Surrealist Spin
Lewis
Carroll’s book Alice’s
Adventures in Wonderland which is commonly known as “Alice in
Wonderland” was published 150 years ago. The book, which tells the story of a
girl named Alice who fell through a rabbit hole and has fantastic adventures in
a make-believe world was also published by Salvador Dalí who put his own
interpretation on the classic novel in 1969. It featured original illustrations
by the painter. A signed copy of the book is part of a collection of
"Alice in Wonderland" memorabilia housed in the Beinecke Rare Book
and Manuscript Library. It is a limited edition book of twelve illustrations
with original woodcuts and an original etching by the celebrated Spanish
surrealist painter.
The Library is home to a wealth of items relating to Caroll’s classic tale, among them a first edition copy of the book published in June of 1865 that was recalled because the illustrator disapproved of the print quality.
The Library is home to a wealth of items relating to Caroll’s classic tale, among them a first edition copy of the book published in June of 1865 that was recalled because the illustrator disapproved of the print quality.
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Rare Cartography and Exploration at Auction
On
October 29th, 2015, PBA Galleries in San Francisco will hold the first of three
auctions of Rare Cartography, Exploration and Voyages: The Warren Heckrotte
Collection, followed by sales on December 3, 2015, and March 10th, 2016. Built
over a span of more than fifty years, the superb collection features rare and
important landmarks in the exploration of the Americas, particularly the
Pacific slope and the northwest coast. On offer will be items rarely or never
seen at auction, tracing the expansion of cartographic and geographic knowledge
from the 16th through 20th centuries, including maps, atlases, books, even rare
geographic jigsaw puzzles and games.
Warren Heckrotte began collecting rare books and maps in the early 1960’s, when called to Geneva, Switzerland, to add scientific expertise, as a nuclear physicist at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, to the ongoing nuclear test ban treaty talks between the United States and the Soviet Union. In his off hours he would rummage through the book stores and stalls of the city, fascinated by the history to be discovered, and purchasing rarities for what would be considered a pittance today. He spent much of the next decade and a half traveling back and forth between the U.S. and Switzerland, and even spent some time in the Soviet Union, stopping at the London booksellers and auction houses on the way, with Maggs, Quaritch, Sotheby’s and Christie’s all providing additions to his growing collection. Back in the San Francisco Bay Area he was a favored customer at John Howell Books, Alta California Books, Argonaut and others. Not content just to acquire material, Mr. Heckrotte studied it in scholarly fashion, and drew his own conclusions. He contributed articles to such publications as Terra Cognita (newsletter of the Society for the History of Discoveries), The Map Collector, Mercator’s World, and the newsletter of the California Map Society. He edited, and largely wrote, California 49: Forty-nine Maps of California from the 16th Century to the Present, published in San Francisco in 1999. Mr. Heckrotte also curated a number of exhibits of his material at the Book Club of California. PBA Galleries is pleased to make use of Mr. Heckrotte’s scholarly descriptions of his collection in the preparation of the catalogues.
Part I in the series of auctions consists of “Exploration and Early Approaches,” from the beginning of the mapping of the New World through the epic discoveries of Lewis and Clark. The highlights include, but are not limited to, John Green’s A Chart of North and South America, on six sheets, 1753, published by Thomas Jefferys, bound with the “Remarks,” in period red morocco, estimated at $20,000-$30,000; John Briggs, The North Part of America, 1625, the first printed map in English, and the second overall, to show California as an island, expected to sell for between $10,000 and $15,000; George Vancouver’s A Voyage of Discovery to the North Pacific Ocean, and Round the World, 3 volumes plus the atlas, London: 1798, with an estimate of $25,000-$35,000; Miguel Costansó, Carta Reducida Del Oceano Asiatico, Ó Mar Del Sur, Que Comprehende La Costa Oriental Y Occidental De La Peninsula De La California, an engraved map, published in Madrid in 1771 or a bit later, being the first printed map to show San Francisco, with only a few copies known to exist – it has a predicted sale price of $15,000 to $25,000; and Gerhard Friedrich Müller’s Nouvelle Carte des Decouvertes Faites Par Des Vaisseaux Russes Aux Côtes Inconnues De L'Amerique Septentrionale, published in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1754, the very rare first issue of the map, displaying the discoveries made by the second Bering expedition, at $15,000-$25,000.
