Auctions | January 28, 2019

New York - Sotheby’s 2019 Americana Week auctions concluded yesterday in New York with an outstanding total of $21.3 million - our highest Americana Week series total since 2007*. Led by a printing of the celebrated William J. Stone reproduction of the Declaration of Independence that achieved $975,000, over 1,250 lots spanning more than five centuries of American history were sold over the course of five auctions. 

The week began last Thursday with the first session of Important Americana, which offered a diverse array of silver, Chinese export ceramics and prints. The following day, on 18 January, more than 280 exquisite pieces of furniture and decorative objects from the collection of Nelson & Happy Rockefeller realized an impressive $3.3 million, led by a superb ensemble of Chinese export porcelain. Over the weekend, Sotheby’s presented the Collection of Anne H. and Frederick Vogel III - one of the finest assemblages of early Americana and early English pottery, which brought $4.2 million, with an outstanding 94.4% of lots sold. On Sunday, the important American folk art collection of visionary collector, David Teiger, achieved $2.5 million with proceeds to benefit Teiger Foundation — soon to be one of the world’s largest Contemporary Art foundations. The day continued with our second session of Important Americana, which totaled $6.8 million and was topped by a notable selection of fine furniture from distinguished private collections and institutions. Our success across all categories was sealed yesterday, with our dedicated offering of Fine Manuscript & Printed Americana achieving $4.5 million, led by exceptional historical documents that bear witness to the full sweep of American history. 

Erik Gronning, Head of Sotheby’s Americana Department, commented: “We are pleased with the results of our 2019 Americana Week thus far - our horses galloped, eagles soared, shaker shook, ceramics shone and furniture shined through its original old surface. As the results show, both seasoned and new clients responded very favorably to our continued curated presentation of Americana across all categories as exceptionally made and historically important works of art.” 

FINE MANUSCRIPT AND PRINTED AMERICANA Auction Total $4.5 Million 

Yesterday’s Fine Manuscript and Printed Americana sale offered an impressive span of historical documents and artifacts chronicling the history of the United States from the colonial period through World War II. 

The Americana Week series was led by the only known privately held copy of the celebrated William J. Stone facsimile of the Declaration of Independence for which provenance can be traced back to a direct ancestor who received it in 1824. The historical printing sold for $975,000 (estimate $600/800,000), acquired by Mr. David Rubenstein to be loaned to a Washington, D.C. institution. As the original Declaration became increasingly fragile, then-Secretary of State John Quincy Adams commissioned William J. Stone to engrave a facsimile on a copper plate in 1820. The present printing is marked by its exceptional provenance - it has descended through the family of its original recipient in 1824, Thomas Emory (1782-1842) of Maryland, through to the present owner. Adams may have presented this Stone Declaration to Emory in order to help win Maryland in the hotly- disputed presidential election of 1824. Earlier in the sale, probably the finest copy extant of the first book-form printing of the Declaration of Independence sold for $471,000 (estimate $300/500,000). Done by patriot printer Robert Bell on 8 July 1776, the present copy had descended through the family of a French officer serving in the American Revolution. 

A broadside printing by John Dunlap of the official proclamation of the Treaty of Paris, signed by the President and Secretary of the Continental Congress, was another star of the auction series, selling for $855,000 (estimate $800,000/1.2 million). The broadside carries the complete, official text of the articles of peace signed at Paris that brought the Revolutionary War to an end, signed in type by David Hartley for Great Britain and by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay for the United States. Additional highlights across yesterday’s sale included a first edition, second state, original hand-colored copy of Paul Revere’s famous Boston Massacre print from 1770, an icon of the American Revolution that brought $362,500 (estimate $150/200,000), as well as a collection of personal items owned by the Marquis de Lafayette that descended through the family of his granddaughter to the present owners. The group featured a portrait of Lafayette at age 15, sold for $81,250 (estimate $25/35,000), as well as Lafayette’s mourning ring worn in memory of his “adopted father” George Washington, which brought $50,000 (estimate $25/35,000). 

 

News | January 25, 2019

Ottawa, Ontario—Library and Archives Canada announced the recent acquisition of a rare 1944 book previously owned by Adolf Hitler.

The 137-page German language report, Statistik, Presse und Organisationen des Judentums in den Vereinigten Staaten und Kanada (Statistics, Media, and Organizations of Jewry in the United States and Canada), was compiled in 1944 by Heinz Kloss.

The data contained within the book provides details on population statistics in certain cities as well as key organizations and presses of Canadian and American Jewish communities.

This work hints at the story of what might have happened in Canada had the allies lost World War II. It also demonstrates that the Holocaust was not a purely European event, but rather an operation that was stopped before it reached North America. The book adds a great deal of insights worthy of reflection for Canada about World War II, and is an important tool to fight Holocaust denial.

The bookplate bears a stylized eagle, swastika, and the words “EX LIBRIS ADOLF HITLER” indicating it came from Hitler’s personal library.

The acquisition of this book highlights our mandate to acquire material that reflects the published record of Canada as well as to preserve the memory of the Holocaust. It is also a way to let us reflect on what would have happened in Canada had the Second World War ended differently.

