Rare Book Monthly Reviews - March - 2017 Issue

Americana, the West, Literature, & Much More from Back of Beyond Books

Americana, the West, Literature, & Much More from Back of Beyond Books

Back of Beyond Books has released their Rare Book Catalogue No. 18. I believe it must be their most extensive collection yet, 360 items of varied interest. Back of Beyond is a specialist in material related to the American Southwest, their home, and there are many items here pertaining to that specialty. However, there are many other fields represented, not all of which we normally find in their catalogues. Other subjects include the broader Western Americana, Mormons, Native Americana, Americana in general, literature, Wallace Stegner, Mountaineering, Pocket Maps, Sheet Music, and Miscella...

Americana, Travel, Natural History and More from Donald Heald Rare Books

Americana, Travel, Natural History and More from Donald Heald Rare Books

Donald Heald Rare Books recently offered A Selection of Rare Books in conjunction with the California Antiquarian Book Fair held last month. The catalogue is divided into four sections: Americana, ...

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Magnificent Books, Manuscripts & Photographs from the 19th Century Shop

Magnificent Books, Manuscripts & Photographs from the 19th Century Shop

The 19th Century Rare Book & Photograph Shop has released a catalogue of Magnificent Books & Photographs. We might add that the catalogue is magnificent as well, but nothing less would make...

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Early Books and Manuscripts from Liber Antiquus

Early Books and Manuscripts from Liber Antiquus

Liber Antiquus, Early Books & Manuscripts prepared a catalogue for, and titled after, the Oakland Book Fair 2017. Technically, that's the annual ABAA California International Book Fair, held ev...

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Colonial Americana from the William Reese Company

Colonial Americana from the William Reese Company

The William Reese Company has issued a catalogue of Colonial Americana. A few items are really pre-Colonial, but it does cut off with America's Declaration of Independence. Colonial no more. It is ...

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Journeys from Douglas Stewart Fine Books

Journeys from Douglas Stewart Fine Books

Douglas Stewart Fine Books has issued a catalogue entitled Journeys. Stewart is a Melbourne, Australia, bookseller, but the continent's isolation is not reflective of the books they offer. The jour...

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Rare Books, First Editions and Original Illustrations from Heritage Book Shop

Rare Books, First Editions and Original Illustrations from Heritage Book Shop

The Heritage Book Shop has prepared A Catalogue of Rare First Editions, Fine Books and Original Illustrations. Heritage is a venerable Southern California bookselling institution, over 50 years in ...

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The Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries from Antiquates Ltd.

The Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries from Antiquates Ltd.

Antiquates Fine & Rare Books is offering a catalogue highlighting The Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries. This is seriously old stuff, mostly from England. The English were alwa...

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Private Press, Fine Press, Illustrated Books from Sophie Schneideman Rare Books

Private Press, Fine Press, Illustrated Books from Sophie Schneideman Rare Books

Sophie Schneideman Rare Books prepared a catalogue for the California Antiquarian Book Fair entitled Private Press, Illustrated Books, Fine Bindings, Calligraphy & Prints. These are selections ...

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Fine Books for the California Fair from David Brass Rare Books

Fine Books for the California Fair from David Brass Rare Books

David Brass Rare Books printed a catalogue for the recent 50th California Antiquarian Book Fair. They focus on fine books in exceptionally good condition. While a variety is offered, most of the it...

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A Visit to the California Book Fair by Bernard Quaritch Ltd.

A Visit to the California Book Fair by Bernard Quaritch Ltd.

Bernard Quaritch Ltd. recently created a catalogue especially for The 50th California International Antiquarian Book Fair. Bernard Quaritch is the storied London bookseller that has been selling bo...

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Italy and the Grand Tour from Yesterday's Muse Books

Italy and the Grand Tour from Yesterday's Muse Books

Yesterday's Muse Books has published a catalogue of Italian History & Culture, and the Grand Tour. Fortunately for this reviewer, the majority of the items are in English, though they pertain i...

