their Catalog 4 of Artists' Books, Private Press, the Pre-Raphaelites, William Morris, Photography, Art, Fine Literature, History, ...

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The Latest in Film, Literature and Mystery from James Pepper Rare Books

The Latest in Film, Literature and Mystery from James Pepper Rare Books

By Michael Stillman

We have received the latest collections of books and related items for sale from James Pepper Rare Books: Catalogue 82. Pepper's catalogues feature literature, items related...

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"Bad Books" and More from Garrett Scott, Bookseller

"Bad Books" and More from Garrett Scott, Bookseller

By Michael Stillman

It's not often we see a catalogue with the cover warning "Beware of Bad Books." Is this the ultimate caveat emptor, a warning as to the quality of books within? Of course, no...

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More Literature, Film, Etc. from Waverly Books

More Literature, Film, Etc. from Waverly Books


By Michael Stillman

Waverly Books has issued a new catalogue, List 164. Offered are books in their usual fields of literature and film-related, with enough surprises to make any collector want...

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Latin American and Spanish Works from Plaza Books

Latin American and Spanish Works from Plaza Books


By Michael Stillman

Plaza Books recently issued their List 28. The California bookseller specializes in Latin American and Spanish books. The greatest concentration is in Mexican items, includ...

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Gene W. Baade Offers Inexpensive Books on the West

Gene W. Baade Offers Inexpensive Books on the West


By Michael Stillman

Gene W. Baade Books on the West has now issued Catalogue 509. This includes 190 items from stock, most of which, he notes, have been reduced in price. This is a catalogue d...

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Rise To Globalism - The U.S. 1865-1941 from the William Reese Company

Rise To Globalism - The U.S. 1865-1941 from the William Reese Company


By Michael Stillman

The William Reese Company has issued a catalogue of American items from a period, though long, not often the subject of catalogues we see. The Revolution, antebellum period...

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Martayan Lan Offering a Collection of Early Maps

Martayan Lan Offering a Collection of Early Maps


By Michael Stillman

Martayan Lan has issued a foldout pamphlet that serves as an announcement that they are offering an important collection of maps, atlases, and books containing maps. It is ...

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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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