Auctions | January 25, 2019

New York -- A wide selection of important and timeless prints from heralded artists such as Steven Frykholm, Keith Haring, E. McKnight Kauffer, Alphonse Mucha, Edward Penfield, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Andy Warhol and many others will be in Poster Auctions International’s Auction #77, scheduled for Sunday, February 24th.

The Rare Posters Auction will be held online at posterauctions.com, and in PAI’s gallery, at 26 West 17th Street in New York City. The auction will begin promptly at 11 am EST. 

“From beloved masterpieces to rarely seen iterations, this auction is bursting with 435 lots,” said Jack Rennert, president of Poster Auctions International, Inc. “These include lithographs, maquettes, oil paintings, and rare books, with estimates ranging from $1,000 to $150,000. The offerings are suited to the newly inclined and seasoned collector alike.”

Notable in the catalog are full, rare collections, such as Steven Frykholm’s Herman Miller Picnic: 20 Posters - a delightful mid-century modern foray expected to command $14,000-$17,000; the lively Collection of 37 Polish Circus Posters (est. $5,000-$6,000); and Alphonse Mucha’s renowned four prints from The Seasons (est. $60,000-$70,000).

Sixteen additional Mucha works will be presented, including Bières de la Meuse (est. $25,000-$30,000), Job (est. $20,000-$25,000), a small format La Plume portion of the Plume et Primevère set accompanied by a hand-signed dedication (est. $12,000-$15,000); and the complete two-sheet of the rare Moravian Teacher’s Choir (est. $12,000-$15,000).

Also up for bid will be posters from Henry de Toulouse-Lautrec, to include classics like Aristide Bruant Dans Son Cabaret (est. $60,000-$70,000); and a hand-signed, dedicated Jane Avril (est. $100,000-$120,000). Rarities include a variation of Débauche, printed on silk in an edition of three, the only one known to be hand-signed (est. $50,000-$60,000).

Fans of Modernism will be treated to the dizzying and instantly recognizable drawings of Keith Haring, with works such as Keith Haring at FUN Gallery (est. $1,000-$1,200); The Montreaux Jazz Festival (est. $1,200-$1,500); and Absolut Vodka (est. $1,700-$2,000).

The Haring selections will be appropriately offered alongside Andy Warhol’s Bank/RCA Color Scanner (est. $1,200-$1,500) and their collaborative Rain Dance (est. $1,000-$1,200), with Roy Lichtenstein, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Yoko Ono. The experimental art scene of downtown New York City will feel very much alive at PAI’s Auction #77.

Sold will be rare posters for The Beatles’ films All This and World War II (est. $3,000-$4,000) and The Concert for Bangladesh (est. $1,500-$2,000), featuring hand-signed autographs by members of The Beatles, as well as Bob Dylan, Leon Russell, Elton John, Tina Turner, Rod Stewart and Peter Gabriel. Also certain to delight Beatles fans will be an Italian announcement for Yellow Submarine, which is expected to hit $1,700-$2,000.

E. McKnight Kauffer’s sensational use of line and color can be found in his elegant images for American Airlines (est. $1,000-$1,500), and his ambitious Underground / Power for the London Underground, which has a pre-sale estimate of $12,000-$15,000.

Further domestic delights will include Edward Penfield’ Save Wheat and The Girl on the Land (each est. $1,200-$1,500); as well as five posters for Harper’s (each est. $800-$1,500); and rare prints of Buffalo Bill in performance and film (range: $1,200-$6,000).

Rounding out just some of the auction’s anticipated highlights are works by Cappiello and Chéret, classics of early transportation, propaganda posters from around the world, and a wide selection of the best and most interesting Art Nouveau and Art Deco posters.

Pubic viewings will be held daily, from February 8th thru 23rd. For more information, visit www.posterauctions.com or www.rennertsgallery.com. Or, you may call the gallery at (212) 787-4000. The 180-page, full-color catalog is available for $40. Call to order one.

Jack Rennert, president of Rennert’s Gallery / PAI, is the world’s foremost authority on rare original poster art and is the author of over a dozen books on the subject, including the catalogue raisonée for the ‘father’ of modern French poster art, Leonetto Cappiello.

News | January 25, 2019

Los Angeles - The J. Paul Getty Trust announced today it will present the annual J. Paul Getty Medal, its highest honor, to renowned Classicist Professor Mary Beard and artists Lorna Simpson and Ed Ruscha.

Established in 2013 by the trustees of the J. Paul Getty Trust, the J. Paul Getty Medal has been awarded to 11 distinguished individuals to honor their extraordinary contributions to the practice, understanding and support of the arts. 

“We award the Getty Medal to recognize outstanding achievement in the fields in which we work,” said Maria Hummer-Tuttle, chair, J. Paul Getty Board of Trustees. “We are honored to present the medal this year to three leaders who have helped transform and deepen our understanding and appreciation of the visual arts and the humanities.” 

James Cuno, president and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust, said of artist Lorna Simpson, “She is at once a photographer and multimedia artist whose work is both trenchant in its critique of race, gender, and identity, and exquisite in its formal beauty and technical execution.”

