Connecticut River Book Auction
June 17, 2022
South Congregational Church: 949 Main Street in South Glastonbury, CT 06073
www.ctriverbookauction.com
860-908-8067

SOUTH GLASTONBURY, CONN. — On Friday, June 17, Connecticut River Book Auction welcomes the all-too-brief strawberry season with a scarcely seen Confederate item of memorabilia. Namely, an 1861 Richmond, Va., published sheet of music titled “Our National Confederate Anthem: God Save the South.” While the North had “Howe’s Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory,” also written in 1861, and Southern troops enjoyed the 1850s minstrel tune “I Wish I Was in Dixie,” it was George Henry Mile’s more somber lyrics that officially accompanied the Confederacy on its lost cause.

If you’re looking for a more upbeat tempo, then a first edition copy of George Gershwin’s Song-Book in a partial dustjacket with the tunes “I’ll Build a Stair Way to Heaven, Fascinating Rhythm and I Got Rhythm” may be more to one’s liking. This copy is boldly inscribed and dated by Gershwin. But be warned that many of the illustrations by Alajalov are politically incorrect stereotypical depictions of African Americans. Alajalov was born in Russia to an Armenian family in 1900. When the Communist Revolution broke out in 1917, he emigrated to Persia, then Turkey and finally the United States. Like many immigrants, his first few years were difficult but slowly he established a reputation for illustration. One might measure his success by recognizing that his work graced 70 covers of The New Yorker magazine, appeared on the covers of The Saturday Evening Post and graced Gershwin’s Song-Book, too.

If music is not your thing, then consider reading a first edition in dustjacket copy of George Orwell’s Animal Farm or a first edition, second issue in dustjacket of William Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying. Both works are considered high points in Twentieth Century literature. And not to be left out is a first edition copy in a facsimile jacket of Raymond Chandler’s novel The Big Sleep, which introduced the detective Philip Marlowe to the reading public and provided Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall with memorable acting opportunities. As an aside, William Faulkner was one of the writers on the screenplay.

Face masks are required with inspection beginning at 1 pm, with the auction starting at 6 pm. This live and in-person book auction will be conducted at the South Congregational Church, 949 Main Street. For information, 860-908-8067 or www.ctriverbookauction.com.

Inspection begins at noon with the auction starting at 6 pm
Just a few days away from the official start of summer, bibliophiles across New England are out and about searching for their favorite authors and subjects. For those interested in history, fiction, fine printing, art, baseball and signed books, Connecticut River Book Auction has much to offer at its June 17th event.
For history fans, there are several interesting items including a grouping of Admiral Dewey material, a 1966 full vellum copy of Smith’s The Generall Historie of Virginia, a signed 1st edition of Stephens Texas Ranger Sketches, and a signed limited edition of Jenkins The Most RemarkableTexas Book: An Essay on W.W. Heartsill’s Fourteen Hundred and Ninety- One Days in the Confederate Army. For enthusiasts of Eric Sloane there are signed copies of The Cracker Barrel, A Reverence for Wood, and Diary of an Early American Boy. And not to be ignored is a signed copy of Hoopes and Brinkley’s Driven Patriot the Life and Times of James Forrestal.
It’s summer and what better time to reread the following 1st edition classics: Orwell’s Animal Farm, O’Neil’s Mourning Becomes Electra (signed), Burgess’ The Kingdom of the Wicked Anthem (signed), Hemingway’s For Whom the
BellTolls and A Farewell to Arms, Chandler’s The Big Sleep, in facsimile dj, or Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying, the 1st edition, 2nd issue in a poor $2.50 unclipped dustjacket.
For those who appreciate limited editions / small press, here are just two of the listings: Bradbury’s That Son of Richard III and the signed Gift edition of Crichton’s Jurassic Park.
Like baseball? If the answer is yes then consider that we have a number of books signed by players like Monte Irvin, Don Zimmer, Don Drysdale, Tommy John, and Orel Hershiser then add to that several lots of baseball mysteries and team/ player histories to enjoy with a nice non-alcoholic beer (and who are we kidding).
There are several lots of art books including Gamboni’s Paul Gauguin The Mysterious Centre of Thought a 1st edition in dj. Then there is a Hilary Knight inscribed 1st edition in dj copy of Eloise and a 1st edition, 2nd issue of Baum’s The Marvelous Land of Oz. Oh, and we nearly forgot to mention we have a Richard Rogers inscribed copy of Musical Stages and a boldly inscribed and dated George Gershwin Song Book. Finally, we would be negligent if we did not note that this auction will offer Civil War aficionados DeCoeniel’s (aka George Henry Mile) composition “Our National Confederate Anthem God Save the South.” This rare item of Civil War history was printed in Richmond, Virginia in 1861, the text by Ernest Halpin and the lith. by E. Grehen is approximately 10.5” x 13” in size.
For more information on this Friday, June 17th book auction to be held at the South Congregational Church, 949 Main Street, South Glastonbury, CT. visit ctriverbookauction.com or callTom at 1-860-908-8067.