Charles Darwin, Marcel Proust, Don Juan, the bible, St. Croix in the Virgin Islands and a Touch of Frost – as usual our list of most expensive sales in July 2009 is very eclectic.
AbeBooks’ most expensive sales in July 2009
1. Libellus ysagogicus Abdilasi Id est servi gloriosi dei: qui dicitur Alchabitius ad magisterium iuditiorum astrorum by Alchabitius – $12,500
Early German publisher Erhard Ratdolt produced this volume in 1485 containing the work of Alchabitius, the 10th century Arabian astrologer
2. The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin – $11,000
First American printing, published in 1860, of the book which contained the basis of Darwin’s theory of evolution.
3. Hieronymi Cardani Mediolanensis Medici De Rerum Varietate Libri XVII by Gerolamo Cardano – $7,017
Cardano’s work on natural phenomena, this edition was published in 1557 by Heinrich Petri, the 16th century printer shop of Basel. Cardano was an Italian mathematician, physician, and astrologer, who was also a friend of Leonardo da Vinci.
4. A Touch of Frost, Frost at Christmas, Night Frost, Hard Frost and Winter Frost by R.D. Wingfield – $5,609
A collection of Wingfield first editions, all signed on the title page.
5. Du Côte De Chez Swann by Marcel Proust – $5,000
First edition published in 1913, this was the first instalment of Proust’s seven volume series “In Search of Lost Time.” Later translated into English as Swann’s Way or The Way by Swann’s.
6. Beskrivelse over Eylandet St. Croix I America I Vest-Indien by Reimert Haagensen – $4,500
Published in 1758 in Copenhagen this first edition is an early, and important, description of St. Croix in the Virgin Islands based on the author’s own observations; discussing economic conditions, slavery, social life, and local customs.
7. Don Juan by Lord Byron – $4,500
A collection of first editions of all 16 cantos of Byron?s epic masterpiece, complete in six volumes. Published by Thomas Davison/John Long from 1819-1824.
8. Histoire de la mesure du temps par les horloges by Ferdinand Berthoud – $4,340
Ferdinand Berthoud was a famous Swiss watch and chronometer maker. This is a first edition copy of his book History of Time Measurement by Clocks was published in Paris in 1802.
9. Holy Bible reprint – $3,750
Published by London Nonesuch Press in 1927. Printed in five volumes on Arnold rag paper and limited to 75 copies. This copy was #29.
10. Sefer Tehilim by Sebastian Münster – $3,464
Written in 1538 by German Hebrew scholar Sebastian Münster and published by Hieronymus Froben und Nikolaus Episcopius of Basel.