• <b><center>Case Auctions<br>Fall Fine Art & Antiques Auction<br>October 6-7, 2023</b>
    <b>Case Auctions, Oct. 7:</b> John Speed 1676 Map of Virginia, Maryland, and Chesapeake Bay. $1,000 to $1,200.
    <b>Case Auctions, Oct. 7:</b> Andrew Jackson Coffin Handbill and Political Cartoon. $800 to $900.
    <b>Case Auctions, Oct. 7:</b> Three Andrew Jackson Bank War Cartoons, incl. Way to Arabay. $800 to $900.
    <b>Case Auctions, Oct. 7:</b> Three Andrew Jackson period Political Cartoons inc. Petticoat Affair. $500 to $600.
    <b>Case Auctions, Oct. 7:</b> Cdre. Jesse D. Elliott ALS and Sarcophagus Print, Andrew Jackson & USS Constitution elated. $500 to $600.
    <b><center>Case Auctions<br>Fall Fine Art & Antiques Auction<br>October 6-7, 2023</b>
    <b>Case Auctions, Oct. 7:</b> Presidential Autographs & Portrait Prints incl. Eisenhower Photo, 18 items. $400 to $500.
    <b>Case Auctions, Oct. 7:</b> Group of three Robert E. Lee Cabinet Card Photographs, Miley Studio. $400 to $500.
    <b>Case Auctions, Oct. 7:</b> Eight Fugitive Writer related books incl. Andrew Lytle, R.P. Warren, J.C. Ransom, Allen Tate. $400 to $500.
    <b>Case Auctions, Oct. 7:</b> Group Early Southern and Civil War Era Sheet Music. $300 to $350.
    <b>Case Auctions, Oct. 7:</b> Henry Miller, <i>Insomnia or the Devil at Large;</i> Signed; Loujon Press 1970. $500 to $600.
  • <b><center>Australian Book Auctions<br>Voyages, Natural History &c.<br>October 4, 2023<br>9:00 AM Australian Western Time</b>
    <b>Australian Book Auctions, Oct. 4:</b> PURCHAS, Samuel (circa 1577-1626). <i>HAKLUYTUS POSTHUMUS OR PURCHAS HIS PILGRIMES…,</i> London, 1625-1626. First edition. $40,000 to $60,000 AUD
    <b>Australian Book Auctions, Oct. 4:</b> GOULD, John. <i>THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA,</i> Volume IV. Folio, 104 fine handcoloured lithographed plates. London, 1848. $20,000 to $30,000 AUD
    <b>Australian Book Auctions, Oct. 4:</b> REICHENOW, Dr. Ant. <i>VOGELBILDER AUS FERNER ZONEN, abbildungen und beschreibungen der Papageien.</i> Kassel, 1878-1883. Folio, 33 hand-finished chromolithograph plates. $3,000 to $5,000 AUD
    <b>Australian Book Auctions, Oct. 4:</b> WALLIS, <i>E. WALLIS’S ELEGANT AND INSTRUCTIVE GAME exhibiting the Wonders of Nature, in Each Quarter of the World.</i> Handcoloured view, 26 numbered scenes. $400 to $600 AUD.
    <b>Australian Book Auctions, Oct. 4:</b> GREENAWAY, Kate. <i>ALMANACK FOR 1883</i> [and following years]. Twenty-two volumes, including six duplicates in variant bindings. $1,400 to $1,800 AUD.
  • <b><center>Sotheby’s<br>Bibliotheca Brookeriana: A Renaissance Library<br>Magnificent Books and Bindings<br>11 October 2023</b>
    <b>Sotheby’s, Oct. 11:</b> Francesco Colonna, Hypnerotomachie, Paris, 1546, Parisian calf by Wotton Binder C for Marcus Fugger. $300,000 to $400,000.
    <b>Sotheby’s, Oct. 11:</b> Leonardo da Vinci, Trattato della pittura, manuscript on paper, [Rome, ca. 1638–1641], a very fine pre-publication manuscript. $250,000 to $300,000.
    <b>Sotheby’s, Oct. 11:</b> Paradis, Ung petit traicte de Alkimie, [Paris, before 1540], contemporary morocco by the Pecking Crow binder for Anne de Montmorency. $300,000 to $350,000.
    <b>Sotheby’s, Oct. 11:</b> Capocaccia, Giovanni Battista, A wax relief portrait of Pius V, in a red morocco book-form box by the Vatican bindery, Rome, 1566–1568. $250,000 to $300,000.
    <b>Sotheby’s, Oct. 11:</b> Serlio, Il terzo libro; Regole generali, Venice, 1540, both printed on blue paper and bound together by the Cupid's Bow Binder. $400,000 to $500,000.
    <b>Sotheby’s, Oct. 11:</b> Tiraboschi, Carmina, manuscript on vellum, [Padua, c. 1471], the earliest surviving plaquette binding. $280,000 to $350,000.
    <b><center>Sotheby’s<br>Bibliotheca Brookeriana: A Renaissance Library<br>The Aldine Collection A–C<br>12 October 2023</b>
    <b>Sotheby’s, Oct. 12:</b> Anthologia graeca, Venice, Aldus, 1503, printed on vellum, Masterman Sykes-Syston Park copy. $150,000 to $200,000.
    <b>Sotheby’s, Oct. 12:</b> Castiglione, Il libro del cortegiano, Venice, Aldus, 1528, contemporary Italian morocco gilt, Accolti-Landau copy. $200,000 to $300,000.
    <b>Sotheby’s, Oct. 12:</b> Castiglione, Il libro del cortegiano, Venice, Aldus, 1545, contemporary morocco for Thomas Mahieu, Chatsworth copy. $200,000 to $300,000.
    <b>Sotheby’s, Oct. 12:</b> Cicero, Epistolae familiares, Venice, Aldus, 1502, printed on vellum, illuminated, Renouard-Vernon-Uzielli copy. $200,000 to $300,000.
    <b>Sotheby’s, Oct. 12:</b> Colonna, Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, Venice, Aldus, 1499, Gomar Estienne binding for Jean Grolier, Spencer copy. $400,000 to $600,000.
    <b>Sotheby’s, Oct. 12:</b> Crinito, Libri de poetis Latinis, Florence, Giunta, 1505, Cupid's Bow Binder for Grolier, Paris d'Illins-Wodhull copy. $250,000 to $300,000.
  • <center><b>Potter & Potter Auctions<br>Nobu Shirase and the Japanese Antarctic Expedition: the Collection of Chet Ross<br>October 12, 2023</b>
    <b>Potter & Potter, Oct. 12:</b> [BYRD]. VEER, Willard Van der and Joseph T. RUCKER, cinematographers. The 35mm motion picture Akeley camera that filmed the Academy Award-winning documentary “With Byrd at the South Pole”. $30,000 to $50,000.
    <b>Potter & Potter, Oct. 12:</b> [SHIRASE, Nobu, his copy]. RYUKEI, Yano. <i>Young Politicians of Thebes: Illustrious Tales of Statesmanship.</i> Tokyo(?), 1881-84. $15,000 to $20,000.
    <b>Potter & Potter, Oct. 12:</b> SHACKLETON, Ernest H. <i>The Antarctic Book.</i> Winter Quarters 1907-1909 [dummy copy of the supplement to: <i>The Heart of the Antarctic</i>]. London, 1909. $10,000 to $15,000.
    <b>Potter & Potter, Oct. 12:</b> [USS BEAR]. The original auxiliary deck wheel from the famed USS Bear, 1874-1933. “PROBABLY THE MOST FAMOUS SHIP IN THE HISTORY OF THE COAST GUARD” (USCG). $10,000 to $15,000.
    <b>Potter & Potter, Oct. 12:</b> HENSON, Matthew. <i>A Negro Explorer at the North Pole.</i> With a forward by Robert Peary. Introduction by Booker T. Washington. New York, [1912]. $3,000 to $4,000.

