Auctions | December 4, 2014

A Chained Binding and Important Historical Documents at Bloomsbury Auctions

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London—The working library of one of the most distinguished and influential garden designers of the 20th Century, the late Rosemary Verey (1918-2001), opens Bloomsbury Auctions’ Printed Books and Manuscripts sale on Wednesday 17th December. Joining the stunning, 84 lot collection of horticultural and gardening books will be a small topical collection of World War One literature, travel literature and other important pieces.

To find out more about the Rosemary Verey collection, please click here.

Rupert Powell, Deputy Chairman at Bloomsbury Auctions commented; “This auction highlights the diversity of works in the book sales at Bloomsbury Auctions. Our expertise, in this auction alone, encompasses the oldest historical manuscripts, topography, art and travel books, and the comparatively infant, but booming, field of Modern First Editions. With the Printed Books and Manuscripts sale we reaffirm our place as market leaders in this field and the wider collecting world.”

Chained Binding—Antoninus Florentinus

De Censuris. De Sponsalibus et matrimonio, 1480

Contemporary blind-stamped calf by Antonius Master II of Lübeck with 17th century chain

Estimate £7,000-10,000 [Lot 256]

Joseph Cartwright

Selections of the Costume of Albania and Greece, 1822

Very rare; only 2 copies sold at auction in the last 40 years and the most recent was lacking the title. Cartwright was Paymaster-General of the British forces in Corfu from 1816-20 and published views in the Ionian Islands in 1821 and this work on his return to Britain. He is known primarily for his marine paintings.

Estimate £25,000-35,000 [Lot 154]

Nicolas Sanson

A significant composite atlas, late 17th-early 18th century

Comprising 73 double-plate and folding maps including Moll's famous “Beaver Map”

Estimate £25,000-35,000 [Lot 135]

Letter signed by Jefferson to General Lafayette discussing preparation for an attack on Portsmouth, which had been taken by Benedict Arnold, and numbers of militia from various districts. 28th March 1781.

Jefferson was governor of Virginia, 1779-81. "Lacking effective constitutional powers, he failed to resist a British expeditionary force led by turncoat Benedict Arnold when it invaded the state in 1780, driving the state government out of Richmond, and Jefferson from his home in Charlottesville. Although suggestions that he was personally responsible for this débâcle were eventually refuted by the legislature, the embittered Jefferson left office under a cloud." - Oxford DNB.

Estimate £10,000-12,000 [Lot 297]

Autograph letter signed ‘G Washington’ to Rev. William Gordon thanking Gordon for supplying him with a Boston newspaper and relating his travel plans to visit land he had been granted in the Ohio valley, 10th August 1784

Estimate £8,000-12,000 [Lot 298]

Siegfried Sassoon

Memoirs of an Infantry Officer

Number 14 of 320 copied signed by the author & illustrator, Barnett Freedman.

Estimate £600-800 [Lot 363]

This work precedes a small group of World War One Literature in the sale. 

The sale of Printed Books and Manuscripts will be held at Bloomsbury Auctions' Mayfair saleroom in London on Wednesday 17th December. The full catalogue is available to view and download at www.bloomsburyauctions.com.