Heritage Rare Book & Manuscript Auction Realizes $2.3 Million!

Ventura, Grossman Collections Post Strong Results

Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries' recent auction of Rare Books and Manuscripts, including the Ventura Collection of Science Fiction and Fantasy Books, the Grossman Collection of Presidential Autograph Material, and the Bennett Collection of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Ephemera, held on April 16 & 17 in Dallas, Texas, realized $2,333,045 for 1,237 lots, although after auction sales are still ongoing, and are expected to push the final total to even higher levels.

"This was an exceptionally strong auction," said Sandra Palomino, Manager of Rare Books & Manuscripts for Heritage. "There were so many strong prices realized across so many areas, it's hard to know where to begin."

"Of course, Presidential material was extremely strong," said Palomino, "with a William Henry Harrison manuscript letter, signed the day after his inauguration, leading the pack. From the Forbes collection, this letter brought $127,000 in a 2002 Christie's auction. We sold it for $167,300. Additionally, a superb autograph letter signed by George Washington, hailing from the Gary Grossman Collection, sold for $41,825, a typed letter signed by Dwight D. Eisenhower fetched $38,837, and a historically important autograph letter signed by Thomas Jefferson brought $26,290."

"Historical material also evoked quite a bit of interest among our bidders," Palomino said. "Thomas L. McKenney and James Hall's important folio, History of the Indian Tribes of North America, published in three volumes between 1838 and 1844, sold for $89,625. A fascinating lot, an incredibly deep and complete archive of Louisiana's Bernard family and their involvement in the slave trade in New Orleans and Bayou Teche, realized $77,675, and a related item, a ships manifest from 1833 documenting the transport of slaves from Alexandria, Virginia to Natchez, Mississippi, sold for $17,925. A pair of letters from Albert Einstein to physicist Jean Becquerel brought $33,460, while an autograph letter written and signed by Brigham Young brought $15,535."

"We were pleased to present a number of fine books in this auction," Palomino said, "including the collection of the late Betty Bennett, a renowned professor of literature and former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, at American University, Washington D.C, as well as one of the world's foremost experts on the works of Mary Shelley. Her 1818 first edition copy of Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus, published in three volumes by the London publishing firm of Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor & Jones, the highlight of the collection, sold for $65,725."

"Equally impressive was the Ventura Collection of Science Fiction and Fantasy Books," Palomino said, "an incredibly high-grade collection of many of the best and most sought-after titles in this fascinating field, assembled by a well-known and well-respected collector. A signed first edition of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, attractively bound in asbestos boards, sold for $15,535, while a beautiful inscribed copy of Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird - admittedly not a science fiction or fantasy title, but an incredible and extremely desirable book nonetheless - brought $22,705."

"Now that Heritage is firmly established in the field of rare books and manuscripts, I'm even more excited about our next auction," said Palomino. "We have a Historical Documents & Autographs auction already on our schedule for June 9 and a Rare Books & Manuscripts auction on October 18 & 19, 2007 in Dallas, Texas. I'd invite everyone to keep an eye on our website, www.HA.com, where they can watch the auction grow, view enlargeable, full-color images of each and every lot, read our complete and thorough catalog descriptions, and even place their bids online from the comfort and convenience of their home or office.

William Henry Harrison Manuscript Letter Signed "your Obt Servt/W.H. Harrison":
REALIZED: $167,300

George Washington Superb Autograph Letter Signed:
REALIZED: $41,825

Dwight D. Eisenhower Typed Letter Signed:
REALIZED: $38,837

Thomas Jefferson Historically Important Autograph Letter Signed:
REALIZED: $26,290

Thomas L. McKenney & James Hall (Folio): History of the Indian Tribes of North America:
REALIZED: $89,625

Bernard Family Slavery Archive:
REALIZED: $77,675

(Slavery) A fantastic manuscript Document Signed:
REALIZED: $17,925

Albert Einstein Highly Important Pair of Typed Letters Signed to Jean Becquerel:
REALIZED: $33,460

Exceptional Brigham Young Autograph Letter Signed:
REALIZED: $15,925

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley: Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus 1818 First Edition:
REALIZED: $65,725

Ray Bradbury: Extremely Rare Signed First Edition of Fahrenheit 451 with Asbestos Boards:
REALIZED: $15,535

Harper Lee: Beautiful Inscribed First Edition of To Kill a Mockingbird:
REALIZED: $22,705

For more information about Heritage's auctions, and a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit www.HA.com.

Prospective consignors and sellers of political memorabilia, Americana, and related collectibles are invited to visit www.HA.com/Sell. Or simply email Sandra Palomino at SandraP@HA.com.

To reserve your copy of any Heritage auction catalog, please contact Client Services at 1-800-872-6467, ext. 150, or visit www.HA.com/Catalog to order by email.