Sotheby & Co. (London)

Three parts in two volumes (25 cm), I (26-30 June 1933): iv, 158 (2) pp., [23] leaves of plates (seven in colour). Lots numbered 1-1313. II (24-25 July 1933): (2) pp., pp.163-208 (4), [5] leaves of plates. Lots numbered 1315-1657. Loosely inserted: “Supplement to the Catalogue of the Third and Final Portion” (lots 1490A-1490X). Uniform publisher’s printed green wrappers. - “The essential feature of the library is its freedom from specialization” (saleroom report, in The Times, London, 24 May 1933, p.13). It contained the four Shakespeare folios (the First made a record price, selling for £14,500 to Rosenbach for Francis Joseph Hogan; the Second and Third also fell to Rosenbach, for £440 and £2000), a manuscript of Jane Austen’s “Lady Susan” (sold to the Chicago dealer Walter Hill, £2100; the Morgan Library purchased it in 1947 from James F. Drake), Keat’s “Endymion”, a presentation copy from the author to Leigh Hunt (also Hill, £2400; now NYPL, Berg Collection). The Napoleonic collection contained a great number of letters either written by Napoleon or addressed to him, including eight love letters written to Josephine between June 1796 and May 1800 (Maggs, £4400), and Napoleon’s farewell letter to Marie Louise on leaving for Elba dated 20 April 1814 (also Maggs, £1000). The plaster cast of Napoleon’s face taken at St Helena by Dr Antommachi, formerly in the collection of Prince Anatole Demidoff, made just £40 (its last known owner was Octave Aubry). ¶ Unmarked copies. No Price lists.