Apr 16, 2026 10:00 EST
Rare Books, Autographs & Maps
5
Dante's works, profusely illustrated
The Tina Hills Collection
DANTE ALIGHIERI
Opere del divino poeta Danthe. Venice: Bernardino Stagnino, 1512. Neatly bound in modern dark blue morocco, all edges gilt, 7 3/4 x 5 1/2 inches (19.5 x 14 cm). Collation: 4º: AA12a–z8[et]82a–z82[et]82[con]82[rum]8A–E8. (Lacking leaves E7 and E8 with Dante's Credo, Pater nostro, and Ave Maria.) 438 ff., illustrated with numerous woodcuts throughout. Binding a bit scuffed, with a short gash to the leather on the rear cover. Title page soiled, with early ownership inscriptions, one cancelled, and other pen markings; a small hole to the title page where iron gall ink has eaten through the paper, some loss to text on the verso. Thumbsoiled throughout, with occasional stains. A short marginal tear to leaf e2, a short tear to the top and bottom of the gutter on leaf E6. The last two leaves lacking as noted above.
A pleasing copy of this nicely-illustrated edition of Dante. Adams D-87, Brunet II p. 501, Fiske Catalogue p. 7
Sold for $5,120
Estimated at $2,000 - $4,000
Includes Buyer's Premium
The Tina Hills Collection
DANTE ALIGHIERI
Opere del divino poeta Danthe. Venice: Bernardino Stagnino, 1512. Neatly bound in modern dark blue morocco, all edges gilt, 7 3/4 x 5 1/2 inches (19.5 x 14 cm). Collation: 4º: AA12a–z8[et]82a–z82[et]82[con]82[rum]8A–E8. (Lacking leaves E7 and E8 with Dante's Credo, Pater nostro, and Ave Maria.) 438 ff., illustrated with numerous woodcuts throughout. Binding a bit scuffed, with a short gash to the leather on the rear cover. Title page soiled, with early ownership inscriptions, one cancelled, and other pen markings; a small hole to the title page where iron gall ink has eaten through the paper, some loss to text on the verso. Thumbsoiled throughout, with occasional stains. A short marginal tear to leaf e2, a short tear to the top and bottom of the gutter on leaf E6. The last two leaves lacking as noted above.
A pleasing copy of this nicely-illustrated edition of Dante. Adams D-87, Brunet II p. 501, Fiske Catalogue p. 7
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.