Part II of the Heckrotte collection, on offer December 3, 2015, bears the subtitle “California and the Way Tither,” concentrating on California and adjacent states and territories, with much on the Gold Rush and the overland journeys and expeditions it engendered. Among the main features is a superb collection of maps of the California Gold Region, most of them folding pocket maps. Among the highlights: Thomas O. Larkin’s Map of the Valley of the Sacramento including the Gold Region, Boston, 1848, regarded as the first published map to show or designate the gold region, folding into original cloth covers, estimated at $15,000-$25,000; William M. Eddy, Official Map of the State of California, the rare, seminal, and quite large folding map (now flattened) of the state, this copy signed by Eddy (who died before most copies were available to the public) on the inside of the folder – it also is expected to sell for between $15,000 and $25,000; Hosea B. Horn, Horn’s Overland Guide…to the City of Sacramento, in California, published in New York in 1852, with a folding map, an exceptional copy, with an estimate of $8,000-$12,000; William A. Jackson’s Map of the Mining District of California, New York: 1850, a very rare lithographed map, folding into leather covers, one of only about five copies known, predicted to bring between $10,000 and $15,000; and George H. Goddard, Britton & Rey's Map of the State of California, published in San Francisco in 1857, a hand-colored folding lithographed map, considered to be the first reasonably accurate map of California, this being the very rare first issue, with an estimate of $10,000-$15,000.
Part III of the auction of the Heckrotte collection, March 10, 2016, is “Filling in the Gaps,” mapping other states and regions, and further refining the state of geographic and cartographic knowledge. Among the many rarities is John Melish’s Map of the United States with the contiguous British and Spanish Possessions, the 1818 issue, a large engraved map hand-colored in outline, backed with linen and sectioned for folding, in the original marbled boards folder, bearing an estimate of $30,000-$50,000; Jacob de Cordova’s Map of the State of Texas, a hand-colored lithographed map, folding into the original leather covers, this being the 1849 first printing, the first official map of Texas as a state, on a far larger scale than any previous, projected to sell for between $60,000 and $90,000; Carlos Roca and Domingo Estruch, Carta Geogro. Topográfica De La Isla De Cuba, published in Barcelona, Spain, in 1835, a very large engraved map on six sheets, the first topographical map of Cuba, considered a masterpiece of Spanish printed cartography, estimated at $15,000-$25,000; Aaron Arrowsmith, A Map Exhibiting all the New Discoveries in the Interior Parts of North America, on three sheets, hand-colored in outline, London, 1796, the second issue of this important map, and the first 1796 issue, with a predicted price of $10,000-$15,000; and finally, F. & R. Lockwood’s The Traveller’s Tour Through the United States, published in New York in 1822, a geography game with 139 stops, which participants have to name when they land upon them, and even give the population – it is considered the first American board game, and is exceedingly rare, estimated to sell at $20,000-$30,000.
There will be an additional auction containing material from the Heckrotte collection, including reference books, secondary sources, supporting text, and duplicate items, on a date yet to be determined. Complete sets of catalogues of the Heckrotte auctions may be ordered in advance – Please contact PBA Galleries for more information.
For more information regarding upcoming sales, consignments, or auction results, please contact PBA Galleries at (415) 989-2665 or pba@pbagalleries.com or visit www.pbagalleries.com.
