PHILADELPHIA, May 25, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Audubon, Dickens, Jefferson, Bronte, Montaigne, Joyce are all the sought after names that can be found in Freemans May 31st sale of Fine Books, Maps, Prints and Manuscripts.
18th and 19th century American and English naturalist printings are showcased in the sale, from 18th century English naturalist Mark Catesby to the famed American naturalist John James Audubon. Expected to take flight are John James Audubon's hand-colored engraved folios, including the desirable "Snowy Owls', estimated at $70,000-100,000 and the Great White Heron, estimated at $50,000-80,000. Estimated at $30,000-50,000 is a first edition octavo set of John James Audubon's Birds of America. John Henry Elwes sumptuous folio of Hand-Colored Lithographs of Lilies are estimated at $8,000-12,000. The Mark Catesby engravings and bold John Gould Toucan lithographs, have more modest estimates, with most under $1,000.
Literary enthusiasts have an opportunity to purchase the first Paris edition, Essais de Messire Michel, Seigneur de Montaigne. Michel Montaigne is attributed with inventing the form of the literary essay. This edition, published in 1587 is estimated at $20,000-30,000. Another scarce piece of literature is an unrecorded printing of Charles' Dickens' Oliver Twist, published in parts by Carey, Lea and Blanchard, estimated for $4,000-6,000. A trial issue of A Christmas Carol, also by Dickens, is up for auction estimated at $2,500-3,500. Also of note is the first American edition of Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, estimated at $2,500-3,500.
A milestone of 20th century literature featured in the sale is James Joyce's Finnegans Wake, signed by Joyce, estimate at $3,000-5,000. Prominent pieces of 18th and 19th century Americana include a rare signed ¾ salt print portrait of Robert E. Lee, estimate at $3,000-5,000; a letter signed in body, by Thomas Jefferson, discussing the agriculture of Pecans, estimated at $8,000-12,000, and a charged letter written by the great american engineer Robert Fulton to his attorney is estimated at $5,000-8,000.
20th century notables in the sale include a personalized letter from Wilbur Wright to a young student, estimated at $3,000-5,000, and three presentation copies of books by Dwight Eisenhower, inscribed to his brother, estimated at $2,500-3,500 each.
Other areas of interest in the sale include a fine collection of 16th and 17th Italian books on ballistics, a large collection of illustrated books relating to Japan and China; including desirable crepe books and color plate books and many early French imprints covering travel, literature and history. Questions on the sale can be directed to David Bloom at dbloom@freemansauction.com.
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