Rare Book Monthly

Articles - June - 2008 Issue

<i>In The News:</i> Another Transylvania Book Theft, World's Worst Poet at Auction, Abe's Top Ten


AbeBooks announced its ten most expensive books for April, a mix of languages, with French, Italian, and lots of Latin to go with English. At the top, is an item in English, but Abe notes that it was sold to an Italian collector on their newly opened Italian site, AbeBooks.it.

10. Histoire de l'oeil by Lord Auch, written by Georges Bataille. It is described as being about "the sexual experimentation of two teenage lovers, and their increasing perversion." Sounds artistic. $4,566.

9. Memoire pour le Sieur de Boishebert by Charles Deschamps of Boishebert. The Quebec-born Deschamps recounts his role as a French soldier from 1746-1760. $4,719.

8. The Works of Samuel Beckett, number 195 of a 200 set limited edition from 1970, signed by Beckett. $5,182.

7. Comedias Verdaderas by Tirso de Molina, three volumes published from 1734-1736 by the Spanish poet. $5,300.

6. AMBIX, 53 volumes of the journal of the Society for the History of Alchemy and Chemistry, published from 1937-2006. $5,688.

5. Viaggio Negle Stati Uniti Dell'America Settentrio by Luigi Castiglioni, the travels of this Italian Count to the American South. $7,500.

4. Corpus Nummorum Italicorum, a 20-volume reference on Italian coins published from 1910-1943. $7,500.

3. Historia Plantarum Universalis by Johann Bauhin, an important botanical work published in 1650-1651.

2. Biblia Latina, a newly translated Bible printed by Johannes Herbort de Seligenstadt in 1484. $10,807.

1. An autographed letter signed by Edward Lear dated September 9, 1867, containing a self-character sketch. Lear is best known as author of The Owl and the Pussycat. $11,491.

Rare Book Monthly

  • 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

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