Twenty-Five Books and Other Important Works on Paper from Antiquariaat Forum and Asher Rare Books

Item 8 is a work of both art and history, an Italian book entitled Dipinti murali di Pompei, by Eduardo Cerillo, circa 1886. The book is a look at mural wall painting from the ancient city of Pompeii, discovered in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. Pompeii was the Roman era city that was buried in a tide of ash from the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in the year 79. For almost 17 centuries, the city remained buried in ash, long since forgotten when workmen digging for construction projects began unearthing intact ruins beneath the ground. Much of the city had been preserved, much as it looked on that terrible day 17 centuries earlier. In Cerillo’s book, we get to see many of the murals that were painted on the walls of structures within the ancient city. A New York Times article of the time notes that the colors in this book better reflect the true brightness of those used by Pompeii’s artists, rather than the “delicacy of tone which was not meant by the painters” after the murals were exposed to sunlight after so long in the dark. €9,500 (US $12,500).

Item 4 is another work of artistic beauty. Orchids are one of the most beautiful flowers, and the same can be said of the books that illustrate them. Item 4 is a Collection des Orchidees les plus remarquables de l’Archipel Indien et du Japon, issued in twelve separate parts from 1858-1859. This is a collection of illustrations of orchids found in the Dutch East Indies and Japan. The author, and creator of some of the drawings, was Carl Ludwig Blume. Blume was Director of the Botanical Garden of Bogor, Java. His work includes 70 lithographed plates, 56 of which are hand colored. €17,500 (US $23,050).

You may reach the Antiquariaat Forum at +31 (0)30 6011955 or info@forumrarebooks.com. Their website is www.forumrarebooks.com. Asher Rare Books may be reached at +31 255 523839 or info@asherbooks.com.