CHICAGO, IL.- The Hindman Books and Manuscripts department will conclude another strong year of sales with a two-day auction, Fine Books and Manuscripts, including Americana, on November 12 and 13. The 476-lot auction features books and manuscripts from a broad range of collecting categories and a number of notable private collections. Session I, to be held November 12th, features fine selections of incunabula, Renaissance printing, literature, and printed and manuscript Americana including American prints. Session II, to be held the following day, includes a fine selection of livres d’artiste, and features the exceptional Edward Gorey collection of Thomas J. Barrett.

Among the highlights in the auction is a copy of Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince (Lot 131), the first edition in English of Machiavelli’s political treatise, estimated to sell for $25,000 - $35,000.

Other notable lots from the auction include a first edition of the first book on Kentucky and the first biography of Daniel Boone (Lot 223), The Discovery, Settlement and present State of Kentucke, written by John Filson, which is estimated to sell for $20,000 - $30,000. A copy of Eluard’s Un poeme dans chaque livre (Lot 297), including illlustrations by several notable 20th-century artists including Picasso, Braque, Ernst, and Miró, in a very fine 20th-century binding by Pierre-Lucien Martin is expected to fetch $20,000 - $30,000. A fine illuminated Book of Hours, use of Rome (Lot 146), from Ghent or Bruges ca. 1460 is estimated at $8,000-$12,000.




To conclude the auction, Hindman will offer a very fine collection of Edward Gorey books, prints, posters, and ephemera from the private collection of Thomas J. Barrett.

Among the highlights from the Barrett Collection, notable for its fine condition, is a first edition, limited issue of The Beastly Baby (Lot 350), one of only 500 copies printed, and the only copy signed by Gorey to ever appear on the market at auction, estimated at $1,000 - $1,500.

Other notable private collections represented in the sale include Incunabula, Renaissance Printing and Early English Literature from the Collection of Edward Quattrochi; The Robert Frost Collection of Robert and Norma Cotner; Printed Americana and Kentuckiana from the Estate of Mary Patricia Reynolds; and Livres d’Artiste from the collection of Michael and Kay Melet.

The Fine Books and Manuscripts, including Americana auction will be held live and online beginning at 10:00 am CT on both November 12 and 13. Bidders are able to participate via absentee bid, over the phone, or by bidding live on one of five online bidding platforms. Previews are available by appointment.