Offering in excess of 500 lots of books, manuscripts, maps, prints, photographs, scrap albums, etc, a sale held by Cheffins (22.5% buyer’s premium) on October 29 presented an enormous variety of lots.
One of the earlier works was a 1616-17 first of Gervase Markham’s Cavalarice, or The English Horseman… that in an old calf binding made a record £4200.
Gervase Markham’s 'Cavalarice, or The English Horseman…' – £4200 at Cheffins.
Bid to what must surely be another record, at £3000, was an extra-illustrated example of A Booke of the Foundation and Antiquitye of the Towne of Great Yermouthe.
Despite its somewhat quaint title, it dates from 1847.
This was an enlarged, two volume copy that had belonged to its editor, John C Palmer, and contained a great many additional illustrations and assorted manuscript material – even a Great Yarmouth bank cheque for five guineas, dated 1745.
Up the gulf
A leaf from Heude’s 'A Voyage up the Persian Gulf…' – £3600 at Cheffins.
Among the very many travel books was an 1819 first of William Heude’s A Voyage up the Persian Gulf and a Journey Overland from India to England, sold at £3600 via thesaleroom.com. Some leaves were a little mottled and yellowed, but only a couple of copies have made more.
A 1642 first (in a later morocco gilt binding) of James Howell’s Instructions for Forreine Travell sold at £700, a sum only once bettered for this work, whose portrait frontispiece depicts the future Charles II as a boy. In 1997 John Evelyn’s copy made £850 at Sotheby’s.
A St Trinians-influenced drawing by Ronald Searle previewed in ATG No 2464 made £3000.
RG Baker’s map of Cambridge– £2400 at Cheffins.
Among the maps and plans, a coloured example of Richard Grey Baker’s New Map of the University and Town of Cambridge of 1830 realised £2400.
