Skip to main content
Bonhams
Search
Ended

Fine Books and Manuscripts

24 June 2015 | starting at 11:00 BST
Live Auction
London, Knightsbridge
Print Results
How to buy

Auction highlights

ENGELS (FRIEDRICH) Papers of Friedrich Engels as Corresponding Secretary of the First International for Italy and Spain in 1871-73ENGELS (FRIEDRICH) Papers of Friedrich Engels as Corresponding Secretary of the First International for Italy and Spain in 1871-73. Sold for £140,500 inc. premium
BRITISH ARCTIC EXPEDITION 1875-6 Illustrated autograph journal kept by Commander Albert Hastings Markham, Captain of HMS Alert, and second-in-command of the British Arctic Expedition under Sir George Nares on the Discovery, Markham's journal kept on board the Alert during the expedition itself and recording the sledge journey in which he achieved the record of Farthest North; Portsmouth to Spithead via the Arctic, 29 May 1875 to 14 October 1876BRITISH ARCTIC EXPEDITION 1875-6 Illustrated autograph journal kept by Commander Albert Hastings Markham, Captain of HMS Alert, and second-in-command of the British Arctic Expedition under Sir George Nares on the Discovery, Markham's journal kept on board the Alert during the expedition itself and recording the sledge journey in which he achieved the record of Farthest North; Portsmouth to Spithead via the Arctic, 29 May 1875 to 14 October 1876. Sold for £104,500 inc. premium
NEWTON (ISAAC) Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica, first edition, Joseph Streater, 1687NEWTON (ISAAC) Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica, first edition, Joseph Streater, 1687. Sold for £92,500 inc. premium
ORWELL (GEORGE) Animal Farm, FIRST EDITION, AUTHOR'S PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED "Tony Powell from Geo: Orwell" on front free endpaper, Secker & Warburg, 1945ORWELL (GEORGE) Animal Farm, FIRST EDITION, AUTHOR'S PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED "Tony Powell from Geo: Orwell" on front free endpaper, Secker & Warburg, 1945. Sold for £92,500 inc. premium
HUGHES (TED) The Ted Hughes Archive formed by his friend and manuscript advisor Roy Davids, including a large quantity of poetical manuscripts, including working drafts, presentation copies and occasional verses, drawings, and a series of autograph letters signed by HughesHUGHES (TED) The Ted Hughes Archive formed by his friend and manuscript advisor Roy Davids, including a large quantity of poetical manuscripts, including working drafts, presentation copies and occasional verses, drawings, and a series of autograph letters signed by Hughes. Sold for £76,900 inc. premium
JOYCE (JAMES) A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, FIRST EDITION, WITH DUST-JACKET, New York, B.W. Huebsch, 1916JOYCE (JAMES) A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, FIRST EDITION, WITH DUST-JACKET, New York, B.W. Huebsch, 1916. Sold for £40,000 inc. premium
TURING (ALAN) Autograph letter signed ("Alan Turing"), to Maria Greenbaum ("Dear Maria"), the eight-year-old daughter of his Jungian analyst, explaining with the aid of three diagrams the moves needed to play out successfully at solitaire, Hollymeade, Adlington Road, Wilmslow, despatch (Wilmslow) datestamp 10 July 1953, with enclosed diagram and envelopeTURING (ALAN) Autograph letter signed ("Alan Turing"), to Maria Greenbaum ("Dear Maria"), the eight-year-old daughter of his Jungian analyst, explaining with the aid of three diagrams the moves needed to play out successfully at solitaire, Hollymeade, Adlington Road, Wilmslow, despatch (Wilmslow) datestamp 10 July 1953, with enclosed diagram and envelope. Sold for £40,000 inc. premium
SHEPARD (E.H.) 'The Wolery', [1950s-60s]SHEPARD (E.H.) 'The Wolery', [1950s-60s]. Sold for £35,000 inc. premium
MALLORY (GEORGE LEIGH) Series of thirty-four autograph letters and cards, all but one signed, to Lytton Strachey; together with a black-edged memorial envelope with his name painted [by Dora Carrington], St John's Vicarage, Birkenhead, Pythagoras House and The Old Lodge Magdalene College, Cambridge, Charterhouse, Haileybury, Dartmouth, Camberley, Paris, Roquebrune, Valentia Harbour, and SS Sardinia nearing Colombo, 1909-1921MALLORY (GEORGE LEIGH) Series of thirty-four autograph letters and cards, all but one signed, to Lytton Strachey; together with a black-edged memorial envelope with his name painted [by Dora Carrington], St John's Vicarage, Birkenhead, Pythagoras House and The Old Lodge Magdalene College, Cambridge, Charterhouse, Haileybury, Dartmouth, Camberley, Paris, Roquebrune, Valentia Harbour, and SS Sardinia nearing Colombo, 1909-1921. Sold for £18,750 inc. premium

