Rare Book Monthly

Book Catalogue Reviews - February - 2012 Issue

Books with Important Provenance from the William Reese Company

Provenance from the William Reese Company.

Provenance from the William Reese Company.

The William Reese Company has released their Bulletin 24: Provenance. Provenance refers to a book's history, not the book in general, but the specific copy. Primarily, it traces who has owned the book since it began its journey off the press. For most books, provenance is unknown, and probably wouldn't make much difference if it was. For a few books, however, particularly important ones, it can be traced. If the provenance is significant, the previous owners important, it can make a book more valuable, particularly if that owner's signature, or at least a bookplate, can be found. Occasionally, the one-time owner may have a particular connection to the book, in which case the provenance can add even further to its value.

Reese notes that there are two categories of provenance to be found in this collection. One is that of persons who lived contemporaneously with the publication of the book, perhaps presented the copy or were the recipients of a presentation. The other relates to the collectors who owned it, not people connected to its publication, but great collectors who once possessed the book. Reese specializes in Americana, the field of many of these books, and herein you find the past ownership of major names, presidents and other great American leaders, and notable collectors such as Streeter, Brinley, Siebert, and Estelle Doheny. Here, then, are a few of these books, including their provenance.

Item 7 is a copy of The History and Practice of Aerostation, a 1785 book by Tiberius Cavallo, and its provenance includes two notable names. This is an account of early aeronautical studies, including the earliest balloon flights. It is no surprise that this book would have been of great interest to Benjamin Franklin, the great scientist, American diplomat, printer, and anything else he chose to be. He served as American ambassador to France during the American Revolution and early days of independence, and while there made the acquaintance of Pierre Samuel DuPont. DuPont held several posts under Louis XVI, and participated in the negotiations for the Treaty of Paris, whereby England officially recognized America's independence. Though serving under the King, DuPont was an economic liberal, writer of the book Physiocracy, which attributed national wealth to agricultural labor. It was at this time that Franklin inscribed this book to Dupont, “To Mr. DuPont de Nemours from his obliged and obedt. Servt. B. Franklin.” Much of the material in this book covers the first balloon flights by the Montgolfier Brothers in France that Franklin witnessed. A few years later, DuPont would go on to be an initial supporter of the French Revolution, but like so many others, he would get caught up in its excesses and be condemned to the guillotine. Fortunately, Robespierre would meet his fate before DuPont met his, the latter being spared. However, when his family was caught up in later rioting, they moved to the United States. DuPont became friendly with Thomas Jefferson, and served as an informal diplomat during the era of Napoleon and a supporter of the Louisiana Purchase. In 1799, he inscribed and gave this book to a cousin in Carolina as a souvenir of “BonHomme Richard.” While Pierre Samuel may not be that well known today, his last name, DuPont, is quite familiar. It was his son who founded the DuPont chemical company, one of America's largest companies today. Priced at $55,000.

Item 1 ties two of America's early presidents together with one book. The title is The Duplicate Letters, the Fisheries and the Mississippi, Documents Relating to Transactions at the Negotiation in Ghent. It was a gift from future President John Quincy Adams to past President Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson and Adams' father, John Adams, had been major rivals while each served as president, but by the time this book was produced, in 1822, they had long since buried the hatchet. The younger Adams had served as a diplomat under Jefferson's successor, James Madison, and had been called back from his post in Russia to negotiate the Treaty of Ghent, the subject of this book. That was the treaty which ended the War of 1812, the last physical dispute between England and her former colonies. After receiving this gift, Jefferson wrote back to Adams expressing both his thanks and praise for the book. $65,000.

Item 32 is a Discourse, Delivered at Plymouth, December 22, 1820, in Commemoration of the First Settlement of New England, and like the previous item, it too connects first and second generation American leaders. The speaker was Daniel Webster, recently elected a Congressman from Massachusetts, though already a former Congressman from New Hampshire and well-regarded lawyer. Webster would go on to be one of the giants of the senate, one of the great if not the greatest orator of his era. This speech honored the pilgrims, but even more those who participated in the American Revolution. One of those singled out for praise was John Adams. The 85-year-old Adams would read the speech and write Webster an emotional letter of praise and thanks. This copy of the speech was inscribed by Webster to Ward Boylston, a cousin of John Adams. $62,500.