Rare Book Monthly

Articles - May - 2022 Issue

The Reese Americana Collection Appears

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The quality of the material is no surprise considering the source

The life of Bill Reese ended 3 years ago, but his discernment, judgment and collecting acumen continue to be admired. His name will soon be illuminated on the marquees at Christie’s in New York.  On May 25th and 26th, his personal library of travel and exploration books, printed Americana from the 17th to 20th centuries, American paintings and drawings, natural history books, and important literature will be sold in a three-session live auction.  Reese Collection sales will continue into June with both an Online auction (19 May – 2 June) and a suite of important paintings by Agostino Brunias selling on 10 June in the Old Masters Evening Sale. This spring, about 600 books and artworks will be dispersed to clients, friends, fellow dealers and competitors.

 

Bill’s depth of enthusiasm was legendary, but the extent of his knowledge even more rare. His understanding conveyed confidence to collectors and collecting institutions who wanted to possess great Americana and wanted certainty.  He understood the material, be it from the discovery of the New World, to the founding of the American nation, to America’s development politically and socially.  To understand America’s history through its documents, books, maps and ephemera became his life’s work. Many of the important collections of Americana today reflect his influence.

 

Soon the public will have the opportunity to compare what he offered over his 300+ catalogues with what he collected.  Not surprisingly, he was as discerning a collector as he was a dealer.

 

During his career, when meeting with a new collector he invariably asked about their preferences and could—off the top of his head—suggest a list of material from his inventory that would further their collecting ambitions.  Many collections, born of nebulous curiosity, grew with his first guidance into lavish manifestations of history. In time, many of those collections themselves became spectacular events at auction or prized gifts to the greatest collecting libraries.  He knew the material and the market’s confidence in his judgment will soon be reflected in the auction outcomes of his storied collection. 

 

Having built his business and collections over forty years, Bill saw prices rise and fall, and was ever mindful that unusual copies had to be pursued when they were offered, even if the outside world was in turmoil.  One and only examples do not often reappear.  So it is an odd circumstance that the Reese Collection of Americana will be sold at one of those times, when foreign war and American political uncertainty may shake a collector’s confidence and step aside.

