Polar Exploration, Americana & Sendak at National Book Auctions
[ITHACA, NY] National Book Auctions, located in Ithaca, NY, announces the launch of their next auction catalog.
This catalog features rare, antique and decorative books as well as select additions of artwork and ephemera. We will offer another session from the holdings of Archaeologia Books and Prints and a substantial array of decorative antique sets and early leather-bound titles, dating back to the 17th century. Prominent collection themes include the opening of the American West, polar and arctic exploration, Africa, and Americana.
Antique and rare books in this catalog feature numerous titles. Among the earliest examples are the 1683 Creech translation of T. Lucretius Carus' (the "Epicurean Philosopher") six books entitled, "De Natura Rerum," Crouch's "Strange and Prodigious Religions, Customs and Manners of Sundry Nations," produced in 1683 with engraved plates, and also printed in 1683, Crouch and Burton's "The Wars in England, Scotland and Ireland." Other scarce titles include an original and unpublished typed manuscript by Sir Stephen Spender featuring hand corrections and an original ink and watercolor illustration by Beni Montresor, the very scarce 1868 first edition of Wright's "Historical Cartoons or Rough Pencillings," featuring illustrations by Gustave Dore, a 1926 first edition of "Winnie the Pooh," and the 1799 first edition of Wilson's "A Missionary Voyage to the Southern Pacific Ocean," produced with folding maps and plates.
Several pleasing collections will also be showcased. Included is another session from the holdings of Archaeologia, concentrated in Egyptology, which is led by specimens such as volumes from Sieglin, Vogt and Watzinger's "Die Griechisch-Agyptische Sammlung," produced in large-format volumes in 1913. Early Americana, including Western exploration subject matter, feature titles such as the 1793 printing of "The Works of the Late Doctor Benjamin Franklin," in two volumes, and the 1832 first American edition of Cox' "Adventures on the Columbia River." Among the arctic and polar exploration volumes are the 1885 first edition of Melville's "In the Lena Delta" and Cook and Peary's "Discovery of the North Pole," produced in 1909.
Found throughout this catalog are interesting offerings of art and ephemera. Included are several items signed by Maurice Sendak, such as Wild Things posters, an original Clinton inauguration piece and a set of "Nutshell Library." Additional items include other original artwork by Beni Montresor, original Communist China posters and a variety of estate ephemera.
National Book Auctions is a public auction service specializing in books, ephemera, and art. National Book Auctions is a targeted service offering experience and expertise unique to marketing antique and modern books and ephemera for consignors and collectors alike. The upcoming 2014 auctions will feature a wide assortment of collectible, signed, and first edition books. For more information, please contact the gallery at 607-269-0101 or email mail@nationalbookauctions.com.