“I am humbled by this honor,” said Ms. Simpson.  “I am so thrilled to receive the Getty Medal.”

Mr. Cuno hailed Mary Beard, Professor of Classics at Cambridge, author of numerous books on Roman history, Classics Editor of the Times Literary Supplement, and, with Simon Schama and David Olusoga, presenter of the BBC series “Civilisations,” as “one of the world’s premier public intellectuals and Classical scholars, whose scholarship is both deeply original and broadly accessible. Professor Beard has illuminated the ancient world for countless readers and students.”

Said Professor Beard, “I am very honored by this award, and appreciative of the Getty and its trustees for the work they do to further knowledge and appreciation of the ancient world.” 

Mr. Cuno praised Ed Ruscha as “one of our generation’s most original artists, a distinguished and profound painter, draftsman, photographer and bookmaker who finds profundity in the commonplace, through art that is at once highly conceptual, elegant, witty and technically masterful,” noting the Getty Research Institute’s recent acquisition of Mr. Ruscha’s “Streets of Los Angeles” archive.

“I am deeply honored to join my fellow Getty Medalists in receiving the Getty Medal,” said Mr. Ruscha.

The awards will be presented in September at the Getty Center in Los Angeles. 

Past recipients of the J. Paul Getty Medal have included Harold Williams and Nancy Englander, who were honored for their leadership in creating today’s Getty; Lord Jacob Rothschild, for his leadership in the preservation of built cultural heritage; Frank Gehry, for transforming the built landscape with buildings such as the Walt Disney Concert Hall; Yo-Yo Ma, for his efforts to deepen understanding of the world’s diverse cultures; Ellsworth Kelly, for paintings and sculptures of the highest quality and originality; Anselm Kiefer, for his powerful, complex paintings and sculptures; Mario Vargas Llosa, Peruvian writer, politician, journalist, college professor and recipient of the 2010 Nobel Prize in Literature; Thelma Golden, for her influential leadership; Agnes Gund, for her philanthropy and commitment to justice; and sculptor Richard Serra, who expanded our definition of sculpture.

 

News | January 24, 2019

A local BC author recently discovered a rare manuscript stowed in the archives at the Lake Cowichan Museum while doing research for an upcoming book. The manuscript was written by Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew Haggard, a famous Victorian author, who often visited the area on sporting trips, and eventually purchased an estate along the Cowichan River.

“I was only a few days into my research when I spotted an unassuming grey box sitting on a high shelf among some books. A label affixed to the outside read, “Haggard Manuscript.” Initially I was a little punch drunk at the sight of the label. I was well-familiar with the author's brother, H. Rider Haggard, from my book collecting exploits, but I almost didn't believe what I was seeing," says Dean Unger. "I quickly rationalized that it must be some kind of photo-stat copy. I was shocked to see an actual hand-written manuscript, fairly tome-like in aspect, tucked neatly inside. A note on top reads: “Col. Haggard Manuscript. Died late 20s. Came into the Green's possession when Colonel Haggard left Lake Cowichan for Victoria 1922 - 1924. Sealed into a garret at the Green place. The first manuscript page is titled, Book 1: Louis the Desired. Chapter 1: The Last Bourbon King.”

I didn't recognize the title as it was and wondered whether it might be an unpublished work, but some quick digging revealed that this is likely the first draft manuscript of what would later become what is arguable his most famous title, Louis XIV and Antoinette.

“I've collected books most of my adult life and have seen some beautiful rarities. This was the first manuscript, that has been raised to a level of esteem by its success over time, that I've seen in person. This a 19th century writer we are talking about here,” Unger says, “so to many people, is fairly obscure. Speaking in contemporary terms, Haggard's work itself is not considered on the calibre of a Hemingway or Poe, but is somewhere on par with an Atwood, or Robertson Davies. However, the fact it is hand-written (a non-sequitur these days) and is from the turn of the century, and contains seminal, definitive research by the hand of one of the best of the time, is significant.”

“I was keyed onto the subject of famous personages who'd once lived here by my good friend, Dustin Lebeaux, who explained that certain members of the Bram Stoker family had an estate here at one time, on the Youbou side. At first I was in disbelief. I began research on the subject and found that, in addition to the Stoker family, there were numerous writers and famous artists who travelled here, or set up shop in the Cowichan Valley during the 19th and early 20th centuries, attracted to the area by the majestic beauty here. Many of them touted the area as unequalled in the world - Rudyard Kipling was one of the Island's biggest advocates. These were bold assertions they were making. However, many of them were ex-military people, much decorated for campaigns in British-held territories from the 1850s onward. Others were diplomatic dignitaries who travelled for politics, rather than war. Any case, Vancouver Island fast became the rage back in the mother land, and many writers relocated to Victoria, and from there, further up-Island, seeking solitude and a place in the world from which to ply their craft. Among these were Rudyard Kipling, who was in Victoria for a time; Robert Service - who resided in Cowichan Bay, during his formative years in the early 1900s; the Stoker family; Frederick Whymper, the famous 19th century artist who was the hired to record visual impressions of the Vancouver Island Exploration Expedition in 1863, for posterity. There are many others who've come here over time. A little further this way time-wise, one of the Apollo 13 Mission astronauts, Edgar Mitchell, even spent several years of his childhood here in Lake Cowichan.

