Rare Book Monthly

Book Catalogue Reviews - January - 2017 Issue

A Belated Christmas Catalogue from Peter Harrington

A slightly late Christmas catalogue.

We are slightly late on this, but not by much. Peter Harrington recently produced a catalogue for Christmas 2016. The material isn't particularly Christmasy, so it's fine for January 2017 too. In fact, it isn't particularly anything, other than excellent copies of solid books. The topics and types vary widely, so anything may show up. Here are a few selections.

 

Here is a book which has nothing to do with Christmas, by a writer who is associated with nothing else. Well, that is assuming his name is familiar at all. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is one of the biggest selling songs ever recorded. The song was written by Johnny Marks and recorded by singing cowboy Gene Autrey for Christmas 1949. However, Rudolph was already ten years old at the time, which is something like 50 in reindeer years. Rudy first came to life as a giveaway book at Montgomery Ward in 1939. Robert L. May, an advertising copy writer at Ward's, was asked by his boss to create a story to be used as a promotion for the coming Christmas. It was very popular, though the book has largely been forgotten (as has Ward's) while Rudolph lives on, thanks to Marks' version as a song. By the way, Marks was May's brother-in-law. None of this has much to do with item 274 other than to tell you who Robert L. May was. The following year, May created another book, this one titled Benny the Bunny Liked Beans. Unfortunately, May's brother-in-law never put this one to music, so the story is an obscurity. But, you can still get a copy from Harrington. Priced at £675 (British pounds or approximately $844 U. S. dollars).

 

Sometimes an author becomes so associated with one character, or set of characters, that we forget that he had a successful writing career that involved anything else. A. A. Milne's name immediately brings up images of Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends, but to most people, probably little if anything else. However, before (and after) his Pooh days, Milne wrote plays, poems, and occasional novels. One of those novels was a mystery/detective novel, published in 1922, a few years before Pooh Bear made his debut. The real Christopher Robin, Milne's son Christopher Robin Milne, was still only two years old in 1922, so he probably hadn't developed his full collection of inspirational stuffed animals yet. The mystery novel is entitled The Red House Mystery, and it is one of those where a group of people are gathered in a house and one is found dead. One of the others in the party becomes an amateur detective, eventually solving the mystery. Item 136. £6,500 (US $8,178).

 

This next book is not a piece of great literature, but like many great books, it was controversial in its time. Item 5 is Hollywood Babylone, by Kenneth Anger, published in 1959. Evidently, "Babylone" is how the French spell "Babylon," since this book, despite its Hollywood topic, is in French. It would later be published in English, but the French edition is the first. Indeed, it was first published in English in 1965 and quickly banned. It would not be until 1975 that Americans could read the book (unless they understood French) as that's when the second English edition was published, and allowed to be sold. This is a tell-all, scandal book, revealing the terrible secrets of Hollywood stars from 1900 through the 1950's. At the time the second English edition was published, the New York Times reviewer said of it, "If a book such as this can be said to have charm, it lies in the fact that here is a book without one single redeeming merit." In other words, it is the kind of book we like to read. Besides which, this edition is in French, and anything written in French is classier than something in English. £875 (US $1,100).

 

To balance the non-children's book written by a notable children's book author, we have some actual children's books by such an author. And these books, like the one above, have the added classiness of being in French. Item 21 is a set of first editions of the first four Babar books. Babar is the French-speaking elephant, who came to prefer green clothes, but went around pretty much naked when young. He went off to visit the big city after the unfortunate passing of his mother. When he returned to elephant land, he brought back a knowledge of human civilization and values (along with the French language) to share with his fellow pachyderms. They made him king because humans are so much more civilized than elephants (never mind that a human shot and killed his mother). The four books are Histoire de Babar (1931), Le Voyage de Babar (1932), Le Roi Babar (1933), and Les Vacances de Zephir (1936). The author was Jean de Brunhoff, who died the year after Zephir was published at the age of 37. There were two more of his Babar books published posthumously, but after a hiatus of several years, his son, Laurent, picked up the series, with the vast majority of Babar titles written by the son. Laurent is 91 years old today, lives in New York, and may still add more books to the series. We hope so. £3,750 (US $4,717).

