The next instalment from the Gary Gorton Collection are from The Crime Club an imprint the US company, Doubleday. Publishing nearly 2500 titles between 1928 and 1991 and including lots of well-known authors. For many titles this was the first time they were published. All books are very good copies in very good dustwrappers unless otherwise noted.
You don’t need to be a detective to find a good one here!
Science Literature and History – Sunday 12th January
What better way to start the new year than with great books! In this month’s sale we have some notable science and discovery publications, 16th, 17th and 18th Century publications, modern first editions, occult and uncanny books, as well as some unique Australian items.
Scientific and Exploration discoveries. Geology and Gold, Ornithology and Herpetology, Aeronautics, Medical, Voyages and Expeditions.
1869 Rare map of the Victorian goldfields. The map was engraved by William Slight under the direction of R. Brough Smyth, for the acting Victorian Minister of Mines John Macgregor. The map is dated October 1866, and was revised by Arthur Everitt in January 1869. (Lot 9)
John Gould’s 1865 “Handbook to the Birds of Australia” is a first edition, elaborately gilt-stamped and decorated. Both volumes have been rebacked with original spines laid down and new endpapers. (Lot 413)
1833 Magnificent Herpetology Plates Heinrich Rudolf Schinz’s “Naturgeschichte und Abbildungen der Reptilien” published 1833. Illustrated with lithographed plates after Swiss scientific artist, Joseph Brodtmann. (Lot 28)
1806 On Vaccine Inoculation rare work by British dermatologist Robert Willan. His work dispelled fears about vaccination during the 19th century. (Lot 31)
Lawrence Hargrave essay titled “The Trochoided Plane” (1884), which demonstrated a theory of waves motion pertinent to both water and air. This paper is considered a conceptual milestone in the history of human flight. (Lot 19)
Three papers about Australia Aviation George Augustine Taylor (Lot 198)
1798 George Vancouver’s “A Voyage of Discovery to the North Pacific Ocean,” owned by Lord William FitzRoy who served at sea during the Napoleonic wars aboard the frigate Macedonian which was operating from the Lisbon station during 1810. (Lot 17)
1841 George Grey West Australian Expedition. Journals of two Expeditions of Discovery in North-West and Western Australia, During the Years 1837, 38 and 39… Two volumes, with 22 lithographed plates, hand-coloured maps, and rock art plates. (Lot 86)
1849 Charles Sturt expedition into Central Australia. Australian exploration history. (Lot 60)
First Editions
Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens. (Lot 80)
Arms and the Covenant Speeches by Winston Churchill (Lot 103)
If This is a Man by Primo Levi. First American edition. (Lot 114)
Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson. First issue. (Lot 104)
16th Century
1567 Venetian Parchment Binding. Hieronymi Cagnoli Patricii Vercellensis. Cagnoli’s commentary on the Justinian law codes. (Lot 100)
1550 Law by Bartolomeo Cipolla. A 16th century legal handbook, noteworthy are the beautiful woodblock initial letters throughout the text. (Lot 102)
1536 Superb Cologne Folio with Ornamental Title Page. By Johann Gropper (1503-1559) was a German advocate of the Roman Catholic Church during the Reformation. (Lot 96)
1548 Robert de Croy Vellum Document with wax seal. (Lot 495)
17th Century
1676 The Baronage of England, or an Historical Account of the Lives and Most Memorable Actions of Our English Nobility by William Dugdale.
18th Century
1749 Verona Museum Catalogue Folio with engraved plates and illustrations of Etruscan and Roman finds. (Lot 20)
Australian
The Lone Hand. A magnificent production showing the rich creative period in Australian cultural activity. Norman Lindsay, of course, Henry Lawson, Victor Daley, Hugh McCrae, J F Archibald, B E Minns, Lionel Lindsay, D H Souter, Roderick Quinn, Edward Dyson…
Sydney Long and Squire Morgan Correspondence and Documentation: Includes two handwritten booklets documentation of artworks as well as three letter from Catherine Long Memo book with notes on their sales. (Lot 196)
Louisa Lawson’s own copy – Australian Suffragette. “The Lonely Crossing” and Other Poems by Louisa Lawson, 1905. First edition, Signed, With Corrections. Louisa Lawson (1848-1920) was a publisher and suffragette, contributing significantly to law reform and women’s work opportunities in New South Wales. (Lot 199)
1826 proclamation by Lieutenant General Ralph Darling in Newcastle, NSW. Printed by George Howe.(Lot 44)
Historical Records of Australia 33 Vols (Lot 48)
Occult and Uncanny
The Discovery of Witches. A study of Matthew Hopkins commonly call’d Witch Finder Generall by the Rev. Montague Summers together with a Reprint of The Discovery of Witches from the rare original of 1647. (Lot 109)
Ghost Stories Wakefield First Edition. (Lot 522)
Arkham House Necroplis Copper signed (Lot 533)
When 12noon 12th January 2025
Where Timed auction
Viewing 10am – 4pm weekdays
At Sydney Rare Book Auctions Dalgety Square at C11/372-428 Wattle Street, Ultimo, NSW 2007
Bidding absentee, on Invaluable and on our website.
Absentee bids are due by email at 3pm, Friday 10th January(Sydney Time).
Questions welcomed. Please get them in before 3pm, Friday 10th January (Sydney Time).
