Written by Thomas | 25th January 2019
In our Expert’s Choice feature, one of our experts shares their favourite items currently in auction. This week our Books expert, Mark Harrison, selects several exceptional items from our book and cartography auctions for you to enjoy.
1. Willem Janszoon Blaeu – “Nova and Accuratissima Totius Terrarum Orbis Tabula” - 1661-1680 - (Dutch)
In this week’s Exclusive Cartography Auction, is this splendid world map from the Dutch Golden Age of cartography. This elegantly engraved map is presented in two hemispheres and was one of the earliest world maps to include the newly discovered Tasmania and New Zealand. In the clouds above the map, you can see several celestial figures, such as Mercator and Ptolemy. Below are representations of the four seasons, with several allegorical figures seated in different chariots.
2. Marcel Aymé – “Œuvres Romanesques” - Colour illustrations by Roland Topor – 1977 – (French)
This lovely limited and numbered, six-volume edition of “Œuvres Romanesques” contains illustrations by Roland Topor. You can find this beautiful set in this week’s French (Literature & Illustrated) Auction.
3. Sir. R.E. Burton – “The Arabian Nights” - Illustrated by Albert Letchford – 1897 – (English)
In this week’s Books (Literature & Illustrated) Auction is this 12-volume edition of the classic book; Arabian Nights. This beautiful Library Edition from 1897 is still in good condition and has no missing pages.
4. Ruggero Leoncavallo Composer - Autograph; Sale of Property "Ave Maria" to Publisher Schmidl (plus envelope) – 1909 – (Italian)
This signed letter is written by the famous composer Ruggero Leoncavallo and is addressed to the Carlo Schmidl Music Factory. In the letter, Leoncavallo confirms the price of 1,000 Lire for the sale of his work “Ave Maria”. Leoncavallo composed this well-known work in 1905 and it was dedicated to Pope Pius X to raise funds for the victims of the earthquake in Calabria. You can find this unique letter in this week’s Books (Historical Documents) Auction.
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