Auctions | January 17, 2012

First Editions, Ephemera & Art at NBA's January Auction

[ITHACA, NY] National Book Auctions, located in Ithaca, NY, will host a Sunday, January 29th auction featuring a broad range of rare antique and vintage books, as well as a large collection of intriguing ephemera and artwork. Of particular note are rare first editions of the 19th century and modern titles, as well as a very large collection of signed modern first editions. The books in these collections are impressive both for their quality and condition. Also offered will be a select group of estate furniture and other antiques.

Important books in this auction include first editions, many of which are author-signed.  Noteworthy examples include first editions of three Cormac McCarthy books entitled “The Orchard Keeper,” “Child of God,” and “The Stone Mason.” Also offered are first American and English editions of Herman Melville’s landmark 1847 title, “Omoo.”  Other lots include decorative antique sets by classic authors such as Victor Hugo and Alexander Dumas, along with Justin Winsor’s eight-volume 1884-1889 work entitled, “Narrative and Critical History of America.” Modern works in this auction include hundreds of signed first editions by prominent writers such as Norman Mailer, Michael Crichton, Ken Follett, Dan Brown, Dick Francis and Amy Tan, to name just a few.

Found throughout this auction are pleasing groups of ephemera and artwork. Leading the field is a pencil-signed lithograph of “The Model Painter” by Pablo Picasso, offered with provenance.  A vast array of ephemera lots are included in this auction with vintage and antique items dating back to the 17th century. Themes of the ephemera lots include early engravings and lithographs, travel-related, transportation (aviation, automotive, and railroad), antique photographs (including tintypes), magazines, early ship cargo manifests and original documents, artwork, advertising-related items, original Civil War material, tobacciana, breweriana, large quantities of original correspondence with postage and early cancels, and many other genres. This auction also includes other antique items. Featured are antique bookcases and desks along with early stoneware pottery and a pendulum clock.

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. Preview for the upcoming Sunday, January 29th auction is at 10 a.m. and the live auction starts at noon. For more information or to consign collectible material please contact David Hall, Business Manager, at 607-269-0101 or email mail@nationalbookauctions.com.