According to Tony Green, present owner of Greendale Riverside Cabins - what was once the Haggard property, it was Norm Wood, an English teacher at the Lake Cowichan High School, who prompted Green senior to help him search the attic for any clues of Haggard's presence. The manuscript was found and soon-after donated to the Lake Cowichan Museum.

In her Blog, An Angler's Paradise ~ Sport fishing and Settler Society on Vancouver Island, 1860s-1920s, Diane Pedersen, points out that Andrew and his wife, Jeannette Ethel Fowler, owned the retirement property in Lake Cowichan from 1906 to 1919. In 1906 the two purchased the property on the Cowichan River, less than a mile from the Riverside Hotel, and christened their estate “Camp Haggard” - an epithet that suggests a wry wit beneath his serious writer's mind.

The larger part of Haggard's canon of work comprised French histories, poetry, historical fiction, and roving accounts of his military exploits and sporting excursions. Through his fishing stories of angling on the wild and remote Cowichan River, he published in international sporting magazines and brought fame to the area's rich sport fishing. Later on, in 1914, Haggard was credited with saving the Cowichan River after he levied a state-of-the-nation statement titled, “Proposed act of violence” - essentially a letter-writing and publicity campaign through the auspices of the Victoria Times Colonist, and in strict opposition to a plan by the Vancouver Power and Land Company who intended to divert water to generate power. On March 11, 1914, Haggard's assertions to save the river were officially backed by Charles Lugrin, then editor of The Colonist. Both Haggard and Lugrin were ardent supporters of new environmental laws and thinking around sustainability and conservation that had then just begun.

Pedersen points out that an earlier story in the Colonist, dated April 19, 1893, states that the Haggards were ensconced at the Riverside Hotel, where they intended to remain for the newly opened fly fish season. This was among some of the earliest references to the author carousing in the area, thus his love affair with the region was borne. On May 26, 1899, the Colonist again reported that the Haggards had once again taken rooms at the Riverside and were officially the first guests to stay there after a recent hotel renovation was completed.

“Like his brother, another successful Victorian author, Henry Rider Haggard,” Unger says, “James adopted the technique of writing his manuscript entirely by hand, and with little editing or revision. This done, he would type-script the work and this would serve as his editing draft - the crucial first stages of the Haggard literary process. When compared to the eventual published book (1909), one can see his style begin to emerge as he became acquainted with his characters; decisions around word economy and refinement and imagery are evident. It's a rare glimpse inside his mind, his process, that would not be afforded otherwise.”

“The staff at Lake Cowichan Museum have done an excellent job of to preserve the subtleties of local culture here over time and through its emerging history,” Unger says. “In 1919, Haggard sold Camp Haggard to James Dunsmuir, Vancouver Island coal magnate. That the manuscript survived hidden there in the attic garret is incredible. The manuscript is, in a way, like a final gift to the community from Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew Haggard, that there yet remains a rare gem beneath our feet here in Cowichan.”

News | January 21, 2019

Peter Harrington, the UK’s largest rare bookseller, this year celebrates its 50th anniversary. In 1969 Peter Harrington, the founder of the business, issued the first catalogue from a stall at Chelsea Antiques Market on Kings Road and this year the business which carries his name is launching its 150th catalogue on Tuesday January 22nd. This special anniversary blockbuster catalogue offers fifty notable, and unique, books and manuscripts, from the fifteenth to the twenty-first century.

Pom Harrington, the owner and son of Peter Harrington Rare Books says “I know my father would have been staggered at some of the books that have passed through our hands in recent years and I hope this catalogue conveys the spirit of Peter Harrington. Where the future will take us, who knows? But we will keep doing what we love — finding rare and interesting books and manuscripts, and, equally important, new collectors to look after them.”

Pom Harrington joined the business in 1994 and this year celebrates his 25th anniversary. 

Highlights of Catalogue 150 include:

  • A newly discovered pre-publication inscribed copy of Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Márquez (£50,000);
  • A first edition of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley which is from a Stoke Newington circulating library (£275,000) and a groundbreaking manifesto of women’s rights written by Mary Shelley’s mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, over 200 years ago both of them uncut in their original boards bindings (£25,000);
  • The captain of the Beagle’s own set of Darwin’s first published 4 volumes of his voyage to the Southern Shores of South America (£100,000) and a life-time correspondence between Darwin and the German botanist Friedrich Hildebrand (£125,000);
  • A rare true first edition of Les Misérables by Victor Hugo in its original wrappers (£45,000);
  • A copy of Casino Royale by Ian Fleming inscribed to his employer who allowed him special leave to write his James Bond novels (£135,000);
  • A remarkably rare first edition of the paper Ada Lovelace, the first computer programmer, wrote which belonged to her maths tutor who has extensively annotated it (£250,000);
  • The Second Folio, the first practically obtainable edition, of the collected Shakespeare plays bound in contemporary calf which makes it rare and desirable (£350,000);
  • A notably rare first edition, first issue of Dracula which has been inscribed by Bram Stoker (£135,000);
  • A 400-year-old plus copy of On the Fabric of the Human Body by Andreas Vesalius which marked the beginning of the study of modern anatomy (£250,000). 