Lot gallery

343 lots available

Load previous
WALES – PALGRAVE'S TOUR Memorials of a tour in Wales, kept by Sir Francis Palgrave and his wife Elizabeth in August 1848, comprising thirty-three pen and sepia wash drawings in the style of John Sell Cotman, Wales, August 1848
WOLLSTONECRAFT (MARY) A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, FIRST EDITION, J. Johnson, 1792
CHARLES II Warrant signed ("Charles II" at head), requiring his Councillor, Thomas Earl of Southampton to prepare a bill for his signature, containing a grant of "Knoyle Farme in the County of Wilts", Whitehall, 10 October [1660]
JAMES II Summons signed ("James R" at head"), to Henry Earl of Clarendon, Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal, requiring him to attend his coronation, Whitehall, 23 March 1684/5
WILLIAM III Warrant signed ("William R" at head) and counter-signed by the First Lord of the Treasury, Sidney, Earl of Godolphin, and his fellow lords, Stephen Fox, Charles Montague, William Trumbull and John Smith, addressed to the Commissioners of the Treasury, Kensington, 4 May 1695
WILLIAM III Two military commissions signed ("William R"), appointing Constant Egan successively ensign and adjutant to the regiment of foot commanded by Colonel, later Brigadier, Richard Ingoldsby, Breda, 22 May 1694, and Kensington, 19 April 1700
ANNE Military commission signed ("Anne"), appointing John Burnett ensign in Colonel Roger Townshend's Regiment; Kensington, 12 April 1706
GEORGE I Military commission signed("George R" at head"), appointing Richard Eagan "Ensign of a Company of Invalids to be formed of the Our Pentioners of Our Royal Hospital near Chelsea under the Command of Our Trusty and Wellbeloved John Carwarden", St James's, 3 April 1719
GEORGE I Document signed ("George R" at head), being a leaf from the Establishment Book, covering Portland Castle, Portsmouth, Southsea Castle, Sheerness, Scilly Island, Scarborough Castle, Sterling Castle, Tynemouth Castle and Upnor, [no date]
GEORGE II Document signed ("George R" at head), being an Establishment Book leaf authorising that "this Establishment of Our Forces in the Island of Minorca and Garrison of Gibraltar... do Commence and take place from the Twenty Fifth day of December One Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty Four", St James's, 15 May 1735
STUART (JAMES FRANCIS EDWARD) Letter signed and subscribed ("Vostre tres affectioné Cousin/ Jacques R"), to the duc de Bourbon, written on the death of his wife, Rome, 16 March 1735
GEORGE II Military commission signed ("George R" at head), appointing Richard Eagan first lieutenant "in our Marine Regiment of Foot, commanded by Our Trusty and Welbeloved Colonel William Robinson", St James's, 28 November 1739
GEORGE II Document signed twice ("George R" at head on recto and verso), being an Establishment Book leaf for "The Charge of the Garrison of Minorca", [1745-6]
CHARLES EDWARD STUART (ʻThe Young Pretender') Autograph letter signed ("C.R."), in French, to his banker and gentleman of the bedchamber Giuseppe Caietan Cantini of Rome, Florence [Palazzo di San Clemente or ʻdel Pretendente'], 14 November 1780
GEORGE III Autograph letter signed ("GR."), to his Foreign Secretary, the Duke of Leeds, Queen's House, [?] 10 minutes past 2 pm, 18 May 1790
GEORGE III Autograph letter signed ("George R"), to his son Frederick, Duke of York ("My Dear Frederick"), telling him that he really must be firmer when dealing with the King's ministers, Queen's House, 20 March 1795
GEORGE III Autograph letter signed ("George R"), to his son Frederick, Duke of York, as Commander-in-Chief of the Army, commenting on the establishment of the army upon the peace, Windsor, 29 May 1802
