Books from a Signed, Western Collection from Back of Beyond
- by Michael Stillman
A collection from a Western collector.
BackofBeyondBooks has issued... not quite a typical catalogue. It comes with the heading HappyNewYear!,but we believe this is more a salutation than a title. Inside, there are listings with brief descriptions, rather than the typical more detailed, illustrated offerings. Back of Beyond promises a more standard catalogue will be on its way next month.
For now, this is a selection of a large group of books recently obtained from a collector. It is focused, like Back of Beyond, on the American West, and includes both fiction and non-fiction. Most of the books are signed and are in fine condition. This is a substantial collection, and most of the books are appropriately priced for collectors of any financial means. Here are just a few of these newly acquired works.
TheLoneRangerandTontoFistfightinHeaven is a collection of short stories from Native American writer Sherman Alexie, drawing on his own experiences. Published in 1993. $35.
Next is number 85 of the 250-copy 1985 tenth anniversary edition of Edward Abbey's most noted work, TheMonkeyWrenchGang. This tale of resistance at the time of the building of the Glen Canyon Dam is signed by Abbey and includes a laid-in signed print by R. Crumb. $1,100.
Here is a mystery tale by Brad Dimock, published in 2001: SunkWithoutaSound:TheTragicColoradoRiverHoneymoonofGlenandBessieHyde.The newlywed Hydes set off down the Green and Colorado Rivers in 1928. Glen hoped to set a speed record running through the Grand Canyon, and Bessie hoped to be the first woman documented to have made the trip. They are known to have made it to the Grand Canyon, as they hiked up the Bright Angel Trail and had their pictures taken. That was the last anyone saw of them. Their boat was later found, but no trace of the Hydes was ever located. Most believe they were swept away by the rapids. $60.
Andrea Peacock published an unhappy story about a small, rural town in 2003: Libby,Montana:Asbestos&theDeadlySilenceofanAmericanCorporation. Mining of asbestos began in the early part of the 20th century in Libby, when everyone thought the substance was an excellent fire retardant with no downside, but as it became more and more obvious that the substance was killing the people of Libby, the mine owner seemed more interested in protecting itself than the townspeople. $25.
Here is a crime-related story: ButchCassidy,MyBrother,by Lula Parker Betenson. Cassidy's real name was Robert Leroy Parker. Most people believe that the famed gunman was gunned down in South America in 1908, but Mrs. Betenson maintained that he came to a family reunion in 1925 and lived until 1937, though she did not see him again. Her book was published in 1975, and if you are wondering why the sister of a man most believed died in 1908 was still writing books in 1975, she was 18 years younger than “Butch” and lived to be 96. $50.
It may not be obvious, but postcards can tell us a lot about history. These are the images people would send home to friends about the places they visited, back in the day when postal mail was the major form of communication. Charles Harbert prepared a limited edition (250 copies) book in 2006 entitled ColoradoHistory...InsightsandViewsThroughPostcards. $150.
Next we have MurderCity:CiudadJuarezandtheGlobalEconomy'sNewKillingFields, a 2010 book by Charles Bowden. The “global economy” that runs through Juarez, sadly, is the drug trade. As an aside, you can stand in El Paso, which justifiably advertises itself as the safest city in America, and look across the Rio Grande at Juarez, probably the most dangerous city in the Western Hemisphere, where murders go on every day at a frightening pace. It is hard to understand. $50.
BackofBeyondBooks may be reached at 435-259-5154 or andy@backofbeyondbooks.com. Their website is found at www.backofbeyondbooks.com.
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