Books, Maps & Manuscripts
December 12

We invite you to explore this season’s latest collection of over 200 curated lots under the theme Books, Maps & Manuscripts. This diverse catalog spans centuries, featuring works by printers and cartographers from around the world.

The centerpiece of the auction is a hand-colored sea atlas from Amsterdam, dated 1714. Other notable highlights include John William Boydell’s Picturesque Scenery of Norway, a rare treatise on Tycho Brahe’s scientific instruments, a 17th-century Quran, and J.W. Palmstruch’s renowned botanical work. Complementing these treasures are maps from various periods, many beautifully hand-colored, representing nearly every region of the globe.

In contrast to these scholarly works are late 19th-century children’s books—captivating artifacts that reflect the era’s literary and cultural character.

Birdwatching enthusiasts will appreciate Anders Sparrman’s Svensk Ornithologie, featuring 70 color illustrations, and the exceptionally rare first edition of the Wright brothers‘ Svenska Foglar, with 178 hand-colored lithographs. Additionally, Colored Figures of Four of the Rarer Animals in Mr. Lehmann’s Menagerie offers a glimpse into 19th-century zoological exploration with its vivid lithographs.

Rounding out the collection are Johann Baptist Homann’s Globus Terrestris and Globus Coelestis, exquisite artistic pieces ideal for a refined library or study.