Catalogue 150 also contains remarkable books by Jane Austen, Charles Darwin, Winston Churchill, Leo Tolstoy, Karl Marx, Charlotte Bronte, Jeremy Bentham and James Joyce. The 50 unique books selected range in price from £22,500 to £350,000 and come from the fields of travel, economics, philosophy, medicine, poetry, mathematics, computing, as well as literature.

Peter Harrington Rare Books is a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association and offers an ‘unconditional guarantee’ for each item it sells on its authenticity and completeness, as described.

Auctions | January 17, 2019

Falls Church, Virginia - An auction of fine-quality modern prints, posters and works on paper ranging from the late 19th century to present day is planned for Thursday, January 24, by the Waverly Rare Books division of Quinn’s Auction Galleries. More than 250 lots carry estimates of $200 or less, making them accessible to new collectors as well as those who are more seasoned in their buying. In addition to live bidding at the company’s northern Virginia gallery, Waverly is pleased to accept bids through all remote methods, including by phone, absentee or live via the Internet through LiveAuctioneers. 

An impressive lineup of artists is represented in the sale, including David Hockney, Alfredo Castaneda, Tsuguharu Foujita, James Montgomery Flagg, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro, Sol LeWitt, Marc Chagall, Marino Marini, Raphael Soyer, Jacques Villon, Clay Huffman, Salvador Dali, Charles Bragg and many others.

A serigraph in colors of the first silkscreen print by Mexican artist Alfredo Castañeda (1938-2011), titled Demostracion (Demonstration), carries an estimate of $2,000-$3,000. It is #46 out of an edition of 50 and is signed and dated 1974 in pencil. Presented in a 24- by 32-inch frame, the work comes with a certificate of authenticity and its original bill of sale. 

Bearing one of the most recognizable images in all of American art, James Montgomery Flagg’s (1870-1960) iconic 1917 World War I offset lithograph poster titled I Want You, measures 40¾ inches by 31 inches in the frame (the sheet is 30 inches by 40 inches). Produced by Leslie Judge (New York), this poster of Uncle Sam encouraging enlistments to wartime military service should realize $5,000-$7,000 at auction.

An etching by Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881-1973) from the artist's edition of 310 titled Vollard Suite #53: Les Repos du Sculpteur devant le Petit Torse (1933) is signed in pencil and rendered on Montval laid paper with the Vollard watermark. Framed, it measures 15½ inches by 10¾ inches. The pre-sale estimate is set at $6,000-$9,000.

A single limited-edition porcelain plate by Sol LeWitt (American, 1928-2007), untitled and made especially for the Bonnefanten Museum in Maastricht, the Netherlands, will cross the auction block with an $800-$1,200 estimate. Measuring 11½ inches in diameter, the vibrantly hued plate is #439 from an edition of 500. It is artist-signed in glaze on verso. Sol LeWitt was a talented multimedia artist linked to various movements, including conceptual art and minimalism. He rose to fame in the 1960s, with hundreds of museums and galleries hosting solo exhibitions of his work since 1965.

A lithograph in colors on Arches paper by the renowned French-Russian artist Marc Chagall (1887-1985), titled David (1973), is estimated to garner $2,000-$4,000. It is signed in pencil at lower right and editioned (131/150) at lower left. Produced by Editions des Musees Nationaux in Paris, the lithograph’s sheet size is 12 inches by 9¾ inches; the frame measures 27¾ inches by 25 inches.

British artist David Hockney (b. 1937-) is one of the most highly valued of all living artists. His original creations sell well into the millions. A color offset lithograph of Hockney’s The Prisoner (For Amnesty International) from 1977, signed in pencil at lower right and editioned  at lower left, should easily achieve $1,000-$2,000. The litho is edition #75 of 100 and comes in a 29¼-inch by 24-inch frame.

A rare artist’s proof lithograph in colors by Tsuguharu Foujita (French-Japanese, 1886-1968), titled La Reve (The Dream) from 1947, is expected to bring $4,000-$6,000. Signed in pencil at lower right and uniquely editioned “I.I” at lower left, the artwork measures 27¼ inches by 34¾ inches in the frame. It is signed H.C. (hors de commerce), indicating it was the artist's personal choice as best of the series and therefore was not to be made available for sale. Typically, artworks signed "H.C." are selected for use as the display example at exhibitions and/or to be presented as a gift to the publisher or retained for the artist's personal collection.

