Abraham Lincoln Letters & Signed Photograph

Abraham Lincoln Letters & Signed Photograph

An up-close look at a signed portrait of the president, plus two intriguing letters to a general in the field.
Appraised by Ken Gloss
$75,000 - $100,000

Lincoln is seated beside a table in the portrait, appearing deep in thought, leaning slightly forward and bracing himself on the arms of the chair. The brim of his upturned "stovepipe" hat is barely visible at the left edge of the picture.

Oscar Wilde.THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY. Ward, Lock & Co.,London, New York and Melbourne. 1891.

Oscar Wilde.THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY. Ward, Lock & Co.,London, New York and Melbourne. 1891.

Value:$8,000 - $12,000

CLASSIC LITERATURE /DECADENCE/ FANTASY

Wilde's only novel, considered by some to be his greatest work. One of the very few examples of decadent English literature, also a fantasy (listed in Bleiler as MX7- i.e. 'Magical Objects / Allegory, Symbolism). Oscar Wilde, chiding a hostile and prurient newspaper critic wrote- "Leave my book, I beg you, to the immortality that it deserves" and insisted in his preface "...there is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. That's all." Dorian Gray first appeared in Lippincott's simultaneously in Philadelphia and London, on June 20, 1890. This publication was immediately followed by publication of an unauthorized, pirated version of the tale, printed June 22, 1890 in New York by M. J. Ivers & Co. Wilde then substantially revised the work and added six new chapters and this the Ward, Lock 1891 edition is the normal first edition that you see (there is also the one of 250 Large Paper copies signed by the great man.) There is a simple issue point on the trade first edition,the first issue has the word "and" misspelled "nd" on page 208 eight lines from the bottom.

The plot it is summed up in this piece of pre publicity for the new 'Dorian' movie due to hit screens on 11 September 2009 - 'A corrupt young man somehow keeps his youthful beauty eternally, but a special painting gradually reveals his inner ugliness to all.' It stars Colin Firth as Lord Henry Wotton, the aristocrat who corrupts Gray and one Ben Barnes as the beautiful Dorian doomed in the Faustian pact. Apparently it is being done as a horror flick. It has been filmed several times notably the 1945 movie with George Sanders as Wotton --a b/w fim that bursts into Technicolor whenever the portrait is shown in close-up (as I recall.)

antique autograqph

Augusta:

When joy and gladness fill the heart, when care and sorrow both depart, when all around is mirth and glee, then Agusta Dear, remember me. Your friend, Katie Karcher -- May 2, 1881.

British Royal Commemorative Collectibles

British Royal Commemorative Collectibles:::
Since the 17th Century, souvenirs commemorating Royal Events have been collected. Coronations, Weddings, Births, Anniversaries, Jubilees and other Special Events have been the subject of thousands of Memorabilia created by thousands of commercial businesses and collected by millions of Royal subjects and fans.

There is such a wide range of items, mainly conservative in nature such as China Plates, teacups, mugs, dresser boxes, figurines, spoons, pins, medallions, crystal goblets & paperweights, even jigsaw puzzles, calendars, handerchiefs, tea towels and dolls just to name a few.

There have always been avid collectors of Royal Commemorative items over the years, but no one has ever been as popular to collect as the late Princess Diana. Her presence, brief as it seemed, made such an impact on the British Royal Collecting market, it has been difficult to maintain an interesting inventory.

Elizabeth II, the current Queen, has always been popular and not difficult to find at reasonable prices, however, earlier Monarchs dating back to Queen Victoria, are becoming more difficult to locate. Memorabilia prior to Queen Victoria is scarce and becoming quite expensive when found.

We hope you visit often as we continue adding more Royal Commemorative items as we acquire them.

Abraham Lincoln’s 1864 victory speech establishes new world auction record

Abraham Lincoln’s 1864 victory speech establishes new world auction record ::::

In a Feb. 12 sale of Abraham Lincoln’s 1864 Victory Speech, Christie's achieved $3,442,500 and set a new auction record for a Lincoln manuscript, a presidential manuscript and any American historical document.

Chris Coover, Senior Specialist of the Books and Manuscripts department, said, “We are extremely gratified at the attention this historic Presidential speech generated in the media, leading up to today’s observance of Lincoln’s Bicentennial birthday. Today's auction is a testimony to Americans' and the world’s abiding interest in and reverence for President Abraham Lincoln.”

Delivered by Lincoln from the White House on Nov. 10, 1864, two days after he won re-election to a second term, the speech was compelling, eloquent and timely. In it, Lincoln considers “whether any government, not too strong for the liberties of its people, can be strong enough to maintain its own existence, in great emergencies.” He stresses that “we cannot have free government without elections,” even in times of serious crisis. Finally he calls upon his fellow Americans to “re-unite in a common effort, to save our common country.”

Proceeds from the sale of the speech will go to the Southworth Library Association and will fund construction of a new addition to the library and other projects.

