The Library of Dr. Rodney P. Swantko was sold at Sotheby’s on June 26th in New York as 47 lots were offered and 36 sold. Among them was the original cover art for “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” that brought $1,920,000 against $400,000 - $600,000 estimates. The sale overall brought $6,024,480.
While the above mentioned cover art made the New York Times in their June 28th edition, the sale had other appealing lots too.
Frank L. Baum’s “The Wizard of Oz” (1900) brought $108,000
Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” (1843) presentation copy brought $228,000
Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle’s “The most significant Sherlock Holmes manuscript extant” of The Sign of the Four. It brought $960,000.
Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle’s – Sidney Paget Original Illustration of “The Death of Sherlock Holmes.” It brought $384,000.
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby, first edition.” It brought $336,000.
Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road; first edition.” $120,000
Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita, first edition.” $264,000
Edgar Allan Poe’s Tamerlane: $420,000
Edgar Allan Poe’s “The earliest Poe manuscript still in private hands.” $216,000
Edgar Allan Poe’s “The fever called living is conquered at last.” $504,000
Walt Whitman. “Unscrew the locks from the doors! Unscrew the doors themselves from their jambs!” $132,000
Dr. Swantko went home as a winner twice. While he converted some of his material into big bucks, he’ll still have 11 unsold lots to keep nearby. To keep his spirits up before those 11 unsold slip away, I’ll quote Ron in The Prisoner of Azkaban, “Don’t let the muggles get you down.”
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24 to January 9
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Ellis Smith Prints unsigned. 20” by 16”.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: United typothetae of America presidents. Pictures of 37 UTA presidents 46th annual convention United typothetae of America Cincinnati 1932.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec signed Paper Impressionism Art Prints. MayMilton 9 1/2” by 13” Reine de Joie 9 1/2” by 13”.
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24 to January 9
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Aberle’ Ballet editions. 108th triumph, American season spring and summer 1944.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Puss ‘n Boots. 1994 Charles Perrult All four are signed by Andreas Deja
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Specimen book of type faces. Job composition department, Philadelphia gazette publishing company .
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24 to January 9
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: An exhibit of printed books, Bridwell library.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur Court By Mark Twain 1889.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: 1963 Philadelphia Eagles official program.
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24 to January 9
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: 8 - Esquire the magazine for men 1954.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: The American printer, July 1910.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Leaves of grass 1855 by Walt Whitman.
Sotheby's Fine Books, Manuscripts & More Available for Immediate Purchase
Sotheby’s: William Shakespeare. The Poems and Sonnets of William Shakespeare, 1960. 7,210 USD
Sotheby’s: Charles Dickens. A Christmas Carol, First Edition, 1843. 17,500 USD
Sotheby’s: William Golding. Lord of the Flies, First Edition, 1954. 5,400 USD
Sotheby's Fine Books, Manuscripts & More Available for Immediate Purchase
Sotheby’s: Lewis Carroll. Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There, Inscribed First Edition, 1872. 25,000 USD
Sotheby’s: J.R.R. Tolkien. The Hobbit, First Edition, 1937. 12,000 USD
Sotheby’s: John Milton. Paradise Lost, 1759. 5,400 USD