Waverly Rare Books is located at 360 South Washington St., Falls Church, VA 22046. The January 24 auction will commence at 6 p.m. Eastern time. Preview daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., now through auction day. Refreshments will be served at the preview party to be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 19. For additional information about any item in the sale, call 703-532-5632, extension 575; or e-mail waverly@quinnsauction.com. View the online catalog and register to bid absentee or live online, at LiveAuctioneers.com. Quinn’s and Waverly are always accepting consignments for future auctions. Visit Quinn’s and Waverly online at http://www.quinnsauction.com

News | January 17, 2019

Irvine, CA - Suntup Editions, publisher of fine limited edition books and art prints, is delighted to announce the upcoming publication of Ira Levin’s classic novel Rosemary’s Baby, with an exclusive introduction by Academy Award winning writer/director Jordan Peele.  

One of the bestselling horror novels of all-time, Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin is considered by many to be the “grand daddy” of horror fiction. Selling 4 million copies upon its publication in 1967, the novel’s success created a new wave of books in the horror genre, while critics heralded it “one of the most perfectly crafted thrillers ever written.” Only one year after the novel’s release, Rosemary’s Baby was adapted into an Academy Award winning motion picture directed by Roman Polanski. Author Ira Levin called the film “the single most faithful adaptation of a novel ever to come out of Hollywood.” 

When Rosemary Woodhouse and her husband Guy, a struggling actor, move into a mysterious old apartment building in New York City, they are immediately greeted by elderly neighbors Roman and Minnie Castavet. Guy is quick to make friends with the eccentric pair, but Rosemary has reservations. Soon thereafter, Guy lands a major role, Rosemary becomes pregnant, and the strange neighbors from upstairs begin taking a heightened interest in Rosemary’s welfare. As Rosemary’s suspicions grow, she finds herself isolated from her husband, and certain that the Castavets’ intentions are not at all what they seem.

In 2017, director Jordan Peele cited the novel Rosemary’s Baby among his greatest influences in writing Get Out for which he won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, along with nominations for Best Picture and Best Director. Peele has written an introduction to Rosemary’s Baby exclusively for this edition.

This edition will also feature an afterword by Ira Levin, originally written for New American Library’s 2003 release.

ABOUT THE EDITIONS

This fine press edition of Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin is limited to 267 copies for sale, and is presented in two states: Lettered and Limited. Both editions measure 6¼” x 9¼” and feature six black & white illustrations by Richey Beckett, as well as the introduction by Jordan Peele. Both editions are signed by Richey Beckett and Jordan Peele, and are printed letterpress.

Limited Edition

The Limited edition is a quarter leather binding and is limited to 250 copies for sale. The leather spine is stamped in silver foil, and the boards are covered in Japanese cloth. Endpapers feature flecks of metallic gold and silver, and the edition is printed letterpress on Mohawk Superfine. It is housed in a custom cloth-covered slipcase.

Lettered Edition

The lettered edition is limited to 26 copies for sale, lettered A-Z and is printed letterpress on Mouldmade Zerkall paper. It is a full leather binding with a foil stamped spine, and glass eyes inset into leather-formed eyelids on the cover. Endpapers are hand marbled in Germany on Hahnemühle Ingres paper. The edition is housed in a custom ‘bassinet’ enclosure with a rocking book bed.

ABOUT SUNTUP EDITIONS

Since its launch in late 2016, Suntup Editions has garnered the attention of fans, bloggers, and journalists alike. Their stunning premiere project The Eyes of the Dragon Art Portfolio with Lettered and Numbered Editions signed by David Palladini, along with The Covers Collection, limited edition ?ne art prints featuring original cover art from the novels by Stephen King, made Suntup Editions the ultimate “one to watch” and one of the fastest rising new printing presses on the scene.

In early 2018, Suntup Editions announced it would publish the world’s first limited edition of Misery, which was released with not only the blessing but bearing the signature of Stephen King himself. This was followed by the announcement of a limited edition of Shirley Jackson’s classic novel, The Haunting of Hill House, as well as a signed limited edition of Horns by Joe Hill. Rosemary’s Baby will mark Suntup’s fourth book release.

The mission of the press is to publish ?nely crafted limited editions, by collaborating with some of today’s leading writers, artists, designers, printers and bookmakers to create an edition that is itself, an art object. By incorporating elements of the story into the design and production of the books, their editions offer a unique reading experience.

Publication is scheduled for Summer 2019 and will be available for pre-order at https://shop.suntup.press from 9:00 am Pacific time on Saturday, January 19, 2019.

Book Fairs | January 16, 2019

Oakland, CA - The 52nd California International Antiquarian Book Fair, one of the world's largest and most prestigious exhibitions of antiquarian books, returns to Northern California, Friday, February 8 through Sunday, February 10, 2019 at the Oakland Marriott City Center. The Book Fair is known for its vast collection of rare books, treasures and curiosities that tell fascinating stories. Notable items this year include a $40,000 crayon drawing by Picasso, a first edition of Ansel Adams’ first book, an 1835 caricature of women’s fashion, a 130 year-old German pop-up book, the 1515 first use of Greek typography in Rome, and more.

Sponsored by the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America (ABAA) and the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB) and featuring the collections and rare treasures of nearly 200 booksellers from over 20 countries around the world, the three-day Book Fair offers a rich selection of manuscripts, early American and European literature, modern first editions, children’s books, maps and autographs, as well as antiquarian books on history, science, law, architecture, cooking, wine and a wide range of other topics. 

