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.
Bonhams, Nov. 2-12: AUDUBON, JOHN JAMES. Red-Shouldered Hawk. London: R. Havell, Jr., 1829. $2,000 - $3,000
Bonhams, Nov. 2-12: STEWART, WILLIAM DRUMMOND, SIR. Altowan; or, Incidents of Life and Adventure in the Rocky Mountain... New York, 1846. PRESENTATION COPY. $800 - $1,200
Bonhams, Nov. 2-12: WILLUGHBY & RAY, JOHN. The Ornithology of Francis Willughby in three books... London, Martyn, 1678. $800 - $1,200
Bonhams, Nov. 2-12: SUSAN B. ANTHONY. Autograph Quotation Signed, on equal rights "for men and women," Rochester, 1898. $1,000 - $1,500
Bonhams, Nov. 2-12: FRANKLIN, BENJAMIN. Autograph Letter Signed integrally to Le Comte de Milly arranging a meeting with M. Broignard, Passy, 1778. $10,000 - $15,000
Bonhams, Nov. 2-12: FRANKLIN, JEFFERSON, & ADAMS. Mansucript Signed by all three architects of the American ideal, requesting a Treaty of Amity and Commerce. $750,000 - $1,000,000
Bonhams, Nov. 2-12: LINCOLN, ABRAHAM. Endorsement Signed, a pardon for a Confederate soldier, February 6, 1865. $4,000 - $6,000
Bonhams, Nov. 2-12: NAPOLEON FORMALLY RATIFIES THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE. Document Signed ("James Monroe," "Robt. R. Livingston" and "Barbé-Marbois"). $100,000 - $200,000
Bonhams, Nov. 2-12: JAMES MONROE ON THE DIFFICULTIES OF JAY'S TREATY. Autograph Letter Signed to Thomas Pinckney, Paris, January 17, 1795. $15,000 - $25,000
Bonhams, Nov. 2-12: GIDEON WELLES FIRST HAND ACCOUNT OF FORT PICKENS AND FORT SUMTER ON THE EVE OF CIVIL WAR. Autograph Manuscript, 44 pp, c.1870. $4,000 - $6,000
Bonhams, Nov. 2-12: SIGNED BY BORGES. Labyrinths: Selected Stories & Other Writings. 1962. First book publication in English. $4,000 - $6,000
Bonhams, Nov. 2-12: LORENZO DOW TURNER'S COPY. LOCKE, ALAIN. The New Negro: an Interpretation. 1925. $1,000 - $1,500
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.
As you read this story many have already boarded planes or are driving to New York City. 48.8 million visitors will do so this year, some number measured in thousands will be heading for the American Vatican of rare books, the Armory on Park at No. 643 for the annual four-day affair New York Antiquarian Book Fair, jointly sponsored by the Antiquarian Bookseller’s Association of America and the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers. The majority of participating dealers will be from the United States but many European countries, Canada, South America and countries across the Pacific will also send emissaries. As disparate as are their home locations they are united by their trade: sellers of rare materials most of which are printed.
The show is on the Upper East Side on Park Avenue at 643, mid-block between 66th and 67th. There are many hotels nearby and restaurants all over the city. This is not news to any of the fair regulars, be they dealers, institutions or collectors. Most have been coming every year for a decade or more. The issue has never been old-timers; it’s been the new blood. The various fair committees and the highly experienced show organizer, Sanford L. Smith, have been trying for years to build attendance – often finding success.
This year the fair will be busy for several reasons, the economy worldwide is recovering, the local economy robust, and fairs generally benefiting from the decline of local rare bookshops. More and more this show and others are becoming the field’s adhoc main streets - as itinerant booksellers increasingly travel the globe in pursuit of audiences that once a year come out to meet them in Melbourne, Toronto, Paris, London, New York, San Francisco and Pasadena. Among all these events the New York Book Fair is the most important.
This fair is also a catalyst. On the same weekend there’s another New York book fair, the Manhattan Vintage Book & Ephemera and Fine Press Book Fair in the Altman Building, 135 W. 18th, a two day Saturday-Sunday affair. This event, unofficially called the “shadow fair,” lives off the always-interested audience that comes together for the ABAA fair.
