Swann, Nov. 14: Stephen Sondheim, autograph musical quotation signed and inscribed, 4 bars from “Send in the Clowns,” 1986.
Swann, Nov. 14: George Washington, autograph letter signed to Robert Morris, preparing for attack on Philadelphia, 1777.
Swann, Nov. 14: Autograph album containing over 250 signatures by members of 29th U.S. Congress, 1845.
Swann, Nov. 14: Charles “The Bold,” letter signed to Duke of Milan written during Burgundian Wars, 1475.
Swann, Nov. 14: Deng Xiaoping, TIME magazine “Man of the Year” issue signed and dated, 1979.
Swann, Nov. 14: Theodor Herzl, autograph letter signed to prospective tutor of his children, 1902.
Swann, Nov. 14: Bourienne’s Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte extra illustrated including 1798 letter signed by Napoleon after Battle of the Nile, 1836.
Swann, Nov. 14: George Minot, autograph manuscript signed, diary kept during European trip to claim Nobel Prize, 1934.
Swann, Nov. 14: Thomas Jefferson, autograph letter signed, introducing George Washington’s personal secretary Tobias Lear, 1793.
Swann, Nov. 14: Winston Churchill, A History of the English-Speaking Peoples, signed in second volume, first edition, 1956-58.
Swann, Nov. 14: John Steinbeck, late typescript drafts of 5 chapters from his posthumously published tales of King Arthur, 1959.
Swann, Nov. 14: H.G. Wells, group of 14 of his books signed to his mistress Rebecca West or the son they had together, 1910s-40s.
Old World Auctions (Nov 6-20): Lot 51. Ortelius' Influential Map of the New World - Second Plate in Full Contemporary Color (1579) Est. $5,500 - $6,500
Old World Auctions (Nov 6-20): Lot 165. Reduced-Size Edition of Jefferys/Mead Map with Revolutionary War Updates (1776) Est. $4,750 - $6,000
Old World Auctions (Nov 6-20): Lot 688. Blaeu's Superb Carte-a-Figures Map of Africa (1634) Est. $3,000 - $3,750
Old World Auctions (Nov 6-20): Lot 105. Striking Map of French Colonial Possessions (1720) Est. $2,750 - $3,500
Old World Auctions (Nov 6-20): Lot 98. Rare First Edition of the First Published Plan of a Settlement in North America (1556) Est. $3,000 - $3,750
Old World Auctions (Nov 6-20): Lot 181. Important Map of the Georgia Colony (1748) Est. $2,750 - $3,500
Old World Auctions (Nov 6-20): Lot 547. Ortelius' Map of Russia with a Vignette of Ivan the Terrible in Full Contemporary Color (1579) Est. $1,400 - $1,700
Old World Auctions (Nov 6-20): Lot 85. Homann's Decorative Map of Colonial America (1720) Est. $1,600 - $1,900
Old World Auctions (Nov 6-20): Lot 642. Blaeu's Magnificent Carte-a-Figures Map of Asia (1634) Est. $3,000 - $3,750
Old World Auctions (Nov 6-20): Lot 748. The Martyrdom of St. John in Contemporary Hand Color with Gilt Highlights (1520) Est. $1,000 - $1,300
Old World Auctions (Nov 6-20): Lot 298. Scarce Early Map of Chester County (1822) Est. $2,750 - $3,500
Barnes & Nobles toy and game area at their Bronx, New York, store.
By Michael Stillman
Barnes & Noble recently announced another new idea for its stores as the nation's number one bricks and mortar book retailer struggles to re-establish relevance in a changing world, not to mention fending off a corporate takeover by dissident shareholders and fighting for survival itself. We don't know what the ultimate outcome will be for the retailer that struggles to keep its stock price at a third of its high of a few years ago, but we give them an "A" for effort. Barnes & Noble is not going down without a fight, and just as they reinvigorated bookselling in an earlier decade with coffee and pastry, they may yet do it again with socialization and learning.
