• Potter & Potter Auctions
    How History Unfolds on Paper:
    Choice Selections from the Eric C. Caren Collection
    Part IX
    April 18, 2024
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: [RUTH, George Herman “Babe” (1895-1948)]. Signed photograph. Circa 1930s. 191 x 248 mm. $1,500 to $2,500.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: HARRISON, Benjamin. Document signed (“Benj Harrison”) as governor of Virginia, certifying the service of Daniel Cumbo, a Black Revolutionary soldier. $6,000 to $9,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: ONE OF THE FIRST PRINTED ANNOUNCEMENTS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. $4,000 to $6,000.
    Potter & Potter Auctions
    How History Unfolds on Paper:
    Choice Selections from the Eric C. Caren Collection
    Part IX
    April 18, 2024
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: FIRST PRINTING OF LINCOLN’S IMMORTAL GETTYSBURG ADDRESS. $4,000 to $6,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: HIGHLY IMPORTANT MORMON ARCHIVE. ALLEY, George. Archive of 23 Autograph Letters Signed by Mormon Convert George Alley to His Brother Joseph Alley. $10,000 to $20,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: [AVIATION]. [ARMSTRONG, Neil A.] Aviation Hall of Fame Gold Medal MS64 NGC, Awarded to Neil Armstrong in 1979. $2,000 to $3,000.
    Potter & Potter Auctions
    How History Unfolds on Paper:
    Choice Selections from the Eric C. Caren Collection
    Part IX
    April 18, 2024
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: NEWLY DISCOVERED FIRST PRINTING OF "WITH MALICE TOWARDS NONE... " FROM THE ONLY NEWSPAPER ACTUALLY ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN LINCOLN’S SECOND INAUGURAL PROCESSION. $4,000 to $8,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: THE MOST IMPORTANT GEORGE WASHINGTON DOCUMENT IN PRIVATE HANDS; GEORGE WASHINGTON’S COMMISSION AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF, 1775, ONE OF ONLY TWO ORIGINALS. $150,000 to $250,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: A VERY RARE ACCOUNT OF BLACKBEARD’S DEATH AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PIRATE ITEMS EXTANT. $3,000 to $5,000.
    Potter & Potter Auctions
    How History Unfolds on Paper:
    Choice Selections from the Eric C. Caren Collection
    Part IX
    April 18, 2024
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: EDISON, Thomas. Patent for Edison’s Improvements on the Electric-Light, No. 219,628. [Washington, D.C.: U.S. Patent Office], 16 September 1879. $2,000 to $3,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: [VIETNAM WAR]. The original pen used by Secretary of State William P. Rogers to sign the Vietnam Peace Agreement, Paris, 27 January 1973. $10,000 to $15,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: SONS OF LIBERTY FOUNDER COLONEL BARRÉ ANNOTATED TITLE-PAGE, “WHICH OUGHT TO ROUSE UP BRITISH ATTENTION”. $4,000 to $6,000.
  • Forum Auctions
    Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    28th March 2024
    Forum Mar. 28: [Langland (William)]. The vision of Pierce Plowman, nowe the seconde time imprinted..., Roberte Crowley, 1550. £8,000 to £10,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: [Shakespeare (William)]. [Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies], second folio edition, [by Tho.Cotes, for Robert Allot], [1632]. £30,000 to £40,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Bible, Czech Biblia Bohemica, first complete Bible printed in the Czech vernacular, Prague, August 1488. £30,000 to £40,000.
    Forum Auctions
    Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    28th March 2024
    Forum Mar. 28: Shabthai Tzvi.- Collection of four printed and illustrated broadsides detailing the appearance, rise and fall of the false messiah, Shabthai Tzvi, Augsburg, 1666-67. £40,000 to £60,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Leaf from the Beauvais Missal, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on parchment, [Northern France (perhaps Beauvais or Amiens)], [fourteenth century (c.1310)]. £4,000 to £6,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Aubrey (John). [Remaines of Gentilisme and Judaisme], manuscript in English, Latin and Greek, [c. 1693]. £30,000 to £50,000.
    Forum Auctions
    Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    28th March 2024