And there is more. There are auctions. They too, like birds on a telephone wire are lined up for consideration, 89 worldwide in April, 23 of them in New York, 18 of them April 1st to the 10th.
Auctions in New York in April 1st to the 10th:
Tuesday April 1st
Christies: Rare Maps from Kenneth Nebenzahl, Inc.
Sothebys: Gordon Waldorf Collection
Sothebys: The John James Audubon Collection from the Indiana Historical Society
Sothebys: The Inventive Eye: Photographs from a Private Collection
Wednesday April 2nd
Heritage Auctions: Rare Books
Sothebys: Photographs
Thursday April 3rd
Christies: The Range of Light: Photographs by Ansel Adams
Swann Galleries: Astronomy & Science Books from The Library of Martin C. Gutzwiller
Heritage Auctions: Historical Manuscripts
Heritage Auctions: Rare Books online segment
Friday April 4th
Christies: Photographs
Saturday April 5th
Heritage Auctions: Photographs
Monday April 7th
Heritage Auctions: Rare Books
Bonhams: Treasures from the Caren Archive
Tuesday April 8th
Swann Galleries: Printed & Manuscript Americana
Bonhams: Space History
Wednesday April 9th
Doyle New York: Rare Books, Autographs and Maps
Doyle New York: Photographs
New York Auctions April 11th to 30th
Thursday April 17th
Swann Galleries: The Vernacular Eye: Photographic Albums, Snapshots & Objects
Wednesday April 23rd
Christies: Prints and Multiples
Thursday April 24th
Swann Galleries: Modernist Posters
Tuesday April 29th
Doyle New York: Old Master, Modern and Contemporary Prints
Swann Galleries: Old Master Through Modern Prints
The extraordinary catalyst for the month is the New York Book Fair and every other event will owe some of their success to its reputation and power. All events should do well; by rights the Antiquarian Book Fair should be your first stop and do best.
April is an extraordinary opportunity. If you can be, be there. If you can’t, follow the events online.
Links:
The New York Antiquarian Book Fair
Manhattan Vintage Book & Ephemera and Fine Press Book Fair
The AE Global Auction Search with links to all houses and those sales posted
Friends and members of AE can reach me in New York if you would like to talk or to meet. My number is 415.823.6678, my email address bmckinney@americanaexchange.com. I have some passes I can share.
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
Freeman’s | Hindman Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts, Including Americana November 14
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: LEROUX, Gaston. The Phantom of the Opera. FIRST AM. ED, FIRST ISSUE IN THE VERY RARE DUST JACKET. 1911. $6,000 – 8,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: GOULD, John. A Monograph of the Trochilidae...Humming-Birds. L., [1849-] 1861. $60,000 – 80,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: A COMPLETE RUN of Limited Editions Club publications, v.p. [mostly New York], 1929-2010. $50,000 – 60,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: ORWELL, George. Nineteen Eighty-Four. Lon., 1949. FIRST EDITION IN A VERY FINE DUST JACKET. $6,000 – 8,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: GOULD. A Monograph of the Ramphastidae...Toucans. L., [1852-] 54. SECOND ED. $35,000 – 45,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14:The Federalist. NY, 1788. FIRST EDITION, THICK PAPER COPY. $60,000 – 80,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: SELBY. Plates to Selby’s Illustrations of British Ornithology. Edin., [1833-] 34. $20,000 – 30,000.
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: APRES DE MANNEVILLETTE Le Neptune Oriental
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: CASSAS Eaux fortes de la Sicile et quelques vues d’Espagne
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: CASSINI DE THURY Carte générale et particulière de la France.
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: JOUY; GARNERAY Vues des côtes de France dans l'Océan et dans la Méditerranée
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: LA PÉROUSE Voyage autour du monde
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: LE GENTIL DE LA GALAISIERE Voyage dans les Mers de l’Inde
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: LICENT Hoang Ho, Pai Ho, Loan Ho, Leao Ho. Itinéraires suivis dans le bassin du golfe du Pei Tcheuly
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: FRENCH SCHOOL FROM THE 19th CENTURY Panorama d’Athènes
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: PEETERS Description des principales villes, havres et isles du golfe de Venise
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: PÉRON; FREYCINET Voyage de découverte aux terres australes
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: STACKELBERG La Grèce : vues pittoresques et topographiques.
