Andrew Marvell, NASA Photo, and Rembrandt Etching: The Week in Rare Books
Andrew Marvell's first edition The first anniversary of the government under His Highness the Lord Protector pamphlet (London, Thomas Newcomb, 1655)
This weekly auction result is provided by Spencer W Stuart, an independent collections advisor specializing in rare books and manuscripts as well as fine photography and prints. He is also the author of Contemporary Issues in Rare Books & Manuscript Collecting and host of the monthly webinar Collecting Insights.
These are the three lots that stuck out this week because of either uniqueness or exceeding expectations:
NASA photo with interesting provenance
NASA original photo via the Estate of George Earl Morris Jr. (1937-2022) who was hired by IBM in 1965 as a commercial illustrator assigned to Space Systems Center, Bethesda, for providing graphic arts services in support of NASA contract for Orbiting Research Labratory, and became the coordinator for the manned flight awareness program working through IBM with the NASA program in 1970. Sold by Grant Zahajko Auctions for $2,100 following an estimate of $100-$200.
Andrew Marvell's support of Oliver Cromwell
Poet Marvell's first edition The first anniversary of the government under His Highness the Lord Protector pamphlet (London, Thomas Newcomb, 1655) celebration of the first anniversary of Oliver Cromwell's rule, which marked a shift in Marvell's career from political silence to complex engagement. Sold by PBA Galleries for $8,750 after an estimate of $300-$500.
Second state Rembrandt ascends
The Angel Departing from the Family of Tobias, 1641, by Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn (1606-1669). Etching on laid paper, printed in red ink, Bartsch's second state (of four), with thread margins, framed. Sold at Bonhams for $28,160.
