Connecticut River Book Auction
July 8 at 6 pm
South Congregational Church located at 949 Main Street in South Glastonbury, CT 06073
www.ctriverbookauction.com
860-908-8067
Inspection at Noon

SOUTH GLASTONBURY, CONN. — The July 8 Connecticut River Book Auction to be conducted at the South Congregational Church offers one unique and another rarely seen volume for sale. The first is a 1927 copy of Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet. Published in 1923, the work consists of 26 prose poems dealing with love, family, work and death by the traveler Al Mustapha. Translated into numerous languages and with sales numbering in the millions, it interestingly enough never received critical acclaim. That said, its appeal may lie in its ability to resonate with ordinary people at significant moments in their lives. As such, it explains the frequency with which passages are read at celebrations like weddings and remembrances. What makes this copy of The Prophet unique is that it is signed by Gibran.

The second item of interest is the first printing of The Fellowship of the Ring, being the first volume of The Lord of the Rings. Published in 1954 by George Allen & Unwin, Tolkien envisioned this classic as one volume containing six books. His publisher had other ideas, however, and The Lord of the Rings was made into three volumes with books five and six later published together as The Return of the King. While Gibran suffered from the barbed remarks of literary critics, Tolkien was treated more kindly. Several reviewers saw “poetic truth,” and religious symbolism in his work with C.S. Lewis describing the books as “myth without allegorical pointing.”

For lovers of fine printing and small presses, several lots are sure to please. The first is a 1930 printing of The Mary Calendar limited to 240 copies and with the bookplate of John Roland Abbey, who started book collecting (perhaps he developed bibliomania is the truer descriptor) in 1929 and had a particular interest in private press publications. It is said that at one time he had the largest collection of books in the British Isles. After his death in 1969 and gifts to his family and Eton College, his collection was sold at auctions in the 1970s.

Another small press publication of interest is Housman’s Blind Love. Printed in 1901 by Thomas Maitland Cleland at the Cornhill Press, the volume is limited to 500 copies. There is also the 1977 publication of The Mookse and the Gripes from Two Tales of Shem and Shaun. This edition of 75 copies in slipcase was printed by the Compulsive Printer and signed by the printer. Lastly, from the Allen Press is an absolute work of art — All for Love Anthony and Cleopatra. Written by John Dryden, it was first performed in 1677. This Allen printing was limited to 140 copies and was damp printed on a Columbia hand press. Just one of several incredible aspects of this volume is that the Cleopatra frontispiece was hand painted by Egyptian artists on papyrus. Thus, each of the 140 copies is slightly different from the next.

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

MASKS ARE REQUIRED.
It’s nearing mid-July. The first mowing is in the barn; the first green beans picked, and summer squash is losing its popularity around our kitchen table. At Connecticut River Book Auction, we’ve been sorting thru consignments to select a variety of interesting titles to please readers and dealers alike.
With over 100 translations and sales numbering in the millions, The Prophet by Kahill Gibran has never been out of print since its publication in 1923. Interestingly, not many copies of this prose poetry work were signed by the poet. We are offering a 1927 Gibran signed “Pocket Edition” of this classic work.
For those with an interest in art and photography consider these offerings. Sammallahti (2002) a limited edition signed by Sammallahti on the title page that includes the tri-fold poster. The Outskirts (2002) a limited edition signed by Hido on the half title page or the 2018 publication of Tintoretto Artist
of Renaissance Venice. How about a 1st edition in dustjacket of Grant Wood American Gothic and Other Fables by Haskell and if not that then for the esoteric minded a 1988 1st edition of The Altarpiece in Renaissance Italy?
Interested in firearms then we have several lots including dust jacketed 1st editions of Weaver’s (2001) Hitler’s Garands German Self-Loading Rifles of World War II, Sutherland & Wilson’s (1971) The Book of Colt Firearms, and a signed copy of Chinn’s (1951) The Machine Gun History.
We continue to discover works of fine printing and small press publications like the 1930 publication of The Mary Calendar. Limited to 240 copies, this copy has the bookplate of John Roland Abbey who from the 1930s to 50s was reputed to be the largest fine book collector in England. From 1901, there is a copy of Housman’s Blind Love printed by Thomas Maitland Cleland at the Cornhill Press. More recently, there is Mauries (1996) Christian LacroixThe Diary of a Collection with the signed print, Joyce’s (1977) The Mookse and the Gripes from Two Tales of Shem and Shaun, limited to 75 copies and from the Allen Press (1976) All for Love Antony Cleopatra.
The July auction is rich with fiction. Signed 1st editions include Beattie’s (1976) Chilly Scenes of Winter and Burke’s (1986) The Lost Get-Back Boogies. LEC volumes include Dreiser’s An American Tragedy and Fielding’s Tom Jones and then there is a 1st American edition of Lawrence’s (1913) Sons and Lovers and a small press edition of Hemingway’s In OurTime.
All of our auctions wander occasionally from books and the usual ephemera to include more – shall we say – unusual items. Falling into that category are several lots of photography including an early 1900s photo of six men with Skull and Crossbones. Could this be connected to Yale? And then there is a late 1940s early 1950s collection of Pin-Up girls on matchbooks covers. Nicely framed, this item belongs in any distinguished library. Lastly, in 1954 Tolkein saw his masterpiece The Fellowship of the Rings published in three volumes. We will offer the first volume for sale in this auction.
For more information on this Friday, July 8th 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.