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Swann, Nov. 14: Stephen Sondheim, autograph musical quotation signed and inscribed, 4 bars from “Send in the Clowns,” 1986.Swann, Nov. 14: George Washington, autograph letter signed to Robert Morris, preparing for attack on Philadelphia, 1777.Swann, Nov. 14: Autograph album containing over 250 signatures by members of 29th U.S. Congress, 1845.Swann, Nov. 14: Charles “The Bold,” letter signed to Duke of Milan written during Burgundian Wars, 1475.Swann, Nov. 14: Deng Xiaoping, TIME magazine “Man of the Year” issue signed and dated, 1979.Swann, Nov. 14: Theodor Herzl, autograph letter signed to prospective tutor of his children, 1902.Swann, Nov. 14: Bourienne’s Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte extra illustrated including 1798 letter signed by Napoleon after Battle of the Nile, 1836.Swann, Nov. 14: George Minot, autograph manuscript signed, diary kept during European trip to claim Nobel Prize, 1934.Swann, Nov. 14: Thomas Jefferson, autograph letter signed, introducing George Washington’s personal secretary Tobias Lear, 1793.Swann, Nov. 14: Winston Churchill, A History of the English-Speaking Peoples, signed in second volume, first edition, 1956-58.Swann, Nov. 14: John Steinbeck, late typescript drafts of 5 chapters from his posthumously published tales of King Arthur, 1959.Swann, Nov. 14: H.G. Wells, group of 14 of his books signed to his mistress Rebecca West or the son they had together, 1910s-40s. -
Old World Auctions (Nov 6-20):
Lot 51. Ortelius' Influential Map of the New World - Second Plate in Full Contemporary Color (1579) Est. $5,500 - $6,500Old World Auctions (Nov 6-20):
Lot 165. Reduced-Size Edition of Jefferys/Mead Map with Revolutionary War Updates (1776) Est. $4,750 - $6,000Old World Auctions (Nov 6-20):
Lot 688. Blaeu's Superb Carte-a-Figures Map of Africa (1634) Est. $3,000 - $3,750Old World Auctions (Nov 6-20):
Lot 105. Striking Map of French Colonial Possessions (1720) Est. $2,750 - $3,500Old World Auctions (Nov 6-20):
Lot 98. Rare First Edition of the First Published Plan of a Settlement in North America (1556) Est. $3,000 - $3,750Old World Auctions (Nov 6-20):
Lot 181. Important Map of the Georgia Colony (1748) Est. $2,750 - $3,500Old World Auctions (Nov 6-20):
Lot 547. Ortelius' Map of Russia with a Vignette of Ivan the Terrible in Full Contemporary Color (1579) Est. $1,400 - $1,700Old World Auctions (Nov 6-20):
Lot 85. Homann's Decorative Map of Colonial America (1720) Est. $1,600 - $1,900Old World Auctions (Nov 6-20):
Lot 642. Blaeu's Magnificent Carte-a-Figures Map of Asia (1634) Est. $3,000 - $3,750Old World Auctions (Nov 6-20):
Lot 748. The Martyrdom of St. John in Contemporary Hand Color with Gilt Highlights (1520) Est. $1,000 - $1,300Old World Auctions (Nov 6-20):
Lot 298. Scarce Early Map of Chester County (1822) Est. $2,750 - $3,500 -
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Bonhams, Nov. 2-12: AUDUBON, JOHN JAMES. Red-Shouldered Hawk. London: R. Havell, Jr., 1829. $2,000 - $3,000Bonhams, Nov. 2-12: STEWART, WILLIAM DRUMMOND, SIR. Altowan; or, Incidents of Life and Adventure in the Rocky Mountain... New York, 1846. PRESENTATION COPY. $800 - $1,200Bonhams, Nov. 2-12: WILLUGHBY & RAY, JOHN. The Ornithology of Francis Willughby in three books... London, Martyn, 1678. $800 - $1,200Bonhams, Nov. 2-12: SUSAN B. ANTHONY. Autograph Quotation Signed, on equal rights "for men and women," Rochester, 1898. $1,000 - $1,500Bonhams, Nov. 2-12: FRANKLIN, BENJAMIN. Autograph Letter Signed integrally to Le Comte de Milly arranging a meeting with M. Broignard, Passy, 1778. $10,000 - $15,000Bonhams, Nov. 2-12: FRANKLIN, JEFFERSON, & ADAMS. Mansucript Signed by all three architects of the American ideal, requesting a Treaty of Amity and Commerce. $750,000 - $1,000,000Bonhams, Nov. 2-12: LINCOLN, ABRAHAM. Endorsement