May 1, 2024 10:00 EST
Rare Books, Autographs & Maps
263
The Brown v. Board of Education opinion signed by Chief Justice Earl Warren
Estate / Collection: Property from the Rotondaro Collection
BROWN v. BOARD of EDUCATION
WARREN, EARL. Typed Supreme Court opinion signed for the Brown v. Board of Education First Case. [No place likely Washington: circa 17 May 1954]. The full typed opinion headed "Brown v. Board of Education (First Case)", 11 typed pages on onion skin paper, signed at end in ink by Earl Warren, the sheets 11 x 8 1/2 inches (28 x 21.5 cm), housed in a fine morocco backed clamshell case. Folds, else fine, acquired from Bauman Rare Books.
"We conclude that in the field of public education the doctrine of 'separate but equal' has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." This is a rare signed copy of the full 11-page Supreme Court opinion of the first Brown v. Board of Education case, a landmark of American jurisprudence and a watershed moment of the Civil Rights Movement. The opinion, which established that racial segregation in public schools in unconstitutional, is signed by Chief Justice Earl Warren and is a rare example thus. A second case, known as Brown II, related to the difficult task of carrying out desegregation. We trace few artifacts of this importance relating to this landmark case in the auction record.
Sold for $5,120
Estimated at $4,000 - $6,000
Includes Buyer's Premium
Estate / Collection: Property from the Rotondaro Collection
BROWN v. BOARD of EDUCATION
WARREN, EARL. Typed Supreme Court opinion signed for the Brown v. Board of Education First Case. [No place likely Washington: circa 17 May 1954]. The full typed opinion headed "Brown v. Board of Education (First Case)", 11 typed pages on onion skin paper, signed at end in ink by Earl Warren, the sheets 11 x 8 1/2 inches (28 x 21.5 cm), housed in a fine morocco backed clamshell case. Folds, else fine, acquired from Bauman Rare Books.
"We conclude that in the field of public education the doctrine of 'separate but equal' has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." This is a rare signed copy of the full 11-page Supreme Court opinion of the first Brown v. Board of Education case, a landmark of American jurisprudence and a watershed moment of the Civil Rights Movement. The opinion, which established that racial segregation in public schools in unconstitutional, is signed by Chief Justice Earl Warren and is a rare example thus. A second case, known as Brown II, related to the difficult task of carrying out desegregation. We trace few artifacts of this importance relating to this landmark case in the auction record.
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
