Rare Book Monthly

Articles - December - 2020 Issue

Arader Galleries announce an auction on December 5th: Classics of Pen, Brush and Press

Arader Galleries announces an important auction, Classics of Pen, Brush and Press on December 5th, 2020 including icons of natural history and cartography, beautiful examples of Audubon's Birds of America, stunning European and American oil paintings, and a fine selection of rare books and atlases. The sale spans five centuries and includes many of the most seminal, iconic, and unique works of art that Arader Galleries has to offer. 


The 183 lot sale begins with a curated section 23 aquatints from John James Audubon's Birds of America including some of the finest compositions and most iconic works that Audubon and Havell created such as the Male Turkey (Lot 1) and Female Turkey (Lot 2), Virginia Partridge (Lot 5), Columbia Jay (Lot 8), Canvas-backed Duck (Lot 19), Black-Bellied Darter (Lot 21), White Pelican (Lot 22) and Roseate Spoonbill (Lot 23).

Next is a selection of important natural history watercolors and oil paintings including works by John Woodhouse Audubon (Lot 24), the first Georgia Natural history artist, John Abbott (Lots 25 & 26), America's best southern 20th century ornithological artist, Basil Ede (Lots 30 & 31), Roger Tory Peterson (Lots 37-42), and the Raphael of Flowers, Pierre-Joseph Redoute (Lots 47-51). Following is a unique offering of western themed works including original drawings by Rudolph Cronau (Lots 58-60), a stunning oil by George Catlin (Lot 57) and a monumental view of The Grand Canyon by Edward Potthast (Lot 62). More paintings follow with beautiful seascapes like the View of Portsmouth, England made by a English Spy for Napolean (Lot 66); Landscapes such as three evocative cityscapes of New York painted during the city's amazing growth (Lots 88-90), as well as a section of European portraits (Lots 91-98).


Following is a selection offering fine atlases ranging from early works by greats such as Ortelius (Lot 106) and Mercator (Lot 107) to later works by Humbolt (Lot 108) and Carey & Lea (Lot 104). Finally, is a robust grouping of cartography. The sale covers everything from early Italian school maps by Forlani (Lots 116-120) and Gastaldi (Lots 121-125) to 18th & 19th century maps of Colonial America (Lot 167), Canada (Lot 159), and the American West (Lot 160) by the likes of De L'Isle and Arrowsmith (Lot 152). There are also several important manuscript maps in the sale whose uniqueness and beauty lend great value like an exceptionally fine and historically important manuscript map showing the origins of the state of Texas at the turn of the 19th century and one of the most important maps of the Gulf Coast, Texas, and Louisiana to come on the market in 50 years (Lot 176).

 

We look forward to bidders creating new homes for these loyal, faithful objects that have brought comfort and satisfaction over the decades, and will do so for generations to come. If you would like more information about this sale, condition reports or additional images please email auctions@aradernyc.com and we will be happy to assist!

 

Taylor Rash

Auction Director

https://araderlive.com/

http://www.aradernyc.com/

804-397-5349 (cell)

Rare Book Monthly

  • SD Scandinavian Art & Rare Book Auctions
    The Odfjell Collection
    Polar – History – Ornithology – Colour Plate Books
    Ending December 4th
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: ROALD AMUNDSEN: «Sydpolen» [ The South Pole] 1912. First edition in jackets and publisher's slip case.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: AMUNDSEN & NANSEN: «Fram over Polhavet» [Farthest North] 1897. AMUNDSEN's COPY!
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: ERNEST SHACKLETON [ed.]: «Aurora Australis» 1908. First edition. The NORWAY COPY.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: ERNEST SHACKLETON: «The heart of the Antarctic» + SUPPLEMENT «The Antarctic Book», 1909.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: SHACKLETON, BERNACCHI, CHERRY-GARRARD [ed.]: «The South Polar Times» I-III, 1902-1911.
    SD Scandinavian Art & Rare Book Auctions
    The Odfjell Collection
    Polar – History – Ornithology – Colour Plate Books
    Ending December 4th
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: [WILLEM BARENTSZ & HENRY HUDSON] - SAEGHMAN: «Verhael van de vier eerste schip-vaerden […]», 1663.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: TERRA NOVA EXPEDITION | LIEUTENANT HENRY ROBERTSON BOWERS: «At the South Pole.», Gelatin Silver Print. [10¾ x 15in. (27.2 x 38.1cm.) ].
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: ELEAZAR ALBIN: «A natural History of Birds.» + «A Supplement», 1738-40. Wonderful coloured plates.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: PAUL GAIMARD: «Voyage de la Commision scientific du Nord, en Scandinavie, […]», c. 1842-46. ONLY HAND COLOURED COPY KNOWN WITH TWO ORIGINAL PAINTINGS BY BIARD.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: JAMES JOYCE: «Ulysses», 1922. FIRST EDITION IN ORIGINAL WRAPPERS.
  • Sotheby’s
    Book Week
    December 9-17, 2025
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society, Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 1997, first edition, hardback issue, inscribed by the author pre-publication. £100,000 to £150,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Autograph sketchleaf including a probable draft for the E flat Piano Quartet, K.493, 1786. £150,000 to £200,000.
    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.
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  • Swann
    Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books
    December 9, 2025
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 156: Cornelis de Jode, Americae pars Borealis, double-page engraved map of North America, Antwerp, 1593.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 206: John and Alexander Walker, Map of the United States, London and Liverpool, 1827.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 223: Abraham Ortelius, Typus Orbis Terrarum, hand-colored double-page engraved world map, Antwerp, 1575.
    Swann
    Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books
    December 9, 2025
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 233: Aaron Arrowsmith, Chart of the World, oversize engraved map on 8 sheets, London, 1790 (circa 1800).
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 239: Fielding Lucas, A General Atlas, 81 engraved maps and diagrams, Baltimore, 1823.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 240: Anthony Finley, A New American Atlas, 15 maps engraved by james hamilton young on 14 double-page sheets, Philadelphia, 1826.
    Swann
    Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books
    December 9, 2025
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 263: John Bachmann, Panorama of the Seat of War, portfolio of 4 double-page chromolithographed panoramic maps, New York, 1861.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 265: Sebastian Münster, Cosmographei, Basel: Sebastian Henricpetri, 1558.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 271: Abraham Ortelius, Epitome Theatri Orteliani, Antwerp: Johann Baptist Vrients, 1601.
    Swann
    Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books
    December 9, 2025
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 283: Joris van Spilbergen, Speculum Orientalis Occidentalisque Indiae, Leiden: Nicolaus van Geelkercken for Jodocus Hondius, 1619.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 285: Levinus Hulsius, Achtzehender Theil der Newen Welt, 14 engraved folding maps, Frankfurt: Johann Frederick Weiss, 1623.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 341: John James Audubon, Carolina Parrot, Plate 26, London, 1827.

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