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Theology and Philosophy from John Windle Antiquarian Bookseller

Theology and Philosophy from John Windle Antiquarian Bookseller

John Windle Antiquarian Bookseller has released a catalogue of 24 Books of Theology & Philosophy. To continue, the description says, "featuring notable and uncommon works from the Western tradi...

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Bibles, Theology and Related Subjects from The Philadelphia Rare Books & Manuscripts Co.

Bibles, Theology and Related Subjects from The Philadelphia Rare Books & Manuscripts Co.

The Philadelphia Rare Books & Manuscripts Company has issued a most devout catalogue entitled Bibles – Theology – Church History – Missions – Martyrs – Ministry &n...

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A Varied Fair Catalogue from Bruce McKittrick Rare Books

A Varied Fair Catalogue from Bruce McKittrick Rare Books

Bruce McKittrick Rare Books issued a catalogue for The 50th California Antiquarian Book Fair. This is not their typical catalogue. Descriptions are at best brief, which is understandable for fairgo...

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Important Books & Manuscripts from Peter Harrington

Important Books & Manuscripts from Peter Harrington

Peter Harrington of London has published a catalogue of Rare Books & Manuscripts. These are important pieces, mostly books this time, though we do find manuscripts from Darwin and Fitzgerald. A...

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Rare Americana from David Lesser Antiquarian Books

Rare Americana from David Lesser Antiquarian Books

David M. Lesser Fine Antiquarian Books has issued their latest catalogue. The title is Rare Americana. A Catalogue of Significant and Unusual Imprints Relating to America. Actually, that's the titl...

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Travels & Science from Antiquariat Kainbacher

Travels & Science from Antiquariat Kainbacher

Antiquariat Kainbacher has published their Katalog XI, titled Travels & Science. A language warning before we start – while the title is in English, not much else is. The catalogue is wri...

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The Ottoman World from Shapero Rare Books

The Ottoman World from Shapero Rare Books

The latest catalogue from Shapero Rare Books is entitled Looking East, Looking West, the Ottoman World Observed by European Travellers. They would have mostly been looking east when they set out on...

