On April 26, 2017, Doyle held an auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps. The auction showcased a diverse range of material from early illuminated manuscripts to modern first editions. Offering included landmark works in Americana, science, literature, including finely bound library sets, and original illustration art.
With competitive bidding in the salesroom, on the telephones and on the Internet, the sale totaled a strong $1,124,687, near, the top end of the pre-sale estimate of $753,450-1,147,850, with a strong 86% sold by lot and 94% sold by value.
An Important Civil War Archive
Highlighting the sale was the important career-spanning papers of Brevet Major General John Gross Barnard (1815-1882) that achieved a spectacular $372,500, far surpassing its estimate of $75,000-100,000. During the American Civil War, Barnard served as Chief Engineer of the Army of the Potomac responsible for the defense of Washington, DC, and subsequently as General Grant's Chief Engineer of Armies in the Field. Offered as a single lot, the archive comprised hundreds of private letters, maps, photographs and more. Highlights include autograph documents and letters of Abraham Lincoln, William Tecumseh Sherman, Pierre G.T. Beauregard and others. It is likely the largest such group of papers of a high-ranking Civil War General to be offered at auction.
The College of New Rochelle
Doyle was honored to auction two collections of rare books consigned by the College of New Rochelle. The first collection was devoted to the works of Sir Thomas More and included the first Basel and third overall edition of Utopia, along with other editions of that seminal work. The second collection was devoted to the Irish author James Joyce and was highlighted by fine copies of Chamber Music, Dubliners, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, and Ulysses.
Photographs
The Photographs section of the auction offered fine art, early photography, such as travel albums and daguerreotypes, and photographic literature, comprising lots 1 - 141. More
All prices include the Buyer's Premium.
We Invite You to Auction!
Consignments are currently being accepted for the Fall 2017 auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps. 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 Edward Ripley-Duggan at 212-427-4141, ext 234, or Peter Costanzo at ext. 248, or email Books@Doyle.com