May 1, 2024 10:00 EST
Rare Books, Autographs & Maps
259
First edition of Twain's landmark of American literature
Estate / Collection: Property from the Rotondaro Collection
TWAIN, MARK [CLEMENS, SAMUEL]
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Tom Sawyer’s Comrade). New York: Charles L. Webster, 1885. First edition, first issue points listed below. Publisher's green cloth, decorated in gilt and blind, housed in agreen morocco backed slipcase. Spine tips and corners rubbed, short split to hinge, label removed from pastedown, soiling to some text leaves.
First edition of Mark Twain's landmark of American literature, The Adventures of Huckberry Finn. Despite being written in a vernacular style, the novel offers a unique view of slavery, racism, and other aspects of American culture before the Civil War. The book has been highly influential, prompting Ernest Hemingway to declatre that "all modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn.”
The first issue points include. The frontispiece portrait marked "Heliotype Printing Company" with cloth clearly visible underneath the bust; the title in usual 2nd state (a cancel with copyright page dated 1884); p. 9 with "Huck Decided to Leave" instead of "Decides"; p. 13 misprinted "88" in place of "87"; p. 57 misprinted "with the was" instead of "saw"; final five missing in p. 155 in (1st or 2nd state); p. 283 is a cancel. BAL 3415.
Estate / Collection: Property from the Rotondaro Collection
TWAIN, MARK [CLEMENS, SAMUEL]
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Tom Sawyer’s Comrade). New York: Charles L. Webster, 1885. First edition, first issue points listed below. Publisher's green cloth, decorated in gilt and blind, housed in agreen morocco backed slipcase. Spine tips and corners rubbed, short split to hinge, label removed from pastedown, soiling to some text leaves.
First edition of Mark Twain's landmark of American literature, The Adventures of Huckberry Finn. Despite being written in a vernacular style, the novel offers a unique view of slavery, racism, and other aspects of American culture before the Civil War. The book has been highly influential, prompting Ernest Hemingway to declatre that "all modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn.”
The first issue points include. The frontispiece portrait marked "Heliotype Printing Company" with cloth clearly visible underneath the bust; the title in usual 2nd state (a cancel with copyright page dated 1884); p. 9 with "Huck Decided to Leave" instead of "Decides"; p. 13 misprinted "88" in place of "87"; p. 57 misprinted "with the was" instead of "saw"; final five missing in p. 155 in (1st or 2nd state); p. 283 is a cancel. BAL 3415.
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
