Orchid Illustrations, Sondheim’s Playing Cards, E. H. Shepard Artwork: Auction Preview

I'll be keeping an eye on these auctions this week:

Some manuscripts and printed material are included in the Doyle sale of the Collection of Stephen Sondheim on Tuesday, June 18, but most of the books are being sold as large group lots. There is some interesting games-related material, including a range of printed rebuses and puzzles, playing cards, board games, &c.

At Dominic Winter Auctioneers on Wednesday, June 19, Travel & Natural History, Maps & Historical Prints, Antiquarian Literature & Music, in 442 lots. John Melish's 1816 Map of the United States, in its fourth state, rates the top estimate at £40,000–60,000. The eleven-volume Orchid Album (1882–1897) begun by Benjamin Samuel Williams could sell for £5,000–8,000.

Lyon & Turnbull sell 384 lots of Rare Books, Manuscripts, Books & Photographs on Wednesday, including a first impression copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (£40,000–60,000) and an inscribed presentation copy of Ian Fleming's Casino Royale (£30,000–50,000).

On Thursday, June 20 at Dominic Winter Auctioneers, 493 lots of Modern Literature, Private Press, Original Book Art, Pop-Up Books, Playing Cards & Games. Two original E. H. Shepard illustrations for Wind in the Willows are each estimated at £10,000–15,000: "Ratty and Mole" and "The Hour is Come." A set of nine Harry Potter books with associated letters, all inscribed by the author, could fetch £8,000–12,000.

At Swann Galleries on Thursday, 320 lots of Illustration Art: Featuring Highlights from the Collection of Jules Feiffer. Will Eisner's 1940 section cover "The manly art of self defense," inscribed by Eisner to Jules Feiffer, is estimated at $40,000–50,000. A Maurice Sendak preliminary design for an illustration for The Bee-Man of Orn is expected to sell for $16,000–20,000.