May 1, 2024 10:00 EST
Rare Books, Autographs & Maps
220
Spectacular catalogue of American wood engravings used by a Boston publisher
[AMERICAN WOOD ENGRAVING]
Catalogue, possibly unique, of the woodcuts and engravings used by the Boston firm of Munroe & Francis [later operating as Joseph H. Francis of Boston and Charles S. Francis of New York]. Probably prepared Boston: circa 1840s. Old three-quarters brown calf, marbled sides. 13 3/4 x 8 1/2 inches (35.5 x 21.5 cm); 233 ff. (plus several blank leaves), with thousands of wood engravings for the publications of the firm, including illustrations, title-pages, headpieces, tailpieces, decorative alphabets etc. The binding lacking the spine, heavily worn and quite defective, the leaves generally clean, a few with tears, but in all a remarkable survival. According to an old ink note on the front paste-down, this was the copy of Charles Dibble Strong.
The list of books produced by the firm during the many years of its existence is extremely extensive. They were first active in Boston (as Munroe & Francis) from approximately 1805; later they opened a New York branch. They had a ready trade in children's picture books among other things, and their list included (for example) a Mother Goose. This specialization is clearly reflected in the present catalogue of their stock of illustrative cuts. The earliest readily datable wood engravings here are some title vignettes dated from 1835 on, and the last to which we feel we can assign a date is an edition of Thomas Moore's The Epicurean, first published by them in 1841 according to OCLC/WorldCat. Graphically, the range of cuts shown here is quite compelling.
According to an ink note on the front pastedown, this work was owned by the publisher Charles Dibble Strong, and the note further states "these illustrations were used in the books he published." The exact import of this is unclear; Strong served as a foreman in a Boston shop (see the American Antiquarian Society account of his career), then in 1830 he became a publisher and stationer in his own right, specializing in Methodist literature, though he also published such works as Peter Parley's A Pictorial Geography of the World. Possibly he purchased the cuts from the firm of Francis? All the cuts in the present work are numbered in pencil for identification, as if they were indexed for use, so this certainly seems to be a possibility.
Sold for $8,960
Estimated at $1,000 - $1,500
Includes Buyer's Premium
[AMERICAN WOOD ENGRAVING]
Catalogue, possibly unique, of the woodcuts and engravings used by the Boston firm of Munroe & Francis [later operating as Joseph H. Francis of Boston and Charles S. Francis of New York]. Probably prepared Boston: circa 1840s. Old three-quarters brown calf, marbled sides. 13 3/4 x 8 1/2 inches (35.5 x 21.5 cm); 233 ff. (plus several blank leaves), with thousands of wood engravings for the publications of the firm, including illustrations, title-pages, headpieces, tailpieces, decorative alphabets etc. The binding lacking the spine, heavily worn and quite defective, the leaves generally clean, a few with tears, but in all a remarkable survival. According to an old ink note on the front paste-down, this was the copy of Charles Dibble Strong.
The list of books produced by the firm during the many years of its existence is extremely extensive. They were first active in Boston (as Munroe & Francis) from approximately 1805; later they opened a New York branch. They had a ready trade in children's picture books among other things, and their list included (for example) a Mother Goose. This specialization is clearly reflected in the present catalogue of their stock of illustrative cuts. The earliest readily datable wood engravings here are some title vignettes dated from 1835 on, and the last to which we feel we can assign a date is an edition of Thomas Moore's The Epicurean, first published by them in 1841 according to OCLC/WorldCat. Graphically, the range of cuts shown here is quite compelling.
According to an ink note on the front pastedown, this work was owned by the publisher Charles Dibble Strong, and the note further states "these illustrations were used in the books he published." The exact import of this is unclear; Strong served as a foreman in a Boston shop (see the American Antiquarian Society account of his career), then in 1830 he became a publisher and stationer in his own right, specializing in Methodist literature, though he also published such works as Peter Parley's A Pictorial Geography of the World. Possibly he purchased the cuts from the firm of Francis? All the cuts in the present work are numbered in pencil for identification, as if they were indexed for use, so this certainly seems to be a possibility.
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
