Christie’s New York will offer Fine Printed Books & Manuscripts, including the finest collection of William Faulkner books and manuscripts, on June 22, 2010.
This unique collection comprises a virtually complete representation of Faulkner’s work, with every major novel, each in an exceptional state of preservation. Formed over a quarter century, this private collection includes over 80 lots of scarce manuscripts, ephemera, photographs and journal contributions, rarely seen in such completeness in the absolute finest condition and with outstanding provenance. No comparable collection of Faulkner material, with its focus on condition, diversity, and provenance, has ever appeared at auction.
Highlights from the collection of near mint copies of Faulkner’s signed limited editions include: one of the rarest Faulkner volumes, novel Mosquitoes, 1927, (estimate: $20,000-30,000), first edition, first printing, and complete with its original “card player” dust jacket; and an immaculate copy of The Sound and the Fury, 1929, (estimate: $40,000-60,000) – a first edition of Faulkner’s first great novel, this book is one of the most influential novels in American literature and is noted for the delicacy of its dust jacket.
Additional highlights from the sale to include:
A QUINTESSENTIAL PIECE OF NEW YORK HISTORY
A Wall St. and Broad St. Original post-top style intersection street sign. Late-19th to early-20th Century. This early street sign from the corner of Broad and Wall Streets stood in front of The House of Morgan and in the shadows of the New York Stock Exchange through the dramatic first part of the 20th Century. Estimate: $60,000 – 80,000
KEROUAC’S LAST TYPEWRITER
Kerouac, Jack. Hermes 3000 manual typewriter (model no. 3337316) used by Jack Kerouac. 13in. long, 12½in. wide, 5¾in high. In original protective case, with cleaning implements. In good working condition. Estimate: $20,000 – 30,000
THE THIRD PRINTED ATLAS AND FIRST IN THE ITALIAN VERNACULAR
Berlinghieri, Francesco (1440-1501). Geographia. [In Italian]. With additions by Marsiglio Ficino. Florence: Nicolaus Laurentii, Alamanus, [before September 1482- early sixteenth century]. Estimate: $300,000 – 400,000
“ORIGINS OF THE GENERAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY”: HIS MOMENTOUS DISCOVERIES IN THE CRITICAL YEARS 1905-1916
Einstein, Albert (1879-1955). Autograph manuscript signed (“A. Einstein” on last page), constituting Einstein’s lecture “The Origin of the General Theory of Relativity” (“Einiges über die Entstehung der allgemeinen Relativitätstheorie”), delivered as the first George A. Gibson Lecture at the University of Glasgow, 20 June 1933. A working draft with extensive deletions and interlinear additions. No place, undated, but ca. June 1933. Estimate: $250,000 – 350,000
THE OFFICIAL 1823 ENGRAVING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
In Congress, July 4, 1776. The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America. When in the Course of Human Events… [Washington, D.C.] Engraved by W.I. Stone, for the Dept. of State, by order of J.Q. Adams, Secty. of State. July 4 1823. Estimate: $250,000 – 350,000
image: Mosquitoes, 1927, (estimate: $20,000-30,000), first edition, first printing, and complete with its original “card player” dust jacket. Photo: Christie’s Images Ltd 2010.
