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rare signed books

Quinn’s Oct. 29 auction packed with rare signed books, documents, works on paper

Catherine Saunders-Watson
Catherine Saunders-Watson
rare signed books
Four-volume set of books titled Abstract Expressionism (Tiber Press, 1960), a post-World War II American artist book featuring collaborations between artists and poets, estimate $3,000-$5,000

FALLS CHURCH, Va. – Quinn’s Auction Galleries will present an auction of rare and illustrated books, works on paper, Americana and signed books and documents on Thursday, October 29, starting at 2 p.m. ET. The auction catalog is packed with more than 250 first editions, fine bindings, early 20th-century illustrations, photography and maps and atlases. Bid absentee or live online through LiveAuctioneers.

Featured: JFK-signed baseball, Chuck Close photo of Kate Moss, Letter from Gen. Grant to Abraham Lincoln, Dali-illustrated ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’

Expected top lots include a signed John F. Kennedy baseball, an extensive run of The Gardener’s Chronicle (1841-1970), and a signed Chuck Close photographic portrait of supermodel Kate Moss. Collectible books include first editions of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island (1883) and Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises (1926). Civil War highlights include autographs and a letter from Ulysses S. Grant to Abraham Lincoln.

Noteworthy among the many illustrated books are: Abstract Impressionism by Tiber Press; Alice In Wonderland, signed and illustrated by Salvador Dali; and Limited Edition Press’ Ulysses by James Joyce, signed and illustrated by Henri Matisse. A NASA collection features items signed by Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong, as well as space-flown flags presented to former NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver.

rare signed books
Baseball signed by John F. Kennedy, from the estate of Edna Kelly, who served as a Member of U.S. Congress from 1949-1969, and alongside JFK from 1949-1953, estimate $10,000-$12,000

The baseball signed by John F. Kennedy passed by descent from the estate of Edna Kelly, who served as a Member of the U.S. Congress from New York from 1949-1969, and as a colleague of then-Congressman Kennedy from 1949-1953. The ball is one of many items from her professional career that were inherited by her family. Its auction estimate is $10,000-$12,000.

rare signed books
Photograph of supermodel Kate Moss (British, b. 1974-) by the artist and photographer Chuck Close (American, b. 1940-), titled Portrait of Kate Moss, taken in 2005 as part of a series commissioned by W Magazine, estimate $10,000-$12,000

Carrying the same lofty estimate is a 2005 photograph of Kate Moss (British, b. 1974-) taken by artist and photographer Chuck Close (American, b. 1940-). Titled Portrait of Kate Moss, it is numbered 5/25 and pencil-signed by Close on the margin. A daguerreotype camera was used in taking the shot, which was part of a series commissioned by W Magazine.

rare signed books
Lewis B. Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, published in 1969 and illustrated by Spanish surrealist Salvador Dali (1904-1989), numbered and signed by Dali, estimate $4,000-$6,000

A copy of Lewis B. Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was published in 1969 and illustrated by the Spanish surrealist Salvador Dali (1904-1989). It is numbered 1331/2500 and signed by Dali on the title page, with an original etched frontispiece in four colors signed in the plate, plus 12 color heliogravures, each with an original remarque. The book was published by Maecena Press and Random House (Paris and New York) and is expected to sell for $4,000-$6,000.

rare signed books
Letter from General Ulysses S. Grant to Abraham Lincoln, dated Feb. 8, 1863, believed to have been dictated by Grant and written by another hand as a retained or field copy, estimate $4,000-$6,000

The highest-estimated Civil War lot, a letter from General Ulysses S. Grant to Abraham Lincoln, dated Feb. 8, 1863, is believed to have been dictated by Grant and written by another hand as a retained (or field) copy. The letter urges the promotion and transfer of Captain R. B. Hatch, as recommended by General Prentiss to his command. The letter comes to auction with a $4,000-$6,000 estimate.

rare signed books
First-edition Confederate issued map of Virginia from 1862, uncolored and based off the Lewis von Buchholtz seminal map of Virginia published in 1858, estimate $3,000-$5,000

A first-edition Confederate-issued map of Virginia from 1862, uncolored and based on the seminal Lewis von Buchholtz map of Virginia published in 1858, carries an estimate of $3,000-$5,000. The map illustrates the counties, principal towns, railroads, rivers, canals and internal improvements of Virginia at that time. It is bound in the original black paper boards with the Virginia Seal.

rare signed books
First edition of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel, Treasure Island, 1883, published by Cassell & Company (London, Paris and New York), estimate $2,500-$4,000

An 1883 first edition of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel Treasure Island was published by Cassell & Company (London, Paris and New York) and has a $2,500-$4,000 estimate. Also, a first U.S. six-volume edition of Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables, translated from the original French version and published in 1862 by Carleton (New York), should reach $700-$900.

rare signed books
First U.S. six-volume edition of Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables, translated from the French and published in 1862 by Carleton (New York), estimate, $700-$900

A four-volume set of books titled Abstract Expressionism (Tiber Press, 1960) (see image at top of this page) is an outstanding post-World War II American artist book featuring collaborations of four of the most influential American poets of the second half of the 20th century and four important second-generation artists, all of whom lived in New York City. Numbered 110/200, it has a pre-sale estimate of $3,000-$5,000.

The four volumes are as follows: 1 – John Ashbery, The Poems, with prints by Joan Mitchell; 2 – Frank O’Hara, Odes, with prints by Michael Goldberg; 3 – Kenneth Koch, Permanently, with prints by Alfred Leslie; and 4 – James Schuyler, Salute, with prints by Grace Hartigan. Each volume contains three full-page color silkscreen prints and an additional silkscreen on the title page and upper cover. Each volume is signed by the poet and artist on the limitation page.

rare signed books
Two volumes titled The History of Japan by Engelbertus Kaempfer, printed for the publisher and sold by T. Woodward and C. Davis (London, 1728), estimate $2,000-$3,000

A two-volume set of books titled The History of Japan by Engelbertus Kaempfer, printed for the publisher and sold by T. Woodward and C. Davis (London, 1728), is estimated at $2,000-$3,000. Translated from the original manuscript, the books give an account of the ancient and present state and government of Japan, with a description of the Kingdom of Siam.

rare signed books
Black and white photograph of Neil Armstrong, boldly signed by the astronaut circa 1969 and taken at the President’s Dinner for the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, estimate $600-$800

A black and white photograph of Neil Armstrong, taken at a President’s Dinner for the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and boldly signed by the legendary astronaut circa 1969, will cross the auction block with a $600-$800 estimate. The photo was taken by Robert Keller, a photographer who was often hired by the Beverly Hilton Hotel during that period of time. The photo comes to auction directly from the family of Mr. Keller.

Quinn’s Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020 auction will start at 2 p.m. ET. There will be no in-person floor bidding; bid absentee or live via the Internet through LiveAuctioneers.com. To request a condition report for any item in the auction, or to discuss consigning to a future Quinn’s auction, call Jennifer Sweetapple at 703-532-5632, ext. 573; email jennifer.sweetapple@quinnsauction.com.

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rare signed books