 

About such times, I remember Bill saying, when it’s hardest to feel assured, the purchases will be remembered fondly.  It was good advice and I pass it along as a whisper in the room, reach for the prize.  His material is exceptional, you are in the presence of an event.

 

The catalogues for Part One and Part Two of the Private Collection of William S. Reese are online now.  The preview exhibition is open to the public from May 20-25 at Christie’s Rockefeller Center.

 

As to what to consider – here are a few of the high spots to get you started:

 

Lot 2 Oviedo https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6368237?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intObjectID=6368237&from=salessummary&lid=1

Lot 8 John Smith https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6368243?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intObjectID=6368243&from=salessummary&lid=1

Lot 15 Massachusett Bible https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6368250?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intObjectID=6368250&from=salessummary&lid=1

Lot 30 Evans Map https://www.christies.com/en/auction/the-private-collection-of-william-s-reese-part-one-20528-nyr/?filters=&page=1&searchphrase=&sortby=highestimate_desc&themes=

Lot 42 Franklin’s Dickinson https://www.christies.com/en/auction/the-private-collection-of-william-s-reese-part-one-20528-nyr/?filters=&page=1&searchphrase=&sortby=highestimate_desc&themes=

Lot 50 Declaration of Independence https://www.christies.com/en/auction/the-private-collection-of-william-s-reese-part-one-20528-nyr/?filters=&page=1&searchphrase=&sortby=highestimate_desc&themes=

Lot 61 Federalist https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6368296?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intObjectID=6368296&from=salessummary&lid=1

Lot 90 Lewis & Clark https://www.christies.com/en/auction/the-private-collection-of-william-s-reese-part-one-20528-nyr/?filters=&page=1&searchphrase=&sortby=highestimate_desc&themes=

Lot 127 Quadrupeds https://www.christies.com/en/auction/the-private-collection-of-william-s-reese-part-two-20529-nyr/?filters=&page=1&searchphrase=&sortby=highestimate_desc&themes=

Lot 297, Charles Bird King portrait https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6368867?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intObjectID=6368867&from=salessummary&lid=1

Yale https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6368292?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intObjectID=6368292&from=salessummary&lid=1

Millard https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6368986?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intObjectID=6368986&from=salessummary&lid=1

Shakespeare https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6369045?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intObjectID=6369045&from=salessummary&lid=1

Sassoon https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6369068?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intObjectID=6369068&from=salessummary&lid=1

Rare Book Monthly

  • <center><b>Gonnelli: Auction 46 Books<br>Autographs & Manuscripts<br>Oct 3rd-5th 2023</b>
    <b>Gonnelli:</b> Tilson - Zanotto, Il vero tema. 2011. Starting price 150 €
    <b>Gonnelli:</b> Munari, Storia di un filo. Starting price 400 €
    <b>Gonnelli:</b> Debord, Contre le cinéma. 1964. Starting price 150 €
    <b>Gonnelli:</b> Futurism books and ephemera
    <b>Gonnelli:</b> Travel books
    <b>Gonnelli:</b> Medicine books
    <b>Gonnelli:</b> Levaillant, Histoire naturelle des perroquets. 1801-1805. Starting price 52.000 €
    <b>Gonnelli:</b> Carrera, Il gioco de gli scacchi. 1617. Starting price 3200 €
    <b>Gonnelli:</b> Vergilius, Opera. 1515. Starting price 800 €
  • <center><b>Swann Auction Galleries View Our Record Breaking Results</b>
    <b>Swann:</b> Charles Monroe Schulz, <i>The Peanuts gang,</i> complete set of 13 drawings, ink, 1971. Sold June 15 — $50,000.
    <b>Swann:</b> Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Family Archive of Photographs & Letters. Sold June 1 — $60,000.
    <b>Swann:</b> Victor H. Green, <i>The Negro Motorist Green Book,</i> New York, 1949. Sold March 30 — $50,000.
    <b>Swann:</b> William Shakespeare, <i>King Lear; Othello;</i> [and] <i>Anthony & Cleopatra;</i> Extracted from the First Folio, London, 1623. Sold May 4— $185,000.
    <center><b>Swann Auction Galleries View Our Record Breaking Results</b>
    <b>Swann:</b> William Samuel Schwartz, <i>A Bridge in Baraboo, Wisconsin,</i> oil on canvas, circa 1938. Sold February 16 — $32,500.
    <b>Swann:</b> Lena Scott Harris, <i>Group of approximately 65 hand-colored botanical studies, all apparently California native plants,</i> hand-colored silver prints, circa 1930s. Sold February 23 — $37,500.
    <b>Swann:</b> Suzanne Jackson, <i>Always Something To Look For,</i> acrylic & pencil on linen canvas, circa 1974. Sold April 6 — $87,500.
    <b>Swann:</b> Gustav Klimt, <i>Das Werk von Gustav Klimt,</i> complete with 50 printed collotype plates, Vienna & Leipzig, 1918. Sold June 15 — $68,750.

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