May 1, 2024 10:00 EST
Rare Books, Autographs & Maps
68
A memorial to Robert Kennicott, the naturalist who ventured to Alaska
Estate / Collection: The Ken Harte Collection of Natural History
[ALASKA]
Transactions of the Chicago Academy of Sciences, Volume I, Part II. Chicago: Published by the Academy, 1869. Finely bound in modern three-quarters black morocco gilt over marbled boards, an early wrapper bound in at front; 11 1/8 x 7 1/4 inches (28.5 x 18.5 cm); with frontispiece portrait of Robert Kennicott, 8 hand-colored lithographed plates by E. Sheppard, paginated from [133]-337. Faint offset to title and repaired tear at gutter, with a Smithsonian withdrawal stamp, penciled names of species on tissue guards, inscription to the wrapper at front, a few marginal notations to the text in ink.
A very attractive copy. The first section of this extract offers a memorial to the American naturalist Robert Kennicott with a long reprint Kennicott's travel journal from his final expedition to Alaska. Kennicott founded the Chicago Academy of Sciences in 1857 and died on an expedition up the Yukon River in 1867. The memorial is followed by Dall and Barrister's List of the Birds of Alaska, with Biographical Notes before Baird's On Additions to the Bird Fauna of North America Made by the Scientific Corps of the Russo-American Telegraph Expedition and Scudder's Preliminary List of the Butterflies of Iowa.
While this work offers much on Alaska, it also an uncommon Chicago pre-fire imprint. HRS Chicago 1473; Sabin 12618; Howes C375.
Sold for $1,216
Estimated at $800 - $1,200
Includes Buyer's Premium
Estate / Collection: The Ken Harte Collection of Natural History
[ALASKA]
Transactions of the Chicago Academy of Sciences, Volume I, Part II. Chicago: Published by the Academy, 1869. Finely bound in modern three-quarters black morocco gilt over marbled boards, an early wrapper bound in at front; 11 1/8 x 7 1/4 inches (28.5 x 18.5 cm); with frontispiece portrait of Robert Kennicott, 8 hand-colored lithographed plates by E. Sheppard, paginated from [133]-337. Faint offset to title and repaired tear at gutter, with a Smithsonian withdrawal stamp, penciled names of species on tissue guards, inscription to the wrapper at front, a few marginal notations to the text in ink.
A very attractive copy. The first section of this extract offers a memorial to the American naturalist Robert Kennicott with a long reprint Kennicott's travel journal from his final expedition to Alaska. Kennicott founded the Chicago Academy of Sciences in 1857 and died on an expedition up the Yukon River in 1867. The memorial is followed by Dall and Barrister's List of the Birds of Alaska, with Biographical Notes before Baird's On Additions to the Bird Fauna of North America Made by the Scientific Corps of the Russo-American Telegraph Expedition and Scudder's Preliminary List of the Butterflies of Iowa.
While this work offers much on Alaska, it also an uncommon Chicago pre-fire imprint. HRS Chicago 1473; Sabin 12618; Howes C375.
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
