Rare Book Monthly

Articles - January - 2024 Issue

It was two nights before Christmas

5 of 179 Catalogues

5 of 179 Catalogues

When I was a kid, in the 1950’s, Christmas was the way my family compensated for the disaster we were living through.  It was almost worth it but left me memories of how my family when in trouble, tried hard to make those few days seem perfect.  My family lived suspended between feast and famine and when there was feast, it was wonderful.  One such Christmas my father bought me a Lionel 0 Gauge Santa Fe 3 part engine for $65 when our rent was $25.  It was a treasure.

 

On the recent 23rd December, a gift arrived that topped it by a very wide margin, 3 brown boxes each weighting 18 pounds.  What could it be?:  the collected records of the Waverly Auction Company, 1978 to 2004.

 

The Lionel trains arrived in a single box, the Waverly Auctions in three, holding 179 auctions, 147 of them priced, altogether 100,992 lots.  Hallelujah!  For a person who loves the history of the printed word, Waverly’s records tracing the explosion of interest in collectible paper at auction in the pre-Internet period, providing a unique perspective on how the market was adjusting.  They will soon be added to Rare Book Hub’s Transactions+.

 

We expect to start January 1st and expect to complete them by the end of February.  Along the way, Waverly’s records will show up in the Advanced Search. 


Posted On: 2024-01-05 16:02
User Name: bluto

What a great story. I find myself reminiscing about similar stories from my childhood. Things were so much different back then. So much better in so many respects too. People actually valued their relationships and there was even respect for the opinions of others. It is sad that today's society refuses to take note of what worked so well (maybe just ignorance or improper raising by their parents) instead of turning everything into societal issues. Thanks very much.


Posted On: 2024-01-12 22:29
User Name: rarerobinson127

Great memory. Thanks Bruce


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  • Sotheby's
    Bibliothèque Jacques Dauchez - Autour de Dubuffet
    5-19 June
    Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Bissière, Roger. Cantique à notre frère soleil de saint François. 1954. 1,000 - 1,500 EUR
    Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Céline, Louis-Ferdinand. La vie & l’œuvre de Philippe Ignace Semmelweis. 1924. Rare édition originale, avec envoi. Joint : La Quinine en thérapeutique, 1925. 4,000 - 6,000 EUR
    Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Céline, Louis-Ferdinand. Mort à crédit. 1936. Édition originale. Bel exemplaire sur Hollande. 2,500 - 3,500 EUR
    Sotheby's
    Bibliothèque Jacques Dauchez - Autour de Dubuffet
    5-19 June
    Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Chillida, Eduardo ─ Emil Cioran. Face aux instants. 1985. Un des 100 exemplaires sur Arches. Eau-forte signée. 600 - 800 EUR
    Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Dubuffet, Jean. Ler dla canpane. L’Art Brut, 1948. Édition originale. 3,000 - 5,000 EUR
    Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Dubuffet, Jean. L'Herne Jean Dubuffet. 1973. Un des 100 exemplaires du tirage de luxe avec une sérigraphie originale en couleurs. 1,000 - 1,500 EUR

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