 

The German bombing of London during the Second World War, begun in September 1940, was meant to be a prelude to a land invasion. That invasion never happened, the bombing not softening up Britain as the Germans anticipated. However, at the time this handbill was printed in 1941, such a land invasion was still a distinct threat. It was at this time that the Ministry of Information published this sheet, with Winston Churchill's inspirational advice and practical guidance, headed Beating the INVADER. A message from the Prime Minister. Churchill explains that if and when the attack begins, it will be too late to go. Therefore, it will be everyone's duty to "STAND FIRM!" In those places where no fighting is occurring, nor rifle fire can be heard, everyone needs to follow "the second great order and duty, namely 'CARRY ON'." Keep calm and carry on, in a bit more detail. Item 215. £850 (US $1,069).

 

Peter Harrington may be reached at 020 7591 0220 (USA 011 44 20 7591 0220) or mail@peterharrington.co.uk. Their website is www.peterharrington.co.uk.

Rare Book Monthly

  • Sotheby’s
    Modern First Editions
    Available for Immediate Purchase
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: Winston Churchill. The Second World War. Set of First-Edition Volumes. 6,000 USD
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: A.A. Milne, Ernest H. Shepard. A Collection of The Pooh Books. Set of First-Editions. 18,600 USD
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: Salvador Dalí, Lewis Carroll. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Finely Bound and Signed Limited Edition. 15,000 USD
    Sotheby’s
    Modern First Editions
    Available for Immediate Purchase
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: Ian Fleming. Live and Let Die. First Edition. 9,500 USD
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter Series. Finely Bound First Printing Set of Complete Series. 5,650 USD
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: Ernest Hemingway. A Farewell to Arms. First Edition, First Printing. 4,200 USD
  • Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: A RUTH BADER GINSBURG BEADED JUDICIAL COLLAR. $80,000 - $120,000
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: ONLY KNOWN COPY OF THE ONLY BOOK BY THE REMARKABLE EVE ADAMS. $8,000 - $12,000
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: A COMPLETE RUN OF VISIONAIRE MAGAZINE THROUGH 2010. $6,000 - $9,000
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: LAW REVIEW OFFPRINT SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BY RUTH BADER GINSBURG. $3,000 - $5,000
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: META REBNER'S WORKING SCRIPT OF THE LOVED ONE. $1,500 - $2,000
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: A KATHY GROVE PORTRAIT OF CYNDI LAUPER FOR THE FEBRUARY 1989 DETAILS COVER. $800 - $1,200
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: A PLASTIC COAT BY MILLIE DAVID FEATURED IN SOHO NEWS STYLE SECTION, FROM THE COLLECTION OF ANNIE FLANDERS. $500 - $700
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: A RUTH BADER GINSBURG JEWELRY BOX. $600 - $900
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: A SET OF JONI MITCHELL LYRICS FOR "IF I HAD A HEART." $2,000 - $3,000
  • 19th Century Shop
    Catalogue 198 just published
    19th Century Shop. Darwin and Wallace, first printing of the first paper on natural selection
    19th Century Shop. Shakespeare’s Poems, first collected edition
    19th Century Shop. Walt Whitman portrait inscribed with a Leaves of Grass poem
    19th Century Shop. Major Elizabeth Barrett Browning manuscript notebook
    19th Century Shop. Spock's Baby Book, original MS
    19th Century Shop. Cellarius, Harmonia Macrocosmica, the great celestial atlas
  • Potter & Potter Auctions
    How History Unfolds on Paper:
    Choice Selections from the Eric C. Caren Collection
    Part IX
    April 18, 2024
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: [RUTH, George Herman “Babe” (1895-1948)]. Signed photograph. Circa 1930s. 191 x 248 mm. $1,500 to $2,500.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: HARRISON, Benjamin. Document signed (“Benj Harrison”) as governor of Virginia, certifying the service of Daniel Cumbo, a Black Revolutionary soldier. $6,000 to $9,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: ONE OF THE FIRST PRINTED ANNOUNCEMENTS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. $4,000 to $6,000.
    Potter & Potter Auctions
    How History Unfolds on Paper:
    Choice Selections from the Eric C. Caren Collection
    Part IX
    April 18, 2024
