Source : Harmsworth

Source Title The Harmsworth Trust Library (auctioned in portions)
Description Beginning in 1939 and continuing into 1953, the extraordinary library of Sir. R. Leicester Harmsworth was sold by Sotheby's of London. Sir Leicester (1870 - 1937), who lived during the golden age of valuable and important book acquisition, was a man born to meet the challenge of investing in materials of breathtaking scope. More than sixty-five years after his death a Google search still brings up pages of references to this wealthy and gifted man who pursued with total passion an extraordinary collection of printed materials.
Scope of Text In the this database there are records from a portion of the Harmsworth Library. But consider this. When the Americana portion of the library came to the block for the first time in 1948 the first catalogue (but number 15 of all his books auctioned) was entirely manuscripts. Americana would be sold in 19 parts divided by alphebetic letter. The second Americana sale was simply those items whose author or subject began with the letter B. Pity the poor man who wanted to buy a book by Zarate. For such a book you had to wait until the final Americana sale in 1953.
Total Records in AED 5068
  • <b>Doyle, Nov. 5:</b> The Director's copy of the first edition of Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot, inscribed by Beckett. $7,000 to $10,000. <b>Doyle, Nov. 5:</b> Don McLean's personal test pressing of American Pie before mass production, gifted in 1971. $8,000 to $12,000. <b>Doyle, Nov. 5:</b> The important and extensive archive of original fashion photographs of model Dorothy Rice, 1945-58. $20,000 to $30,000. <b>Doyle, Nov. 5:</b> A Charles Adams theater advertisement. $8,000 to $12,000. <b>Doyle, Nov. 5:</b> A Small Patinated Bronze Bust of Marlene Dietrich. $800 to $1,200. <b>Doyle, Nov. 5:</b> Marlene Dietrich Studio Photograph. $100 to $200. <b>Doyle, Nov. 5:</b> The very large and uncommon British Quad for Hitchcock's The Birds. $500 to $800. <b>Doyle, Nov. 5:</b> An Original Crystal "Sputnik" from the 1966 Met Opera Chandelier. $3,000 to $5,000. <b>Doyle, Nov. 5:</b> The rare poster from the first American performances of Endgame, 1958. $1,000 to $1,500. <b>Doyle, Nov. 5:</b> The original Coconut Grove Playhouse poster for Waiting for Godot, possibly unique. $3,000 to $5,000.
    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.
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  • <b>Old World Auctions (Nov 12):</b><br>Lot 75. The Second Printed Map of the North American Continent - Full Contemporary Color (1593) Est. $35,000 - $40,000 <b>Old World Auctions (Nov 12):</b><br>Lot 37. Schedel's Ancient World Map with Fantastic Humanoid Creatures (1493) Est. $16,000 - $18,000 <b>Old World Auctions (Nov 12):</b><br>Lot 104. Important Revolutionary War Plan of Battle of Quebec in Contemporary Color (1776) Est. $4,000 - $4,750 <b>Old World Auctions (Nov 12):</b><br>Lot 43. Mercator's Map of the North Pole - the First Printed Map Devoted to the Arctic (1606) Est. $2,750 - $3,500 <b>Old World Auctions (Nov 12):</b><br>Lot 237. Rare and Striking Bird's-Eye View of Lawrence, Kansas (1880) Est. $2,000 - $2,500 <b>Old World Auctions (Nov 12):</b><br>Lot 10. Rare Map from Atlas Maior with