The EU Ambassadors Book Collection: A Gift from Europe to America on Her 250th Anniversary
- by Michael Stillman
The EU Ambassadors Books (EEAS - European External Action Service – photo).
The United States has received a gift from 27 of its closest friends for the nation's 250th anniversary. Those countries are the members of the European Union, and for the most part they were with us in 1776. For sure, France was. England wasn't, but they aren't in the EU. They are, however, our friends today. Time heals all wounds.
This project is officially known as the EU Ambassadors Book Collection: Words That Unite, Stories That Connect. The gifts are books, each selected by the EU ambassadors. They are English translations of books “that reflect its national spirit or connections to the U.S. The initiative honors shared history while investing in a future shaped by empathy and mutual respect, and it reaffirms the European Union and the United States’ commitment to literacy, cultural exchange, and the power of stories to bring people together. Together, the donated volumes form a collective gift symbolizing friendship and the power of ideas to transcend borders.”
Jovita Neliupšienė, EU Ambassador to the United States, explained, “I have always believed that books are one of the most meaningful forms of diplomacy. Long before we meet one another, we encounter each other through stories — through the characters, histories, humor, and values that shape our societies. This collection invites American readers to discover Europe not through headlines or politics, but through literature. It is both a celebration of America’s 250th anniversary and a tribute to the enduring friendship between Europeans and Americans.”
Some of these books will be very familiar to you. Other probably not. They all undoubtedly represent works that the giving country sees as important. Here is the list.
Austria: “The Marshall Plan - Since 1947. Saving Europe, Rebuilding Austria” (2017) by Günter Bischof & Hans Petschar
Belgium: “Maigret in New York” (1947) by Georges Simenon (Translated by Linda Coverdale)
Bulgaria: “Time Shelter” (2022) by Georgi Gospodinov (Translated by Angela Rodel)
Croatia: “The Goldsmith's Treasure” (1871) by August Šenoa
Cyprus: “American Dreams: The Story of the Cyprus Fulbright Commission” (2024) by Keith E. Peterson
Czech Republic: “Václav Havel: The Power of the Powerless in the 20th Century” (2023) by Martin Vopěnka
Denmark: “The Copenhagen Trilogy” (1971) by Tove Ditlevsen
Estonia: “Silverwhite” (1976) by Lennart Meri (Translated by Adam Cullen)
Finland: “Beasts of the Sea” (2025) by Iida Turpeinen (Translated by David Hackston)
France: “Democracy in America” (1835) by Alexis de Tocqueville (Translated by Arthur Goldhammer)
Germany: “The Long Road West,” Volume I 1789-1933 & Volume II 1933-1990 (2007) by Heinrich August Winkler
Greece: “The Iliad” (approx. 8th century BCE) by Homer (Translated by Peter Green)
Hungary: “Embers” (1942) by Sándor Márai (Translated in Carol Brown Janeway)
Ireland: “Outside History” (1990) by Eavan Boland
Italy: “A Thousand Wonders: A Journey to Discover Italy” (2020) and “A Thousand Wonders in Blue: Discovering Italy by Sea” (2023) by Geronimo Stilton (2023)
Latvia: “Birkerts. Libraries. Light.” Birkerts’ Centenary Edition (2025) by Latvian National Library Support Foundation
Lithuania: “White Shroud” (2018) by Antanas Skema (Translated by Karla Gruodis)
Luxembourg: “Luxembourg-America, 19th, 20th and 21st Centuries” (2015) by Georges Calteux, Paul Dostert, Ferdy Dumon, Jean Esch, Carlo Krieger, Paul Lesch, Sandra Schmit, Guy Thomas, Pauline Weis
Malta: “Diplomat by Destiny” (2025) by George Saliba
Netherlands: “Bells for America: The Cold War, Modernism, and the Netherlands Carillon in Arlington” (2021) by Diederik Oostdijk
Poland: “The Peasant Prince: Thaddeus Kosciuszko and the Age of Revolution” (2009) by Alex Storozynski
Portugal: “Above the Salt” (2023) by Katherine Vaz
Romania: “The Hooligan's Return: A Memoir” (2003) by Norman Manea (Translated by Angela Jianu)
Slovakia: “Sergeant Michael Strank: Mary (Strank) Pero’s Memory Book of Her Brother” (2009) by Bruce Bauer and Carol Bauer
Slovenia: “The Complete Plays” (2012) by Ivan Cankar
Spain: “The Revolt of the Masses” (1937) by José Ortega y Gasset
Sweden: “Swede Hollow” (2019) by Ola Larsmo (Translated by Tiina Nunnally)
European Union: “Memoirs” (1978) by Jean Monnet (Translated by Richard Mayne)
Heritage Auctions, Oct. 14: Bible, in English. Fine restoration binding in the style of the Queen’s binders.
