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PBA Galleries auction explores faraway places Aug. 6

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf
Philippine Islands historical archives, 1493-1803, 55 volumes. Estimate: $5,000-$8,000. PBA Galleries image

BERKELEY, Calif. – PBA Galleries announces an auction of Americana – Travel & Exploration – World History – Cartography to be held on Thursday, Aug. 6. Composed of over 335 lots of rare, important and captivating works on the history, geography, culture, development and social fabric of the Americas and the world at large, the sale also includes printed books, manuscripts, photographs, ephemeral items and maps. Bid absentee or live online through LiveAuctioneers.

Highlights include Serindia, the magnus opus of explorer and archaeologist Sir Aurel Stein, 1921. The five volumes, including the plate volume and portfolio of maps, trace his investigations and acquisition of artifacts, along the Silk Road through Central Asia into the western reaches of China (estimate: $10,000-$15,000).

The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803, 55 volumes is a rare complete set published by the Arthur H. Clark Co., 1903-1908. The volumes (above) are an indispensable compilation of original documents and source material gathered shortly after the conquest of the islands by the United States (estimate: $5,000-$8,000).

America, with those known parts in that unknowne worlde, by John Speed, the 1676 issue of the carte-a-figures map first published in 1626, is the first English map of the Western Hemisphere, and the first map published in an atlas to depict California as an island (estimate: $8,000-$12,000).

‘Speed’s carte-a-figures map of America,’ published by John Speed, London, 1626. Estimate: $8,000-$12,000. PBA Galleries image

North American history is well-represented in the sale. Our Pacific outpost is represented by The Laws and Resolutions Passed at the Annual Council of the Hawaiian Nobles and Representatives, 1843, printed at the Seminary Press, Lahainaluna, Maui (estimate: $3,000-$5,000).

From the mainland, PBA will offer Memorias para la historia de la guerra de Tejas, by Vicente Filisola, 1849, a Mexican view of the Texas rebellion, including the Battle of the Alamo (estimate: $2,000-$3,000). Up north, Edward Roper’s rare illustrated work, Muskoka: The Picturesque Playground of Canada, 1883-4 depicts 12 original lithographed plates of the sporting paradise in central Ontario (estimate: $2,000-$3,000).

Important account of Texas War, 1849, by Vicente Filisola, in Spanish, two volumes. Estimate: $2,000-$3,000. PBA Galleries image

PBA continues to safeguard the health of employees and clients by remaining closed to the public. PBA will conduct previews via Zoom and limit live auction participation to online or phone bidding. For more information about upcoming sales or to schedule a Zoom preview or phone bidding for a future auction, contact the PBA Galleries at 415-989-2665 or pba@pbagalleries.com.

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