On March 18th, 2010, PBA Galleries in San Francisco will offer selected books and manuscripts from The Library of Roger Wagner. The collection reflects Mr. Wagner’s keen interest in a wide range of literary arts, science, history, and human endeavor. The material ranges from the 15th through 20th centuries, and touches upon nearly every aspect of the progress of civilization.
One of the most important features of the auction is a section of manuscripts, letters and other material from the personal archives of Henry Miller. Bruce MacMakin, Senior Vice President at PBA Galleries, calls the 214-lot sale “one of the most significant we have held in many years. The concentration of high spots in so many fields makes it of interest to a broad range of collectors.”
Among the highlights of the auction:
The Theatrum Orbis Terrarum of Abraham Ortelius, the first modern atlas of the world, the 1584 edition with 112 hand-colored double-page maps. Estimate: $150,000/200,000
Henry Miller’s Paris Notebooks, compiled from 1932 to 1936, providing source material for his three novels written in Paris, seen in many photographs taken of him in his office. Estimate: $100,000/150,000
Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species, 1859, the first edition of the most important biological book ever written, of profound influence. Estimate: $70,000/100,000
Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations, two volumes, 1776, first edition of the great classic of modern economic thought. Estimate: $50,000/80,000
Carbon typescript of the first draft of Tropic of Capricorn by Henry Miller, 1934, dramatically different from the final published version. Estimate: $40,000/60,000
Original leaf from the most famous book in the annals of western civilization, the 42-line Bible of Johannes Gutenberg, the first book printed with moveable type. Estimate: $40,000/50,000
Galileo’s Risposta alle Opposizioni…, 1615, one of his rarest works, with perhaps the first printed account of the famous experiment conducted at the Tower of Pisa. Estimate: $20,000/30,000
Six hand-painted porcelain plaques by John Tenniel, featuring Alice in Wonderland characters, used as menu cards at Tenniel family dinners. Estimate: $20,000/30,000
Manuscript by John Steinbeck of a short play he wrote while visiting the Soviet Union in 1963, with thinly disguised characters such as Nikita Khruschev. Estimate: $10,000/15,000
The catalogue for the auction is posted online at www.pbagalleries.com Printed catalogues may be ordered at the site, or downloaded in PDF format. Full provisions are available for bidding absentee, live over the internet during the auction, or by telephone during the auction. For more information contact Shannon Kennedy – [email protected]
PBA Galleries
Auctioneers & Appraisers
133 Kearny Street
San Francisco, CA 94108
1.415.989.2665 phone
1.415.989.1664 fax
[email protected]
www.pbagalleries.com
