Elisha Brooks crossed the continent with his mother when he was just 11 years old.
Bad as Brooks' journey was, it could have been worse. In 1874 the German family set out from Georgia to Colorado. The Pacific Railroad was in operation by then, but the family of nine was carrying its belongings in wagons. Rather than following the railroad, they took the old stage route, having been told it was safe. It was not. The party was attacked and quickly overcome by a band of Cheyenne Indians. The mother, father, and three children were killed, while four girls were taken as captives. Obviously, it was a terrifying experience for the girls, and their life with the Indians was one of torment. However, by that time, an Indian captivity quickly became a cause célèbre. The two youngest girls were freed by the army in a raid, and the other two later in a trade. Item 107 is a first edition from 1927 of Girl Captives of the Cheyennes, written by Grace E. Meredith, niece of Catherine German, eldest of the four surviving sisters. The story is told from Catherine's perspective. This copy is signed by all four sisters, who amazingly enough, all went on to live normal lives. $850.
Here is one more overland journey: Experiences of a Forty-Niner A Member of the Wagon Train First to Enter California in the memorable Year 1849. The author was William Graham Johnston, and he finally got around to publishing his tale in 1892 in this limited run (50 copies) book. Johnston, just 20 years old at the time, gathered a group of friends from Pittsburgh who set out to cross the country in search of their fortune. This is an account of their journey and experiences. Apparently, their gold digging didn't pan out for Johnston, as he soon returned to Pittsburgh where he became a quite successful printer, writer, industrialist, banker and businessman. He retired to Watertown, New York - I can't imagine why unless he really, really liked snow - where he lived until 1913. Item 93. $2,350.
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
