Next comes the great work of Thomas McKenney and James Hall, History of the Indian Tribes of North America, published in three volumes from 1837-1844. McKenny was the first head of the Office of Indian Affairs, but when Andrew Jackson, no great friend of the Indians, became President in 1829, he lost his job. By this time McKenney understood that the influence of whites would rapidly change traditional culture, so he set out to capture as much of what was still there as he could before it was too late. This set includes 120 hand-colored lithographs of various Indians in their dress still relatively (though not entirely) unspoiled by western influence. Item 43. €150,000 (US $202,905).

The third of these books is George Catlin's Catlin's North American Indian Portfolio. This is a first edition, first issue (1844) of Catlin's illustrations of Indian life that he would travel the world displaying. Catlin, who also feared traditional Indian culture would soon disappear, created this portfolio of 25 hand-colored plates after years of living among the plains Indians. Item 11. €150,000 (US $202,905).

You don't have to be a genius to appreciate this collection. Item 19 consists of 51 letters and 24 postcards, most signed, by Albert Einstein. They range in dates from around 1909 through 1951, and most are to his first wife, Mileva Maric, and his sons Hans Albert and Eduard. €295,000 (US $399,046).

The Antiquariaat Forum may be reached at +31 (0)30 6011955 or info@forumrarebooks.com. Their website is www.forumrarebooks.com.

You will find many of the Antiquariaat Forum's books listed in "Books For Sale" on this site. Click here.