Some Artistic Gifts Offered by the Arader Galleries
Gift Catalogue 2007 from Arader Galleries.
By Michael Stillman
The Arader Galleries have issued their Gift Catalogue 2007 for those who appreciate the artistic side of printing. Included are many framed plates, some from books, others separately published, of illustrations (often hand colored) and maps. In other words, most of this printed material is meant to go on the wall, rather than in the bookshelf. However, there are a few books here as well.
Unlike the typical gift catalogue, designed for Christmas or some particular holiday, Arader has designed this for any holiday. It can be used year ‘round. That's smart. It is described as "our annual catalogue of gift ideas for any occasion and budget." Certainly these are appropriate for any occasion, and will fit most, though perhaps not all, budgets. Prices range from $400 to $165,000.
The largest groups of colored engravings are those of botanical and zoological specimens from 17th through 19th century printings. Among the earliest are 1613 botanical specimens by Basil Besler taken from Hortus Eystettensis. From the 18th century are framed illustration from Mark Catesby's Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands. Catesby was an Englishman who spent several years in America and the West Indies, from which he produced his book filled with illustrations of flora and fauna from the New World.
From the early 19th century are a series of plates of Pierre Joseph Redoute's Roses. Redoute would be an artist and instructor for many of France's leading women, from Marie Antoinette to both of Napoleon's wives. However, it is his roses for which Redoute is best known. He used stipple engravings, that is, those based on dots rather than lines to create shading. Arader offers twelve hand-colored Redoute plates.
When it comes to wildlife drawings, there is no greater name than Audubon. Offered are eight plates from the octavo edition of Birds of America, and five from the double-elephant folio. Offered from the folio are the Trumpeter Swan, Wild Turkey, Wood Ibis, Iceland or Jer Falcon, and Hooping Crane. This is not the group that will fit any budget, but they certainly are spectacular. Also offered are six engravings from Audubon's Quadrupeds of America.
Sotheby’s: The Shem Tov Bible, 1312 | A Masterpiece from the Golden Age of Spain. Sold: 6,960,000 USD
Sotheby’s: Ten Commandments Tablet, 300-800 CE | One of humanity's earliest and most enduring moral codes. Sold: 5,040,000 USD
Sotheby’s: William Blake | Songs of Innocence and of Experience. Sold: 4,320,000 USD
Sotheby’s: The Declaration of Independence | The Holt printing, the only copy in private hands. Sold: 3,360,000 USD
Sotheby's Sell Your Fine Books & Manuscripts
Sotheby’s: Thomas Taylor | The original cover art for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Sold: 1,920,000 USD
Sotheby’s: Machiavelli | Il Principe, a previously unrecorded copy of the book where modern political thought began. Sold: 576,000 GBP
Sotheby’s: Leonardo da Vinci | Trattato della pittura, ca. 1639, a very fine pre-publication manuscript. Sold: 381,000 GBP
Sotheby’s: Henri Matisse | Jazz, Paris 1947, the complete portfolio. Sold: 312,000 EUR
Rose City Book & Paper Fair June 14-15, 2025 1000 NE Multnomah, Portland ROSECITYBOOKFAIR.COM
University Archives Rare Autographs, Books & Photos; Abraham Lincoln Collection April 23, 2025
University Archives, Apr. 23: Best Image of Abraham Lincoln: "Closest… to ‘seeing' Lincoln… A National Treasure" Original Hesler/Ayres Interpositive. $800,000 to $1,000,000.
University Archives, Apr. 23: Einstein, 3pp of Unified Field Theory Equations: “I want to try to show that a truly natural choice for field equations exists.” Formalizing His Final Approach, Association to Theory of Relativity. $80,000 to $120,000.
University Archives, Apr. 23: Marilyn Monroe's Best Personally Owned & Annotated Script for Unfinished Last Film, "Something's Got to Give" (1962). $75,000 to $100,000.
University Archives Rare Autographs, Books & Photos; Abraham Lincoln Collection April 23, 2025
University Archives, Apr. 23: David Ben-Gurion ALS: "The Jewish people have attained the epitome...the State of Israel is born," 1 Day After Signing Israeli Declaration of Independence, Best Ben-Gurion Ever! $80,000 to $100,000.
University Archives, Apr. 23: Lincoln ALS to Youth: "A young man, before the enemy has learned to watch him...votes... shall redeem the county" Evocative of Famous "Work" Letter. $70,000 to $100,000.
University Archives, Apr. 23: Lincoln Appointment for Cabinet Member With Largest, Boldest, Full Signature! Important Content: Detente with England. $10,000 to $15,000.
University Archives Rare Autographs, Books & Photos; Abraham Lincoln Collection April 23, 2025
University Archives, Apr. 23: Abraham Lincoln Rare Signed Check To Law Partner W.H. Herndon, Perhaps Unique as Such! $20,000 to $25,000
University Archives, Apr. 23: Tokyo War Crimes Files of Prosecuting Attorney For POW Camp Atrocities, 500+ Pages, Unpublished Court Documents, Photos and More. $25,000 to $35,000.
University Archives, Apr. 23: 1698 South Carolina Slavery Archive Huguenot Planters Earliest Rare Plat Maps for Plantations 41 Docs 107 pp. Most Colonial. $25,000 to $35,000.
University Archives Rare Autographs, Books & Photos; Abraham Lincoln Collection April 23, 2025
University Archives, Apr. 23: Adam Smith ALS While Revising “The Wealth of Nations” - A New Discovery Documenting Meeting with Influential Editor. $18,000 to $24,000.
University Archives, Apr. 23: Margaret Mitchell Rare ALS to Her Editor as Epic Film "Gone With the Wind" Gains Heat "Forgive this scrawl. I haven't written a letter in long hand in years and I've almost forgotten how it's done." $3,000 to $4,000.
University Archives, Apr. 23: Einstein 1935 TLS, Hopes to Warn Non-Jews of "The true nature of the Hitler regime.” $8,500 to $10,000.
