William Francis Lynch led the American expedition to the Dead Sea.
Here is the unofficial report of a mostly forgotten U.S. mission of a century and a half ago: Narrative of the United States' expedition to the river Jordan and the Dead Sea. It was written and published in 1849 (the official report came out three years later) by the expedition's leader, naval officer William Francis Lynch. This might seem like an unusual location for an American exploration, but Lynch managed to convince the head of the Navy that it was a worthwhile mission. The official purpose was to learn more about the Dead Sea and its altitude below sea level, but Lynch was a very religious man and hoped to make discoveries confirming Biblical history. His crew, with the aid of camels, dragged three boats overland to the Jordan River, which they rode down the Jordan to the Dead Sea. They would later visit Jerusalem and Nazareth before returning to America. Item 113. €225 (US $330).
Item 22 is Dagverhaal eener reize naar Temboktoe, the first Dutch edition from 1831 of a book originally published in French the prior year. It is Rene-Auguste Caillie's report on his trip to Timbuktu, a legendary African city many Europeans believed held great wealth. Caillie was the first non-Muslim to visit the city and live to return (he disguised himself as a Muslim to accomplish this). However, what he found was not a city of gold, but a city that was in a long decline and state of disrepair from its heyday centuries earlier. €950 (US $1,394).
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24 to January 9
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Ellis Smith Prints unsigned. 20” by 16”.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: United typothetae of America presidents. Pictures of 37 UTA presidents 46th annual convention United typothetae of America Cincinnati 1932.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec signed Paper Impressionism Art Prints. MayMilton 9 1/2” by 13” Reine de Joie 9 1/2” by 13”.
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24 to January 9
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Aberle’ Ballet editions. 108th triumph, American season spring and summer 1944.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Puss ‘n Boots. 1994 Charles Perrult All four are signed by Andreas Deja
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Specimen book of type faces. Job composition department, Philadelphia gazette publishing company .
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24 to January 9
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: An exhibit of printed books, Bridwell library.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur Court By Mark Twain 1889.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: 1963 Philadelphia Eagles official program.
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24 to January 9
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: 8 - Esquire the magazine for men 1954.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: The American printer, July 1910.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Leaves of grass 1855 by Walt Whitman.
Sotheby's Fine Books, Manuscripts & More Available for Immediate Purchase
Sotheby’s: William Shakespeare. The Poems and Sonnets of William Shakespeare, 1960. 7,210 USD
Sotheby’s: Charles Dickens. A Christmas Carol, First Edition, 1843. 17,500 USD
Sotheby’s: William Golding. Lord of the Flies, First Edition, 1954. 5,400 USD
Sotheby's Fine Books, Manuscripts & More Available for Immediate Purchase
Sotheby’s: Lewis Carroll. Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There, Inscribed First Edition, 1872. 25,000 USD
Sotheby’s: J.R.R. Tolkien. The Hobbit, First Edition, 1937. 12,000 USD
Sotheby’s: John Milton. Paradise Lost, 1759. 5,400 USD