Warren Heckrotte began collecting rare books and maps in the early 1960’s, when called to Geneva, Switzerland, to add scientific expertise, as a nuclear physicist at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, to the ongoing nuclear test ban treaty talks between the United States and the Soviet Union. In his off hours he would rummage through the book stores and stalls of the city, fascinated by the history to be discovered, and purchasing rarities for what would be considered a pittance today. He spent much of the next decade and a half traveling back and forth between the U.S. and Switzerland, and even spent some time in the Soviet Union, stopping at the London booksellers and auction houses on the way, with Maggs, Quaritch, Sotheby’s and Christie’s all providing additions to his growing collection. Back in the San Francisco Bay Area he was a favored customer at John Howell Books, Alta California Books, Argonaut and others. Not content just to acquire material, Mr. Heckrotte studied it in scholarly fashion, and drew his own conclusions. He contributed articles to such publications as Terra Cognita (newsletter of the Society for the History of Discoveries), The Map Collector, Mercator’s World, and the newsletter of the California Map Society. He edited, and largely wrote, California 49: Forty-nine Maps of California from the 16th Century to the Present, published in San Francisco in 1999. Mr. Heckrotte also curated a number of exhibits of his material at the Book Club of California. PBA Galleries is pleased to make use of Mr. Heckrotte’s scholarly descriptions of his collection in the preparation of the catalogues.
Part I in the series of auctions consists of “Exploration and Early Approaches,” from the beginning of the mapping of the New World through the epic discoveries of Lewis and Clark. The highlights include, but are not limited to, John Green’s A Chart of North and South America, on six sheets, 1753, published by Thomas Jefferys, bound with the “Remarks,” in period red morocco, estimated at $20,000-$30,000; John Briggs, The North Part of America, 1625, the first printed map in English, and the second overall, to show California as an island, expected to sell for between $10,000 and $15,000; George Vancouver’s A Voyage of Discovery to the North Pacific Ocean, and Round the World, 3 volumes plus the atlas, London: 1798, with an estimate of $25,000-$35,000; Miguel Costansó, Carta Reducida Del Oceano Asiatico, Ó Mar Del Sur, Que Comprehende La Costa Oriental Y Occidental De La Peninsula De La California, an engraved map, published in Madrid in 1771 or a bit later, being the first printed map to show San Francisco, with only a few copies known to exist – it has a predicted sale price of $15,000 to $25,000; and Gerhard Friedrich Müller’s Nouvelle Carte des Decouvertes Faites Par Des Vaisseaux Russes Aux Côtes Inconnues De L'Amerique Septentrionale, published in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1754, the very rare first issue of the map, displaying the discoveries made by the second Bering expedition, at $15,000-$25,000.
Part II of the Heckrotte collection, on offer December 3, 2015, bears the subtitle “California and the Way Tither,” concentrating on California and adjacent states and territories, with much on the Gold Rush and the overland journeys and expeditions it engendered. Among the main features is a superb collection of maps of the California Gold Region, most of them folding pocket maps. Among the highlights: Thomas O. Larkin’s Map of the Valley of the Sacramento including the Gold Region, Boston, 1848, regarded as the first published map to show or designate the gold region, folding into original cloth covers, estimated at $15,000-$25,000; William M. Eddy, Official Map of the State of California, the rare, seminal, and quite large folding map (now flattened) of the state, this copy signed by Eddy (who died before most copies were available to the public) on the inside of the folder – it also is expected to sell for between $15,000 and $25,000; Hosea B. Horn, Horn’s Overland Guide…to the City of Sacramento, in California, published in New York in 1852, with a folding map, an exceptional copy, with an estimate of $8,000-$12,000; William A. Jackson’s Map of the Mining District of California, New York: 1850, a very rare lithographed map, folding into leather covers, one of only about five copies known, predicted to bring between $10,000 and $15,000; and George H. Goddard, Britton & Rey's Map of the State of California, published in San Francisco in 1857, a hand-colored folding lithographed map, considered to be the first reasonably accurate map of California, this being the very rare first issue, with an estimate of $10,000-$15,000.
