Bloomsbury Auctions

2010-06-17

Bloomsbury Auctions Presents Important Works from Borges and Steinbeck in its Travel, Literature, Autographs and Fine Books Sale
Wednesday, 23 June, 2010 at 10am and 2pm

BORGES, Jorge Luis. Holograph manuscript in Spanish for El jardin de senderos que se bifurcan (The Garden of Forking Paths). Est. $200,000-300,000; STEINBECK, John. Four portrait photographs. Est. $300-500.; VERNE, Jules. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. Est. $150-250

New York, NY—Bloomsbury Auctions is delighted to bring to market an important selection of works from two major 20th century authors featured in its June 23rd, Travel, Literature, Autographs and Fine Books sale. The two-part sale, which takes place at 10am and 2pm in Bloomsbury’s Manhattan salesroom, presents 580 lots split into six sections that cover a range of interests including Travel, Literature, Autographs, Law Books, Fine Books, and Private Press.

Among the highlights is a particularly rare and intriguing collection of works by protean Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges. The standout of the collection is an extraordinary holograph manuscript of El jardin de senderos que se bifurcan or The Garden of Forking Paths, one of the outstanding imaginative and speculative works of the 20th century—the present stands as the most important Borges manuscript to ever appear at auction. One of the finest examples of the author’s work extant, and with no other manuscript examples in institutional collections, it is a singular and landmark work to world literature and the introduction of the idea of ‘hypertext’; a key concept of modern thought and an intellectual basis for the internet (estimate $200,000-$300,000).

Additionally included are several inscribed first editions including Borges’ own copy of Evaristo Carriego, heavily corrected with numerous changes in his own hand (estimate $25,000-$30,000), and a first edition of Cuaderno San Martin inscribed to his former fiancée with a 22-line holograph poem (estimate $8,000-$10,000). Also of special note is a draft for the obituary of Paul Valéry that appears as the essay “Valéry as Symbol” in Labyrinths; a writer of immense importance for Borges (estimate $10,000-$15,000). There are also several holograph manuscripts dating from the 1920s to the 1940s – among these are two book reviews that provide a fascinating glimpse into Borges’ esthetic concerns (estimate $8,000-$12,000 each). Another remarkable manuscript in Borges’ hand is the critical essay El Estilo y el Tiempo describing his thoughts on the act of writing and translation and represents an important precursor to his groundbreaking 1939 fiction Pierre Menard (estimate $30,000-$40,000).

The auction’s second headlining collection consists of the contents of the John Steinbeck archive gathered from the apartment in New York City that he and his third wife, Elaine, shared for thirteen years. The items include many important autograph manuscripts, voluminous correspondence, several inscribed illustrated works including original drawings and photographs. Steinbeck’s personal library comprising some 500 books, including first editions, presentation copies, many with his rubber stamp as well as later presentation copies to Elaine Steinbeck, is offered as a stand-alone group. Also offered are documents relating to stage, screen and film productions including interesting material on Viva Zapata, original typescripts and manuscripts, an unproduced film treatment of Ibsen titled The Vikings and an abandoned reworking of Cervantes’ Don Quixote, both in original typescript.

The ephemera encountered here is as fascinating as it is comprehensive: newsprint clippings from around the world, publicity and contractual matter, property deeds, solicitations for public appearances, political commentary, even a group of audio and visual recordings, all spanning forty years. Of a more intimate nature are the personal effects gathered, such as Steinbeck’s standing globe and chair, even a collection of his tobacco pipes and reading spectacles. Also found is a poignant and extraordinary memento: Edward Ricketts’ briefcase and the telegram received by Steinbeck upon his friend and collaborator’s fatal car wreck.

For interested Steinbeck collectors and institutional bidders, Bloomsbury Auctions is pleased to offer this entire archive en bloc (estimate $200,000-$250,000). If the reserve for the lots as a collection is not met, the lots will be sold individually.

In addition, there are large groups of material from Jules Verne and Thornton Wilder obtained from two private collections that include first editions, unpublished typescripts, inscribed copies, and an uncorrected galley proof of The Bridge of San Luis Rey (estimate $2,500-$3,500). The travel material also boasts many highly desirable items including Schoener’s Luculentissima quaeda[m] terrae totius description… (estimate $40,000-$60,000), and a profusely extra illustrated set of The South Polar Times (estimate $25,000-$35,000). Additionally a fine private collection of mainly 16th century law books, a large autographs section, signed theater memorabilia and a sampling of private press and fine books are offered.

Exhibition:
Friday, June 18th, from 10:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday, June 19th, from 10:00am – 3:00pm
Monday, June 21st, from 10:00am – 5:00pm
Tuesday, June 22nd, from 10:00am – 5:00pm
Or by private appointment
(Please note the gallery is closed on Sunday, June 20th)

2010-05-27

Bloomsbury Auctions Offers Works from Fine Artists,
Graffiti Icons, and Stars Alike

20th CENTURY ART AND EDITIONS
Wednesday, 9 June, 2010 at 2pm

Shepard Fairey (b.1970), Vote (Radio), 2008, Est. $1000-1500; Conrad Marca-Relli (1913-2000), Untitled (Figures), 1948, Est. $20000-30000; Yu Ling (Lucy Liu) (b.1968), Forever Goodbye, 2008, Est. $25000-30000.

