Friday, January 19, 2007

Ten Most Expensive Books Sold in 2006

Abe Books sold these very expensive books in 2006:

1. Institutiones Geometricae
Albrecht Dürer
The first of Dürer's writings on art theory; this book formalised the new attitude to artistic creation found in Italy during the Renaissance. Sold for $25,000

2. Helen Frankenthaler
Helen Frankenthaler
The special deluxe version has an original painting by the American abstract artist on its cover. Sold for $20,000


3. The Book of Antelopes
Philip Lutley Sclater
A first edition of four volumes from 1894 to 1900 featuring many illustrations by Joseph Wolf - one of the greatest animal portraitists of the 19th century. Sold for $17,500

4. Les Horribles et Espovantables Faictz et Prouesses
Andre Derain
A first edition from 1880, number 169 of 250, signed by the artist and illustrated with 142 hand-painted woodcuts. Sold for $17,000


5. Opere de divino poeta Dante
Dante Alighieri
A rare collection of Dante's work with woodcut illustrations and additional commentary. Sold for $14,347.21

6. Travels to the Source of the Missouri River and Across the American Continent to the Pacific Ocean
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark
A second edition from 1815 of a highly collectable item of Americana. Sold for $12,500

7. The Little Prince
Antoine de Saint Exupery
A signed and numbered limited first edition of the children's classic from 1943. Sold for $10,450

8. Hypomnemata Mathematica
Simon Stevin
A set of Stevin's collected mathematical works in Latin - cosmography, geometry, statics, optics and miscellany. Sold for $9,500

9. (tied) SMS, Collection of Original Multiples
Duchamp, Man Ray, Lichtenstein, Christo et al
A series of paper portfolios from the leading artists of the 1960s, and one of 35 deluxe copies. Sold for $9,000

9. (tied) Flower Is
Robert Frank
A signed first edition of a very rare photography book published in Japan. Sold for $9,000

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