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Rare Book Monthly

  • Forum Auctions
    The Library of Barry Humphries
    26th March 2025
    Forum, Mar. 26: Beckford (William) [Vathek] An Arabian Tale, first (but unauthorised) edition, Lady Caroline Lamb's copy with her signature and notes, 1786. £2,000 to £3,000.
    Forum, Mar. 26: Baudelaire (Charles) Les Fleurs du Mal, first edition containing the 6 suppressed poems, first issue, contemporary half black morocco, Paris, 1857. £4,000 to £6,000.
    Forum, Mar. 26: Beardsley (Aubrey).- Pope (Alexander) The Rape of the Lock, one of 25 copies on Japanese vellum, Leonard Smithers, 1896. £4,000 to £6,000.
    Forum, Mar. 26: Douglas (Lord Alfred) Sonnets, first edition, the dedication copy, with signed presentation inscription from the author to his wife Olive Custance, The Academy, 1909. £2,000 to £3,000.
    Forum Auctions
    The Library of Barry Humphries
    26th March 2025
    Forum, Mar. 26: Crowley (Aleister) The Works..., 3 vol. in 1 (as issued)"Essay Competition" issue on India paper, signed presentation inscription from the author, 1905-07. £1,500 to £2,000.
    Forum, Mar. 26: Rodin (Auguste).- Mirbeau (Octave) Le Jardin des Supplices, one of 30 copies on chine with an additional suite, bound in dark purple goatskin, Paris, 1902. £3,000 to £4,000.
    Forum, Mar. 26: Pellar (Hans) Eight original book illustrations for 'Der verliebte Flamingo' [together with] a published copy of the first edition of the book, 1923. £6,000 to £8,000.
    Forum, Mar. 26: Cretté (Georges, binder).- Louÿs (Pierre) Les Aventures du Roi Pausole, 2 vol., one of 99 copies, with 2 original drawings, superbly bound in blue goatskin, gilt, Paris, 1930. £3,000 to £4,000.
  • Sotheby's
    Sell Your Fine Books & Manuscripts
    Sotheby’s: The Shem Tov Bible, 1312 | A Masterpiece from the Golden Age of Spain. Sold: 6,960,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: Ten Commandments Tablet, 300-800 CE | One of humanity's earliest and most enduring moral codes. Sold: 5,040,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: William Blake | Songs of Innocence and of Experience. Sold: 4,320,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: The Declaration of Independence | The Holt printing, the only copy in private hands. Sold: 3,360,000 USD
    Sotheby's
    Sell Your Fine Books & Manuscripts
    Sotheby’s: Thomas Taylor | The original cover art for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Sold: 1,920,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: Machiavelli | Il Principe, a previously unrecorded copy of the book where modern political thought began. Sold: 576,000 GBP
    Sotheby’s: Leonardo da Vinci | Trattato della pittura, ca. 1639, a very fine pre-publication manuscript. Sold: 381,000 GBP
    Sotheby’s: Henri Matisse | Jazz, Paris 1947, the complete portfolio. Sold: 312,000 EUR
  • Koller, Mar. 26: Wit, Frederick de. Atlas. Amsterdam, de Wit, [1680]. CHF 20,000 to 30,000
    Koller, Mar. 26: Merian, Maria Sibylla. Der Raupen wunderbare Verwandelung, und sonderbare Blumennahrung. Nürnberg, 1679; Frankfurt a. M. und Leipzig, 1683. CHF 20,000 to 30,000
    Koller, Mar. 26: GOETHE, JOHANN WOLFGANG VON. Faust. Ein Fragment. Von Goethe. Ächte Ausgabe. Leipzig, G. J. Göschen, 1790. CHF 7,000 to 10,000
    Koller, Mar. 26: Hieronymus. [Das hochwirdig leben der außerwoelten freünde gotes der heiligen altuaeter]. Augsburg, Johann Schönsperger d. Ä., 9. Juni 1497. CHF 40,000 to 60,000.
    Koller, Mar. 26: BIBLIA GERMANICA - Neunte deutsche Bibel. Nürnberg, A. Koberger, 17. Feb. 1483. CHF 40,000 to 60,000
    Koller, Mar. 26: HORAE B.M.V. - Stundenbuch. Lateinische Handschrift auf Pergament, Kalendarium französisch. Nordfrankreich (Rouen?). CHF 25,000 to 40,000
  • Forum Auctions
    Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    27th March 2025
    Forum, Mar. 27: Dürer (Albrecht) Hierin sind begriffen vier bücher von menschlicher Proportion, 4 parts in 1, first edition, Nuremberg, Hieronymus Andreae for Agnes Dürer, 1528. £30,000 to £40,000.
    Forum, Mar. 27: Book of Hours, Use of Rome, illuminated manuscript in Latin, on vellum, 26 fine hand-painted miniatures, 17th century dark brown morocco, [Lyon], [c. 1475 and later c. 1490-1500]. £25,000 to £35,000.
    Forum, Mar. 27: Brontë (Emily) The North Wind, watercolour, [1842]. £15,000 to £20,000.
    Forum, Mar. 27: Titanic.- Mudd (Thomas Cupper, one of the youngest victims of the sinking of the Titanic, 1895-1912) Autograph Letter signed on board RMS Titanic to his mother, April 11th 1912. £20,000 to £30,000.
    Forum Auctions
    Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    27th March 2025
    Forum, Mar. 27: [Austen (Jane)] Emma: A Novel, 3 vol., first edition, for John Murray, 1816. £10,000 to £15,000.
    Forum, Mar. 27: Picasso (Pablo).- Ovid. Les Metamorphoses, one of 95 copies, signed by the artist, Lausanne, Albert Skira, 1931. £10,000 to £15,000.
    Forum, Mar. 27: America.- Ogilby (John) America: Being the Latest, and Most Accurate Description of the New World..., all maps with vibrant hand-colouring in outline, probably by an early hand, 1671. £15,000 to £25,000.
    Forum, Mar. 27: Iceland.- Geological exploration.- Bright (Dr. Richard )and Edward Bird. Collection of twenty original drawings from travels in Iceland with Henry Holland and George Mackenzie, watercolours, [1810]. £20,000 to £30,000.

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