Page 28 – Sydney Rare Book Auctions

Gary Gorton Crime Fiction Collection Part Two

The next instalment of Crime Fiction books from the estate of the late Gary Gorton is here! And just like the first batch, these are beautiful….

Paul took me to visit Gary when we helped organised the Hong Kong Book Fair. We sat in Gary’s lounge room and overlooked the twinkling city sky. Gary put on old records and we chatted about books and music. It wasn’t long before I was introduced to his pride and joy – A large room, filled with the most beautiful specimens of crime fiction books in dustwrapper. My mouth dropped…

The bookcases were triple shelved, with his favourites displayed like art in an art gallery. Gary pulled books off the shelves – his eyes glistened as he spoke about each one. Unforgettable and magical. Ellie Aroney

Gary collected any book listed in Hubin’s Crime Fiction: A Comprehensive Bibliography. He always bought the best that he could find so the books are in wonderful condition.

All of them are housed in a brodart cover. Some of the wrappers have professional repairs and some of the books have had the top stains refurbished. All of these individual faults and repairs have been noted in our description. Most of the repairs have been performed on the inside of the wrapper and are invisible to the naked eye.

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Crime fiction is a popular genre because it engages the reader to pop on their detective hat and seek out the truth.

Publishers have used this to their advantage promoting whoduits, murder mysteries and legal thrillers. Doubleday’s Crime Club makes a big portion of this auction, but we also have Hodder and Stoughton, Robert Hale, Herbert Jenkins, Mystery League. Each publisher have their own design style.

This is the second of several auction catalogues of crime fiction we will be offering over the next several months.

When SundayJuly 11th, 12:00 PM
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 9th Friday 3pm Sydney Time.
Questions welcomed. Please get them in before 3pm Friday 9th.

Good books are good companions … Pixie O’Harris

Children’s books, comics, the Olympics, fine bindings and more.

There are 16 items by Australian Children’s author and illustrator Pixie O’Harris including original drawings and water colours. O’Harris comes from the second generation of Australian fantasy illustrators after May Gibbs and Ida Rentoul Outhwaite.

Pixie O’Harris (1903-1991) born Rona Olive Harris. She traveled from Cardiff to Sydney and while on board the ship she gained the nickname, Pixie. While in Australia she studied at the Julian Ashton’s art school in 1922. She worked at John Sands, the Bulletin and Sydney Mail. Her first commissioned children’s book was Cinderella Party in 1923. Above: Lot 465 Good books are good companions. Others lots 464-479. See Paul talking about them in this video.

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From the other side of the pond we have two lots from AA Milne. From the 50th anniversary limited edition, finely bound in Morocco and signed by Milne’s son Christopher Robin Milne and illustrated by EH Shepard.

We have over 100 comics in this auction including DC Comics: Lot 59 – Harley Quinn First Canon Appearance Batman; Lot 15 Batman Beyond 1999; Lot 4 Batman Adventures 1992; as well as, Lot 73 – Blade Vampire Hunter 1994 Marvel Comics. Check out the first 115 lots.

The countdown begins for the Olympics in Paris. Opening Ceremony is the 26th July! This auction boasts seven Olympic items and some show Australia’s involvement. Olympic lots 392-395 and 398-400.

Picturesque Hong Kong circa 1930. During the first half of the 20th Century Hong Kong was under British Rule. They brought both industrial and transportation business and with this saw a modernisation to the architectural skylines on both sides of and many buildings have been demolished. (Lot 463)

When 12 noon, Sunday 28th July 2024
Where Timed auction
Viewing encouraged 10am – 4pm weekdays
At Sydney Rare Book Auctions Dalgety Square at C11/372-428 Wattle Street, Ultimo, NSW 2007
Bidding absentee, invaluable or bid on our website to save 3% Buyers Premium.

Catalogue on Invaluable

Catalogue on our website