Rare Book Monthly

  • Forum Auctions
    Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    27th March 2025
    Forum, Mar. 27: Dürer (Albrecht) Hierin sind begriffen vier bücher von menschlicher Proportion, 4 parts in 1, first edition, Nuremberg, Hieronymus Andreae for Agnes Dürer, 1528. £30,000 to £40,000.
    Forum, Mar. 27: Book of Hours, Use of Rome, illuminated manuscript in Latin, on vellum, 26 fine hand-painted miniatures, 17th century dark brown morocco, [Lyon], [c. 1475 and later c. 1490-1500]. £25,000 to £35,000.
    Forum, Mar. 27: Brontë (Emily) The North Wind, watercolour, [1842]. £15,000 to £20,000.
    Forum, Mar. 27: Titanic.- Mudd (Thomas Cupper, one of the youngest victims of the sinking of the Titanic, 1895-1912) Autograph Letter signed on board RMS Titanic to his mother, April 11th 1912. £20,000 to £30,000.
    Forum Auctions
    Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    27th March 2025
    Forum, Mar. 27: [Austen (Jane)] Emma: A Novel, 3 vol., first edition, for John Murray, 1816. £10,000 to £15,000.
    Forum, Mar. 27: Picasso (Pablo).- Ovid. Les Metamorphoses, one of 95 copies, signed by the artist, Lausanne, Albert Skira, 1931. £10,000 to £15,000.
    Forum, Mar. 27: America.- Ogilby (John) America: Being the Latest, and Most Accurate Description of the New World..., all maps with vibrant hand-colouring in outline, probably by an early hand, 1671. £15,000 to £25,000.
    Forum, Mar. 27: Iceland.- Geological exploration.- Bright (Dr. Richard )and Edward Bird. Collection of twenty original drawings from travels in Iceland with Henry Holland and George Mackenzie, watercolours, [1810]. £20,000 to £30,000.
  • Forum Auctions
    The Library of Barry Humphries
    26th March 2025
    Forum, Mar. 26: Beckford (William) [Vathek] An Arabian Tale, first (but unauthorised) edition, Lady Caroline Lamb's copy with her signature and notes, 1786. £2,000 to £3,000.
    Forum, Mar. 26: Baudelaire (Charles) Les Fleurs du Mal, first edition containing the 6 suppressed poems, first issue, contemporary half black morocco, Paris, 1857. £4,000 to £6,000.
    Forum, Mar. 26: Beardsley (Aubrey).- Pope (Alexander) The Rape of the Lock, one of 25 copies on Japanese vellum, Leonard Smithers, 1896. £4,000 to £6,000.
    Forum, Mar. 26: Douglas (Lord Alfred) Sonnets, first edition, the dedication copy, with signed presentation inscription from the author to his wife Olive Custance, The Academy, 1909. £2,000 to £3,000.
    Forum Auctions
    The Library of Barry Humphries
    26th March 2025
    Forum, Mar. 26: Crowley (Aleister) The Works..., 3 vol. in 1 (as issued)"Essay Competition" issue on India paper, signed presentation inscription from the author, 1905-07. £1,500 to £2,000.
    Forum, Mar. 26: Rodin (Auguste).- Mirbeau (Octave) Le Jardin des Supplices, one of 30 copies on chine with an additional suite, bound in dark purple goatskin, Paris, 1902. £3,000 to £4,000.
    Forum, Mar. 26: Pellar (Hans) Eight original book illustrations for 'Der verliebte Flamingo' [together with] a published copy of the first edition of the book, 1923. £6,000 to £8,000.
    Forum, Mar. 26: Cretté (Georges, binder).- Louÿs (Pierre) Les Aventures du Roi Pausole, 2 vol., one of 99 copies, with 2 original drawings, superbly bound in blue goatskin, gilt, Paris, 1930. £3,000 to £4,000.
  • Sotheby's
    Sell Your Fine Books & Manuscripts
