May 1, 2024 10:00 EST
Rare Books, Autographs & Maps
244
The Hogan copy of the first edition, first issue of Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Estate / Collection: Property from the Rotondaro Collection
STOWE, HARRIET BEECHER
Uncle Tom's Cabin, or Life Among the Lowly. Boston: John P. Jewett & Co., and Cleveland: Jewett, Proctor & Worthington, 1852. First edition in book form, first issue. Original pale purple cloth, upper covers with gilt-blocked vignette replicating the wood-engraved vignette on the title pages, repeated in blind on back covers; brown morocco pull-off case. 7 5/8 x 4 5/8 inches (19.25 x 11.75 cm); x, [13]-312 pp; iv, [5]-322 pp. Backstrips faded, some small pale marks on covers, minute wear, internally some extremely unobtrusive stains, two or three gatherings partly sprung, but a very clean copy overall. Morocco bookplate of Frank J. Hogan, former president of the ABA, a distinguished book collector who started collecting at the prompting of his client, Estelle Doheny. Hogan’s collection was especially strong in the area of 19th-century American literature. Title-page pencil owner signatures of Clara Wilder, probably the New York book collector. Owner’s laid-in note describing the book’s history.
Published on 20 March 1852, the first printing of this work was 5000 copies, which was swiftly exhausted, and a new printing was called for by the end of the month. The first printing was issued simultaneously in cloth and in wrappers (the latter BAL's "A" binding). The present copy is in BAL's "B" binding (N.B. there is no priority between the bindings). The first issue is delineated by a variety of textual points, all of which are present. PMM 332:. "Into the emotion-charged atmosphere of mid-nineteenth-century America Uncle Tom's Cabin exploded like a bombshell. To those engaged in fighting slavery it appeared as an indictment of all the evils inherent in the system they opposed; to the pro-slavery forces it was a slanderous attack on 'the Southern way of life'...The social impact of Uncle Tom's Cabin...was greater than that of any book before or since." Heavily read at the time and later, it is a difficult book to find in true collector's condition. It remains a record best-seller in proportion to population, for in one year 305,000 copies were sold, while the total U.S. population at the time was 23 million. BAL 19343; Grolier American 61; Grolier English 183.
Sold for $12,800
Estimated at $10,000 - $15,000
Includes Buyer's Premium
Estate / Collection: Property from the Rotondaro Collection
STOWE, HARRIET BEECHER
Uncle Tom's Cabin, or Life Among the Lowly. Boston: John P. Jewett & Co., and Cleveland: Jewett, Proctor & Worthington, 1852. First edition in book form, first issue. Original pale purple cloth, upper covers with gilt-blocked vignette replicating the wood-engraved vignette on the title pages, repeated in blind on back covers; brown morocco pull-off case. 7 5/8 x 4 5/8 inches (19.25 x 11.75 cm); x, [13]-312 pp; iv, [5]-322 pp. Backstrips faded, some small pale marks on covers, minute wear, internally some extremely unobtrusive stains, two or three gatherings partly sprung, but a very clean copy overall. Morocco bookplate of Frank J. Hogan, former president of the ABA, a distinguished book collector who started collecting at the prompting of his client, Estelle Doheny. Hogan’s collection was especially strong in the area of 19th-century American literature. Title-page pencil owner signatures of Clara Wilder, probably the New York book collector. Owner’s laid-in note describing the book’s history.
Published on 20 March 1852, the first printing of this work was 5000 copies, which was swiftly exhausted, and a new printing was called for by the end of the month. The first printing was issued simultaneously in cloth and in wrappers (the latter BAL's "A" binding). The present copy is in BAL's "B" binding (N.B. there is no priority between the bindings). The first issue is delineated by a variety of textual points, all of which are present. PMM 332:. "Into the emotion-charged atmosphere of mid-nineteenth-century America Uncle Tom's Cabin exploded like a bombshell. To those engaged in fighting slavery it appeared as an indictment of all the evils inherent in the system they opposed; to the pro-slavery forces it was a slanderous attack on 'the Southern way of life'...The social impact of Uncle Tom's Cabin...was greater than that of any book before or since." Heavily read at the time and later, it is a difficult book to find in true collector's condition. It remains a record best-seller in proportion to population, for in one year 305,000 copies were sold, while the total U.S. population at the time was 23 million. BAL 19343; Grolier American 61; Grolier English 183.
Auction: Rare Books, Autographs & Maps, May 1, 2024
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Auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps on May 1, 2024 Totals $1.2 Million
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A Medieval Manuscript Rules of St. Augustine Achieves $102k
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Consignments Are Currently Being Accepted for Future Auctions
NEW YORK, NY -- Competitive bidding at Doyle’s May 1, 2024 auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps drove strong prices and a sale total that topped $1.2 million, surpassing expectations.
Featured in the sale was a fascinating selection of early manuscripts that achieved exceptional results. Highlighting the group was a 14th century manuscript of the Rules of St. Augustine from an English priory that soared over its $8,000-12,000 estimate to realize a stunning $102,100. The Rule of St. Augustine is among the earliest of all monastic rules, created about 400, and it was an influence on all that succeeded it. Other notable results included a 14th century Etymologiae of St. Isidore estimated at $5,000-8,000 that achieved $51,200 and a 15th century Prayer Book of Jehan Bernachier estimated at $10,000-15,000 that sold for $28,800.
A first edition of John James Audubon's octavo Birds of America sold for $41,600, far over its $25,000-35,000 estimate. Published in 1840-1844 in seven volumes, the first octavo edition was the final Birds of America publication overseen by Audubon in his lifetime.
The Fred Rotondaro Collection offered rare books and manuscripts on a range of subjects touching the African American experience in the United States over three centuries. A first edition copy of Frederick Douglass’ 1876 speech at the unveiling of the Freedman's Monument in Washington realized $12,800, far exceeding its $3,000-5,000 estimate. A first edition of the first issue of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin from 1852 also achieved $12,800.
Highlighting the range of offerings from the Ken Harte Collection of Natural History was a first edition Richard Bowdler Sharpe’s beautifully illustrated monograph of Kingfishers, 1868-71, that sold for $14,080, doubling its $6,000-8,000 estimate. It was accompanied by an inscribed copy of the rare unfinished chapter on the anatomy of the kingfisher by James Murie.
We Invite You to Auction!
Consignments are currently being accepted for future auctions. We invite you to contact us for a complimentary auction evaluation. Our Specialists are always available to discuss the sale of a single item or an entire collection.
For information, please contact Peter Costanzo at 212-427-4141 ext 248, Edward Ripley-Duggan at ext 234, or Noah Goldrach at ext 226, or email Books@Doyle.com