Representations of the Seasons in Contemporary Color (1662) Est. $14,000 - $17,000 <b>Old World Auctions (Nov 12):</b><br>Lot 374. Bunting's Map of Europe Depicted as the Queen of the World (1589) Est. $2,000 - $2,400 <b>Old World Auctions (Nov 12):</b><br>Lot 590. Willem Blaeu's Magnificent Carte-a-Figures Map of Asia (1634) Est. $2,750 - $3,500 <b>Old World Auctions (Nov 12):</b><br>Lot 647. The Earliest and Most Decorative Map of the East Coast of Africa (1596) Est. $3,000 - $3,750 <b>Old World Auctions (Nov 12):</b><br>Lot 710. Ruscelli's Complete, Third Edition Atlas with 65 Maps (1574) Est. $9,500 - $11,000 <b>Old World Auctions (Nov 12):</b><br>Lot 696. Superb Hand-Colored Image of the Adoration of the Shepherds (1502) Est. $800 - $950
    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
  • <b>Bonhams, Nov. 3-13:</b> Presentation Copy of a Whitman "Holy Grail." Whitman, Walt. $10,000-$15,000. <b>Bonhams, Nov. 3-13:</b> <i>Endymion</i> in Original Boards. Keats, John. $8,000- <b>Bonhams, Nov. 3-13:</b> Association Copy of the Privately Printed Edition of <i>The Tale of Peter Rabbit.</i> Potter, Beatrix. $8,000-$12,000 <b>Bonhams, Nov. 3-13:</b> Christina Rossetti's Own Copy of Her First Book. Rossetti, Christina G. $8,000-$12,000 <b>Bonhams, Nov. 3-13:</b> The Borden Copy of <i>The Life of Merlin</i> in an Elaborate Binding by Riviere. Heywood, Thomas, Translator. $6,000-$8,000 <b>Bonhams, Nov. 3-13:</b> Arion Press. Whitman, Walt, <i>Leaves of Grass.</i> $4,000-$6,000 <b>Bonhams, Nov. 3-13:</b> <i>Call It Sleep in the First State Jacket.</i> Roth, Henry. $2,000-$3,000 <b>Bonhams, Nov. 3-13:</b> Steinbeck's Best-Known Work. Steinbeck, John. $2,000-$3,000 <b>Bonhams, Nov. 3-13:</b> A Fine Jewelled Binding Signed by Sangorski & Sutcliffe. Sangorski, Francis. $40,000-$60,000 <b>Bonhams, Nov. 3-13:</b> <i>The Complete Tales of Beatrix Potter</i>: A Complete Set of First Editions. Potter, Beatrix. $2,000-$3,000 <b>Bonhams, Nov. 3-13:</b> Kelmscott Shelley. Shelley, Percy Bysshe. <i>The Poetical Works.</i> $3,000-$5,000 <b>Bonhams, Nov. 3-13:</b> Inscribed by Martin Luther King Jr. King, Martin Luther, Jr. $3,000-$5,000
    Bonhams, Nov. 3-13: Presentation Copy of a Whitman "Holy Grail." Whitman, Walt. $10,000-$15,000.
    Bonhams, Nov. 3-13: Endymion in Original Boards. Keats, John. $8,000-
    Bonhams, Nov. 3-13: Association Copy of the Privately Printed Edition of The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Potter, Beatrix. $8,000-$12,000
    Bonhams, Nov. 3-13: Christina Rossetti's Own Copy of Her First Book. Rossetti, Christina G. $8,000-$12,000
    Bonhams, Nov. 3-13: The Borden Copy of The Life of Merlin in an Elaborate Binding by Riviere. Heywood, Thomas, Translator. $6,000-$8,000
    Bonhams, Nov. 3-13: Arion Press. Whitman, Walt, Leaves of Grass. $4,000-$6,000
    Bonhams, Nov. 3-13: Call It Sleep in the First State Jacket. Roth, Henry. $2,000-$3,000
    Bonhams, Nov. 3-13: Steinbeck's Best-Known Work. Steinbeck, John. $2,000-$3,000
    Bonhams, Nov. 3-13: A Fine Jewelled Binding Signed by Sangorski & Sutcliffe. Sangorski, Francis. $40,000-$60,000
    Bonhams, Nov. 3-13: The Complete Tales of Beatrix Potter: A Complete Set of First Editions. Potter, Beatrix. $2,000-$3,000
