Connecticut River Book Auction – In-Person Book Auction
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10TH, 2023
949 Main Street, South Glastonbury, CT 06073
www.ctriverbookauction.com

SOUTH GLASTONBURY, CONN. — The Friday, November 10, Connecticut River Book Auction at the South Congregational Church offers a rarely found complete set of Wilkes’ exploration of the Pacific Northwest coastline and interior.

The story behind these books begins in 1838. After more than a decade of governmental indecision, Charles Wilkes was selected to command a flotilla of six ships, 500 sailors, civilians and scientists to explore the Oregon territory. In part a scientific expedition and a reaffirmation of the nation’s claim on Pacific Northwest territory over British interests in the same area, the multiyear expedition stated in its report that Antarctica was a continent, voiced concern over the navigability of the Columbia River and expressed the opinion that Puget Sound harbors should be under the control of the United States.

Wilkes’ leadership of the party was not without controversy. The thought that Antarctica might be a continent was scoffed at, and his opinion on US coastal land ownership was controversial.

These findings were treated cautiously resulting in the books’ official delay from publication. Adding to the complexity of the matter was the fact that Wilkes was charged after returning on this mission with mistreating several junior officers during the journey. The resulting court martial led to a reprimand against him on the charge of illegal punishment.

Despite the controversy surrounding this multiyear exploration, not the least of which was complicating the discussions underway on establishing the northwest border between Canada and the United States, the scientific aspects of the journey were unquestionably a success. More than 40 tons of material were collected, including 4,000 zoological specimens. This collection would serve as the foundation for the newly created Smithsonian Institute, and the nautical surveys taken would prove invaluable for future seafaring travel across the area.

The Wilkes Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition during the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842 that Connecticut River Book Auction will sell is a first edition set consisting of five volumes with the often missing Volume 6 atlas present.

The South Congregational Church is at 949 Main Street. For information, 860-908-8067 or www.ctriverbookauction.com.

Live and in-person book auction on FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10TH, 2023 at the South Congregational Church located at 949 Main Street in South Glastonbury, CT 06073.
Inspection begins at noon with the auction starting at 6 pm.
We are pleased to announce that beginning with the November auction and extending over the next year we will be selling the library of noted Noank artist and nautical book collector William Abt. Bill served as a naval officer during the Korean conflict, was involved with the U.S. atomic weapons testing program, and was an assistant director for the Coast Guard Research and Development Center. Not surprisingly, these activities contributed to an interest in the sea and the vessels that traverse its expanses. This interest further led Bill to acquire and sell nautical books. Below is just a small sampling of the titles that will be sold from the Abt collection on November 10th.
•Barrett (1863-1870) “The Old Merchants of New York City,” four volumes with ads.
•Capt. Edward Beach (1955) “Run Silent Run Deep,” 1st edition in dj and signed.
•Blunt (1837) “The American Coast Pilot containing Directions for the Principal Harbors, Capes and Headlands of the Coasts of N. & S. America,” 13th ed. belonging to Capt. Geo. S. Brewster Ship Quebec sold to Capt. Charles E. Parker.
•Bowditch (1821) “The New American Practical Navigator being an Epitome of Navigation,” 5th edition, belonging to Midshipman L.T. Bennett aboard U.S.S. Lexington.
•Bowdoin et al (1931) “Log of the Weetamoe Syndicate,” Privately published.
•Bowen (circa 1925) “The Sea and Its History and Romance,” 1st edition issued in 16 separate parts.
•Burgess (1887) “American and English Yachts Illustrating and Describing the Most Famous Yachts now Sailing in American and English Waters,” 1st edition.
•Daboll (1820) “Daboll’s Practical Navigator being a concise easy and comprehensive System of Navigation,” printed by Samuel Green of New London.
•Dunham (1850) “Journal of Voyages containing an Account of the Author’s being Twice Captured by the English and Once by Gibbs the Pirate,” 1st edition.
•Eldridge (1884) “Eldridge’s Coast Pilot No. 1 Eastern Section from Chatham to Canso, N.N. including the Bay of Fundy,” two volumes.
•Holley (1844) “The Picturesque Tourist being a Guide through the Northern and Eastern States and Canada,” 1st edition.
•Jeffers (1850) “A Concise History on Theory of Naval Gunnery,” 1st edition with the folded plates.
South Congregational Church • 949 Main St, South Glastonbury, CT
•Jones (1829) “Sketches of Naval Life with Notices of Men Manners and Scenery on the Shores of the Mediterranean,” 1st edition, two volumes.
•Lubbock (1927) “Sail The Romance of the Clipper Ships,” Limited edition.
•Magoun (1928) “The Frigate Constitution and Other Historic Ships,” 1st edition. This copy belonged to renown marine author M.V. Brewington.
•Maury (1855) “The Physical Geography of the Sea,” 1st edition, this copy belonging to Historian Benson J. Lossing and signed by him on the title page.
•New York City — (1848) “A Picture of New York in 1848 with a short account of Places in Its Vicinity,” The map is present.
•Nordhoff (1874) “Northern California Oregon and the Sandwich Islands,” 1st edition.
•Taylor (1875) “Picturesque Europe,” 1st US edition, three volumes.
•Thompson & Lawson (1902) “The Lawson’s History of the America’s Cup,” Limited edition given to the Rummey Public Library.
•Vanderbilt (1931) “Enterprise The Story of the Defense of the America’s Cup in 1930,” Limited edition #66/250 copies signed by Vanderbilt.
•Wilson (1881) “Picturesque Palestine, Sinai and Egypt,” two volumes.
In addition we have included from other estates signed books by Kurt Vonnegut, William O. Douglas, Elbert Hubbard, Anne Rice, Arthur C. Clarke, Shelby Foote and others. To this there is Wilkes (1845) “Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition during the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842 with the rarely found Atlas,” and a 1st edition (suspect) 2nd issue of Baum’s (1900) “The Wizard of Oz,” to entertain you as cold November winds rattle your humble abode.
For more information on this 6 pm, Friday, November 10th book auction to be held at the South Congregational Church, 949 Main Street, South Glastonbury, CT 06073 visit ctriverbookauction.com or
call Tom at 1-860-908-8067.