Beschrijving
Christie’s, London, auction catalogue for the sale held on 23rd June, 1993.
252 lots.
Among the highlights noted were the following: the first book printed in English by William Caxton (Bruges: 1473) ; Vérard’s largest book printed on vellum and illustrated with miniatures, (Paris. 1493) the only incunable from Constantinople, in Hebrew (1493); association copy of the third edition of More’s Utopia (Basel:1518); the Duke of Saxony’s vellum issue of Hans Lufft’s Luther Bible (Wittenberg: 1560-61); one of four surviving copies of Sir Philip Sidney’s Astrophel and Stella (London: 1591); unique copy of John Newbery’s first publication for children (London and Salisbury 1743-44); a complete set of Piranesi’s works in full contemporary morocco (Rome and Paris 1756-1837); one of only sixty-five sets issued of Sibthorp’s Flora Graeca (London: 1845); Franconian cuir-ciselé binding in exceptionally fine condition (ca. 1400); Gold-Tooled Bookbindings by Padeloup, Derôme, Walther, Staggemeier and Welcher; Books bound for J. A. Michieli, Sir Kenelm Digby, Consul Smith, Comte de Viella, Beriah Botfield; illuminated Books of Hours and Bibles from France (13th-15th Century); Shelley’s annotated copy of Homer; John Ruskin’s correspondence with Louise Blandy and her Family; Autograph manuscript of Robert Graves’s Last Poems; revised final draft of Jeffrey Archer’s first novel; autograph music by Bartok, Donizetti, Giordano, Gounod, Puccini, Stravinsky.