Just a couple of months ago, Barnes & Noble announced that they would be setting up "e-reading boutiques," featuring its Nook electronic readers, in their stores. These would allow customers to become more familiar with electronic books and readers and, hopefully, encourage them to buy Nooks and e-books from them. We think it's a clever idea - taking advantage of the one thing Barnes & Noble has that bookselling and electronic leader Amazon lacks - a local, physical presence. Personal, hands-on use of and help with electronic devices is a powerful way to connect to customers. Now, Barnes & Noble is adding one more chance to connect, this time with children in particular.
Barnes & Noble is testing what it calls "ultimate playrooms" in five of its stores, two in Connecticut, two in New Jersey, one in New York. These are 3,000 square foot areas designed for play, interactive learning, and, naturally, reading. The idea is to engage children in activities that are both fun and intellectual. It's the bookstore equivalent to McDonald's Playland, perhaps a bit higher on the intellectual to physical ratio than the latter, but the same basic idea. Make the bookstore more fun for children, and you may make customers both of them and their parents. Not a bad idea, and one that online retailers like Amazon will be hard-pressed to follow.
These playrooms will feature products from partners such as Lego. There will also be book-related items such as products featuring Curious George and Thomas the Tank Engine. There will be games and toys, and, naturally enough, Nooks for the youngsters to try. While these large play areas are only being tested in five stores, many others will have smaller areas devoted to children's products.
Along with books, coffee, and electronic readers, Barnes & Noble will also be selling toys and games. Here we again see some clever marketing strategies by the leading physical bookstore. Rather than all kinds of toys, like a Wal-Mart or Toys R Us, Barnes & Noble will be sticking with educational-type toys. As Jaime Carey, Chief Merchandising Officer for Barnes & Noble, cleverly stated, "Busy parents and gift-givers don't have to wade through aisles of cheap, faddish toys; Barnes & Noble has already selected the best of the best, hand-picking and highlighting exceptional and engaging learning toys and games." So, if you are a parent looking for something to educate and stimulate your child, instead of momentarily impress them with something that breaks next week, Barnes & Noble is the place to go. That's a logical connection for a store that primarily sells another intellectual item - books. To us, this looks like some smart positioning by B&N, one that just may help to bring them back in a world very changed from their 1990s heyday, pre-Amazon, pre-electronic readers. If successful, the combination of fun and books may also stimulate more reading among the young. If so, this will not only be good for Barnes & Noble, but for society as well. Let's hope.
Ketterer Rare Books, Nov. 25: J. de Gaddesden, Rosa anglica practica medicinae, 1492. Est: € 12,000
Ketterer Rare Books, Nov. 25: M. Merian, Todten-Tanz, 1649. Est: € 5,000
Ketterer Rare Books, Nov. 25: D. Hammett, Red harvest, 1929. Est: € 11,000
Ketterer Rare Books Auction November 25th
Ketterer Rare Books, Nov. 25: Book of hours, Horae B. M. V., 1503. Est: € 9,000
Ketterer Rare Books, Nov. 25: J. Miller, Illustratio systematis sexualis Linneai, 1792. Est: € 8,000
Ketterer Rare Books, Nov. 25: F. Hundertwasser, Regentag – Look at it on a rainy day, 1972. Est: € 8,000
Doyle Stage & Screen November 14 & 15
Doyle, Nov. 14-15: A studio-sanctioned Darth Vader Touring Costume from The Empire Strikes Back. $50,000 to $100,000.
Doyle, Nov. 14-15: An original Al Hirschfeld's illustration of the cast of On Golden Pond. $4,000 to $6,000.
Doyle, Nov. 14-15: The largest trove of personal Grace Kelly letters to come to market. $60,000 to $80,000.
Doyle, Nov. 14-15: An Important Archive of Musical Manuscripts of Truman Capote and Harold Arlen's House of Flowers. $40,000 to $60,000.