New York, NY—Bloomsbury Auctions, the world’s leading auction house for rare books and works on paper, announces its 20th Century Arts and Editions sale to be held in its Manhattan rooms on Wednesday, June 9th, 2010 at 2pm.

The 329-lot sale, featuring a range of prints, photographs, photo-books, and visual arts pieces from headline artists such as Lichtenstein, Matisse, Banksy, and Warhol, as well as a variety of more modern and lesser-known artists. Valuing in at a low estimate of $520,000 USD, this intriguing offering consists not only of works created by accustomed professionals but a handful of more novice and contemporary sources as well. Forever Goodbye, created under the pseudonym Yu Ling, is a large acrylic work by actress and painter Lucy Liu (Est. $25,000-$30,000) from the collection of Rami Ron. Liu, whose work is represented by the Eli Klein Gallery located in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood, admirably adopted the alternate handle in order to gain distinction as an artist through her ability rather than rely on her celebrity status.

A work by Shepard Fairey, the skateboard silkscreen artist-cum-iconic graphic artist, also finds its place in the sale with his silkscreen on wove paper image entitled Vote (Radio). The work, estimated at $1,000-$1,500, distinctly reminds of Fairey’s distinct style, seen in other ubiquitous images including the 2008 Obama “HOPE” campaign poster as well as the urban staple “André the Giant,” seen on paraphernalia from stickers to T-shirts.

Also of note is the sale’s cover lot, an Andy Warhol collage of die-cut gold card and ink on paper entitled Angels Orchestra created circa 1957 (Est. $25,000-35,000). Other sale focal points include Conrad Marca-Relli’s Untitled (Figures), a newly authenticated painting by the American-born artist, from the American Abstract Expressionist school (Est. $20,000-$30,000), as well as Take 4, No. 27, a striking work from British artist James Nares, which skilfully demonstrates a combination of form and medium in a few simple, yet monumental brushstrokes (Est. $10,000-$15,000).

Exhibition Viewing:
Friday, 4th June, from 10am – 5pm
Saturday, 5th June, from 10am – 5pm
Monday, 7th June, from 10am – 5pm
Tuesday, 8th June, from 10am – 5pm
Day of sale from 9.30am
Or by private appointment
(Please note that the gallery will be closed Sunday, June 6th) 

2010-05-12

Cutting-Edge, Three-Session International Sale for Bloomsbury Auctions
THE PHOTOGRAPHS SALE
19th May 2010

Marilyn Minter (b. 1948) Mardi Gras, 2007, Est. $15,000-$20,000; Imogen Cunningham (1883-1976). Nude, 1932, Est. $15,000-$20,000. Each to be offered 19th May, 2010, New York: Session III.

On 19th May, 2010 Bloomsbury Auctions launches what is arguably the world’s first three-center, simultaneous international auction, spanning London, Rome and New York. This carefully designed three-session sale incorporates time differences and will run seamlessly from one city to the next. The Photographs Sale has been created in this way to enable the three major centers, often with diverse tastes and requirements, to bid using an online, live-bidding platform which not only allows Bloomsbury to broadcast a continuous sale across the three cities and two continents, but also opens the doors for vendors and buyers to reach the broadest possible audience.

Among the highlights of Photographs Sale’s New York session is Imogen Cunningham’s Nude, 1932 (Estimate $15,000-$20,000). This lot is a very early printing of the particular image printed in the 1960s. The work not only retains the artist's Green Street Studio label on the verso (which helps to date the print), but is also signed and inscribed by the artist, as it was a gift from Cunningham to fellow photographer, Herbert Matter, in 1961. Mardi Gras, another of the New York sale’s highlights, is a vibrantly colourful image from up-and-coming contemporary artist Marilyn Minter whose work has continued to realize high prices at auction despite the recession (Estimated $15,000-$20,000).

This landmark sale comes at a turning point for Bloomsbury Auctions, the world’s leading auction house for rare books and works on paper, having introduced a newly restructured International Photographs Department in February this year, with Hannah Hayden as Head. In London, Sarah Wheeler joins the department as a specialist, coming to the department from Beirut where she was a Project Officer for the Arab Image Foundation. In London, Sarah joins consultants Roland Belgrave and John Cumming, while Silvia Berselli continues to run the Photographs department in Rome. The entire Photographs Sale will be held on Wednesday, 19th May and is accompanied by a single, fully-illustrated catalogue.

Exhibition:
Friday, May 14, 10am-5pm
Saturday, May 15, 10am-5pm
Sunday, May 16, 12pm – 5pm
Monday, May 17, 10am – 5pm
Tuesday, May 18, 10am – 5pm
Or by private appointment

Auction:
Wednesday, 19th May
Session I: London, 1pm BST (British Summer Time)
Session II: Rome, 4pm CEST (Central Europe Summer Time)
Session III: New York, 1pm EST