Apr 16, 2026 10:00 EST
Rare Books, Autographs & Maps
22
Caesar's Commentaries, illustrated by Palladio
Property sold to benefit Albertus Magnus High School
CAESAR, GAIUS JULIUS
I commentarii con le figure in rame de gli alloggiamenti, de' fatti d'arme, delle circonvallationi delle città, & di molte altre cose notabili descritte in essi. Fatte da Andrea Palladio. Venice: Appresso Pietro De' Franceschi, 1575. Contemporary vellum, gilt-stamped lettering-piece, edges stained red. 9 x 6 inches (23 x 15.25 cm); Collation: ∗4 ∗∗ 4 a-c4 A-Z4 AA-ZZ4 Aaa-EEe4, 42 double-page engraved plates; [24], 407, [1] pp. Front cover sprung, old ink drawings of winged creatures to title page, worm track affecting a few of the first and last leaves but not reaching the text or plates, scattered spotting and occasional thumb-soiling to text, remants of original green silk bookmarks. Overall, a very pleasing copy with clean plates.
The first Palladio edition of Caesar's Commentaries, translated by Francesco Baldelli, containing 42 double-page engravings after designs by Andrea Palladio, the influential Italian Renaissance architect. The plates depict most of Caesar's campaigns, fortifications, and battle scenes, including the famous siege of Alesia.
Sold for $1,152
Estimated at $1,000 - $1,500
Includes Buyer's Premium
Property sold to benefit Albertus Magnus High School
CAESAR, GAIUS JULIUS
I commentarii con le figure in rame de gli alloggiamenti, de' fatti d'arme, delle circonvallationi delle città, & di molte altre cose notabili descritte in essi. Fatte da Andrea Palladio. Venice: Appresso Pietro De' Franceschi, 1575. Contemporary vellum, gilt-stamped lettering-piece, edges stained red. 9 x 6 inches (23 x 15.25 cm); Collation: ∗4 ∗∗ 4 a-c4 A-Z4 AA-ZZ4 Aaa-EEe4, 42 double-page engraved plates; [24], 407, [1] pp. Front cover sprung, old ink drawings of winged creatures to title page, worm track affecting a few of the first and last leaves but not reaching the text or plates, scattered spotting and occasional thumb-soiling to text, remants of original green silk bookmarks. Overall, a very pleasing copy with clean plates.
The first Palladio edition of Caesar's Commentaries, translated by Francesco Baldelli, containing 42 double-page engravings after designs by Andrea Palladio, the influential Italian Renaissance architect. The plates depict most of Caesar's campaigns, fortifications, and battle scenes, including the famous siege of Alesia.
Auction: Rare Books, Autographs & Maps, Apr 16, 2026
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Successful Auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps on April 16, 2026 Surpasses Expectations
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Thomas Jefferson Letter Commenting on Toussaint Louverture Achieves $32,000
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Consignments Are Currently Being Accepted for Future Auctions
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We Invite You to Contact Us for Complimentary Auction Estimates of Your Collection
NEW YORK, NY – Doyle's auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps on April 16, 2026 saw international competition drive strong results throughout the sale and a total that surpassed expectations.
Thomas Jefferson Letter on Toussaint Louverture
Highlighting the sale was a fascinating 1802 letter from Thomas Jefferson as president to Maryland Governor John Francis Mercer that achieved a strong $32,000. The remarkable letter captures a rare, candid moment in which Jefferson assesses, with striking clarity, the arrest of Toussaint Louverture, a leader of the Haitian Revolution, by French General Charles LeClerc, Napoleon’s brother-in-law. Jefferson perceptively warned that LeClerc’s actions would erode trust and likely spark further racial conflict—an insight that proved remarkably accurate. Beyond its sharp political foresight, the letter reflects the broader anxiety the Haitian Revolution provoked in the United States, which contributed to decades of diplomatic isolation of Haiti.
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Consignments are currently being accepted for future auctions. We invite you to contact us for complimentary auction estimates. Our Specialists are always available to discuss the sale of a single item or an entire collection.
