Old World Auctions (Nov 12): Lot 75. The Second Printed Map of the North American Continent - Full Contemporary Color (1593) Est. $35,000 - $40,000
Old World Auctions (Nov 12): Lot 37. Schedel's Ancient World Map with Fantastic Humanoid Creatures (1493) Est. $16,000 - $18,000
Old World Auctions (Nov 12): Lot 104. Important Revolutionary War Plan of Battle of Quebec in Contemporary Color (1776) Est. $4,000 - $4,750
Old World Auctions (Nov 12): Lot 43. Mercator's Map of the North Pole - the First Printed Map Devoted to the Arctic (1606) Est. $2,750 - $3,500
Old World Auctions (Nov 12): Lot 237. Rare and Striking Bird's-Eye View of Lawrence, Kansas (1880) Est. $2,000 - $2,500
Old World Auctions (Nov 12): Lot 10. Rare Map from Atlas Maior with Representations of the Seasons in Contemporary Color (1662) Est. $14,000 - $17,000
Old World Auctions (Nov 12): Lot 374. Bunting's Map of Europe Depicted as the Queen of the World (1589) Est. $2,000 - $2,400
Old World Auctions (Nov 12): Lot 590. Willem Blaeu's Magnificent Carte-a-Figures Map of Asia (1634) Est. $2,750 - $3,500
Old World Auctions (Nov 12): Lot 647. The Earliest and Most Decorative Map of the East Coast of Africa (1596) Est. $3,000 - $3,750
Old World Auctions (Nov 12): Lot 710. Ruscelli's Complete, Third Edition Atlas with 65 Maps (1574) Est. $9,500 - $11,000
Old World Auctions (Nov 12): Lot 696. Superb Hand-Colored Image of the Adoration of the Shepherds (1502) Est. $800 - $950
University Archives Rare Autographs, Manuscripts & Books Now through Nov. 19
University Archives, Nov. 19: Lot 308 - Bob Dylan Handwritten & Signed Lyrics to "Just Like a Woman" With Jeff Rosen & JSA Authentication
University Archives, Nov. 19: Lot 455 - Isaac Newton Admiration For Judaism & Moral Continuity With Christianity! 350+ Words in his Hand - Extraordinary Content!
University Archives, Nov. 19: Lot 219 - 371g Moon Meteorite, Incredible Find - Laâyoune 002
University Archives Rare Autographs, Manuscripts & Books Now through Nov. 19
University Archives, Nov. 19: Lot 448 - Scarce Einstein AM on Unified Field Theory, 180+ Words & 11 Equations in His Hand! From His Published Article, "A Generalization of the Relativistic Theory of Gravitation"
University Archives, Nov. 19: Lot 159 - Woodrow Wilson Baseball Signed for WWI Red Cross Fundraiser, Ex. Forbes & PSA Authentic - Finest Known!
University Archives, Nov. 19: Lot 84 - Lee Harvey Oswald ALS to Brother, Trying Desperately to Get out of Russia! Highly Important
University Archives Rare Autographs, Manuscripts & Books Now through Nov. 19
University Archives, Nov. 19: Lot 152 - George Washington Signed Discharge for MA Soldier Whose Regiment Was at Bunker Hill!
University Archives, Nov. 19: Lot 88 - Abraham Lincoln Fully Signed Military Appointment for Mexican War Vet & Respected Cavalryman
University Archives, Nov. 19: Lot 188 - Apollo XI Astronauts & Their Wives Signed Photo, Plus Crew Signed Cover, From Apollo XI Presidential Goodwill Tour Era, Pre-Cert Zarelli
University Archives Rare Autographs, Manuscripts & Books Now through Nov. 19
University Archives, Nov. 19: Lot 265 - Martin Luther King, Jr. TLS Re: "Stride Toward Freedom" Film Rights To Literary Agent Marie Rodell
University Archives, Nov. 19: Lot 324 - John Lennon Signed Apple Records Check, PSA GEM MT 10! Possibly Finest Known
University Archives, Nov. 19: Lot 79 - John & Jacqueline Kennedy Signed WH 1963 Christmas Gift Inscribed to Close Friend Joan Braden, PSA Authentic
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Doyle, Nov. 5: The Director's copy of the first edition of Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot, inscribed by Beckett. $7,000 to $10,000.