Heritage Auctions, Oct. 14: Magnus Hundt, the elder. First edition of one of the earliest printed books with anatomical illustrations.
Heritage Auctions, Oct. 14: Agatha Christie. Cards on the Table. First edition.
Heritage Auctions, Oct. 14: F. Scott Fitzgerald. The Beautiful and Damned. First edition, first printing.
Heritage Auctions, Oct. 14: Isaac Asimov. I, Robot. First edition, presentation copy.
Heritage Auctions, Oct. 14: Bible, in English. Geneva-Tomson-Junius. London: Robert Barker, [colophon 1612]/1611.
Sotheby’s Original Film Posters 10 September 2026
Sotheby’s, Sep. 10: The Invisible Man (1933). Extremely Rare US Leader Press One Sheet. £20,000 to £26,000.
Sotheby’s, Sep. 10: You Only Live Twice (1967). Italian Advance Quattro Fogli. £10,000 to £15,000.
Sotheby’s, Sep. 10: A Dog's Life (1918). Extremely Rare US One Sheet. £50,000 to £70,000.
Sotheby’s, Sep. 10: La Belle et la Bête/Beauty and the Beast (1946). French Style A Grande. £12,000 to £18,000.
Sotheby’s, Sep. 10: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004). US Lenticular Prototype One Sheet. £10,000 to £15,000.
Sotheby’s, Sep. 10: Théâtre d’Ombres (1897). Exceptionally Rare French Poster. £8,000 to £12,000.
Old World Auctions (Sept 16): Lot 11. Blaeu's Superb World Map on a Polar Projection (1695) Est. $5,500 - $7,000
Old World Auctions (Sept 16): Lot 702. Munster's Largest 16th Century Edition, with Over 220 Woodcut Maps (1598) Est. $18,000 - $20,000
Old World Auctions (Sept 16): Lot 101. Rare Jo Mora "Carte" Showing a NYC-to-Seattle Route through Panama Canal (1933) Est. $900 - $1,100
Old World Auctions (Sept 16): Lot 65. The Waldseemuller/Fries "Admiral's Map" (1541) Est. $8,000 - $9,500
Old World Auctions (Sept 16): Lot 46. Contains all 30 Plates from Atlas Coelestis in Full Original Color (1742) Est. $16,000 - $18,000
Old World Auctions (Sept 16): Lot 129. The First Map to Name New Scotland and Cape Cod (1625) Est. $8,000 - $9,500
Old World Auctions (Sept 16): Lot 663. The First Printed Map Devoted to the Pacific in Full Contemporary Color (1589) Est. $7,500 - $9,000
Old World Auctions (Sept 16): Lot 629. De Jode's Rare Map of Eastern Asia (1593) Est. $7,500 - $9,000
Old World Auctions (Sept 16): Lot 171. De Bry's Influential Map of Colonial North America (1591) Est. $11,000 - $13,000
Old World Auctions (Sept 16): Lot 691. Superb Hand-Colored Image of the Holy Trinity (1502) Est. $800 - $950
Old World Auctions (Sept 16): Lot 606. Important, Early Atlas of Japan with 75 Woodcut Maps in Printed Color (1837) Est. $2,000 - $2,300
Koller, Sep. 16: FRANZÖSISCHE REVOLUTION - ASSEMBLÉE NATIONALE - Extrait des Procès-Verbaux de L'Assemblée Nationale, Des 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26 Août & premier Octobre 1789.
