Archive: Business & Technology

National Book Auctions, located in Ithaca, NY hosted a Sunday, May 6th auction that featured a broad range of rare antique books, as well as a quantity of ephemera and artwork.

An impressive collection of World’s Fair ephemera and other material was sold from the estate of Charles Rand Penney. Another estate included a quantity of signed artwork and prints, along with numerous original engravings including an original piece signed by celebrated artist, James Abbott McNeill Whistler. Ephemera lots sold included magazines, advertising and various other genres, along with an original letter signed by Albert Einstein.

Bringing a hammer price of $12,600.00 (including buyer’s premium) was a rare original engraving signed by James Abbott McNeill Whistler and known as “Price’s Candle Works.” This etching, which is dated circa 1876, offers a view of a small vessel with a sail on a river, with a cityscape in the background, with chimneystacks on the left side. Another vessel with four figures appears in the foreground. Whistler’s iconic butterfly signature is present in lower right corner, in pencil.


Five original engravings by French artist Felix Buhot brought a collective hammer price of $9,060.00 (including buyer’s premium). These pieces originate from the late 19th century, and include works on vellum and laid paper. Some titles include “Westminster Palace,” “Clocktower London,” “Debarquement en Angleterre,” and “Taverne du Bagne.”

Bringing a hammer price of $1560.00 (including buyer’s premium) was a rare 1688 first edition printing of Pierre de Marca’s “Marca Hispanica.” This seminal historical work on Catalonia is bound in full leather with raised bands and gilt lettering and ruling to spine.

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