Voyages and Travels from<br>The William Reese Company
- by Michael Stillman
Voyages and Travels from William Reese Co.
By Michael Stillman
The William Reese Company has issued its catalogue number 229, “Voyages and Travels.” Offered are 174 rare books, manuscripts, and illustrations pertaining to the early voyages and travels which “discovered” the world. The earliest dates to the 15th century, the latest to the 20th. There is no particular regional focus. You will find items here covering voyages to the south seas, the Americas, the northern passages, and more.
Attempts to locate a Northwest Passage over Canada were frequent, particularly in the 19th century, but earlier, attempts were made to locate a Northeast Passage north of Russia. In both cases, the costs in human life and suffering far outweighed the number of successes. Three times, Dutch explorer William Barents (or Barentsz) led expeditions east by north. In the first voyage of 1594, they reached the western coast of the islands of Novaya Zemlya (Nova Zembla) but were turned back by ice. The second voyage of 1595 was even less successful as a result of an early winter. However, the third voyage of 1596 managed to circle over the northern edge of Novaya Zemlya before the ship was trapped in ice. The crew had no choice but to winter on the desolate, frigid islands. They built a house to protect themselves from hungry polar bears and trapped for food. No trees grow in this bitter cold region, but many from the Siberian mainland do wash up on shore, providing lumber. The following June, using two sloops, the men returned west. Unfortunately, Barents died along the way.
Almost three centuries later, their house was rediscovered and many of the artifacts were returned to the Netherlands. Part of their ship was found in 1980. Novaya Zemlya went on to be the primary nuclear test site of the old Soviet Union. More recently, it has been considered as a nuclear waste repository. And, it wasn’t until 1878-1879 that Swedish explorer Nils Nordenskjold finally succeeded in making it all the way through the Northeast Passage to the other side.
One of those who traveled with Barents was Gerrit de Veer, and he retells the story of these voyages in Vraye Description de Trois Voyages de Mer… This is the first French edition, translated from and published in the same year as the original Dutch, 1598. De Veer is also noted for describing the “Novaya Zemlya Effect” where refraction of light makes a distorted, rectangular-appearing sun visible even after it has set. De Veer’s work is item 164 in this catalogue and is priced at $22,500.
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. 12: Hooke, Robert. Micrographia: or some Physiological Descriptions of Minute Bodies made by Magnifying Glasses. London: James Allestry for the Royal Society, 1667. $12,000 to $15,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Chappuzeau, Samuel. The history of jewels, first edition in English. London: T.N. for Hobart Kemp, 1671. $12,000 to $18,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Sowerby, James. Exotic Mineralogy, containing his most realistic mineral depictions, London: Benjamin Meredith, 1811, Arding and Merrett, 1817. $5,000 to $7,000.
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: 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…
![<b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> John Donne. <i>Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death.</i> London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/8caddaea-4c1f-47a7-9455-62f53af36e3f.jpg "<b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> John Donne. <i>Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death.</i> London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.")
