The material hasn’t changed much other than getting older. Books and manuscripts have long been appreciated and most of their secrets have been discovered. Maps too are understood. In most cases relating to collectible paper, when their authors, titles and dates are known there’s only three variables to understand: current condition, value, and how many people will be interested?
For this reason, transaction histories for collectible paper, like ours, have long played an important role in the worldwide field. Currently we’re providing 13.5 million records but surprisingly, there’s an entire category of old paper that hardly appears: ephemera. It’s huge but has long resisted easy description.
A small portion of our lots in Rare Book Transaction History [124,411 out of 13,536,471] presently fall into the identified ephemera category, but other than the small number of known, desirable and important examples that randomly appear and reappear in the auction rooms today, most ephemera will not soon find an easy place in databases like ours. No doubt, when the logjam is broken, gifted cataloguers will play an important part.
Why is this difficult?
Individual ephemera often relies on context and it takes both experience and time to figure out how a single piece of paper fits into a collecting story. Absent definitive proof for individual items, if there is a group of related items, it’s sometimes possible to feel confident but, if the evidence is only circumstantial or incremental, this may require the supporting evidence be included with the item. Without it, it’s just an opinion.
Enter stage right: Michael Brown, ABAA, offered electronic catalogues some years back filled with extraordinary archival collections that were deep in ephemera. In some cases, those collections were offered as single lots in his memorable catalogues, and every one of them easily met the highest standards for description. Voila! He didn’t announce he was going to change the role and function of ephemera in the field, but he nevertheless found a place in the history of works on paper that will remember his effort.
By his examples, I believe we have proof that ephemera with a convincing story, can and should be added to our Rare Book Transaction History. Individual pieces may be worth only $5 or $10 dollars, but in their totality, with a compelling story, such material will have a significant place in the future of collectible paper.
In this way, millions of pieces of ephemera will increasingly find themselves in those databases that support collectible paper. Count us in!
Editor’s Note. I sent a draft of this brief piece to Michael and he quickly mentioned his debt to the work of Rocky Gardner, Tim Trace and Steve Resnick from the 1970’s. No man is an island!
He has provided a link to one of his catalogues. Click here
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24 to January 9
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Ellis Smith Prints unsigned. 20” by 16”.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: United typothetae of America presidents. Pictures of 37 UTA presidents 46th annual convention United typothetae of America Cincinnati 1932.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec signed Paper Impressionism Art Prints. MayMilton 9 1/2” by 13” Reine de Joie 9 1/2” by 13”.
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24 to January 9
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Aberle’ Ballet editions. 108th triumph, American season spring and summer 1944.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Puss ‘n Boots. 1994 Charles Perrult All four are signed by Andreas Deja
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Specimen book of type faces. Job composition department, Philadelphia gazette publishing company .
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24 to January 9
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: An exhibit of printed books, Bridwell library.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur Court By Mark Twain 1889.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: 1963 Philadelphia Eagles official program.
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24 to January 9
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: 8 - Esquire the magazine for men 1954.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: The American printer, July 1910.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Leaves of grass 1855 by Walt Whitman.
Sotheby's Fine Books, Manuscripts & More Available for Immediate Purchase
Sotheby’s: William Shakespeare. The Poems and Sonnets of William Shakespeare, 1960. 7,210 USD
Sotheby’s: Charles Dickens. A Christmas Carol, First Edition, 1843. 17,500 USD
Sotheby’s: William Golding. Lord of the Flies, First Edition, 1954. 5,400 USD
Sotheby's Fine Books, Manuscripts & More Available for Immediate Purchase
Sotheby’s: Lewis Carroll. Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There, Inscribed First Edition, 1872. 25,000 USD
Sotheby’s: J.R.R. Tolkien. The Hobbit, First Edition, 1937. 12,000 USD
Sotheby’s: John Milton. Paradise Lost, 1759. 5,400 USD
