We live in the era of "it's all about me" and the proof is in the explosive growth of genealogy on the web. No subject so captivates us as ourselves and it is transforming the material we read and acquire. For November we'll focus on Genealogy and Local History.
For many prowling genealogists local history is just a short step removed from "Grand Dad used to live in Uma." Google is increasingly making it possible to find family connections in all kinds of material that long ago disappeared from view and now miraculously return through the miracle of extraordinary databases and search engines that rewrite the laws of speed and search breadth every year or so. We are all learning to look back. For many, this awakening knowledge brings an interest to gather some of the books, pamphlets, letters and photographs of our own family histories. Such information is often most thoroughly expressed through local history and historical material. For November the theme is local history, genealogies and all the many ties that bind.
For dealers who list material on the Americana Exchange a fresh screen will be posted on home pages by October 10th. The new catalogue will be released on November 1st and be searchable for one year. An essay will introduce the catalogue.
Per usual all premium services members are eligible to list up to seven items. There are no commissions. Images are always important. We will email eligible members on October 10th and close the catalogue on October 28th. Links to upload are provided on Member Control Panels via "Contribute Material to the Next Issue of the Comet."
New listing members become eligible for participation as soon as accounts are established. If you have questions contact bmckinney@americanaexchange.com or call 415.823.6678. If we are not available we will reply promptly.
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
Gonnelli Auction 59 Antique prints, paintings and maps May 20th 2025
Gonnelli: Pietro Aquila, Psyche and Proserpina,1690. Starting price 140€
Gonnelli: Jacques Gamelin, Memento homo quia pulvis es et in pulverem reverteris, 1779. Starting price 300€
Gonnelli: Giorgio Ghisi, The final Judgement, 1680. Starting price 480€
Gonnelli Auction 59 Antique prints, paintings and maps May 20th 2025
Gonnelli Goya y Lucientes Francisco, Los Proverbios.1877. Starting price 1000 €
Gonnelli: Domenico Peruzzini, Long bearded old man, 1660. Starting price 2200€
Gonnelli: Enea Vico, Leda and the Swan,1542. Starting price 140€
Gonnelli Auction 59 Antique prints, paintings and maps May 20th 2025
Gonnelli: Andrea Del Sarto [school of], San Giovanni Battista, 1570. Starting price 25000€
Gonnelli: Carlo Maratta, Virgin Mary and Jesus, 1660. Starting Price 1200€
Gonnelli: Louis Brion de La Tour, Sphére de Copernic Sphere de Ptolemée / Le Systême de Ptolemée. Le Systême de Ticho-Brahe…, 1766. Starting price 180€
Gonnelli Auction 59 Antique prints, paintings and maps May 20th 2025
Gonnelli: Marc’Antonio Dal Re, Ville di Delizia o Siano Palaggi Camparecci nello Stato di Milano Divise in Sei Tomi Con espressevi le Piante…, Tomo Primo, 1726. Starting price 7000€
Gonnelli: Katsushika Hokusai, Bird on a branch, 1843. Starting price 100€