From the wonderful to the weird, the 2019 Book Fair will feature thousands of interesting items, including these notables: 

A Postcard from Picasso - Greetings from Cannes! An original six-color crayon drawing of a grinning face on a postcard that Picasso sent from Cannes to his friend’s son, Pablo, a six year-old boy named after the artist. Picasso wrote a note to the boy: “Para mi amigo Pablito, Picasso, 5.11.58.” Perhaps inspired by the treasured postcard, Pablo Frasconi would grow up to become an acclaimed documentary filmmaker. (Offered by Ralph Sipper Books at booth #304 for $40,000)

First Edition of Ansel Adams’ Taos Pueblo - Ansel Adams published his first book of photographs, Taos Pueblo, in 1930, when he was 28 years of age. This is the first edition of his first book, copy 46 of only 108 and signed by both Adams and Mary Austin, the book’s author. The book features 12 original photographs, including several formal portraits, intimate landscapes and architectural studies. The first edition sold out over a two-year period at .75 each. (Offered by Argonaut Booksellers at booth #903 for $45,000)

The Original ‘Math for Dummies’ - A teaching tool that pre-dated the popular “…For Dummies” series by 150 years, The First Six Books Of The Elements Of Euclid In Which Coloured Diagrams And Symbols Are Used Instead of Letters For The Greater Ease of Learners was created by Oliver Byrne to help students better understand the abstract theories of Euclid. Byrne was convinced that by using color and diagrams, students could learn the elements of Euclid in 1/3 of the time. Not surprisingly, this wasn’t a best seller: only 250 copies were sold. (Offered by Roy Young Bookseller Inc. at booth #311 for $6,400)

Edward Abbey's National Park Services Hat and Shirt - These two items were unique personal items belonging to Edward Abbey during the time he worked as a fire lookout in the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, beginning in 1971. This period in Abbey's life stands out because this was when he wrote his novel "Black Sun," a romantic story of a solitary man in nature, set in the North Rim. (Offered by Ken Sanders Rare Books at booth #1002 for $7,500)

Dying for Fashion - The things we do to look good! The horrors of fashion are depicted in “The Cholic,” an original hand-colored print by caricaturist George Cruikshank of London. The scene is a lean, elderly woman sitting on a setee shrieking in pain while little demons cinch her waist with rope and attack her with sharp objects while a heavy woman, bottle in hand, watches on laughing. The scene depicts the agonies of being fashionable and the abuse of women. (Offered by Dark Parks Books & Collectibles at booth #704 for $300)

Chinese Feminist Martyr - Qiu yu qiu feng [Memorial booklet for the executed feminist revolutionary Qiu Jin] is an original booklet published shortly after Qiu Jin’s execution in 1907 containing a collection of Qiu’s writings and musings from supporters. Qiu Jin was raised in a wealthy family in Shaoxing who left her arranged marriage and two children to join a group of expat revolutionaries in Japan. She advocated equal rights for women, including marriage by choice and the abolition of foot binding. After returning to China, she was eventually captured, tortured and beheaded for her “revolutionary” activities. She has since been hailed as a martyr. (Offered by Bolarium Books at booth #216 for $200)

Original Tony Hillerman Novels - Tony Hillerman brought the Southwest’s Four Corners area to life with his Navajo Tribal Police series of nonfiction murder mysteries. The popular series was illustrated by Navajo artist Ernest Franklin. Offered are several signed first editions of this series with original art by Franklin. (Offered by James M. Dourgarian Bookman at booth #206, $300 to $15,000) 

A Collection of Sonnets by Elizabeth Barrett Browning - A first edition from 1897 with an exquisite white pigskin binding by Charles Ricketts - a celebrated binder of his time. (Offered by Nudelman Rare Books at booth #105 for $6,250)

Japanese Triptych from 1830 - When the Japanese government banned the use of extravagant colors in the mid-1800s, artists rebelled against these “Sumptuary” laws and got creative by using indigo coloring as alternatives. Tosei Fuzokukuo is a Triptych created in 1830 by Kuniyoshi. The use of indigo became very popular with the public.  (Offered by Ohya-Shobo Co., Ltd. at booth # 612, for $6,800)

The true first printing of Beatrix Potter’s first and most famous book - This copy of The Tale of Peter Rabbit includes the author’s signed presentation inscription “For Miss [Caroline] Hutton with love from Beatrix Potter Christmas 1901”. Potter was 27 and living at home when she wrote The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Five publishers rejected her illustrated manuscript but Potter arranged for it to be privately printed and its immediate success launched her career. (Offered by John Windle Antiquarian Bookseller #618 for $125,000.

Original Pop-Up Book - They don’t make ‘em like they used to. International Circus by Lothar Meggendorfer from 1887 is a first edition pop-up book that is considered a masterpiece of the genre. The book showcases a circus in incredible detail with pop-up artwork. (Offered by Roy Young Booksellers at booth #311 for $4,750) 

First use of Greek typography in Rome - An important early printed edition of Pindar's Odes, produced at Rome by Zacharias Kallierges in 1515, which includes the first use of Greek typography in Rome, as well as the first extensive classical and medieval scholia of this ancient Greek lyric poet.  (Offered by Hackenberg Booksellers at booth #707 for $7,500)

ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

The Book Fair will also highlight Matthew Wills, the winner of the first-ever California Young Book Collector’s Prize from the Northern California Chapter of the Antiquarian Bookseller’s Association of America (ABAA). The competition was open to California collectors aged 35 and under, and their works. Wills’ collection “Anti-Confucian Propaganda in Mao’s China” will be on display in the exhibits area.

