November 4-18: Old World Auctions' November auction focuses on fresh material
- by Thomas C. McKinney
Highlights from Old World Auctions' November sale
Old World Auctions has offered multiple sales of rare maps and books for a long time. The business has been around since 1978, and since 2011, Eliane and Jon Dotson have been sole proprietors of the online-only auction house specializing in maps and other cartographic material. This month, they’re putting on a special sale with the help of their consignors. The premise is simple: Old World challenged consignors to send as much material as possible that the Dotsons had never seen before. Consignors delivered. More than a quarter of the material in the November catalogue are items that Old World has never listed. Considering 120,000 items have passed through their auctions, that’s saying something!
The auction catalogue and bidding will go live on November 4th and concludes on November 18th at 10pm eastern. The sale is comprised of approximately 800 lots of antique and vintage maps, atlases, historical documents, prints, illuminated manuscripts, and reference books. With maps from every corner of the world, nearly half of the lots estimated below $250, and dozens of items listed at no reserve, there are items to fit every interest and budget. As of the release of this article, the online catalogue will not be live yet, but it will be accessible from Old World Auctions’ website.
As the catalogue is not quite live, here’s a rundown of the some of the most interesting and “never before listed” items that will be coming to auction:
A very rare map of Arkansas Territory that predates the creation of the Arkansas-Indian Territory border. Weiland, Geographisch-Statistische und Historische Charte von Arkansas, 1828. Estimate $2,500-$3,250
One of the earliest maps dedicated to New Mexico Territory and an important document of private land grants and proposed railroads in the territory. William Morley, Morley's Map of New Mexico Compiled from the Latest Government Surveys and Other Reliable Sources, 1873. Estimate $12,000-$15,000
"There's gold in them thar hills!" A literal treasure map based on 10 years of research, showing the locations of 46 lost gold and silver mines in the southwestern United States. Treasurama, Trails to Treasures of the Golden Southwest, 1960. Estimate $450-650
Russian Lubok of the first conflict in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05, showing an overconfident Russia prior to losing the war. Torgo-Posrednicheskaya Kontora, [Vasya Flotiskiy - Vasya of the Fleet], 1904. Estimate $400-500
An anti-Italian propaganda map published at the start of World War I to vilify Italy for joining the Triple Entente and for declaring war on Austria-Hungary. E.B.W.I., Bismarks Ausspruch, 1915. Estimate $800-1,000
The first English map of the lower Mississippi River detailing new lands open to settlement. John Ross, Course of the River Mississipi, from the Balise to Fort Chartres, 1775. Estimate $3,250-$4,000
A rare globe gore broadside advertisement for a 36-inch globe that was never produced. Lowitz, Specimen Trigesimae Sextae Partis ex Globo Terrestri, 1749. Estimate $800-$1,000
Fonsie Mealy’s Rare Books & Collectors’ Sale April 30th & May 1st
Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Taylor (Geo.) & Skinner (A.) Maps of the Roads of Ireland, Surveyed 1777. Lond. & Dublin 1778. €500 to €750.
Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Messingham (Thos.) Florilegium Insulae Sanctorum seu Vitae et Acta Sanctorum Hibernia, Paris 1624. €350 to €500.
Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Heaney (Seamus). The Haw Lantern, L. (Faber & Faber) 1987, First Edn., Signed and dated. €225 to €350.
Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Valencey (Lt. Col. Chas.) Collectanea de Rebus Hibernicis, Vols. I-IV, 4 vols. Dublin 1786. €400 to €600.
Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Powerscourt (Viscount). A Description and History of Powerscourt, Lond. 1903. €350 to €500.
Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Moryson (Fynes). An Itinerary ... Containing His Ten Yeeres Travel Through the Twelve Dominions of Germany, Bohermerland, Sweitzerland…, Lond. (John Beale) 1617. €700 to €1,000.
Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: After Buffon, Birds of Europe, c. 1820. Approx. 120 fine hd. cold. plts., mor. backed boards. €125 to €250.
Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Dunlevy (Andrew). An Teagasg Criosduidhe De Reir Ceasda agus Freagartha... The Catechism or Christian Doctrine by Way of Question and Answer, Paris (James Guerin) 1742. €400 to €700.
Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1:The Georgian Society Records of Eighteen-Century Domestic Architecture in Dublin, 5 vols. Complete, Dublin 1909-1913. €500 to €750.
Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Scale (Bernard). An Hibernian Atlas or General Description of the Kingdom of Ireland, L. (Robert Sayer & John Bennet) 1776. €625 to €850.
Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: [Johnson (Rev. Samuel)]. Julian the Apostate Being a Short Account of his Life, together with a Comparison of Popery and Paganism,L. (Langley Curtis) 1682. €300 to €400.
Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Nichlson (Wm.) Illustrator. An Almanac of Twelve Sports, Lond. 1898. €300 to €400.
Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Heaney (Seamus) trans. The Light of the Leaves, 2 vols., Mexico (Imprenta de los Tropicos/Bunholt) 1999. €1,500 to €2,000.
Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Fleming (Ian). Moonraker, L. (Jonathan Cape) 1955. €1,500 to €2,000.
Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: ANDERSEN'S EXTREMELY RARE FIRST APPEARANCE IN PRINT. "Scene af: Røverne i Vissenberg i Fyen." in Harpen, 1822.
Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: FIRST ISSUE OF THE FIRST THREE FAIRY TALE PAMPHLETS, WITH ALL INDICES AND TITLE PAGES. Eventyr, fortalte for Børn. 1835-1837.
Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: THE FIRST FAIRY TALES WITH A SIGNED CARTE DE VISITE OF ANDERSEN AS FRONTIS. Eventyr, fortalte for Børn. 1835-1837.
Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: KARL LAGERFELD. Original pastel and ink drawing in gold, red and black for Andersen's The Emperor's New Clothes (1992), "La cassette de l'Empereur."
Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: PRESENTATION COPY OF THE SIXTH PAMPHLET FOR PETER KOCH. Eventyr, Fortalte For Børn, Second Series, Third Pamphlet. 1841. Publisher's wrappers, complete with all pre- and post-matter.
Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN RARE AUTOGRAPH QUOTATION SIGNED IN ENGLISH from "The Ugly Duckling," c.1860s.
Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: HEINRICH LEFLER, ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR FOR ANDERSEN'S SNOW QUEEN, "Die Schneekönigin," 1910.
Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: FIRST EDITION OF ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES IN ENGLISH. Wonderful Stories for Children. London, 1846.
Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: ANDERSEN ON MEETING CHARLES DICKENS. Autograph Letter Signed ("H.C. Andersen") in English to William Jerdan, July 20, 1847.
Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: PRESENTATION COPY FOR EDGAR COLLIN. Nye Eventyr og Historier. Anden Raekke. 1861.
Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: DOLL HOUSE FURNITURE BY HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON, DECORATED WITH FANTASTICAL CUT-OUTS, for the children of Jonna Stampe (née Drewsen), his godchildren.
Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: PRESENTATION COPY FOR GEORG BRANDES. Dryaden. Et Eventyr fra Udstillingstiden i Paris 1867. 1868.
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