    Forum Mar. 28: Byron (George Gordon Noel, Lord). Poems on Various Occasions, first edition, Harriet Maltby's copy, Newark, Printed by S. & J. Ridge, 1807. £30,000 to £40,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Tolkien (J.R.R.) The Hobbit, first edition, second impression with dust-jacket, 1937 [but 1938]. £7,000 to £10,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Blake (William).- Thornton (Robert John). The Pastorals of Virgil, 2 vol., engraved plates by William Blake, 1821. £8,000 to £12,000.
    Forum Auctions
    Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    28th March 2024
    Forum Mar. 28: America.- Mount (William J.) & Thomas Page. The English Pilot…, [bound with] The Fourth Book, describing The West Indies Navigation from Hudson's-Bay to the River Amazones, 1721. £20,000 to £30,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Oldfield (Henry Ambrose), Rajman Singh Chitrakar & others. An album of 160 photographs and 13 original artworks, (1833-1919), [c. 1850s-1880s]. £20,000 to £30,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Audubon (John James) [and William MacGillivray]. Ornithological Biography…, 5 vol., first edition, presentation copy inscribed by Audubon, Edinburgh, 1831-49 [i.e. 1831-39]. £10,000 to £15,000.
  • Forum Auctions
    Colour Plate Books from the Library of Norman Bobins
    Part 2
    27th March 2024
    Forum Auctions, Mar. 27: Alken (Henry). Sporting Notions, first edition, T.McLean, 1832-33. £800 to £1,200.
    Forum Auctions, Mar. 27: Bardi (Lorenzo). Nuova Raccolta delle piu interessanti Vedute della Citta di Firenze…, Florence, Lorenzo Bardi, [c.1840]. £1,500 to £2,000.
    Forum Auctions, Mar. 27: Crawfurd (John). Journal of an Embassy from the Governor-General of India to the Court of Ava..., first edition, 1829. £1,000 to £1,500.
    Forum Auctions
    Colour Plate Books from the Library of Norman Bobins
    Part 2
    27th March 2024
    Forum Auctions, Mar. 27: Dawe (George, engraver). The Life of a Nobleman, first edition, Geo. Henderson, [c.1825]. £1,000 to £1,500.
    Forum Auctions, Mar. 27: [Doyle (John)], "H.B.". Political Sketches &c., 10 vol. including The Descriptive Key to H.B., Thomas McLean, [1829-51]. £4,000 to £6,000.
    Forum Auctions, Mar. 27: Eben (Adolphus Christian Frederick, Baron von) and Nicolaus Heideloff. Modèles de l'Uniforme Militaire Adopté dans l'Armée Royale de Suède, Rudolph Ackerman, 1808. £1,500 to £2,000.
    Forum Auctions
    Colour Plate Books from the Library of Norman Bobins
    Part 2
    27th March 2024
    Forum Auctions, Mar. 27: Geissler (J.G.G.) and Friedrich Hempel. Mahlerische Darstellungen der Sitten, Gebrauche und Lustbarkeiten bey den Russischen, Tartarischen…, 4 parts in 1, Leipzig and Paris, [1804]. £1,000 to £1,500.
    Forum Auctions, Mar. 27: Hunt (Charles). Portraits of Winning Horses...of the Derby, Oaks, & St. Leger, from the Year 1842 to 1849…, Rock Brothers & Payne, 1849. £1,500 to £2,000.
    Forum Auctions, Mar. 27: Kunike (Adolf Friedrich). Zwey hundert und sechzig Donau-Ansichten nach dem Laufe des Donaustromes…, Vienna, Leopold Grund, 1826. £3,000 to £5,000.
    Forum Auctions
    Colour Plate Books from the Library of Norman Bobins
    Part 2
    27th March 2024
    Forum Auctions, Mar. 27: Lasinio (Carlo). [Matrimony], Florence, 1790. £1,500 to £2,000.
    Forum Auctions, Mar. 27: Reinhardt (Joseph). A Collection of Swiss Costumes, in Miniature, second English edition, James Goodwin, [1828]. £800 to £1,200.
    Forum Auctions, Mar. 27: Wengen (Gottfried Durst von). Die Öffentliche Maskerade Bamberg am Fastnachts-Montage 1833…, Bamberg, [1833]. £2,000 to £3,000.
  • Sotheby’s
    Modern First Editions
    Available for Immediate Purchase
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: Winston Churchill. The Second World War. Set of First-Edition Volumes. 6,000 USD
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: A.A. Milne, Ernest H. Shepard. A Collection of The Pooh Books. Set of First-Editions. 18,600 USD
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: Salvador Dalí, Lewis Carroll. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Finely Bound and Signed Limited Edition. 15,000 USD
    Sotheby’s
    Modern First Editions
    Available for Immediate Purchase
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: Ian Fleming. Live and Let Die. First Edition. 9,500 USD
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter Series. Finely Bound First Printing Set of Complete Series. 5,650 USD
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: Ernest Hemingway. A Farewell to Arms. First Edition, First Printing. 4,200 USD