Doyle, Nov. 5: Don McLean's personal test pressing of American Pie before mass production, gifted in 1971. $8,000 to $12,000.
Doyle, Nov. 5: The important and extensive archive of original fashion photographs of model Dorothy Rice, 1945-58. $20,000 to $30,000.
Doyle, Nov. 5: A Charles Adams theater advertisement. $8,000 to $12,000.
Doyle, Nov. 5: A Small Patinated Bronze Bust of Marlene Dietrich. $800 to $1,200.
Doyle, Nov. 5: Marlene Dietrich Studio Photograph. $100 to $200.
Doyle, Nov. 5: The very large and uncommon British Quad for Hitchcock's The Birds. $500 to $800.
Doyle, Nov. 5: An Original Crystal "Sputnik" from the 1966 Met Opera Chandelier. $3,000 to $5,000.
Doyle, Nov. 5: The rare poster from the first American performances of Endgame, 1958. $1,000 to $1,500.
Doyle, Nov. 5: The original Coconut Grove Playhouse poster for Waiting for Godot, possibly unique. $3,000 to $5,000.
At least it wasn't a century overdue. Credit the apparent borrower Charles Tilton with that. Not that he personally returned it. Credit must go to his responsible granddaughter, Mary Cooper. She is the one who returned the book to the Ocean County Library (New Jersey). Ms. Cooper found it when going through a box of things left by her mother who died decades ago. She wasn't even fined. The book was due on March 31, 1926. Charles Tilton died in a dry dock accident the following year, so he didn't delay quite as long as it seems, but still, he did have a year to return a book that was due in two weeks.
The book is Home-Made Toys for Girls and Boys, by A. Neely Hall. A book of toy-building instructions isn't something you just read and put away. You would need to refer to it in the process, making a delay understandable, although he still could have renewed it first. Ms. Cooper said her grandfather built sailboats and made toys, so it is not surprising he took out this book. Mr. Tilton died before Ms. Cooper was born, but my guess is the book and its subject matter probably helped her to know him a little better.
Ms. Cooper said when she initially brought the book back, the librarian said they weren't looking for donations of old books. She had to tell her to look carefully at the book. Then, a whole group of people gathered around to see the oddity.
There won't be much in the way of the most popular toys today found here. No computer games or anything electric. But, toys that don't need transistors and diodes will be found, and probably would be good projects for children who like to build things with their hands. There is also gender neutrality that might not be expected for the age, but is refreshing to see. “Some of the toys will be of especial interest to boys, yet girls who like what boys like will enjoy making them also.” Girls don't have to play with dolls, even though the book was published all the way back in 1915.
The book will not be loaned out again. Instead, it has been put in a glass display. The 99-year timing is perfect, as the Ocean County Library will be celebrating its 100th anniversary this summer. It would seem that this must be one of its earliest books and the oldest one still around.
Bonhams, Nov. 3-13: Inscribed by Martin Luther King Jr. King, Martin Luther, Jr. $3,000-$5,000
Doyle Rare Books, Autographs & Maps November 25
Doyle Rare Books, Autographs & Maps November 25
Doyle Rare Books, Autographs & Maps November 25
Doyle Rare Books, Autographs & Maps November 25
Doyle Rare Books, Autographs & Maps November 25
Doyle Rare Books, Autographs & Maps November 25
Doyle Rare Books, Autographs & Maps November 25
Doyle Rare Books, Autographs & Maps November 25
Sotheby's Fine Books, Manuscripts & More Available for Immediate Purchase
Sotheby’s: William Shakespeare. The Temple Shakespeare. Housed in Custom Bookcase. $6,365.
Sotheby’s: Frederick Douglass. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Boston: Anti-Slavery Office, 1845. $14,000.
Sotheby’s: Charles Dickens. A Christmas Carol. London: William Heinemann, 1915. $2,900.
Sotheby’s: F. Scott Fitzgerald. First Edition Set, Including This Side of Paradise, The Great Gatsby, and others. Charles Scribner's Sons. 1920 – 1941. $24,180.
Sotheby’s: Lewis Carroll [Charles Lutwidge Dodgson], John Tenniel. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland First Edition. Macmillan & Co., 1866. $15,000.