    Sotheby’s: The Shem Tov Bible, 1312 | A Masterpiece from the Golden Age of Spain. Sold: 6,960,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: Ten Commandments Tablet, 300-800 CE | One of humanity's earliest and most enduring moral codes. Sold: 5,040,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: William Blake | Songs of Innocence and of Experience. Sold: 4,320,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: The Declaration of Independence | The Holt printing, the only copy in private hands. Sold: 3,360,000 USD
    Sotheby's
    Sell Your Fine Books & Manuscripts
    Sotheby’s: Thomas Taylor | The original cover art for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Sold: 1,920,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: Machiavelli | Il Principe, a previously unrecorded copy of the book where modern political thought began. Sold: 576,000 GBP
    Sotheby’s: Leonardo da Vinci | Trattato della pittura, ca. 1639, a very fine pre-publication manuscript. Sold: 381,000 GBP
    Sotheby’s: Henri Matisse | Jazz, Paris 1947, the complete portfolio. Sold: 312,000 EUR
  • Swann
    Printed & Manuscript African Americana
    March 20, 2025
    Swann, Mar. 20: Lot 7: Thomas Fisher, The Negro's Memorial or Abolitionist's Catechism, London, 1825. $6,000 to $9,000.
    Swann, Mar. 20: Lot 78: Victor H. Green, The Negro Travelers' Green Book, New York, 1958. $20,000 to $30,000.
    Swann, Mar. 20: Lot 99: Rosa Parks, Hand-written recollection of her first meeting with Martin Luther King Jr., autograph manuscript, Detroit, c. 1990s. $30,000 to $40,000.
    Swann, Mar. 20: Lot 154: Frederick Douglass, Autograph statement on voting rights, signed manuscript, 1866. $20,000 to $30,000.
    Swann, Mar. 20: Lot 164: W.E.B. Du Bois, What the Negro Has Done for the United States and Texas, Washington, circa 1936. $3,000 to $4,000.
    Swann
    Printed & Manuscript African Americana
    March 20, 2025
    Swann, Mar. 20: Lot 263: Susan Paul, Memoir of James Jackson, Boston, 1835. $6,000 to $9,000.
    Swann, Mar. 20: Lot 267: Langston Hughes, Gypsy Ballads, signed translation of García Lorca's poetry, Madrid, 1937. $1,500 to $2,500.
    Swann, Mar. 20: Lot 274: Malcolm X, Collection from Alex Haley's estate, 38 items, 1963-1971. $4,000 to $6,000.
    Swann, Mar. 20: Lot 367: Solomon Northup, Twelve Years a Slave, Auburn, NY, 1853. $2,500 to $3,500.
    Swann, Mar. 20: Lot 402: Anna Julia Cooper, A Voice from the South, Xenia, OH, 1892. $2,000 to $3,000.
  • Koller, Mar. 26: Wit, Frederick de. Atlas. Amsterdam, de Wit, [1680]. CHF 20,000 to 30,000
    Koller, Mar. 26: Merian, Maria Sibylla. Der Raupen wunderbare Verwandelung, und sonderbare Blumennahrung. Nürnberg, 1679; Frankfurt a. M. und Leipzig, 1683. CHF 20,000 to 30,000
    Koller, Mar. 26: GOETHE, JOHANN WOLFGANG VON. Faust. Ein Fragment. Von Goethe. Ächte Ausgabe. Leipzig, G. J. Göschen, 1790. CHF 7,000 to 10,000
    Koller, Mar. 26: Hieronymus. [Das hochwirdig leben der außerwoelten freünde gotes der heiligen altuaeter]. Augsburg, Johann Schönsperger d. Ä., 9. Juni 1497. CHF 40,000 to 60,000.
    Koller, Mar. 26: BIBLIA GERMANICA - Neunte deutsche Bibel. Nürnberg, A. Koberger, 17. Feb. 1483. CHF 40,000 to 60,000
    Koller, Mar. 26: HORAE B.M.V. - Stundenbuch. Lateinische Handschrift auf Pergament, Kalendarium französisch. Nordfrankreich (Rouen?). CHF 25,000 to 40,000

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