Rare Book Monthly

Articles - July - 2012 Issue

Here's What to Expect at Larry McMurtry's 300,000-Volume “Last Book Sale.”

The huge auction at Larry McMurtry's Booked Up bookshop is set to go next month, and we are starting to get a look at the material that will be available. This is no small matter. In fact, it is a very large one, there being something in the area of 300,000 books to be auctioned over two days. Naturally, most will be sold in shelf lots, typically around 200 books per lot. There will also be 100 books sold individually, ones that are favorites of Mr. McMurtry, the bookseller and author whose works have been favorites of readers for most of the last half century.

Welcome to The Last Book Sale, taking place in Archer City, Texas, on August 10 and 11, 2012, from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. each day. Larry McMurtry, who has been selling books almost as long as he has been writing them, will be paring down inventory. The bookshop is not closing, but the owner feels it is time to let some of his 450,000 books go. The result is that the books filling three of his four buildings will be sold over the course of those two days in August.

There will be around 1,400 shelf lots, which means it would be quite an undertaking to understand what is available on the day of the auction. Fortunately, the auctioneers, Addison & Sarova, have set up an extended preview time. You will be able to examine the lots starting a week in advance, from Friday, August 3, through Thursday, August 9, except for Sunday the 5th (closed). The buildings are open from 10: a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

This auction promises to provide a memorable weekend for bibliophiles. Larry McMurtry and Booked Up are legends in the field, the shop already drawing regular visitors from all over the world. Add to that an auction of 300,000 books, and a barbecue and concert Friday night, and this figures to be the event of the year, or many years, for those who love books. So, just what is available in an auction of 300,000 books? The easy answer is “everything,” but we asked auctioneer Michael Addison to give us a run down of what to expect. Not surprisingly, he can't give us a listing of all 300,000, but here is the quick tour of the three buildings whose contents will soon be finding new homes.

The auction will begin in Building #4, the largest of the buildings, with almost half of the shelf lots to be sold. The typical lot here will contain 10 shelves, or around 200 books. Most are 20th century printings, including many first editions, some signed. There are a good number of large illustrated books on these shelves. Categories are wide-ranging, including American history, ancient history, anthropology, architecture, art catalogues, books about books, cookbooks, dance, drama, economics and finance, film, journalism, linguistics and reference, medicine, music, mythology, pre-Columbian studies, science, sports, television, travel and transportation. There is also much fiction, but the categories are sufficiently blended that you may find a copy of McMurtry's Cadillac Jack in the travel section. The preview will be great fun for treasure seekers.

Also scattered around Building #4 is general stock. Mr. Addison said his favorites include the modern firsts, the large illustrated books, the selections of books about books, and some dealing with horse racing and bloodlines. However, there will be books not in any of the described categories as well, the number of volumes being so large. As to their value, Mr. Addison said, “If I had to put a general estimate of the retail value contained in each lot, I would say anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 would be close.” That could come from 20 $100 books, or 100 $20 books. Very few, he estimated, are worth less than $10. Those are retail prices, and auction buyers don't expect to pay retail. “Retail values aside, this is an auction, and we know that bidders are looking for good deals, and they won't be disappointed. The books have to go!”

Next up will be the books in Building #3. This is the smallest of the three, about half the size of Building #4. It contains many 19th century and earlier printings. Literature, history, and fiction will be found here, along with some nice Victorian bindings, and works in translation. Lots here will generally be five or six shelves in total, with 100+ books each. Mr. Addison notes that despite the smaller lot sizes, the retail value is still good, and “the quality is great.” This building also houses an extensive collection of pamphlets, which will be of great interest to those looking for rare, short form, ephemeral material.

