The latest catalogue from James Cummins Bookseller
By Mike Stillman
James Cummins Bookseller has recently issued his “Catalogue 87.” It is a varied collection of 76 items and what they have in common is that each is uncommon.
An example of uncommon is this strange book about a most unusual woman: The True and Eccentric Life of Betty Bolaine, (Late of Canturbury) a well-known character for Avarice, Meanness, and Vice; who died June 6, 1805, aged Eighty Two, whilst eating a Brown Crust; although worth Twenty thousand Pounds! Containing Anecdotes of Real Facts from her Intimate Acquaintances. Sadly, poor Betty did not have a chance to defend herself since, obviously, she was dead by the time this book was published. But not that long dead. Her reputation must have been such that no period of mourning was deemed necessary before her “intimate acquaintances” felt free to rip her to shreds. The book was published in 1805, the same year she died. And in case you think they were unfair to her, remember these stories are based on “real facts,” not fake ones.
Among the activities attributed to Ms. Bolaine is the attempted murder of her brother, forging her mother’s handwriting to change her will, and living unwed with several men, stealing the winding sheet from the corpse of one when he died. An anecdote to her thriftiness claims that she once bought a mutton pie and made it last by eating the crust, then replacing that crust again and again while leaving the filling untouched. This “tribute,” written by Elisabeth Burgess, was evidently popular enough to be reprinted in 1832 and again in 1880, although under the slightly different title “Life and History of Betty Bolaine, Late of Canterbury, a Well Known Character for Parsimony and Vice, Scarcely equalled in the Annals of Avarice and depravity, Interspersed with Original Poetry.” Item 42 is a first edition from 1805. $350.
While we’re on the subject of depravity, here’s a more serious example. Item 26 is a broadsheet from the French Revolution announcing the formation of the Committee of Public Safety, from which no one was safe. Printed on April 7, 1793, it would only be a few months later that this new committee would be seized by Robespierre, and from it the Reign of Terror would be run. This dark period of the Revolution would come to an end the following year when Robespierre would be sent to the same guillotine he sent so many others during his brief rule. $2,500,
Fast forward 25 years and the tumultuous times of the French Revolution and Napoleonic era are coming to an end. Napoleon is living out his remaining days on St. Helena following his final exile. One privilege he does still have is a library. An interesting piece in that library is Mariotte d’Avot’s Lettres sur l’Angleterre… This recounts her journey to London in 1817-1818, and ironically includes a description of a display of Napoleon’s coach. This first edition has the stamp of Napoleon’s St. Helena library plus the Emperor’s signature (“l’Emp. Napoleon”). Two years after the 1819 printing of this title, Napoleon died and his library was auctioned by Sotheby’s in 1823.
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.