Rare volumes to set off PBA Galleries’ 500th auction Feb. 18
Image courtesy of PBA Galleries.
Coffee and pastries will be available during the preview beginning at 9 a.m. PST. The auction begins at 11 a.m.
The rare and desirable material on view includes works of literary, historical, cultural and scientific import, ranging from a 14th century manuscript reconciling Christianity with Platonism, to a set of the 16 printings of the first edition of the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book, each in the original dust jacket. The variety of printed and manuscript material includes important editions of the Bible, rare works on China, early alchemy, natural history, cosmology, cartography, travel and exploration, Americana, fine printing, illustrated books, photography, literature, art and architecture, rare manuscript material on Cuba, an important typescript on spiritualism by Harry Houdini, and much more.
Among the treasures to be found:
– A set of the 16 printings of the first edition of the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book, each in the original dust jacket, including the rare first printing, and the even more elusive seventh printing. Estimate: $200,000-$300,000.
– The first edition, first issue of the King James Bible, 1611, the legendary “He Bible,” so called because of the phrase in Ruth iii: 15, “and he went into the city,” later corrected to “and she went into the city.” Estimate: $100,000-$150,000.
– A Magician Among the Spirits, the original typescript by Harry Houdini for a new edition of his exposé of the fraud and deception endemic amongst spiritualists, psychics and other paranormal practitioners. Estimate: $70,000-$100,000.
– First edition of Thomas Mann’s Death in Venice. This copy reserved for the publisher, with a specially printed colophon and in a unique binding. Estimate: $20,000-$30,000.
– John Webb’s historical essay on the language of China. The first book on the Chinese language to be published in Europe, and possibly the first book in English on China. With the rare map. Estimate: $15,000-$25,000.
– An early black letter printing, and perhaps the earliest obtainable edition of Sir Thomas Malory’s History of the Renowned Prince Arthur, King of Britayne. Estimate $12,000-$8,000.
– George Dixon’s Remarks on the Voyage of John Meares. The opening salvo in the famed “Dixon-Meares Controversy.” Estimate $8,000-$12,000.
– Album of 105 original albumen photographs of Egypt, circa 1887. Includes images by noted photographers Antonio Beato, Pascal Sebah, Felix Bonfils and others. Estimate: $4,000-$6,000.
– First edition of Sir Walter Raleigh’s The History of the World, written while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Estimate: $8,000-$12,000.
For more information, contact Shannon Kennedy at shannon@pbagalleries.com or phone 415-989-2665. PBA Galleries is locatred at 133 Kearny St. – fourth floor.
View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.
ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE
Image courtesy of PBA Galleries.
Image courtesy of PBA Galleries.
Image courtesy of PBA Galleries.
Image courtesy of PBA Galleries.
Image courtesy of PBA Galleries.
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