Japan Is the Subject for Gert Jan Bestebreurtje Rare Books
- by Michael Stillman
The Adventures of a Japanese Doll.
By 1910, Japan had become an important naval power and trading partner. Still, many in the West regarded the country as something of a backwater. To try to counter such misconceptions, the nation heavily supported an exhibition in Britain, the Japan-British Exhibition of 1910. No expense was spared in displaying Japanese culture, including bringing an entire Japanese Garden to the site. While officially a joint exhibition between the nations, the displays were primarily Japanese. Highest quality goods were shown to counter the prevailing view that “made in Japan” meant poor quality. Item 23 is a guide put out by the KyotoExhibitors'AssociationtotheJapan-BritishExhibition.Along with general information and a list of exhibitors, it contains information about temples and other notable places in Kyoto and the city's industries. €275 (US $359).
This book is marginally Japanese, though its title certainly qualifies for this catalogue: TheAdventuresofaJapaneseDoll. This is a children's book written and illustrated by Henry Mayer in 1901. Mayer was born in Europe, made his way to Mexico, then Texas, and eventually settled in Chicago, where he was an illustrator and caricaturist. If he had any connection with or particular knowledge of Japan, it is unclear. The story has somewhat of a Pinocchio-like plot, the doll, Ting-a-ling, having been created by the doll maker Chung-wa. As a review on the University of Florida website points out, these are Chinese names, not Japanese. Whatever, Ting-a-ling takes off on a balloon and travels the world, visiting such places as Germany, South Africa, Egypt, Switzerland, and the American West. This book is particularly noted for its charming illustrations. Item 25. €225 (US $293).
Sotheby’s Livres et Manuscrits, de Galilée à Warhol 6-18 December 2024
Sotheby’s, Dec. 18: Proust, Marcel. À l’ombre des jeunes filles en fleurs, [1920]. 150,000 - 200,000 EUR
Sotheby’s, Dec. 18: Warhol, Andy ─ Sam Francis ─ Walasse Ting ─ Roy Lichtenstein ─ Robert Rauschenberg ─ Jean-Paul Riopelle ─ Pierre Alechinsky ─ etc. [1964]. 120,000 - 150,000 EUR
Sotheby’s, Dec. 18: [Mode] - Maison Goupy. 762 dessins de mode. [1924-1931]. 90,000 - 120,000 EUR
Sotheby’s, Dec. 18: Galilée. Dialogo di Galileo Galilei [1632]. 60,000 - 80,000 EUR
Sotheby’s, Dec. 18: Mongaigne, Michel de. Essais. Paris. [1587]. 32,000 - 45,000 EUR
Bonhams, Dec. 18: A Very Fine Composite Atlas Magnificently Illuminated and Heightened with Gold in a Fine Contemporary Hand Throughout. $300,000 - $500,000
Bonhams, Dec. 18: Saint-Exupéry's Revised Ending for Wind, Sand and Stars. $40,000 - $60,000
Bonhams, Dec. 18: Edith Wharton's Gold Medal from the National Institute of Arts and Letters, 1924. $20,000 - $30,000
Bonhams, Dec. 18: Salinger on the Glass Family and on Detachment. $10,000 - $15,000
Bonhams, Dec. 18: Fanny Burney's Groundbreaking First Novel. Evelina, Or a Young Lady's Entrance into the World. $10,000 - $15,000
Bonhams, Dec. 18: Kafka's Earliest Extant Piece of Writing. Autograph Note Signed ("Franz Kafka"). $10,000 - $15,000
Bonhams, Dec. 18: Wagner Signed "Ride of the Valkries." $6,000 - $9,000
Bonhams, Dec. 18: Dickens on the Death of Little Nell. $5,000 - $8,000
Bonhams, Dec. 18: Sylvia Plath's Copy of Joy of Cooking. $4,000 - $6,000
Bonhams, Dec. 18: Walt Whitman and Friends: Whitman to James Russell Lowell. $8,000 - $12,000
Bonhams, Dec. 18: Walt Whitman and Friends: The Genesis of his Lincoln Lectures. $6,000 - $9,000
![<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 18:</b> Proust, Marcel. <i>À l’ombre des jeunes filles en fleurs,</i> [1920]. 150,000 - 200,000 EUR](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/6b9b602f-e3a8-460d-8256-3cd5b58b2993.png "<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 18:</b> Proust, Marcel. <i>À l’ombre des jeunes filles en fleurs,</i> [1920]. 150,000 - 200,000 EUR")
![<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 18:</b> Warhol, Andy ─ Sam Francis ─ Walasse Ting ─ Roy Lichtenstein ─ Robert Rauschenberg ─ Jean-Paul Riopelle ─ Pierre Alechinsky ─ etc. [1964]. 120,000 - 150,000 EUR](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/c6d05207-4c34-4e62-b66b-fa23228ac686.png "<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 18:</b> Warhol, Andy ─ Sam Francis ─ Walasse Ting ─ Roy Lichtenstein ─ Robert Rauschenberg ─ Jean-Paul Riopelle ─ Pierre Alechinsky ─ etc. [1964]. 120,000 - 150,000 EUR")
![<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 18:</b> [Mode] - Maison Goupy. 762 dessins de mode. [1924-1931]. 90,000 - 120,000 EUR](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/2f3e987f-6266-444c-ace5-df0445f43333.png "<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 18:</b> [Mode] - Maison Goupy. 762 dessins de mode. [1924-1931]. 90,000 - 120,000 EUR")
![<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 18:</b> Galilée. Dialogo di Galileo Galilei [1632]. 60,000 - 80,000 EUR](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/e01a21b6-dffc-4f75-a590-17a5bfbbaf26.png "<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 18:</b> Galilée. Dialogo di Galileo Galilei [1632]. 60,000 - 80,000 EUR")
![<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 18:</b> Mongaigne, Michel de. <i>Essais.</i> Paris. [1587]. 32,000 - 45,000 EUR](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/c86bdba5-2961-4805-919c-d361a3df1f41.png "<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 18:</b> Mongaigne, Michel de. <i>Essais.</i> Paris. [1587]. 32,000 - 45,000 EUR")
