Reflecting on a day of cataloguing, I felt like I had gone backwards through time and been around the world. There are items in this week’s auction which mark both moments of evolution and revolution.
Let’s start in c8th Egypt with Coptic Manuscript Fragment with Archangel Epiphany (Lot 39). Next Europe, where we see a greater dissemination of knowledge through illuminated manuscripts.
This small leaf (Lot 37) with almost miniature text comes from a c1250 illuminated pocket Bible – small enough to travel the world. This c1470 Flemish leaf from a Book of Hours (Lot 38) shows the use of illustration to communicate.
Goldsmith Nuremberg saw moveable type and the printing press as a logical next step in producing books. Here is an example of 1493 Nuremberg Chronicle Incunable leaf (Lot 36). With the printed book comes a more educated population.
With economic hardship, political repression and the overall perception of injustice comes Revolution. This rare American Revolutionary‑era commemorative oration in response to the Boston Massacre (Lot 40) In 1768, the British government sent troops to Boston to enforce unpopular imperial tax. This moment one the catalysts for the American Revolution.
With the rise of Greek Nationalism and the enlightenment Greek War of Independence end nearly 400 years of Ottoman rule. James Emerson Tennent (1804-1869) was a British philhellene (lover of Greece) who volunteered in the Greek War of Independence. See his book and love of the Aegean ( Lot 20 – First US edition)
The French Revolution was a response to social inequality, famine and as France went into debt by funding the American Revolutionary. Lot 16 looks at both the Trial of Marie Antoinett in 1793 and causes of the French revolution.
We have many other great items in this auction, which were novel in their time. Check out Outhwaite’s Enchanted First (Lot 1); or 1st ed Magic Pudding by Norman Lindsay (Lot 286); Mount Everest signed by Edmund Hillary (Lot 340); The Chook Book by Wright and illustrated by Ludlow (Lot 8); or the First Edition Selfish Gene(Lot 12).
Catalogue https://connect.invaluable.com/sydneybook/
12 midday Sunday 8th November
Timed auction – Online only
Viewing is encouraged & Questions welcomed
Before 3pm Sydney Time Friday 6th November
Where: Dalgety Square
C11/372-428 Wattle Street, Ultimo.
(Corner of MacArthur with the entrance on Wattle Street.)
We are opened between 10am and 4pm week days.