AbeBooks Most Expensive Books Sold in July-September 2023
- by Michael Stillman
North American Review collection (Between the Covers photo via AbeBooks).
AbeBooks has announced their latest list of the top prices paid for books sold on the top old and used books website in the world. This one covers the third quarter, July-September, of 2023. It is a list of the 13 highest prices, a lucky number, at least for the booksellers who sold these items. As always, there is a wide variety of material that reaches the heights, the one thing in common being the willingness of the buyers to spend what it takes to fill their collections. Here are those 13 most expensive items.
13. Cosmographey: das ist, Beschreibung Aller Länder... by Sebastian Münster, published in 1598. This Munster was not from the family more associated with Halloween, but a 16th century monk and professor, and in particular, cartographer and cosmographer. This book is a description of the world as known in the 16th century, with 1,200 woodcuts to illustrate it. Sold by Antiquariat Daniel Schramm. $13,200.
12. The Works of Henry James: The Novels and Tales, 24 volumes, by, of course, Henry James, published 1907-1909. A thorough collection of the works of the prolific novelist, playwright, etc., though not quite complete as he lived until 1916. Sold by Raptis Rare Books. $14,000.
10. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, first British trade edition, published in 1932. The dystopian novel projects a future state created by humans too smart for their own good. Sold by Burnside Rare Books. $15,000.
10. The North American Review and Miscellaneous Journal, 237 volumes. A nearly complete run of the great literary magazine published from 1815-1940. Many of the great writers and political figures of its time found their way into its pages. Sold by Between the Covers Rare Books. $15,000 (or just $63.30 an issue).
8. 12-Page Hand-written Letter and Other Documents by John Steinbeck. Writes Steinbeck, “A writer is essentially a very talkative person who has not the power of speech. And so he takes out his impulses with a pencil. The only social advantage he has over other bores lies in the fact that no one has to read him, no one that is except his agent. Relatives can avoid it, friends do.” Sold by CWO Books. $16,000.
8. Dark Passage by David Goodis, published in 1946. Inscribed by the author to Jerry Wald, who produced the film version starring Bogart and Bacall. Sold by Captain Ahab's Rare Books. $16,000.
7. The Confidence-Man: His Masquerade by Herman Melville, first English edition, published in 1857. Not his most famous or best-selling book, it is less common than that other book. Sold by Clarel Rare Books. $17,500.
6. Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell, first British edition, published in 1949. This one fits well on a list with Brave New World, another dystopian novel about our frightening future. Sold by Idler Fine Books. $17,550.
5. Letters Suppressed in the English Edition of "De Profundis" by Oscar Wilde, published in 1905. Letters from prison by Oscar Wilde to lover Lord Alfred Douglas were published posthumously by his literary executor, Robert Ross, who left some out. This is a proof copy of the rare first printing in English of these missing letters. Sold by Maggs Bros. Ltd. $19,000.
4. An Early Vellum Manuscript Leaf From A Carolingian Homiliary. Described as “outstanding example of the highly legible Caroline minuscule that dominated Europe in the ninth century.” Sold by Phillip J. Pirages Rare Books. $20,800.
3. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, with a handwritten letter by the author, published in 1932. Second appearance on the list of this book, its value greatly enhanced by the letter. Sold by Quintessential Rare Books. $25,000.
2. The Waste Land by T. S. Eliot, published in 1922. A first U. S. edition of one of the most influential works of 20th century poetry. Sold by Quintessential Rare Books. $35,000.
1. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, published in 1891. Wilde's second appearance on the list, this is a copy of the large paper “edition de luxe,” copy 115 of 250 signed by Wilde. Maybe it's best just not to have your portrait painted. Sold by Shapero Rare Books. $46,875.
Forum Auctions Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper 17th July 2025
Forum Auctions Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper 17th July 2025
Forum, July 17: Lucianus Samosatensis. Dialogoi, editio princeps, second issue, Florence, Laurentius Francisci de Alopa, 1496. £10,000 to £15,000.
Forum, July 17: Boccaccio (Giovanni). Il Decamerone, Florence, Philippo di Giunta, 1516. £10,000 to £15,000.
Forum, July 17: Henry VII (King) & Philip the Fair (Duke of Burgundy). [Intercursus Magnus], [Commercial and Political Treaty between Henry VII and Philip Duke of Burgundy], manuscript copy in Latin, original vellum, 1499. £8,000 to £12,000.
Forum, July 17: Bible, English. The Holy Bible, Conteyning the Old Testament, and the New, Robert Barker, 1613. £4,000 to £6,000.