Koller, Sep. 16: MOURADJA D'OHSSON, IGNACE. Tableau général de l'Empire Othoman, divisé en deux parties dont l'une comprend la Législation Mahométane, l'autre l'histoire de l'Empire Othoman [... ]
Koller, Sep. 16: BOTANIK - Blackwell, Elisabeth. A curious herbal, containig five hundred cuts, of the most useful plants, which are now used in the practice of physick.
Koller, Sep. 16: HAIMONSKINDER – Eyn schön lustig Geschicht, wie Keyser Carle der groß, vier gebrüder, Hertzog Aymont von Dordons Süne [...]
Koller, Sep. 16: KRÄUTERBÜCHER - HORTUS SANITATIS - [H]ortus Sanitatis. De herbis et plantis. De animalibus et reptilibus. De avibus et volatilibus. De piscibus et natalibus…
Koller, Sep. 16: GAUGUIN, PAUL, MALER (1848-1903). Eigenhändiger Brief mit Unterschrift und Couvert. An den Künstler und Freund Daniel de Monfreid in Paris.
Forum Auctions Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper 24th September 2026
Forum, Sep. 24:A Plan of the Cities of London and Westminster and Borough of Southwark, 1746 [bound with] A Plan of the Cities of London and Westminster, [c.1755]. £30,000 - £50,000
Forum, Sep. 24: Gafurius (Franchinus). De Harmonia Musicorum Instrumentorum Opus, first edition, Milan, Gotarto da Ponte, 1518. £20,000 - £30,000
Forum, Sep. 24: Tolkien (J.R.R.) The Hobbit, first edition, first impression, 1937. £10,000 - £15,000
Forum Auctions Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper 24th September 2026
Forum, Sep. 24: Stackelberg (Otto Magnus v). Costumes et Usages des Peuples de la Grece Moderne, first edition, Rome, 1825. £15,000 - £20,000
Forum, Sep. 24: Piranesi (Giovanni Battista). Le Antichita Romane, 4 vol., Rome, Bouchard and Gravier, 1756. £10,000 - £15,000
Forum, Sep. 24: Henry VIII's Primer.- Church of England.- The Primer, set foorth by the Kynges maiestie and his clergie…,, first edition, by Richard Grafton printer to the Princes grace, 1545; bound with 2 others, similar. £10,000 - £15,000
Forum Auctions Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper 24th September 2026
Forum, Sep. 24: Darwin (Charles). On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, fifth edition, ink inscription in the author's hand laid down to half-title, 1869. £6,000 - £8,000
Forum, Sep. 24: Siebold (P.F. von) J.G. Zuccarini and F.A.W. Miquel. Flora Japonica, 2 vol., first edition, Leiden, for the author, 1835-70. £6,000 - £8,000
Forum, Sep. 24: Illuminated manuscript facsimile.- Constitution Of India (The), Dehra Dun, Survey of India Offices, [c. 1950]. £3,500 - £5,000
Forum Auctions Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper 24th September 2026
Forum, Sep. 24: Mao Tse-tung. Quotations of Chairman Mao, prototype edition, Shenyang, compiled and printed by the Political Department, Air Force Division of Shenyang Military Region, 1963. £3,000 - £4,000
Forum, Sep. 24: Richardson (John). Fauna Boreali-Americana; or the Zoology of the Northern Parts of British America, 4 vol., first edition, Norwich, Josiah Fletcher, 1829-37. £4,000 - £6,000
Forum, Sep. 24:Mite (The), the printer/publisher's own copy with the original type and printing blocks for all three of its editions (1891, 1893 & 1896), Grimsby, Ernest A. Robinson, 1891. £3,000 - £4,000.
