May 1, 2024 10:00 EST
Rare Books, Autographs & Maps
7
A collection of memorial poems for Ben Jonson, published shortly after his death
JONSON, BEN
Jonson's Virbius: or The Memorie of Ben: Johnson Revived by the Friends of the Muses. London: printed by E. P. for Henry Seile, 1638. First edition. Later three-quarters brown morocco gilt, marbled paper boards. 7 x 4 3/4 inches (18 x 12.25 cm); [4], 74 pp., title page vignette, headpieces. Rubbing and wear to spine and extremities, front hinge cracked and joint starting, the first and last few leaves soiled and worn, some minor losses and paper restorations to margins, two leaves trimmed close at tail with partial losses to signatures and catchwords, the lower third of the last leaf torn with loss to text, a few old manuscript annotations in ink, bookplate of James W. Ellsworth, Ex-Libris of Hannah D. Rabinowitz, and ink stamp reading "British Museum Sale Duplicate 1787" to verso of title.
The great English wit, poet, and playwright Samuel Jonson died on August 6th, 1637. A funeral procession from his house in Westminister to the nearby Abbey, where he is the only person buried standing-up, was held three days later and was well attended by London's nobility and gentry alike. Despite Jonson's diminished reputation in his final years, his death was also greatly mourned in the world of English letters. Soon after the funeral, preparations were begun for this collection of elegies dedicated to Jonson. Brian Duppa, the Dean of Christ Church, edited the thirty-three memorial poems included in this slender volume, including works by Francis Beaumont, Henry King, William Cartwright, Owen Feltham, and John Ford. It also contains Edmund Waller's first appearance in print. The book includes no less than six near-contemporary allusions to Shakespeare.
Pforzheimer, 562.
Sold for $512
Estimated at $800 - $1,200
Includes Buyer's Premium
JONSON, BEN
Jonson's Virbius: or The Memorie of Ben: Johnson Revived by the Friends of the Muses. London: printed by E. P. for Henry Seile, 1638. First edition. Later three-quarters brown morocco gilt, marbled paper boards. 7 x 4 3/4 inches (18 x 12.25 cm); [4], 74 pp., title page vignette, headpieces. Rubbing and wear to spine and extremities, front hinge cracked and joint starting, the first and last few leaves soiled and worn, some minor losses and paper restorations to margins, two leaves trimmed close at tail with partial losses to signatures and catchwords, the lower third of the last leaf torn with loss to text, a few old manuscript annotations in ink, bookplate of James W. Ellsworth, Ex-Libris of Hannah D. Rabinowitz, and ink stamp reading "British Museum Sale Duplicate 1787" to verso of title.
The great English wit, poet, and playwright Samuel Jonson died on August 6th, 1637. A funeral procession from his house in Westminister to the nearby Abbey, where he is the only person buried standing-up, was held three days later and was well attended by London's nobility and gentry alike. Despite Jonson's diminished reputation in his final years, his death was also greatly mourned in the world of English letters. Soon after the funeral, preparations were begun for this collection of elegies dedicated to Jonson. Brian Duppa, the Dean of Christ Church, edited the thirty-three memorial poems included in this slender volume, including works by Francis Beaumont, Henry King, William Cartwright, Owen Feltham, and John Ford. It also contains Edmund Waller's first appearance in print. The book includes no less than six near-contemporary allusions to Shakespeare.
Pforzheimer, 562.
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
