Apr 16, 2026 10:00 EST
Rare Books, Autographs & Maps
45
100 superb color plates after Ledermüller
LEDERMÜLLER, MARTIN FROBENIUS
Mikroskopische Gemüths- und Augen-Ergötzung. Nuremberg: Christian de Launoy, 1760-1761. First editions of the first two (of three) parts, issued in successive years. Two volumes bound as one, contemporary German calf of the period, all edges red. 9 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches (24 x 19 cm); [viii, title and preliminaries of first part], [xii, title and preliminaries of second part, including the portrait of Frederick the Great], 202, [2] pp.; superb hand-colored engraved emblematic frontispiece and 100 engraved plates, most with hand-coloring. The binding is quite worn; the text and plates are generally clean and most attractive.
The Mikroskopische Gemüths- und Augen-Ergötzung (Microscopic Delights for the Mind and Eyes) was issued in three annual parts, only two of which are present here. Because of the annual schedule of publication, it is not uncommon to find separate portions of the work, and it is possible (given the presence of both title pages and the final plate list) that this two-part version was published as a complete work by de Launoy before the final part was issued. These are some of the most beautiful hand-colored plates in the history of microscopy; witness the plate on the culture of cochineal, and the near-abstract qualities of some of the other plates.
Sold for $1,792
Estimated at $2,000 - $3,000
Includes Buyer's Premium
LEDERMÜLLER, MARTIN FROBENIUS
Mikroskopische Gemüths- und Augen-Ergötzung. Nuremberg: Christian de Launoy, 1760-1761. First editions of the first two (of three) parts, issued in successive years. Two volumes bound as one, contemporary German calf of the period, all edges red. 9 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches (24 x 19 cm); [viii, title and preliminaries of first part], [xii, title and preliminaries of second part, including the portrait of Frederick the Great], 202, [2] pp.; superb hand-colored engraved emblematic frontispiece and 100 engraved plates, most with hand-coloring. The binding is quite worn; the text and plates are generally clean and most attractive.
The Mikroskopische Gemüths- und Augen-Ergötzung (Microscopic Delights for the Mind and Eyes) was issued in three annual parts, only two of which are present here. Because of the annual schedule of publication, it is not uncommon to find separate portions of the work, and it is possible (given the presence of both title pages and the final plate list) that this two-part version was published as a complete work by de Launoy before the final part was issued. These are some of the most beautiful hand-colored plates in the history of microscopy; witness the plate on the culture of cochineal, and the near-abstract qualities of some of the other plates.
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.