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: VALENTINER Atlas des Sonnensystems.
Forum Auctions Online Sale: The Detective Fiction Collection of John Cooper Ending 7th November, 2024
Forum, Nov. 7: Christie (Agatha). The Thirteen Problems, first edition, The Crime Club, 1932. £15,000 to £20,000.
Forum, Nov. 7: Christie (Agatha). Dumb Witness, first edition, 1937. £3,000 to £4,000.
Forum, Nov. 7: Christie (Agatha). Cards on the Table, first edition, The Crime Club, 1936. £2,000 to £3,000.
Forum, Nov. 7: [Carr (John Dickson)], "Carter Dickson" and John Rhode. Drop to his Death, first edition, Heinemann, [1939]. £600 to £800.
Forum, Nov. 7: Berkeley (Anthony). Jumping Jenny, first edition, Hodder and Stoughton, 1933. £800 to £1,200.
Forum Auctions Online Sale: The Detective Fiction Collection of John Cooper Ending 7th November, 2024
Forum, Nov. 7: Marsh (Ngaio). Overture to Death, first edition, The Crime Club, 1939. £600 to £800.
Forum, Nov. 7: [Day-Lewis (Cecil)] "Nicholas Blake". The Beast Must Die, first edition, 1938. £750 to £1,000.
Forum, Nov. 7: Brand (Christianna). Green for Danger, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author, John Lane the Bodley Head, 1945. £600 to £800.
Forum, Nov. 7: Christie (Agatha). Murder is Easy, first edition, signed by the author, 1939. £3,000 to £4,000.
Forum, Nov. 7: Sayers (Dorothy L.) Lord Peter Views the Body, first edition, Gollancz, 1928. £6,000 to £8,000.
Desa Unicum, Nov. 13:Chronograph Wristwatches. Precious memories of the 20th Century / Cronografi da Polso. Preziose Memorie del XX Secolo, 2013. €3,000 to €5,000. Starting Bid: €10.
Desa Unicum, Nov. 13: Lanthemann, Joseph. Modigliani 1884-1920. A Catalogue Raisonné, Barcelona, 1970. €320 to €380. Starting Bid: €10.
Desa Unicum, Nov. 13: Warhol, Andy. The Philosophy of Andy Warhol (from A to B and back again), New York, 1975. Signed by the author. €500 to €600. Starting Bid: €10.
Desa Unicum, Nov. 13: Vitali, Lamberto. Morandi: Catalogo Generale. I & II, Mediolan, 1983. €1,100 to €1,300. Starting Bid: €10.
Desa Unicum, Nov. 13: Goldstein, Ann. Christopher Wool, Los Angeles, 1998. €320 to €380. Starting Bid: €10.
Desa Unicum, Nov. 13: Celant, Germano. Piero Manzoni, 1989. €320 to €360. Starting Bid: €10.
Desa Unicum, Nov. 13: Ernst, Max. Oeuvre-Katalog. Das Graphische Werk, Cologne, 1975. €420 to €480. Starting Bid: €10.
![<b>Forum, Nov. 14:</b> Mayr (Heinrich von). <i>Malerische Ansichten aus dem Orient. Vues Pittoresques de l'Orient,</i> first edition in the original 10 parts, Munich, Paris & Leipzig, [1839-40]. £10,000 to £15,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/d55bdd84-749f-463d-8dbb-b699758ef469.jpg "<b>Forum, Nov. 14:</b> Mayr (Heinrich von). <i>Malerische Ansichten aus dem Orient. Vues Pittoresques de l'Orient,</i> first edition in the original 10 parts, Munich, Paris & Leipzig, [1839-40]. £10,000 to £15,000.")
