May 1, 2024 10:00 EST
Rare Books, Autographs & Maps
78
An attractive set of Dresser's monumental History of the Birds of Europe
Estate / Collection: The Ken Harte Collection of Natural History
DRESSER, HENRY EELES
A History of the Birds of Europe, Including all the Species Inhabiting the Western Palaearctic Region. London: published by the author at 6 Tenterden Street, 1871-81. Similarly bound to match with Supplement to A History of the Birds of Europe, Including all the Species Inhabiting the Western Palaearctic Region, forming Vol. IX. London: published by the author at The Zoological Society of London, 1895-96. Together 9 volumes. Contemporary three-quarters burgdundy morocco over pebbled cloth boards, the spines tooled and lettered in gilt, with raised bands, the top edge gilt. 13 x 10 1/4 inches (33 x 26 cm); with 722 plates, 720 of which are hand-colored lithographed plates by J. G. Keulemans, J. Wolf, and E. Neale, and 2 are plain (without the additional plate 599A not called for in the plate list but present in some sets), additional decorated title pages. Spotting to flyleaves, preliminaries, the bindings rubbed, volume IX with bookplate, the plates generally quite clean.
"By far the best book which has hitherto appeared on European Birds" (Henry Seebohm). Dresser's is by far the most comprehensive and authoritative work on the subject of European birds. The treatise examines over 730 species, many drawn from Dresser's own collection of 12,000 skins and his extensive travels. Anker 120; Ellis 711; Fine Bird Books, p. 92; Mullens and Swann p. 179; Nissen IVB 267; Wood p. 324; Zimmer p. 177.
Collation by volume: Vol. I: xlvi + 102 pp.; Vol. II: 95 hand-col. lith. plates by J. G. Keulemans and text figs.; viii + 644 pp.; Vol. III: 86 hand-col. lith. plates by J. G. Keulemans; viii + 620 pp.; Vol. IV: 91 hand-col. lith. plates by J. G. Keulemans and one uncol. lith. plate; viii + 636 pp.; Vol. V: 78 hand-col. lith. plates by J. G. Keulemans, 9 hand-col. lith. plates by J. Wolf, 2 hand-col. lith. plates by E. Neale, and one hand-col. lith. plate by W. Hart; viii + 668 pp.; Vol. VI: 84 hand-col. lith. plates by J. G. Keulemans, 5 hand-col. lith. plates by E. Neale, 3 hand-col. lith. plates by J. Wolf, and text figs.; viii + 708 pp.; Vol. VII: 73 hand-col. lith. plates by J. G. Keulemans, 15 hand-col. lith. plates by E. Neale, one uncol. lith. plate, and text fig.; viii + 660 pp.; Vol. VIII: 78 hand-col. lith. plates by J. G. Keulemans, 10 hand-col. lith. plates by E. Neale, one hand-col. lith. plate by J. Wolf, and text fig.; viii + 666 pp.; Vol IX: Supplement. 89 hand-col. lith. plates by J. G. Keulemans; xxv + 441 pp.
Sold for $7,680
Estimated at $8,000 - $12,000
Includes Buyer's Premium
Estate / Collection: The Ken Harte Collection of Natural History
DRESSER, HENRY EELES
A History of the Birds of Europe, Including all the Species Inhabiting the Western Palaearctic Region. London: published by the author at 6 Tenterden Street, 1871-81. Similarly bound to match with Supplement to A History of the Birds of Europe, Including all the Species Inhabiting the Western Palaearctic Region, forming Vol. IX. London: published by the author at The Zoological Society of London, 1895-96. Together 9 volumes. Contemporary three-quarters burgdundy morocco over pebbled cloth boards, the spines tooled and lettered in gilt, with raised bands, the top edge gilt. 13 x 10 1/4 inches (33 x 26 cm); with 722 plates, 720 of which are hand-colored lithographed plates by J. G. Keulemans, J. Wolf, and E. Neale, and 2 are plain (without the additional plate 599A not called for in the plate list but present in some sets), additional decorated title pages. Spotting to flyleaves, preliminaries, the bindings rubbed, volume IX with bookplate, the plates generally quite clean.
"By far the best book which has hitherto appeared on European Birds" (Henry Seebohm). Dresser's is by far the most comprehensive and authoritative work on the subject of European birds. The treatise examines over 730 species, many drawn from Dresser's own collection of 12,000 skins and his extensive travels. Anker 120; Ellis 711; Fine Bird Books, p. 92; Mullens and Swann p. 179; Nissen IVB 267; Wood p. 324; Zimmer p. 177.
Collation by volume: Vol. I: xlvi + 102 pp.; Vol. II: 95 hand-col. lith. plates by J. G. Keulemans and text figs.; viii + 644 pp.; Vol. III: 86 hand-col. lith. plates by J. G. Keulemans; viii + 620 pp.; Vol. IV: 91 hand-col. lith. plates by J. G. Keulemans and one uncol. lith. plate; viii + 636 pp.; Vol. V: 78 hand-col. lith. plates by J. G. Keulemans, 9 hand-col. lith. plates by J. Wolf, 2 hand-col. lith. plates by E. Neale, and one hand-col. lith. plate by W. Hart; viii + 668 pp.; Vol. VI: 84 hand-col. lith. plates by J. G. Keulemans, 5 hand-col. lith. plates by E. Neale, 3 hand-col. lith. plates by J. Wolf, and text figs.; viii + 708 pp.; Vol. VII: 73 hand-col. lith. plates by J. G. Keulemans, 15 hand-col. lith. plates by E. Neale, one uncol. lith. plate, and text fig.; viii + 660 pp.; Vol. VIII: 78 hand-col. lith. plates by J. G. Keulemans, 10 hand-col. lith. plates by E. Neale, one hand-col. lith. plate by J. Wolf, and text fig.; viii + 666 pp.; Vol IX: Supplement. 89 hand-col. lith. plates by J. G. Keulemans; xxv + 441 pp.
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.
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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.
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