Also in the detective portion of the sale are several Arthur Conan Doyle items, including all major works relating to Sherlock Holmes and a fine set signed by the author, as well as an autograph letter by Dashiell Hammett written in the Aleutians in 1945 (estimated $1,500–2,500).
There will also be an important collection of letters including an undocumented autograph letter signed by James Baldwin with an unpublished essay (estimated $2,000–3,000), which will be highlighted in the Civil Rights section, and an autograph letter signed by Albert Einstein regarding the Communist Party and the state of democracy (estimated $4,000–6,000).
Additionally, the sale will contain a strong selection of modern first editions, including a substantial Edgar Rice Burroughs collection, which features several presentation copies from the author to his brother–in–law, Eddie Gilbert. Brink says one of his personal favorites from this section is a “pristine copy of The Call of the Wild in the scarce original dust jacket” (estimated $3,000–5,000).
Finally, several other high spots of the sale include an artful binding of Sir John Skelton’s Charles I from the Hampstead Bindery (1898, estimated $1,200–1,600) ; a first issue of Uncle Tom’s Cabin with an autograph note signed by author Harriet Beecher Stowe (1852, estimated $3,500–5,000); a copy of William Shakespeare’s sonnets from the Shakespeare Head Press printed on full vellum and limited to just 12 copies (1905, estimated $2,000–3,000), and Syr Ysambrace, edited by F.S. Ellis, (1897, estimated at $1,200–2,000) from the Kelmscott Press highlight in Potter & Potter’s Fine Press section; and a presentation copy of Ray Bradbury’s first novel, Dark Carnival, inscribed to William Targ, G. P. Putnam’s former editor–in–chief (estimated $1,000–1,500).
Previews are available by appointment only. The sale will be conducted online, but the platform will include a video livestream of the sale.
“This past year has really proven that we have solidified ourselves in the Midwest as a predominant auction house known for its fine book sales,” Brink said. “This is probably the most important sale I’ve had the pleasure of curating, and we’re very excited about the quality and scarcity of the items we’re bringing to the market.”
