The latter includes over 200 items ranging from early printed books to 20th-century manuscripts. The public will be open at Christie's Galleries in New York from Friday 30 December to Tuesday 4 December. Albert Einstein: The God Letter will also be on display in New York during 5th Century Week from November 14-XNUMX.
Science, travel e Story natural
A highlight of the science, travel and natural history section is Joan Blaeu's magnificent urum of Novum ac magnum theatrum, Belgicae Regiae. This is an exceptionally colorful and important copy – probably the copy of the dedication for King Philip IV of Spain – of Blaeu's celebrated book of the Netherlands, which beautifully celebrates the Peace of Westphalia and ushers in the Dutch Golden Age (est. : $250.000-300.000). Another highlight is Mahmud Raif Efendi's Cedid Atlas Tercümesi, which is the first European-style atlas printed in the Islamic world. This extremely rare, beautiful and complete copy is estimated at $100.000-150.000 and is one of only 50 copies printed.
Books printed e manuscripts continental
Leading the Continental Books section is a superbly colored copy, worked with a rich and vibrant palette, of the first edition of Hartmann Schedel's Liber Chronicarum. The Nuremberg Chronicle is celebrated for its beautiful and numerous woodcut illustrations, to which Albrecht Dürer is believed to have contributed (estimate: $250.000-300.000). This section also offers some works from the printing of the great Venetian printer Aldo Manuzio, including the first prints of important ancient authors such as Plato, Herodotus and Lucretius.
Books printed in English e manuscripts
This section includes the original printing blocks used for first editions of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, arguably the most popular children's books ever made (estimate: $20.000-30.000). The Alice books are among the most successful collaborations between author and artist and these printing blocks reproduce the original drawings of John Tenniel defining for countless generations the appearances of Alice, the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter and various other blue fragments of the popular culture.
Another unique offering this season is the single-owner collection: Beloved Enchanter: The Arthur Rackham Collection by Nita and Frank N. Manitzas. This collection includes 27 captivating original watercolor and ink illustrations by Arthur Rackham, the renowned illustrator who created iconic images of characters such as Peter Pan, Snow White and Rose-Red. Estimates start at $800 and go as high as $30.000.
Printed e manuscript American
The top lot in the sale is a previously unregistered edition of the official 1823 printing of the Declaration of Independence, French-proven and in exceptional condition (estimate: $600.000-800.000). The stone-etched facsimile meticulously prepared and inscribed on America's founding document remains the most accurate of all existing facsimiles and the only one officially authorized by Congress. The current copy was discovered in an open-air market in France in the 70s.
Il 20° century
Highlights from the modern portion of the sale include the rare true first edition of the beloved children's classic Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, signed by JK Rowling (estimate: $45.000-65.000); A Wild Thing Christmas, an original watercolor drawing by Maurice Sendak (estimate: $300.000-400.000); and Kurt Vonnegut's unpublished wartime correspondence recounting the events that inspired Slaughterhouse-Five, collected in a contemporary scrapbook kept by his family (estimate: $150.000-200.000).