Signed, a pardon for a Confederate soldier, February 6, 1865. $4,000 - $6,000Bonhams, Nov. 2-12: NAPOLEON FORMALLY RATIFIES THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE. Document Signed ("James Monroe," "Robt. R. Livingston" and "Barbé-Marbois"). $100,000 - $200,000Bonhams, Nov. 2-12: JAMES MONROE ON THE DIFFICULTIES OF JAY'S TREATY. Autograph Letter Signed to Thomas Pinckney, Paris, January 17, 1795. $15,000 - $25,000Bonhams, Nov. 2-12: GIDEON WELLES FIRST HAND ACCOUNT OF FORT PICKENS AND FORT SUMTER ON THE EVE OF CIVIL WAR. Autograph Manuscript, 44 pp, c.1870. $4,000 - $6,000Bonhams, Nov. 2-12: SIGNED BY BORGES. Labyrinths: Selected Stories & Other Writings. 1962. First book publication in English. $4,000 - $6,000Bonhams, Nov. 2-12: LORENZO DOW TURNER'S COPY. LOCKE, ALAIN. The New Negro: an Interpretation. 1925. $1,000 - $1,500
Rare Book Monthly
Articles - January - 2007 Issue
AE Top 500 Auction Sales for 2006!
Death of the Strong Wicked Man, highest ranked of many Blake plates. Courtesy of Sotheby's.
By Michael Stillman
The time has arrived for the third annual listing of the AE Top 10 plus 490 (also known as the AE Top 500) results from book and related ephemera auctions for 2006. The past year proved the market remains healthy for books at the upper end, with seven items qualifying for millionaire status. At the top, we find an old and familiar name, and while nothing quite matched the high for 2005, $5.6 million for an Audubon Birds of America folio, 2006 did provide the second straight year with a $5 million book. A link to the complete AE 500 can be found after the Top 10 list. There is also an explanation of what type of material qualifies for this list at the end of the article.
First we start with a few items from the Top 500 that did not make the Top 10. In 1948, Albert Einstein answered in this signed manuscript as to whether scientists are morally responsible for the atomic bomb. "No," he responded. "The responsibility lies however with those who make use of the means, not with those who have brought these advances to light; therefore with the politicians, not with the scientists." #330. $83,904.
In 1779, George Washington wrote to George Clinton, "The state of the army in particular is alarming on several accounts, that of its numbers is not among the least." This list of problems his army faced seemed insurmountable at the time, but of course, Washington did prevail. #251. $102,000.
A first edition of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson's (also known as "Lewis Carroll") Through the Looking-Glass would be a valuable book in any instance, but in 2006 the dedication copy he presented to the real "Alice," Alice Pleasance Liddell, was sold at auction. #242. $105,984. The first French edition of the original Alice book dedicated to "Alice" also was sold. #200. $121,440.
A signed letter from President-elect Abraham Lincoln to Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Curtin also hit the market. Lincoln suggests the Governor make it clear that Pennsylvania will maintain the Union "at all hazards." #188. $131,450.
A most interesting item is A Catalogue of the Different Specimens of Cloth Collected in the Three Voyages of Captain Cook to the Southern Hemisphere. This book contains 39 actual pieces of cloth collected on Captain Cook's three voyages. #158. $144,000.
A most remarkable letter from Catherine of Aragon, the first of Henry VIII's six wives, went on the block. Henry overruled the Catholic Church and set up the Church of England, all so he could divorce her. That he did, and by the time Catherine wrote this letter to her nephew, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V in 1534, she had been exiled to a low-rent castle. She still called herself queen, but Henry now applied that appellation to Anne Boleyn. #144. $156,000.
