Over 430 rare and collectable lots of books, prints, maps and ephemera will go under the hammer at the Library Sale on 12th October, hosted by Cheffins at the firm’s sale rooms in Cambridge.
Amongst the higher valued lots is a two-volume copy of James Jenkins’ The Martial Achievements and Naval Achievements of Great Britain and Her Allies, printed circa 1820, with well coloured plates and which is set to make between £2,000 and £4,000. Set to sell for the same amount is a copy of Jean Jacques Rousseau’s La Botanique, Paris, printed in 1805 with 65 engraved plates, printed in colours. These are followed by John Nichols’The History and Antiquities of the County of Leicester, a handsome set bound in eight volumes, and which includes 650 plates and maps, and dated 1795 – 1815. These have a pre-sale estimate of £2,000 - £3,000.
Other interesting consignments include C & J Greenwood’s Atlas of the Counties of England and Wales, 1834, in large format, estimated at £1,500 - £2,500 and a portfolio of 12 colour prints by Cecil Aldin, depicting golf, cricket, bowls, hawking, shooting, fishing, curling, racing and other traditional sports and pastimes, pitched at £800 - £1,200. The sale also includes several other books signed by Aldin, mainly featuring dogs and horses.
Among the children’s literature is an early reprint copy of The Jungle Book, 1896, signed by the author Rudyard Kipling, with an estimate of £300 - £500 and a copy of Kenneth Grahame’s Toad of Toad Hall, A Play, which is dated 1929 and is one of only 200 copies printed, signed by Kenneth Grahame and A A Milne and is set to sell for £800 - £1,200.
Charles Ashton, Director, Cheffins says: “This sale has a healthy catalogue of traditional library items. With a strong contingent of early books and maps, this is a solid sale and will be set to draw plenty of specialist collectors.”
Auction: The Library Sale – 12th October from 10am
Location: Cheffins, Clifton House, 1-2 Clifton Road, Cambridge, UK, CB1 7EA