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In Search of the Rarest Book in American Literature

My first personal encounter with the rarest book in American literature was memorable, even moving, for many reasons, but its physical appearance wasn’t one of them. If ever a book ought not to be judged by its cover, Edgar Allan Poe’s debut collection, Tamerlane and Other Poems, is that book. Known as the Black Tulip, only twelve copies appear to have survived since its publication in July 1827. That one of the last two in private hands is coming to auction this month, not quite two centuries later, marks an historic bibliophilic event. Read more

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Charlie Watts’ Book Collection to be Auctioned

His library contained dozens of rare first editions, including signed first editions of F Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hound Of The Baskervilles. Now, two years after his death, some of those gems will be put up for auction. The drummer’s collection of jazz memorabilia is also being sold. Read more

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Selections from Maurice Sendak’s Personal Collection to be Sold to Benefit the Rosenbach

Christie’s New York is pleased to announce the sale of selections from artist and author Maurice Sendak’s personal library in its upcoming Fine Printed Books & Manuscripts Including Americana auction taking place online from 11-25 April … These items include a wonderful selection of books reflecting Sendak’s creative and literary interests. There are over two dozen first editions by Beatrix Potter … There are several books from the Brothers Grimm, including a rare presentation from them as well as the original autograph manuscript for their long-lost story Dear Mili, which Sendak illustrated for its first publication in 1988. Accompanying the Grimm tales are other works of German Romanticism, namely folk and fairy tales. There is notably a fine selection of Henry James, representing Sendak’s love of nineteenth-century literature, including first editions and presentation copies. Moving to the 20th century, writers and artists include Dr Seuss, Crockett Johnson, and William Steig, together with special editions of Sendak’s own works. Read more

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Rare first printing of U.S. Constitution sells for record $43 million

The document offered for sale was one of 13 known copies of the first printing of the Constitution and one of only two in private hands. This printing of the Constitution was last sold in 1988, when real estate developer and collector S. Howard Goldman bought it at auction for $165,000. Read more

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First edition copy of ‘Frankenstein’ sells for over $1 million at auction

Christie’s, which hosted the auction, estimated the book would go for $200,000 to $300,000. But by selling for nearly four to six times as much, the book set a record for the highest price paid for a published work by a woman, according to Fine Books Magazine. Read more

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