Forum, July 17: Bond (Michael). A Bear Called Paddington, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author, 1958. £4,000 to £6,000.
Forum Auctions Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper 17th July 2025
Forum, July 17: Yeats (William Butler). The Secret Rose, first edition, with extensive autograph corrections, additions and amendments by the author for a new edition, 1897. £6,000 to £8,000.
Forum, July 17: Byron (George Gordon Noel, Lord). Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, bound in dark green morocco elaborately tooled in gilt and with 3 watercolours to fore-edge, by Fazakerley of Liverpool, 1841. £4,000 to £6,000.
Forum, July 17: Miró (Juan), Wassily Kandinsky, John Buckland-Wright, Stanley William Hayter and others.- Spender (Stephen). Fraternity, one of 101 copies, with signed engravings by 9 artists. £6,000 to £8,000.
Forum, July 17: Sowerby (George Brettingham). Album comprising 22 leaves of original watercolour drawings of fossil remains of Cheltenham and Vicinity, [c.1840]. £6,000 to £8,000.
Forum, July 17: Mathematics.- Blue paper copy.- Euclid. De gli Elementi, Urbino, Appresso Domenico Frisolino, 1575. £12,000 to £18,000.
Sotheby’s Books, Manuscripts and Music from Medieval to Modern Now through July 10, 2025
Sotheby’s Books, Manuscripts and Music from Medieval to Modern Now through July 10, 2025
Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: Book of Hours by the Masters of Otto van Moerdrecht, Use of Sarum, in Latin, Southern Netherlands (Bruges), c.1450. £20,000 to £30,000.
Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: Albert Einstein. Autograph letter signed, to Attilio Palatino, on his research into General Relativity, 12 May 1929. £12,000 to £18,000.
Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: John Gould. The Birds of Europe, [1832-] 1837, 5 volumes, contemporary half morocco, subscriber’s copy. £40,000 to £60,000.
Sotheby’s Books, Manuscripts and Music from Medieval to Modern Now through July 10, 2025
Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: Ian Fleming. A collection of James Bond first editions, 8 volumes in all. £8,000 to £12,000.
Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 1997, first edition, hardback issue. £50,000 to £70,000.
Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: J.R.R. Tolkien. Autograph letter signed, to Amy Ronald, on Pauline Baynes's map of Middle Earth, 1970. £7,000 to £10,000.
DOYLE, July 23: STOKES, I. N. PHELPS. The Iconography of Manhattan Island, 1498-1909. New York: Robert H. Dodd, 1915-28. Estimate: $3,000-5,000
DOYLE, July 23: [AUTOGRAPH - US PRESIDENT]FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT. A signed photograph of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Estimate $500-800
DOYLE, July 23: [ARION PRESS]. ABBOTT, EDWIN A. Flatland. A Romance of Many Dimensions. San Francisco, 1980. Estimate $2,000-3,000.
DOYLE, July 23: TOLSTOY, LYOF N. and NATHAN HASKELL DOLE, translator. Anna Karénina ... in eight parts. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell & Co., [1886]. Estimate: $400-600
DOYLE, July 23: ROWLING, J.K. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. London: Bloomsbury, 2000. Estimate $1,200-1,800
Freeman’s | Hindman Western Manuscripts and Miniatures July 8, 2025
Freeman’s | Hindman Western Manuscripts and Miniatures July 8, 2025
Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. FRANCESCO PETRARCH (b. Arezzo, 20 July 1304; d. Arqua Petrarca, 19 July 1374). $20,000-30,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. CIRCLE OF THE MASTER OF THE VITAE IMPERATORUM (active Milan, 1431-1459). $15,000-20,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. CIRCLE OF ATTAVANTE DEGLI ATTAVANTI (GABRIELLO DI VANTE) (active Florence, c. 1452-c. 1520/25). $15,000-20,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. FOLLOWER OF HERMAN SCHEERE (active London, c. 1405-1425). $15,000-20,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. An exceptionally rare, illuminated music leaf from a Mozarabic Antiphonal with sister leaves mostly in museum collections. $11,500-14,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. Exceptional leaf from a prestigious Antiphonary by a leading illuminator of the late Duecento. $11,500-14,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. CIRCLE OF THE MASTER OF MS REID 33 and SELWERD ABBEY SCRIPTORIUM (AGNES MARTINI?) (active The Netherlands, Groningen, c. 1468-1510). $10,000-15,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. Previously unknown illumination from one of the most renowned Gothic Choir Book sets of the Middle Ages. $6,000-8,000.