Doyle, Nov. 14-15: The archive of an original Merrily We Roll Along Broadway cast member. $5,000 to $10,000.
Doyle, Nov. 14-15: Jerry Herman's Yamaha Model C7 Ebonized Grand Piano. $6,000 to $9,000.
Doyle, Nov. 14-15: A large group of Jerry Herman musical posters. $300 to $500.
Doyle, Nov. 14-15: Group of awards presented to Jerry Herman. $300 to $400.
Doyle, Nov. 14-15: Six pages of original art for "The MAD Game of Basebrawl," a complete story published in MAD #167, pages 31-36, June 1974. $3,000 to $4,000.
Doyle, Nov. 14-15: A MAD book made for Al Jaffee, containing original art and writings from many MAD contributors. 2011. $1,200 to $1,800.
Doyle, Nov. 14-15: A Jaffee-themed MAD Fold-In - "What honor should the creator of the MAD Fold-Ins be given?" $800 to $1,200.
Doyle, Nov. 14-15: MAD Fold-In - "What developing news story has many Americans totally transfixed?" $800 to $1,200.
Sotheby's Fine Books, Manuscripts & More Available for Immediate Purchase
Sotheby’s: J.R.R. Tolkien. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. 11,135 USD
Sotheby’s: Edgar Allan Poe. The Raven and Other Poems, 1845. 33,000 USD
Sotheby’s: Leo Tolstoy, Clara Bow. War and Peace, 1886. 22,500 USD
Sotheby’s: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, 1902. 7,500 USD
Sotheby’s: F. Scott Fitzgerald. This Side of Paradise, The Great Gatsby, and Others, 1920-1941. 24,180 USD
Forum Auctions A Visual and Historical Voyage into the Ottoman World: The Library of a Gentleman 14th November
Forum, Nov. 14: Preziosi (Amedeo). Stamboul: Recollections of Eastern Life, first edition, Paris, Lemercier, 1858. £6,000 to £8,000.
Forum, Nov. 14: Mayr (Heinrich von). Malerische Ansichten aus dem Orient. Vues Pittoresques de l'Orient, first edition in the original 10 parts, Munich, Paris & Leipzig, [1839-40]. £10,000 to £15,000.
Forum, Nov. 14: Lewis (John Frederick). Illustrations of Constantinople, made during a Residence in that City &c. in the Years 1835-6, first edition, [1838]. £6,000 to £8,000.
Forum, Nov. 14: Dodwell (Edward). Views in Greece, first edition, ordinary format, Rodwell and Martin, 1821. £8,000 to £12,000.
Forum, Nov. 14: Cassas (Louis François). [Voyage Pittoresque de la Syrie, de la Phoenicie, de la Palæstube et de la Basse-Égypte], 3 vol., first edition, [Paris], [1799]. £8,000 to £12,000.
Forum Auctions A Visual and Historical Voyage into the Ottoman World: The Library of a Gentleman 14th November
Forum, Nov. 14: La Chappelle (Georges). Recueil de Divers Portraits des Principales Dames de la Porte du Grand Turc, first edition, Paris, 1648. £8,000 to £12,000.
Forum, Nov. 14: Fossati (Gaspard). Aya Sophia Constantinople as recently restored by order of H.M. the Sultan Abdul Medjid, first edition, ordinary format, 1852. £6,000 to £8,000.
Forum, Nov. 14: Pertusier (Charles). Promenades Pittoresques dans Constantinople et sur les Rives du Bosphore, 4 vol., inc Atlas, first edition, Paris, H. Nicolle, 1815-17. £6,000 to £8,000.
Forum, Nov. 14: Brindesi (Jean). Souvenirs de Constantinople, first edition, [Paris], [1855-60]. £4,000 to £6,000.
Forum, Nov. 14: Le Bruyn (Cornelius). Voyage au Levant, first French edition, Delft, Henri de Kroonevelt, 1700. £3,000 to £4,000.