Bloomsbury Auctions’ June 25th Bibliophile Sale consists of over 500 carefully selected works that encompass a full range of children’s books and original illustration artwork, a distinguished group of library sets, early printed and art books, and a fine selection of 19th and 20th century literature.
The sale features original illustrations by several masters of children’s illustration. Highlights include a full set of illustrated books and original artwork by master illustrator Arthur Rackham, including Three Children Picking Berries ($15,000-$20,000), a lovely atmospheric landscape in watercolor, pen, ink and pencil, that may have been submitted to an exhibition of the Royal Society of Painters in Watercolours. Other greats of children’s illustration include works by Kate Greenaway, particularly her unusually vigorous illustration Hoops ($8,000-$12,000), and E. H. Shephard’s The Morning Walk ($15,000-$25,000), which is just one example of his charming illustrations for A.A Milne’s classic Now We Are Six. A full set of illustrated books by Arthur Rackham are highlighted along with other children’s first editions Frank L. Baum, Maurice Sendak, and A.A. Milne
The second half of the sale features a wide variety of early printed books, private press, art books, and masterpieces 19th and 20th century literature. Highlights include a first edition, first issue of Mark Twain’s, Huckleberry Finn ($4,000-$6,000), and a first edition, first issue of James Boswell’s, The Life of Samuel Johnson ($2,000- $3,000). Holocaust Poems, a finely executed manuscript book with an ornate binding of inlaid goatskin ($7,000-$10,000), can be found in the private press section while a limited edition Fernando Botero Information Box ($1,500-$2,000), a rare and wonderful collection of material originally used to center lecture series around, can be found in the art section.
“We are pleased to present our second Bibliophile sale of the season,” says Peter Costanzo, Junior Specialist at Bloomsbury Auctions. “With such a wide range of material at desirable price points, the Bibliophile sale creates a forum in which the first-time bidder and the experienced collector come together to celebrate their love of books.”
Viewings will be held from June 21st until June 24th from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Closed Sunday. The auction will be held on Wednesday, June 25th with the first session commencing promptly at 10:00 am, and a second session at 2:00 pm. Visit www.bloomsburyauctions.com to view the catalogue, auction calendar and sale results.