This year’s Book Fair will also include a special exhibit by the Book Club of California, an active association of over 800 major California collectors with interests in rare books and manuscripts of all types. Founded in 1912, the Club’s library is dedicated to collecting and sharing works of California fine printers; resources on book making, book design, and book history; and books of historical significance. One side of this bi-faceted exhibit will display a selection of materials by California women printers and book artists, with a spotlight on Jane Grabhorn’s test prints for the illustrations of the Grabhorn Press’ Shakespeare plays. 

Joel Harris, a local member of the International Wizard of Oz Club, will be loaning a portion of his collection for a curated exhibit of first edition books by L. Frank Baum and the subsequent authors of the “Wizard of Oz” series. The theme of a Saturday lecture jointly sponsored by the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America and the Bibliographical Society of America will be Cyclone on the Prairies: The Magic of the Land of Oz.

Designed with the budding collector in mind, "Book Fair Finds" is a program in which dealers spotlight items priced at $100 or less. Visitors can look for the Book Fair Finds sign in participating booths. 

Other highlights of the Book Fair include an interactive and entertaining exhibition that showcases local artists and organizations specializing in book arts. Calligraphers, bookbinders and a small press operator will once again be creating unique souvenirs for attendees to take home. 

The Book Fair is BARTable! The event’s venue in downtown Oakland is an added convenience for bibliophiles. The Oakland Marriott City Center is just steps away from the 12th Street BART Station, making it easily accessible to attendees from San Francisco and all over the East Bay. Out-of-town visitors can stay onsite at the Marriott, plus fair visitors arriving at both Oakland and San Francisco airports can take BART directly to the venue. 

Media sponsors for the Book Fair include: KQED, ABC7, The San Francisco Chronicle/Datebook and BART. 

Tickets and Information

The 52nd California International Antiquarian Book Fair will be held at the Oakland Marriott City Center at 1001 Broadway in downtown Oakland from 3 p.m. - 8 p.m. on Friday, February 8; 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Saturday, February 9; and 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Sunday, February 10.

Friday Opening Day admission tickets are $25; Saturday and Sunday tickets are $15. Tickets allow return admission for the remainder of the fair. For more information about tickets or exhibiting, visit www.cabookfair.com. Free admission for all students with a current valid student ID.

For more information about the 52ndCalifornia International Antiquarian Book Fair, please visit the website at www.cabookfair.com or contact Fair Managers Doucet Productions at info@cabookfair.com, (415) 919-9220.

Book Fairs | January 16, 2019

Screen Shot 2019-01-16 at 9.13.51 AM.pngNew York — In its 40th year, the Greenwich Village Antiquarian Book Fair is a West Village neighborhood tradition that brings together some of the country’s best known dealers, collectors, and community members to benefit PS3 The Charrette School. This year’s event will take place on Feb. 16-17 at the historic school. 

Those with a keen eye for rare and vintage books, first editions, ephemera, posters, art books, unique children’s books, manuscripts, and hard-to-find collections are sure to uncover something coveted. Dealers  at this fair are eager to help collectors new or  veteran navigate the items for sale..

“We’re thrilled to gather some of the world’s preeminent dealers under one roof for a fair that has become a touchstone of this tightknit community,” said Marvin Getman, founder of Book and Paper Fairs, who is managing this year’s event for the third time. “While the fair has its roots in this neighborhood, it’s an opportunity for anyone with an interest in starting or growing a collection, or finding a one-of-a-kind gift.”

The Greenwich Village Antiquarian Book Fair is one of many fundraisers that help to provide exceptional academic and extracurricular activities for students in grades pre-k through 5.

“We’re pleased to be featuring a section for photo dealers specializing in snapshots, ambrotypes, daguerreotypes, cyanotypes, cabinet cards, tintypes, CDVs, and photo albums. 

The public is welcome to visit the fair on Saturday, Feb. 16, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sunday, Feb. 17, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 per person. Half price coupons are available on the website  GVABF.com. Children under 16 and students with a college I.D. are admitted free. The school is located at 490 Hudson St. in the West Village.

ABOUT BOOK AND PAPER FAIRS

Lexington, Mass.-based Book and Paper Fairs specializes in the production of rare book and ephemera fairs in the Northeast. The company organizes notable events such as the New York City Book and Ephemera Fair which this year is adding the first Booklyn Artists’ Book Fair featuring 40 talented book artists,  the Brooklyn Antiquarian Book Fair,  The Ephemera  Fair in Greenwich, CT.,  and the Boston Book Print and Ephemera Fair.

For more information about this or the other fairs contact Marvin Getman at info@bookandpaperfairs.com.