    Bonhams, Nov. 3-13: Kelmscott Shelley. Shelley, Percy Bysshe. The Poetical Works. $3,000-$5,000
    Bonhams, Nov. 3-13: Inscribed by Martin Luther King Jr. King, Martin Luther, Jr. $3,000-$5,000
  • <b><center>Swann<br>Autographs<br>November 6, 2025</center></b> <b>Swann, Nov. 6:</b> Lot 93: Autograph album containing 29 autograph letters signed by each president from Washington to Coolidge, 1785-1945. <b>Swann, Nov. 6:</b> Lot 166: Franz Schubert, Autograph Musical Manuscript, fragment from <i>Die Taucher,</i> 1813. <b>Swann, Nov. 6:</b> Lot 111: Thomas Jefferson, holograph plat drawing: map of field near Monticello, 1790s. <b><center>Swann<br>Autographs<br>November 6, 2025</center></b> <b>Swann, Nov. 6:</b> Lot 208: George Sand, Autograph Manuscript Signed, draft of her one-act play, <i>Francia,</i> ca. 1872. <b>Swann, Nov. 6:</b> Lot 218: Walt Whitman, Manuscript Signed, draft of three complete poems from <i>Leaves of Grass,</i> 1891. <b>Swann, Nov. 6:</b> Lot 8: James Dean, Photograph Signed and Inscribed, still from <i>Giant,</i> 1955. <b><center>Swann<br>Autographs<br>November 6, 2025</center></b> <b>Swann, Nov. 6:</b> Lot 20: John Lennon, Typescript Signed, interview discussing Paul, Linda, and Yoko, 1971. <b>Swann, Nov. 6:</b> Lot 215: Mark Twain, engraved portrait Signed, "Mark Twain / SL. Clemens," 1890s. <b>Swann, Nov. 6:</b> Lot 81: Vaslav Nijinsky, reproduction of an artwork by Léon Bakst Inscribed and Signed, 1916. <b><center>Swann<br>Autographs<br>November 6, 2025</center></b> <b>Swann, Nov. 6:</b> Lot 73: Malcolm X, <i>The Harvard Crimson Signed</i> and Inscribed: his street address and phone number, 1961. <b>Swann, Nov. 6:</b> Lot 11: Lou Gehrig, Photograph Signed and Inscribed, ca. 1939. <b>Swann, Nov. 6:</b> Lot 153: George Gershwin, Photograph Signed and Inscribed, portrait by Renato Toppo.
    Swann
    Autographs
    November 6, 2025
    Swann, Nov. 6: Lot 93: Autograph album containing 29 autograph letters signed by each president from Washington to Coolidge, 1785-1945.
    Swann, Nov. 6: Lot 166: Franz Schubert, Autograph Musical Manuscript, fragment from Die Taucher, 1813.
    Swann, Nov. 6: Lot 111: Thomas Jefferson, holograph plat drawing: map of field near Monticello, 1790s.
    Swann
    Autographs
    November 6, 2025
    Swann, Nov. 6: Lot 208: George Sand, Autograph Manuscript Signed, draft of her one-act play, Francia, ca. 1872.
    Swann, Nov. 6: Lot 218: Walt Whitman, Manuscript Signed, draft of three complete poems from Leaves of Grass, 1891.
    Swann, Nov. 6: Lot 8: James Dean, Photograph Signed and Inscribed, still from Giant, 1955.
    Swann
    Autographs
    November 6, 2025
    Swann, Nov. 6: Lot 20: John Lennon, Typescript Signed, interview discussing Paul, Linda, and Yoko, 1971.
    Swann, Nov. 6: Lot 215: Mark Twain, engraved portrait Signed, "Mark Twain / SL. Clemens," 1890s.
    Swann, Nov. 6: Lot 81: Vaslav Nijinsky, reproduction of an artwork by Léon Bakst Inscribed and Signed, 1916.
    Swann
    Autographs
    November 6, 2025
    Swann, Nov. 6: Lot 73: Malcolm X, The Harvard Crimson Signed and Inscribed: his street address and phone number, 1961.
    Swann, Nov. 6: Lot 11: Lou Gehrig, Photograph Signed and Inscribed, ca. 1939.
    Swann, Nov. 6: Lot 153: George Gershwin, Photograph Signed and Inscribed, portrait by Renato Toppo.