Arader Galleries announce an auction on December 5th: Classics of Pen, Brush and Press
- by Announcement, Rare Book Hub staff
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!
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. 17: Francesco Colonna. Hypnerotomachie, Paris, 1546, Parisian calf by Wotton Binder C for Marcus Fugger. €200,000 to €300,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Nausea. De principiis dialectices Gorgias, and other works, Venice, 1523, morocco gilt for Cardinal Campeggio. €3,000 to €4,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Billon. Le fort inexpugnable de l'honneur, Paris, 1555, Parisian calf gilt for Peter Ernst, Graf von Mansfeld. €120,000 to €180,000.
Sotheby’s Book Week December 9-17, 2025
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: Salinger, J.D. The Graham Family archive, including autographed letters, an inscribed Catcher, a rare studio photograph of the author, and more. $120,000 to $180,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of Sense and Sensibility, the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: Massachusetts General Court. A powerful precursor to the Declaration of Independence: "every Act of Government … without the Consent of the People, is … Tyranny." $40,000 to $60,000.
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>Sotheby’s, Dec. 16:</b> [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of <i>Sense and Sensibility,</i> the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/9a74d9ff-42dd-46a1-8bb2-b636c4cec796.png "<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 16:</b> [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of <i>Sense and Sensibility,</i> the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.")
![<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.")