Finally comes Building #2. This is where, Mr. Addison says, “the quality of the stock is at its peak.” The size of the lots from this building may vary widely based on the value of the books. They could contain anything from one to eight shelves. Among the subjects found in Building #2 are fiction, poetry, history, auction catalogues, books about antiques, art books, and more. Among the most notable items are some large, illustrated art books and numerous first editions.

In selecting the lots, the auctioneer has attempted to keep values similar. The idea is to have solid value in each lot, while keeping individual lot prices from getting too high. That gives everyone a chance to bid for the books they want. Mr. Addison explains, “Knowing that many of the bidders will be dealers looking for value, our focus was on making each lot an attractive investment in terms of dollars.  I think this will be one of the best opportunities in quite some time for dealers to acquire new and quality stock.” That it certainly will be, as Mr. McMurtry focused on having good books in top condition, the type you would expect of a first rate shop.

While it seems likely that the greatest part of the shelf lots will go to fellow booksellers, 100 books will be offered as single item lots, and these will be ideal for collectors not looking to take home books in the hundreds. Mr. McMurtry selected these 100, not on the basis of being the most expensive or most valuable, but because they were 100 he particularly liked. It is an unexpected group. There are writers you know, such as Thomas Wolfe, Henry James, Winston Churchill, Thomas Carlyle, Leo Tolstoy, Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas. Others may not jump out at you, but perhaps that will spur your interest. Those would include Brother Antoninus, Radhakamal Mukerjee, and Cherry Kearton. And, of course, who doesn't know Alfred Edward A’Courte Hudson's Selected Blood Studies on Swine?

Among the others, for those interested in America's natives, or “Indians,” there is Walter Dyk's important first-hand interview account, A Navajo Autobiography. Or, there is Constantine Rafinesque's Walom Olom, a later edition of the history of the Lenape or Delaware Indians, a document whose authenticity is subject to some dispute. A couple of items highlighted are Leonard Elmore's early western, The Bounty Hunters, the once banned The Ginger Man by J.P. Donleavy, and Alice B. Toklas' Autobiography, a signed copy.

Finally, there is one other group of books. There are many boxes Mr. McMurtry was sent by established and aspiring authors over the years for his review. They will be sold in just a couple of large lots. As Mr. Addison notes, “there is a little of everything here.”

For details about the auction, including how to get there, and where to stay, Addison & Sarova has provided what you need to know on their website. Here is the link: www.addisonsauction.com/thelastbooksale.html.

This link will take you to an earlier article about the sale, including an interview with Mr. McMurtry. Click here.

For the complete list of the “McMurtry 100,” and some introductory remarks from Larry McMurtry, click “next” below to go to the next page.

Rare Book Monthly

  • Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: A RUTH BADER GINSBURG BEADED JUDICIAL COLLAR. $80,000 - $120,000
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: ONLY KNOWN COPY OF THE ONLY BOOK BY THE REMARKABLE EVE ADAMS. $8,000 - $12,000
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: A COMPLETE RUN OF VISIONAIRE MAGAZINE THROUGH 2010. $6,000 - $9,000
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: LAW REVIEW OFFPRINT SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BY RUTH BADER GINSBURG. $3,000 - $5,000
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: META REBNER'S WORKING SCRIPT OF THE LOVED ONE. $1,500 - $2,000
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: A KATHY GROVE PORTRAIT OF CYNDI LAUPER FOR THE FEBRUARY 1989 DETAILS COVER. $800 - $1,200
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: A PLASTIC COAT BY MILLIE DAVID FEATURED IN SOHO NEWS STYLE SECTION, FROM THE COLLECTION OF ANNIE FLANDERS. $500 - $700
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: A RUTH BADER GINSBURG JEWELRY BOX. $600 - $900
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: A SET OF JONI MITCHELL LYRICS FOR "IF I HAD A HEART." $2,000 - $3,000
  • 19th Century Shop
    Catalogue 198 just published
    19th Century Shop. Darwin and Wallace, first printing of the first paper on natural selection
    19th Century Shop. Shakespeare’s Poems, first collected edition
    19th Century Shop. Walt Whitman portrait inscribed with a Leaves of Grass poem
    19th Century Shop. Major Elizabeth Barrett Browning manuscript notebook
    19th Century Shop. Spock's Baby Book, original MS
    19th Century Shop. Cellarius, Harmonia Macrocosmica, the great celestial atlas

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