Hitler’s Gift Watch Makes $70,000 At Auction

:::Hitler’s Gift Watch Makes $70,000 At Auction:::



An historically important pocket watch has made its way to auction as a result of the work of John Farkas and Connie Rose of Antiques and Estate Auctioneers.

The watch, an 18K gold, hunting-cased, keyless pocket watch, which is described as a "minute-repeating" watch by A. Lange & Sohne, Glashutte, I/SA, B/Dresden, No. 91764, realized $70,000 at a May 12 auction.

According to the archives at A. Lange & Sohne, the watch was made in 1938, and sold on December 12, 1938, to Adolf Lunser, Berlin, a company that was the official supplier to the German government and the Third Reich.

Nativity of Mother of God

Nativity of Mother of God

price:: 2499$


This beautiful Antique Russian Icon is titled "Nativity of Mother of God". This Antique Russian Icon was painted in the 19th century, the artist used Egg tempera on wood with a silver plated, bronze Riza. This Icon is from Moscow, Russia and the size is 12" x 14". It is a gorgeous piece and has been preserved very well. Beneath the beautiful Riza is a magnificent painting of the Nativity of Mother of God. This makes the Russian Icon unique since most Icon's with Rizas are only painted under the opening in the Riza. However, this icon is fully painted under the Riza which is very unusual. The icon is 100% original and comes with a certificate of authenticity.

World map of Mahmud al-Kashgari.

Description: World map of Mahmud al-Kashgari.
11th century

This turkocentric world map was published in al-Kashgari's "Compendium of the languages of the Turks" in the 11th century, oriented with east on the top, showing Taklamakan and the Altai in the centre, the Caspian Sea to the north, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Yemen and Egypt to the the west, China and Japan to the east, Hindustan, Kashmir, Gog and Magog to the south. The world is shown as encircled by the ocean.

Budhha 137 years old

Budhha 137 years old

buddha, 137 years old, 6 inches in height, 20-25 kilos

price::2,000,000.00 +

World map by Johannes Kepler in 1627

World map by Johannes Kepler
First edition: 1627
Published in: "Tabulae Rudolphinae: quibus astronomicae" by J. Kepler.

World and France 1683 by Mallet

World and France 1683 by Mallet

Cartographer: Mallet

Full Title: "Planisphere du Monde"

Published: 1683, Paris

Price:150$

"Planisphere du Monde" issued Paris, 1683 by Mallet.

A wonderful depiction of the world in spheres rendered as if on a scrolled wall map, with France below it depicted in the same manner.

In near excellent antiquarian condition with attractive full hand color on a c. 5 " W x 7 5/8 " H sheet, image area c. 4 " W x

The Picture of Dorian Gray , by OSCAR WILDE IN 1891

The Picture of Dorian Gray
by Wilde, Oscar
1st Edition
Price: $75,000.00

• Bookseller: B & B Rare Books, Ltd. (US)
• Seller Inventory #: OW004
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Binding: Hardcover
• Publisher: London: Ward Lock and Co.
• Date published: 1891






Book Description:::

London: Ward Lock and Co., 1891. First edition, first impression, regular issue. Presentation copy inscribed by Wilde to verso of the half title page, "Frank/ from his/ friend Oscar/ Oct 22/ ‘91.” Bound in the original gray beveled paper-covered boards with gilt lettering and butterfly designs by Charles Ricketts. Expert repairs to paper at corners and spine rebacked with matching paper. Occasional light soiling to text. Housed in a fine custom quarter gilt-stamped vellum and handmade paper-covered box. Wilde’s first and only novel, and longest work of prose, first appeared in Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine on June 20, 1890, and is considered to be Wilde’s most personal work. The novel was first published in book form in April, 1891 with new chapters, many alterations and variations. Extremely scarce inscribed and in the original boards.. Signed by Author(s). 1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good.



The Picture of Dorian Gray is the only published novel written by Oscar Wilde, first appearing as the lead story in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine on 20 June 1890. Wilde later revised this edition, making several alterations, and adding new chapters; the amended version was published by Ward, Lock, and Company in April 1891. The story is often miscalled The Portrait of Dorian Gray.

World's Most Expensive Wines

World's Most Expensive Wines


When an enterprising young man named James Christie opened his sales rooms in London in December 1766, his first auction consisted of the estate of a "deceased nobleman" containing "a large Quantity of Madeira and high Flavour'd Claret." The records don't relate how much these delightfully described "high Flavour'd clarets" fetched but as the whole sale realized a grand total £175, it is a sure bet that if Christie had known that two hundred years later, in 1985, his now famous auction house would sell one bottle of wine for £105,000, or $160,000, he might have held back a bottle or two to enrich his future heirs.

This bottle was a Bordeaux, a 1787 Chateau Lafite, and, according to The Guinness Book of World Records, 18 years later it still is the world's most expensive bottle of wine. Its great age alone would have ensured a good price but what gave it its special cachet, especially to American collectors, and ensured the record price tag were the initials Th.J. etched in the glass.