Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - November - 2002 Issue
December 2002 Dealer Catalogue Reviews
Carey & Lea \Buchon, J. A. Atlas Geographique, Statistique ...1825 Martayan Lan Catalogue 30
Fine Antique Maps, Atlases, Globes, & City Views (Catalogue 30, Martayan Lan Company). A 99 page, 256 item long catalogue that certainly lives up to the description of the company’s strengths as stated on its website, and more. Indeed, it is an impressive physical and intellectual object chock-full of facts germane to Americanists interested in the history of exploration, voyages, and related activities from the world of Americana and European Americana, and beyond. The catalogue is organized not alphabetically but chronologically within subject, with a copious table of contents at the front (ranging from categories like “World Maps;” “World & Continents Set;” “Globes;” “New England - Regional;” “New York City;” “Artic & Canada;” “Caribbean, Bermuda;” “South America;” “Africa;” and over fifteen other categories) and an extensive bibliography of reference books for sale at the rear.
The entire catalogue is a pleasure to read. Offerings run from the fairly inexpensive ($1200) to the more highly priced items (starting at $11,000 and running up to $20,000 and beyond) Each item is backed up with copious research and citations and the flowing, articulate descriptions make the catalogue as much a history text as a list of items for sale; though it goes without saying that commerce is the overall intent of the catalogue, one learns a lot along the way, whether you a buyer or a browser be.
The catalogue reviewed above is available from Martayan Lan Company, 48 East 57th Street, New York, N.Y., 10022, (800) 423-3741 or (212) 308-0018, Email info@martayanlan.com. See also inventory listed at www.martayanlan.com.
The following four catalogues are all thematically-related inventory catalogues from William Reese Company, one of if not the preeminent dealer in Americana in the U.S. None of these catalogues are catalogues of material for auction; rather, they are inventory catalogues of material available for sale, thematically divided between catalogues and alphabetically arranged by author within each catalogue.
