A Collection for the California Book Fair from Antiquariaat Forum
A collection of items taken to the California Book Fair.
By Michael Stillman
The Antiquariaat Forum recently published a Short Title List with recent acquisitions and a selection from our stock to bring to the California International Antiquarian Book Fair. It isn't that short a list since 124 items are described. The Antiquariaat Forum made the long journey from the Netherlands to San Francisco, a painfully long trip in airplane seats now more cramped than Columbus' ships, and with less food offered the passengers. Anyone who endures the horrors of such travels deserves a bit of recognition, so here is a brief review of some the material the Antiquariaat Forum was exhibiting in the City by the Fault.
We will start with an American item, Narrative of the life and adventures of Paul Cuffee, a Pequot Indian. During Thirty Years Spent at Sea, and in Travelling in Foreign Lands. Cuffee was a most remarkable man. As if having an Indian mother was not handicap enough in 18th century America, his father was Black, having once been a slave. Cuffee was determined and very smart. He overcame his enormous disadvantages to become a most successful businessman, operating a sailing ship managed by a crew of Blacks. He also stood up for his principles, refusing to pay taxes on the grounds of the old colonial complaint, taxation without representation. Blacks weren't allowed to vote. Massachusetts was forced to relent and grant all men the franchise. When his children weren't allowed to attend school because of their color, he used his wealth to build an integrated school. In the ‘teens of the 19th century, he worked to set up a colony in Sierra Leone where former American slaves and other Blacks could settle in freedom. He devoted his time and money to this cause, but died in 1818 while the project was still in its early stages. This rare book was published in Vernon, New York, in 1839. Item 26. Priced at $7,150.
Christiaan Huygens was a pioneering Dutch astronomer and mathematician from the 17th century. He discovered the first moon of Saturn, accurately described its rings, patented the first pendulum clock, designed superior telescopes, and promoted a wave theory of light. Item 58 is a first edition of his final work, Kosmotheoros, published in 1598, three years after his death. This book includes both calculations about the planets and universe, as well as Huygens' speculations on inhabitants of other worlds. He believed there must be other beings out there, and that they must resemble humans, both physically and in terms of thinking. While we can conclude fairly conclusively now that these beings do not exist in our solar system, the rest of the universe remains open to discovery. $11,000.
The three voyages of Captain James Cook are among the most notable of all explorations. He provided official reports for each of his voyages (he needed help on the last as he died before its conclusion). However, the public did not always want to wait, and Heinrich Zimmerman was one who helped spread the word early. His account of Cook's third voyage was published in 1781, three years ahead of the official report. Item 123 is the rare first edition in Zimmerman's native German, Reise um die Welt, mit Capitain Cook, published in Manheim. $71,100.
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: APRES DE MANNEVILLETTE Le Neptune Oriental
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: CASSAS Eaux fortes de la Sicile et quelques vues d’Espagne
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: CASSINI DE THURY Carte générale et particulière de la France.
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: JOUY; GARNERAY Vues des côtes de France dans l'Océan et dans la Méditerranée
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: LA PÉROUSE Voyage autour du monde
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: LE GENTIL DE LA GALAISIERE Voyage dans les Mers de l’Inde
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: LICENT Hoang Ho, Pai Ho, Loan Ho, Leao Ho. Itinéraires suivis dans le bassin du golfe du Pei Tcheuly
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: FRENCH SCHOOL FROM THE 19th CENTURY Panorama d’Athènes
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: PEETERS Description des principales villes, havres et isles du golfe de Venise
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: PÉRON; FREYCINET Voyage de découverte aux terres australes
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: STACKELBERG La Grèce : vues pittoresques et topographiques.
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: VALENTINER Atlas des Sonnensystems.
Forum Auctions Online Sale: The Detective Fiction Collection of John Cooper Ending 7th November, 2024
Forum, Nov. 7: Christie (Agatha). The Thirteen Problems, first edition, The Crime Club, 1932. £15,000 to £20,000.
Forum, Nov. 7: Christie (Agatha). Dumb Witness, first edition, 1937. £3,000 to £4,000.
Forum, Nov. 7: Christie (Agatha). Cards on the Table, first edition, The Crime Club, 1936. £2,000 to £3,000.
Forum, Nov. 7: [Carr (John Dickson)], "Carter Dickson" and John Rhode. Drop to his Death, first edition, Heinemann, [1939]. £600 to £800.
Forum, Nov. 7: Berkeley (Anthony). Jumping Jenny, first edition, Hodder and Stoughton, 1933. £800 to £1,200.
Forum Auctions Online Sale: The Detective Fiction Collection of John Cooper Ending 7th November, 2024
Forum, Nov. 7: Marsh (Ngaio). Overture to Death, first edition, The Crime Club, 1939. £600 to £800.
Forum, Nov. 7: [Day-Lewis (Cecil)] "Nicholas Blake". The Beast Must Die, first edition, 1938. £750 to £1,000.
Forum, Nov. 7: Brand (Christianna). Green for Danger, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author, John Lane the Bodley Head, 1945. £600 to £800.
Forum, Nov. 7: Christie (Agatha). Murder is Easy, first edition, signed by the author, 1939. £3,000 to £4,000.
Forum, Nov. 7: Sayers (Dorothy L.) Lord Peter Views the Body, first edition, Gollancz, 1928. £6,000 to £8,000.
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RareBookBuyer.com Specialized in Purchasing Institutional Collections & Deacccessioned Books
RareBookBuyer.com We Buy Librairies & Rare Books Nationwide ABAA Dealer
RareBookBuyer.com Specialized in Purchasing Institutional Collections & Deacccessioned Books
RareBookBuyer.com We Buy Librairies & Rare Books Nationwide ABAA Dealer
RareBookBuyer.com Specialized in Purchasing Institutional Collections & Deacccessioned Books
RareBookBuyer.com We Buy Librairies & Rare Books Nationwide ABAA Dealer
Sotheby's Fine Books, Manuscripts & More Available for Immediate Purchase
Sotheby’s: J.R.R. Tolkien. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. 11,135 USD
Sotheby’s: Edgar Allan Poe. The Raven and Other Poems, 1845. 33,000 USD
Sotheby’s: Leo Tolstoy, Clara Bow. War and Peace, 1886. 22,500 USD
Sotheby’s: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, 1902. 7,500 USD
Sotheby’s: F. Scott Fitzgerald. This Side of Paradise, The Great Gatsby, and Others, 1920-1941. 24,180 USD
Freeman’s | Hindman Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts, Including Americana November 14
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: LEROUX, Gaston. The Phantom of the Opera. FIRST AM. ED, FIRST ISSUE IN THE VERY RARE DUST JACKET. 1911. $6,000 – 8,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: GOULD, John. A Monograph of the Trochilidae...Humming-Birds. L., [1849-] 1861. $60,000 – 80,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: A COMPLETE RUN of Limited Editions Club publications, v.p. [mostly New York], 1929-2010. $50,000 – 60,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: ORWELL, George. Nineteen Eighty-Four. Lon., 1949. FIRST EDITION IN A VERY FINE DUST JACKET. $6,000 – 8,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: GOULD. A Monograph of the Ramphastidae...Toucans. L., [1852-] 54. SECOND ED. $35,000 – 45,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14:The Federalist. NY, 1788. FIRST EDITION, THICK PAPER COPY. $60,000 – 80,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: SELBY. Plates to Selby’s Illustrations of British Ornithology. Edin., [1833-] 34. $20,000 – 30,000.