Archive: Business & Technology

National Book Auctions, located in Ithaca, NY, hosted a Sunday, April 15th auction featuring a broad range of rare antique books, as well as a quantity of ephemera, a Civil War musket and Native American artifacts. Of particular note were rare first editions of early and modern titles, a number of which were signed. This 469-lot auction also featured a fine array of antique furniture, comprised chiefly of numerous stacking, oak barrister bookcases, china closets, a desk, and other choice pieces.

Realizing a hammer price of $1200.00 (including buyer’s premium) was a group of original letters written principally by members of the Walling family, including a father and son-in-law who struggled to capitalize on the Oregon gold rush during the early 1860’s. The letters portray the gritty, arduous and frustrating existence carved out by these fortune seekers who were among thousands of men all desperately scouring the landscape in search of elusive gold.

An original Civil War musket brought a hammer price of $799.50 (including buyer’s premium). This firearm was produced in the U. S. by E. Whitney, and is stamped "New Haven 1833." This muzzleloader has the original mahogany stock and is in fine, working order.


“Plates Illustrating the Geology and Scenery of Massachusetts” sold for $738.00 (including buyer’s premium). This publication, dated circa 1833, contains 19 illustrated plates, which depict views of Amherst, Sugar Loaf Mountain, Turner Falls, and the Deerfield and Connecticut Rivers, among other local scenes.

Bringing a hammer price of $522.75 (including buyer’s premium) was a scarce stated first edition of Cormac McCarthy’s “Child of God.” This is the third novel from the critically acclaimed and highly regarded author. This volume retains the original dust jacket.

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