Part III of the auction of the Heckrotte collection, March 10, 2016, is “Filling in the Gaps,” mapping other states and regions, and further refining the state of geographic and cartographic knowledge. Among the many rarities is John Melish’s Map of the United States with the contiguous British and Spanish Possessions, the 1818 issue, a large engraved map hand-colored in outline, backed with linen and sectioned for folding, in the original marbled boards folder, bearing an estimate of $30,000-$50,000; Jacob de Cordova’s Map of the State of Texas, a hand-colored lithographed map, folding into the original leather covers, this being the 1849 first printing, the first official map of Texas as a state, on a far larger scale than any previous, projected to sell for between $60,000 and $90,000; Carlos Roca and Domingo Estruch, Carta Geogro. Topográfica De La Isla De Cuba, published in Barcelona, Spain, in 1835, a very large engraved map on six sheets, the first topographical map of Cuba, considered a masterpiece of Spanish printed cartography, estimated at $15,000-$25,000; Aaron Arrowsmith, A Map Exhibiting all the New Discoveries in the Interior Parts of North America, on three sheets, hand-colored in outline, London, 1796, the second issue of this important map, and the first 1796 issue, with a predicted price of $10,000-$15,000; and finally, F. & R. Lockwood’s The Traveller’s Tour Through the United States, published in New York in 1822, a geography game with 139 stops, which participants have to name when they land upon them, and even give the population – it is considered the first American board game, and is exceedingly rare, estimated to sell at $20,000-$30,000.
There will be an additional auction containing material from the Heckrotte collection, including reference books, secondary sources, supporting text, and duplicate items, on a date yet to be determined. Complete sets of catalogues of the Heckrotte auctions may be ordered in advance – Please contact PBA Galleries for more information.
For more information regarding upcoming sales, consignments, or auction results, please contact PBA Galleries at (415) 989-2665 or pba@pbagalleries.com or visit www.pbagalleries.com.
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Two Korans sell well over the Estimate.
A
rare copy of the Koran has sold for £230,000 at auction after having been
valued at just £1,500. The 410-page book by 19th Century calligrapher Yahya
Hilmi Efendi was bought by overseas buyer.
Another Koran – this time a pocket-sized version which is thought to have been written by the female calligrapher Shah Umm Salamah, fetched £18,000.Both works, which were gifted to the vendor from their employer more than twenty years ago, were sold in Exeter, Devon.
Auctioneer Richard Bearne, of Bearnes, Hampton and Littlewoods, said the book was believed to have been written around 1876 in Istanbul, which was formerly Constantinople.
Another Koran – this time a pocket-sized version which is thought to have been written by the female calligrapher Shah Umm Salamah, fetched £18,000.Both works, which were gifted to the vendor from their employer more than twenty years ago, were sold in Exeter, Devon.
Auctioneer Richard Bearne, of Bearnes, Hampton and Littlewoods, said the book was believed to have been written around 1876 in Istanbul, which was formerly Constantinople.
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Berlusconi's friend in scandal of stolen rare books
An
associate of Silvio Berlusconi has been linked to the pillaging of one of
Italy’s most important collections of antique books, including works by
Descartes, Galileo and Machiavelli. Newly released phone taps have
exposed how Marcello Dell’Utri, a senator and old friend of Berlusconi,
received books from Marino Massimo De Caro, the director of Girolamini library
in Naples.
De Caro has since been jailed for stealing books. Dell'Utri was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2014 for ties to the Sicilian mafia; he has maintained that he did not know the books he was receiving from De Caro were stolen.
De Caro has since been jailed for stealing books. Dell'Utri was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2014 for ties to the Sicilian mafia; he has maintained that he did not know the books he was receiving from De Caro were stolen.
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Ibookcollector © is published by Rivendale Press.
Ibookcollector © is published by Rivendale Press.
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