GEORGE III Autograph letter signed ("George R"), to his son Frederick, Duke of York, as Commander-in-Chief of the Army, approving the Ministry's proposals put to him through Lord Hobart, Queen's House, 24 January 1803
GEORGE III Autograph letter signed ("George R"), to his son Frederick, Duke of York, as Commander-in-Chief of the Army, acknowledging his letter following "Your interview with Mr Pitt and the Secretary at War", Queen's Palace, 4 February 1805
GEORGE III Document signed and subscribed ("approved GR"), on the memorandum submitted to the King that Sir John Stuart be placed upon the staff of the army serving in the Mediterranean, 24 September 1807
GEORGE IV AND IRELAND Document signed twice ("George R" at head and "GR" at the foot of the last page), being "Instructions for Our Right Trusty & Entirely Welbeloved Cousin and Councillor Richard Marquess Wellesley K.G. whom We have appointed to be Our Lieutenant General and General Governor of that Part of Our United Kingdom called Ireland", 10 December 1821
LOUIS XVI Document signed and subscribed ("Le Roi consent et fera exécuter/ Le 2 avril 1792/ Louis"), being the Decree made by the National Assembly on 31 March 1792 in the ʻFourth Year of Liberty', passing measures to re-establish order in the Department of the Cantal, Paris, 2 April 1792
MARIA THERESA Document signed ("Maria Theresa"), in German, appointing Lieutenant-Marshal Anton Ignatz Grafen von Mercy d'Argenteau a General in the Artillery; 15 August 1753
ROYALTY IN EIGHTEENTH CENTURY EUROPE Collection of letters and documents signed by or on behalf of members of European royal families, several being claimants, participants or interested parties in the War of Spanish Succession, as well as the War of the Austrian Succession and later conflicts, 1706-1789
RUSSIA - TSAR ALEXEI MIKHAILOVICH Printed gramota with manuscript additions, Moscow, 17 January 1668
BOWYER (ROBERT) An Illustrated Record of Important Events in the Annals of Europe, during the Years 1812, 1813, 1814, & 1815; The Campaign to Waterloo,
GILLRAY (JAMES) Etched caricature by James Gillray of Admiral Richard Earl Howe entitled 'A French Hail Storm, -- or – Neptune loosing sight of the Brest Fleet', H. Humphrey, 18 Old Bond Street, 10 December 1793
HOWE AND THE AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE Secret rendezvous signed by Earl Howe, to his second in command Admiral Thomas Graves in the Royal Sovereign, prior to the Glorious First of June, 9 September 1779
JENKINS (JAMES) The Naval Achievements of Great Britain, from the Year 1793 to 1817, J. Jenkins, by L. Harrison, [1816-1817]
MARLBOROUGH (JOHN CHURCHILL, first Duke of) Military pass signed ("Le duc de Marlborough"), counter-signed by Marlborough's secretary and diplomatic agent, Adam de Cardonnel, on behalf of the bearer, who has been sent to the French army to fetch back a runaway courier, Camp at Weissemburg, 23 September 1704
NAPOLEONIC AND FRENCH REVOLUTIONARY WARS Collection of letters and documents, pertaining to the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, with letters and documents signed by or on behalf of Napoleonic marshals, British generals, allied monarchs and others, 1769-1855
NAPOLEON BONAPARTE Memorandum signed for approval ("N"), with further marks by him in the margin drawing attention to the capacities required of the person to be appointed, Paris, 17-19 September 1806
NELSON (HORATIO) Order signed ("Nelson & Bronte"), the text in the hand of Nelson's official secretary, John Scott, to Lord Mark Robert Kerr, Captain of HM Frigate Fisgard, Victory at sea, 9 September 1804