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: FIRST PRINTING OF LINCOLN’S IMMORTAL GETTYSBURG ADDRESS. $4,000 to $6,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: HIGHLY IMPORTANT MORMON ARCHIVE. ALLEY, George. Archive of 23 Autograph Letters Signed by Mormon Convert George Alley to His Brother Joseph Alley. $10,000 to $20,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: [AVIATION]. [ARMSTRONG, Neil A.] Aviation Hall of Fame Gold Medal MS64 NGC, Awarded to Neil Armstrong in 1979. $2,000 to $3,000.
    Potter & Potter Auctions
    How History Unfolds on Paper:
    Choice Selections from the Eric C. Caren Collection
    Part IX
    April 18, 2024
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: NEWLY DISCOVERED FIRST PRINTING OF "WITH MALICE TOWARDS NONE... " FROM THE ONLY NEWSPAPER ACTUALLY ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN LINCOLN’S SECOND INAUGURAL PROCESSION. $4,000 to $8,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: THE MOST IMPORTANT GEORGE WASHINGTON DOCUMENT IN PRIVATE HANDS; GEORGE WASHINGTON’S COMMISSION AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF, 1775, ONE OF ONLY TWO ORIGINALS. $150,000 to $250,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: A VERY RARE ACCOUNT OF BLACKBEARD’S DEATH AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PIRATE ITEMS EXTANT. $3,000 to $5,000.
    Potter & Potter Auctions
    How History Unfolds on Paper:
    Choice Selections from the Eric C. Caren Collection
    Part IX
    April 18, 2024
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: EDISON, Thomas. Patent for Edison’s Improvements on the Electric-Light, No. 219,628. [Washington, D.C.: U.S. Patent Office], 16 September 1879. $2,000 to $3,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: [VIETNAM WAR]. The original pen used by Secretary of State William P. Rogers to sign the Vietnam Peace Agreement, Paris, 27 January 1973. $10,000 to $15,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: SONS OF LIBERTY FOUNDER COLONEL BARRÉ ANNOTATED TITLE-PAGE, “WHICH OUGHT TO ROUSE UP BRITISH ATTENTION”. $4,000 to $6,000.
  • Forum Auctions
    Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    28th March 2024
    Forum Mar. 28: [Langland (William)]. The vision of Pierce Plowman, nowe the seconde time imprinted..., Roberte Crowley, 1550. £8,000 to £10,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: [Shakespeare (William)]. [Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies], second folio edition, [by Tho.Cotes, for Robert Allot], [1632]. £30,000 to £40,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Bible, Czech Biblia Bohemica, first complete Bible printed in the Czech vernacular, Prague, August 1488. £30,000 to £40,000.
    Forum Auctions
    Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    28th March 2024
    Forum Mar. 28: Shabthai Tzvi.- Collection of four printed and illustrated broadsides detailing the appearance, rise and fall of the false messiah, Shabthai Tzvi, Augsburg, 1666-67. £40,000 to £60,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Leaf from the Beauvais Missal, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on parchment, [Northern France (perhaps Beauvais or Amiens)], [fourteenth century (c.1310)]. £4,000 to £6,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Aubrey (John). [Remaines of Gentilisme and Judaisme], manuscript in English, Latin and Greek, [c. 1693]. £30,000 to £50,000.
    Forum Auctions
    Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    28th March 2024
    Forum Mar. 28: Byron (George Gordon Noel, Lord). Poems on Various Occasions, first edition, Harriet Maltby's copy, Newark, Printed by S. & J. Ridge, 1807. £30,000 to £40,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Tolkien (J.R.R.) The Hobbit, first edition, second impression with dust-jacket, 1937 [but 1938]. £7,000 to £10,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Blake (William).- Thornton (Robert John). The Pastorals of Virgil, 2 vol., engraved plates by William Blake, 1821. £8,000 to £12,000.
    Forum Auctions
    Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    28th March 2024
    Forum Mar. 28: America.- Mount (William J.) & Thomas Page. The English Pilot…, [bound with] The Fourth Book, describing The West Indies Navigation from Hudson's-Bay to the River Amazones, 1721. £20,000 to £30,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Oldfield (Henry Ambrose), Rajman Singh Chitrakar & others. An album of 160 photographs and 13 original artworks, (1833-1919), [c. 1850s-1880s]. £20,000 to £30,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Audubon (John James) [and William MacGillivray]. Ornithological Biography…, 5 vol., first edition, presentation copy inscribed by Audubon, Edinburgh, 1831-49 [i.e. 1831-39]. £10,000 to £15,000.

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