![<b>Forum, Nov. 14:</b> Lewis (John Frederick). <i>Illustrations of Constantinople, made during a Residence in that City &c. in the Years 1835-6,</i> first edition, [1838]. £6,000 to £8,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/543a84e0-0b4b-4ad5-87d2-5a608e848ef0.jpg "<b>Forum, Nov. 14:</b> Lewis (John Frederick). <i>Illustrations of Constantinople, made during a Residence in that City &c. in the Years 1835-6,</i> first edition, [1838]. £6,000 to £8,000.")
![<b>Forum, Nov. 14:</b> Cassas (Louis François). <i>[Voyage Pittoresque de la Syrie, de la Phoenicie, de la Palæstube et de la Basse-Égypte],</i> 3 vol., first edition, [Paris], [1799]. £8,000 to £12,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/4dff8ca9-d113-4251-ae8e-ae25228f7956.jpg "<b>Forum, Nov. 14:</b> Cassas (Louis François). <i>[Voyage Pittoresque de la Syrie, de la Phoenicie, de la Palæstube et de la Basse-Égypte],</i> 3 vol., first edition, [Paris], [1799]. £8,000 to £12,000.")
![<b>Forum, Nov. 14:</b> Brindesi (Jean). <i>Souvenirs de Constantinople,</i> first edition, [Paris], [1855-60]. £4,000 to £6,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/0ddc823f-dd6d-4282-8aba-978d6ee7abbe.jpg "<b>Forum, Nov. 14:</b> Brindesi (Jean). <i>Souvenirs de Constantinople,</i> first edition, [Paris], [1855-60]. £4,000 to £6,000.")
![<b>Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14:</b> GOULD, John. <i>A Monograph of the Trochilidae...Humming-Birds.</i> L., [1849-] 1861. $60,000 – 80,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/5a5a37a4-bc84-4fa8-b8b8-bad6106a9297.jpg "<b>Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14:</b> GOULD, John. <i>A Monograph of the Trochilidae...Humming-Birds.</i> L., [1849-] 1861. $60,000 – 80,000.")
![<b>Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14:</b> A COMPLETE RUN of Limited Editions Club publications, v.p. [mostly New York], 1929-2010. $50,000 – 60,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/00aa5647-98fa-42e5-aa1f-e306d308a753.jpg "<b>Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14:</b> A COMPLETE RUN of Limited Editions Club publications, v.p. [mostly New York], 1929-2010. $50,000 – 60,000.")
![<b>Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14:</b> GOULD. <i>A Monograph of the Ramphastidae...Toucans.</i> L., [1852-] 54. SECOND ED. $35,000 – 45,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/529a982d-de64-41cf-b68c-93f0df023bfc.jpg "<b>Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14:</b> GOULD. <i>A Monograph of the Ramphastidae...Toucans.</i> L., [1852-] 54. SECOND ED. $35,000 – 45,000.")
![<b>Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14:</b> SELBY. <i>Plates to Selby’s Illustrations of British Ornithology.</i> Edin., [1833-] 34. $20,000 – 30,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/5c121f9c-5368-40ac-a487-76508b5ac622.jpg "<b>Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14:</b> SELBY. <i>Plates to Selby’s Illustrations of British Ornithology.</i> Edin., [1833-] 34. $20,000 – 30,000.")
![<b>Forum, Nov. 7:</b> [Carr (John Dickson)], "Carter Dickson" and John Rhode. <i>Drop to his Death,</i> first edition, Heinemann, [1939]. £600 to £800.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/b3755d4d-1805-4e33-969b-59cca97eb26e.png "<b>Forum, Nov. 7:</b> [Carr (John Dickson)], \"Carter Dickson\" and John Rhode. <i>Drop to his Death,</i> first edition, Heinemann, [1939]. £600 to £800.")
![<b>Forum, Nov. 7:</b> [Day-Lewis (Cecil)] "Nicholas Blake". <i>The Beast Must Die,</i> first edition, 1938. £750 to £1,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/b1a17968-ead3-471f-b6b2-ccd4e31c0e2c.png "<b>Forum, Nov. 7:</b> [Day-Lewis (Cecil)] \"Nicholas Blake\". <i>The Beast Must Die,</i> first edition, 1938. £750 to £1,000.")
