May 1, 2024 10:00 EST

Rare Books, Autographs & Maps

 
Lot 202
 

202

A scarce and fragile copy Gertrude Stein's second book

Estate / Collection: The Estate of Michael Feingold

STEIN, GERTRUDE

Portrait of Mabel Dodge at the Villa Curonia. [Firenze: Privately published, printed by Tip. Galileiana, 1912]. First edition, one of 300 unnumbered copies, this copy with the printer's imprint at the foot of page [12]. Original hand-made floral Florentine wallpaper wrappers. 7 1/2 x 5 3/4 inches (19 x 14.5 cm); [12 pp]. The wrappers detached and with small losses to extremities (these pieces detached but present), slight fade and minor staining.

A rare and fragile work, Portrait of Mabel Dodge at the Villa Curonia is Gertrude Stein's second published book. The work provides an impression of Stein's friend, the American socialite Mabel Dodge, and is written in experimental prose. It was Dodge who had the work printed and bought up most copies herself, an episode recorded in Stein's The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas. Wilson notes that "copies exist both with and without printer's imprint ... most copies examined lack the imprint" which is present here. Wilson A2.

Estimated at $3,000 - $5,000

 

Estate / Collection: The Estate of Michael Feingold

STEIN, GERTRUDE

Portrait of Mabel Dodge at the Villa Curonia. [Firenze: Privately published, printed by Tip. Galileiana, 1912]. First edition, one of 300 unnumbered copies, this copy with the printer's imprint at the foot of page [12]. Original hand-made floral Florentine wallpaper wrappers. 7 1/2 x 5 3/4 inches (19 x 14.5 cm); [12 pp]. The wrappers detached and with small losses to extremities (these pieces detached but present), slight fade and minor staining.

A rare and fragile work, Portrait of Mabel Dodge at the Villa Curonia is Gertrude Stein's second published book. The work provides an impression of Stein's friend, the American socialite Mabel Dodge, and is written in experimental prose. It was Dodge who had the work printed and bought up most copies herself, an episode recorded in Stein's The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas. Wilson notes that "copies exist both with and without printer's imprint ... most copies examined lack the imprint" which is present here. Wilson A2.

Auction: Rare Books, Autographs & Maps, May 1, 2024

  • Auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps on May 1, 2024 Totals $1.2 Million

  • A Medieval Manuscript Rules of St. Augustine Achieves $102k

  • 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

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