NELSON (HORATIO) Order signed ("Nelson & Bronte"), the text in the hand of Nelson's secretary, John Scott, to Captain Lord Mark Kerr of the Fisgard, ordering him to gather intelligence: Victory at sea, 28 September 1804
NELSON (HORATIO) Letter signed ("Nelson & Bronte"), the text in the hand of Nelson's secretary, John Scott, to Lord Mark Kerr of the Fisgard, giving orders regarding the watch he is keeping on the enemy's fleet, Victory at sea, 16 October 1804
NELSON (HORATIO) Order signed ("Nelson & Bronte"), with signed autograph postscript ("Water at Gibraltar or Tetuan/ Nelson & Bronte"), the text in the hand of Nelson's secretary, John Scott, to Lord Mark Kerr of the Fisgard, ordering him to proceed "with the utmost expedition", Victory at sea, 15 November 1804
NELSON (HORATIO) Order signed ("Nelson & Bronte"), the text in the hand of Nelson's secretary, John Scott, to Lord Mark Kerr of the Fisgard, announcing that the Admiralty has "judged it proper to confine the limits of the Mediterranean Station to the East of Gibraltar", Victory at sea, 26 January 1805
NELSON (HORATIO) Order signed ("Nelson & Bronte"), the text in the hand of Nelson's secretary, John Scott, to Lord Mark Kerr of the Fisgard: Victory at sea, 14 March 1805
NELSON (HORATIO) Letter signed ("Nelson & Bronte"), the text in the hand of Nelson's secretary, John Scott, to Lord Mark Kerr of the Fisguard, acknowledging receipt on 19 April of his letter of the ninth, ʻTHE FRENCH FLEET CONSISTING OF ELEVEN SAIL OF THE LINE' – VILLENEUVE BREAKS FREE FROM NELSON'S BLOCKADE, and the scene is set for the Great Chase, Victory at sea, 1 May 1805
NORRIS (JOHN) Autograph letter signed ("Jn.o Norris"), to "Sir" (possibly the First Lord Sir Charles Wager), sending news of the grand fleet assembled in he Downs under his command, Namur "in the Downs", 19 April 1734
PENINSULAR WAR Series of twenty-four autograph letters signed by Captain, subsequently Major, Samuel Hext, of the 83rd (County of Dublin) Regiment of Foot, to members of his family in England, Obdios, Coimbra, Lisbon, Tarracilla, Villar, Le Mas, and elsewhere, 1809-1814
SCOTLAND – JACOBITE RISING OF 1745 AND PRESTONPANS Letter signed by Colonel Shugburgh Whitney ("Shug: Whitney"), to Lieutenant [Archibald] Campbell, ADC to Major-General Humphrey Bland (serving with the Duke of Cumberland), describing the Battle of Prestonpans, Edinburgh, 26 November [1745]
SCOTLAND – JACOBITE RISING OF 1745 Autograph letter signed by Captain Thomas Shadwell of Bath, to "Dear Webb", commenting on their unsettled times and men who may be able to serve, Bath, 8 September 1745
ST VINCENT (JOHN JERVIS, Earl) Two autograph letters signed ("St Vincent"), the first to Sir Evan Nepean, Secretary of the Admiralty, the second discussing a Trinity House appointment, [?Gibraltar] and Torre Abbey, [?April 1799] and 9 November 1800
WAR IN EIGHTEENTH CENTURY EUROPE Collection of manuscripts, many pertaining to the War of Spanish Succession of 1701-14 or to the Seven Years War of 1754-63, as well as to life and politics in Britain and the Continent in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth century, [1697-1785]
WELLINGTON (ARTHUR WELLESLEY, first Duke of) Autograph letter signed ("Wellington"), to Field Marshal Frederick, Duke of York, Commander-in-Chief of the Army, recommending his Military Secretary Lord FitzRoy Somerset be appointed ADC to the Prince Regent, Freneda and Paris, 2 December 1812 and 19 August 1815
BUSUTTIL (SALVATORE) Raccolta di costumi dello Stato Pontificio. Incisi in acquaforte..., Rome, 1826
CASSINI (GIOVANNI) Nuova raccolta delle migliori vedute antiche e moderne di Roma, first edition, Rome, Venanzio Monaldini, 1779
Load moreJump to gallery filters

Additional information