New Acquisitions in Americana from the William Reese Company
New acquisitions at the William Reese Company.
By Michael Stillman
The William Reese Company has issued its 272nd catalogue, New Acquisitions in Americana. These are all works pertaining to North America that Reese has not offered in any previous catalogues. They are all significant works, some qualifying as very important to American history. While Reese publishes catalogues on other types of books, Americana is their specialty, and they are preeminent booksellers in the field. Here are a few of the new titles being offered.
Item 55 is a copy of the fourth and best edition of Benjamin Franklin's Experiments and Observations on Electricity, Made at Philadelphia in America... To describe Franklin as multitalented would be an understatement. He is most noted as one of America's most influential diplomats, essential to bringing France in on the Americans' side during the Revolution. His other notable careers included printer, almanac publisher, and perhaps most important, scientist. His research with electricity has led to his recognition as America's leading scientist of the 18th century. This fourth edition of his experiments with electricity was the first containing his complete notes and correspondence on the subject. Priced at $13,500.
Here is a story that would have dominated cable news had it happened today. Alexander Hamilton, America's first Secretary of the Treasury, had been caught making payments to one James Reynolds. The expose implied that he was personally speculating with government funds, forcing Hamilton to reveal the truth. It wasn't pretty. Item 63 is his response to the charges: Observations on Certain Documents...in which the Charge of Speculation Against Alexander Hamilton...is Fully Refuted. The fact was that Hamilton was having an affair with Reynolds' wife, and had paid him off to keep quiet. The revelation refuted the charges of corruption, but the embarrassing details effectively destroyed his political career. The first edition of this item, published by Hamilton himself, was mostly bought up and destroyed by his family. This copy is from the 1800 second edition, published by his enemies to keep the scandal in the public eye during the election of 1800. $1,250.
Item 35 is a book that was hardly worth the effort. It is A Digest of the Military and Naval Laws of the Confederate States... compiled by W.W. Lester and William J. Bromwell. Published in 1864, it sets forth details on military regulations, salaries, rations, employment of Blacks, and so on. However, the publication date hints at the futility of the enterprise, as it would be just a matter of months before the Confederate government would be no more. $1,000.
Item 75 is a rare and unusual work, The American Woods, Exhibited by Actual Specimens and with Copious Explanatory Text, by Romeyn Beck Hough. Reese calls this rarity a "labor of love." It contains 14 volumes, the first 13 published between 1893-1913, the last volume in 1928 by his daughter after Hough's death. The volumes are arranged by region, and they contain samples of the various types of wood, sliced so thin as to be translucent. The relatively high price of the work ($5 per volume) and the long period over which it was published make complete sets of this unusual work very rare. $32,500.
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 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.