May 1, 2024 10:00 EST
Rare Books, Autographs & Maps
257
The History of the Massachusetts 54th Regiment, basis for the film Glory
Estate / Collection: Property from the Rotondaro Collection
[CIVIL WAR]
EMILIO, LUIS F. History of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment of the Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, 1863-1865. [A Brave Black Regiment.] Boston: Boston Book Company, 1891. First edition. Publisher's dark green cloth gilt lettered in gilt. 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches (22 x 14 cm); with 20 photographic plates and nine maps (two folding). A very fine and bright copy with only some offset and toning to endpapers and a slight lean, bookplate of Joseph J. McGuigan.
This scarce first edition offers the history of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the first African-American regiment raised in the Civil War. The regiment included two of Frederick Douglass' sons and William Carney, the first African American to receive the Medal of Honor. The regiment is best known for its brave assault on Fort Wagner in July 1863 but saw heavy action throughout the war. Author Luis Emilio was a captain in the regiment under commander Colonel Robert Gould Shaw who was killed at Fort Wagner and as the highest-ranking surviving officer emerged from the battle as Acting Commander. The story of the regiment inspired the 1989 Oscar-winning film Glory. The book is rarely encountered in auction, particularly in such collectible condition as the present copy.
Sold for $1,536
Estimated at $1,000 - $1,500
Includes Buyer's Premium
Estate / Collection: Property from the Rotondaro Collection
[CIVIL WAR]
EMILIO, LUIS F. History of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment of the Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, 1863-1865. [A Brave Black Regiment.] Boston: Boston Book Company, 1891. First edition. Publisher's dark green cloth gilt lettered in gilt. 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches (22 x 14 cm); with 20 photographic plates and nine maps (two folding). A very fine and bright copy with only some offset and toning to endpapers and a slight lean, bookplate of Joseph J. McGuigan.
This scarce first edition offers the history of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the first African-American regiment raised in the Civil War. The regiment included two of Frederick Douglass' sons and William Carney, the first African American to receive the Medal of Honor. The regiment is best known for its brave assault on Fort Wagner in July 1863 but saw heavy action throughout the war. Author Luis Emilio was a captain in the regiment under commander Colonel Robert Gould Shaw who was killed at Fort Wagner and as the highest-ranking surviving officer emerged from the battle as Acting Commander. The story of the regiment inspired the 1989 Oscar-winning film Glory. The book is rarely encountered in auction, particularly in such collectible condition as the present copy.
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
