May 1, 2024 10:00 EST
Rare Books, Autographs & Maps
2
The exceedingly rare first edition of Ben Jonson's comedy, The New Inn
JOHNSON, BEN.
The New Inne. Or The light heart. A comoedy... London: Thomas Harper for Thomas Alchorne, 1631. First edition. Modern speckled calf, gilt. 6 1/4 x 3 3/4 inches (15.75 x 9.75 cm); unpaginated, but (*)8 A2, B-F8. Rubbing along joints and spine, contents worn, with light toning, staining, possible mold in last two gatherings, silked paper repairs to the top edges and corners of some of the leaves in gatherings E and F, with losses to headline at leaf F8, missing all leaves after F8 (G⁸ and H², situated after G7, the final leaf of which is a blank), old manuscript annotations, sold as-is.
Ben Jonson's play, The New Inn, was first performed at Blackfriars Theatre, London, in 1629 where, according to Jonson, it caused a stir and was poorly received. Jonson himself had suffered a stroke the previous year and was unable to attend his own play. He addresses the scandal head-on in the first edition of the play, offered here. The irreverent title page states that it, "was never acted, but most negligently play'd by some, the king's servants. And more squeamishly beheld, and censured by others, the king's subjects. 1629. Now at last, set at liberty to the readers, his Ma[jes]ties Servants, and subjects, to be judged. 1631." This is the only play by Jonson to appear in octavo format, perhaps an indication of Jonson's anxiety about the play's fate in print. The first edition is exceedingly rare in any condition, with only three copies listed in WorldCat (Harvard, BL, BSB) though the Folger also has a copy. No copies at auction since 1946 (when it sold for $325 at Parke Bernet) per RBH. Pforzheimer 552; ESTC S109237
Sold for $2,880
Estimated at $1,200 - $1,500
Includes Buyer's Premium
JOHNSON, BEN.
The New Inne. Or The light heart. A comoedy... London: Thomas Harper for Thomas Alchorne, 1631. First edition. Modern speckled calf, gilt. 6 1/4 x 3 3/4 inches (15.75 x 9.75 cm); unpaginated, but (*)8 A2, B-F8. Rubbing along joints and spine, contents worn, with light toning, staining, possible mold in last two gatherings, silked paper repairs to the top edges and corners of some of the leaves in gatherings E and F, with losses to headline at leaf F8, missing all leaves after F8 (G⁸ and H², situated after G7, the final leaf of which is a blank), old manuscript annotations, sold as-is.
Ben Jonson's play, The New Inn, was first performed at Blackfriars Theatre, London, in 1629 where, according to Jonson, it caused a stir and was poorly received. Jonson himself had suffered a stroke the previous year and was unable to attend his own play. He addresses the scandal head-on in the first edition of the play, offered here. The irreverent title page states that it, "was never acted, but most negligently play'd by some, the king's servants. And more squeamishly beheld, and censured by others, the king's subjects. 1629. Now at last, set at liberty to the readers, his Ma[jes]ties Servants, and subjects, to be judged. 1631." This is the only play by Jonson to appear in octavo format, perhaps an indication of Jonson's anxiety about the play's fate in print. The first edition is exceedingly rare in any condition, with only three copies listed in WorldCat (Harvard, BL, BSB) though the Folger also has a copy. No copies at auction since 1946 (when it sold for $325 at Parke Bernet) per RBH. Pforzheimer 552; ESTC S109237
Auction: Rare Books, Autographs & Maps, May 1, 2024
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Auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps on May 1, 2024 Totals $1.2 Million
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A Medieval Manuscript Rules of St. Augustine Achieves $102k
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Consignments Are Currently Being Accepted for Future Auctions
NEW YORK, NY -- Competitive bidding at Doyle’s May 1, 2024 auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps drove strong prices and a sale total that topped $1.2 million, surpassing expectations.
Featured in the sale was a fascinating selection of early manuscripts that achieved exceptional results. Highlighting the group was a 14th century manuscript of the Rules of St. Augustine from an English priory that soared over its $8,000-12,000 estimate to realize a stunning $102,100. The Rule of St. Augustine is among the earliest of all monastic rules, created about 400, and it was an influence on all that succeeded it. Other notable results included a 14th century Etymologiae of St. Isidore estimated at $5,000-8,000 that achieved $51,200 and a 15th century Prayer Book of Jehan Bernachier estimated at $10,000-15,000 that sold for $28,800.
A first edition of John James Audubon's octavo Birds of America sold for $41,600, far over its $25,000-35,000 estimate. Published in 1840-1844 in seven volumes, the first octavo edition was the final Birds of America publication overseen by Audubon in his lifetime.
The Fred Rotondaro Collection offered rare books and manuscripts on a range of subjects touching the African American experience in the United States over three centuries. A first edition copy of Frederick Douglass’ 1876 speech at the unveiling of the Freedman's Monument in Washington realized $12,800, far exceeding its $3,000-5,000 estimate. A first edition of the first issue of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin from 1852 also achieved $12,800.
Highlighting the range of offerings from the Ken Harte Collection of Natural History was a first edition Richard Bowdler Sharpe’s beautifully illustrated monograph of Kingfishers, 1868-71, that sold for $14,080, doubling its $6,000-8,000 estimate. It was accompanied by an inscribed copy of the rare unfinished chapter on the anatomy of the kingfisher by James Murie.
We Invite You to Auction!
Consignments are currently being accepted for future auctions. We invite you to contact us for a complimentary auction evaluation. Our Specialists are always available to discuss the sale of a single item or an entire collection.
For information, please contact Peter Costanzo at 212-427-4141 ext 248, Edward Ripley-Duggan at ext 234, or Noah Goldrach at ext 226, or email Books@Doyle.com