![<b>Dominic Winter, 13th Nov:</b> Ketham (Johannes de). <i>Fasciculus medici[n]e …,</i> Venice: Cesare Arrivabene, March 1522. £6,000-8,000](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/d2138ecd-9b39-4b69-b437-b7166bd60434.jpg "<b>Dominic Winter, 13th Nov:</b> Ketham (Johannes de). <i>Fasciculus medici[n]e …,</i> Venice: Cesare Arrivabene, March 1522. £6,000-8,000")
![<b>Dominic Winter, 13th Nov:</b> Bible [English]. <i>The Byble in Englyshe of the largest and greatest volume...,</i> 1541. £7,000-10,000](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/a57f00ef-ce42-4cdb-b1b0-bf0c98fc1a84.jpg "<b>Dominic Winter, 13th Nov:</b> Bible [English]. <i>The Byble in Englyshe of the largest and greatest volume...,</i> 1541. £7,000-10,000")
![<b>Dominic Winter, 13th Nov:</b> Bible [English]. <i>The Newe Testament of Our Saviour Jesu Christe...,</i> 1566. £7,000-10,000](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/6818b4cc-3dc8-4f76-bf7c-fac59f7fb083.jpg "<b>Dominic Winter, 13th Nov:</b> Bible [English]. <i>The Newe Testament of Our Saviour Jesu Christe...,</i> 1566. £7,000-10,000")
![<b>Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14:</b> GOULD, John. <i>A Monograph of the Trochilidae...Humming-Birds.</i> L., [1849-] 1861. $60,000 – 80,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/5a5a37a4-bc84-4fa8-b8b8-bad6106a9297.jpg "<b>Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14:</b> GOULD, John. <i>A Monograph of the Trochilidae...Humming-Birds.</i> L., [1849-] 1861. $60,000 – 80,000.")
![<b>Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14:</b> A COMPLETE RUN of Limited Editions Club publications, v.p. [mostly New York], 1929-2010. $50,000 – 60,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/00aa5647-98fa-42e5-aa1f-e306d308a753.jpg "<b>Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14:</b> A COMPLETE RUN of Limited Editions Club publications, v.p. [mostly New York], 1929-2010. $50,000 – 60,000.")
![<b>Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14:</b> GOULD. <i>A Monograph of the Ramphastidae...Toucans.</i> L., [1852-] 54. SECOND ED. $35,000 – 45,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/529a982d-de64-41cf-b68c-93f0df023bfc.jpg "<b>Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14:</b> GOULD. <i>A Monograph of the Ramphastidae...Toucans.</i> L., [1852-] 54. SECOND ED. $35,000 – 45,000.")
![<b>Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14:</b> SELBY. <i>Plates to Selby’s Illustrations of British Ornithology.</i> Edin., [1833-] 34. $20,000 – 30,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/5c121f9c-5368-40ac-a487-76508b5ac622.jpg "<b>Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14:</b> SELBY. <i>Plates to Selby’s Illustrations of British Ornithology.</i> Edin., [1833-] 34. $20,000 – 30,000.")
![<b>Forum, Nov. 14:</b> Mayr (Heinrich von). <i>Malerische Ansichten aus dem Orient. Vues Pittoresques de l'Orient,</i> first edition in the original 10 parts, Munich, Paris & Leipzig, [1839-40]. £10,000 to £15,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/d55bdd84-749f-463d-8dbb-b699758ef469.jpg "<b>Forum, Nov. 14:</b> Mayr (Heinrich von). <i>Malerische Ansichten aus dem Orient. Vues Pittoresques de l'Orient,</i> first edition in the original 10 parts, Munich, Paris & Leipzig, [1839-40]. £10,000 to £15,000.")
![<b>Forum, Nov. 14:</b> Lewis (John Frederick). <i>Illustrations of Constantinople, made during a Residence in that City &c. in the Years 1835-6,</i> first edition, [1838]. £6,000 to £8,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/543a84e0-0b4b-4ad5-87d2-5a608e848ef0.jpg "<b>Forum, Nov. 14:</b> Lewis (John Frederick). <i>Illustrations of Constantinople, made during a Residence in that City &c. in the Years 1835-6,</i> first edition, [1838]. £6,000 to £8,000.")
![<b>Forum, Nov. 14:</b> Cassas (Louis François). <i>[Voyage Pittoresque de la Syrie, de la Phoenicie, de la Palæstube et de la Basse-Égypte],</i> 3 vol., first edition, [Paris], [1799]. £8,000 to £12,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/4dff8ca9-d113-4251-ae8e-ae25228f7956.jpg "<b>Forum, Nov. 14:</b> Cassas (Louis François). <i>[Voyage Pittoresque de la Syrie, de la Phoenicie, de la Palæstube et de la Basse-Égypte],</i> 3 vol., first edition, [Paris], [1799]. £8,000 to £12,000.")
![<b>Forum, Nov. 14:</b> Brindesi (Jean). <i>Souvenirs de Constantinople,</i> first edition, [Paris], [1855-60]. £4,000 to £6,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/0ddc823f-dd6d-4282-8aba-978d6ee7abbe.jpg "<b>Forum, Nov. 14:</b> Brindesi (Jean). <i>Souvenirs de Constantinople,</i> first edition, [Paris], [1855-60]. £4,000 to £6,000.")
