Sell or Auction Your Jan Commelin Horti Medici Amstelodamensis Rariorum Tam Orientalis for Nearly $20,000 or More at Nate D. Sanders Auctions
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Sell Your Jan Commelin Horti Medici Amstelodamensis Rariorum Tam Orientalis
Jan Commelin (23 April 1629 – 19 January 1692), also known as Jan Commelijn, Johannes Commelin or Johannes Commelinus, was a botanist, and was the son of historian Isaac Commelin; his brother Casparus was a bookseller and newspaper publisher. Jan became a professor of botany when many plants were imported from the Cape and Ceylon and a new system had to be developed. As alderman of the city, together with burgomaster Johan Huydecoper van Maarsseveen he led the arrangement of the new botanic garden Hortus Medicus, later becoming Hortus Botanicus. He cultivated exotic plants on his farm ‘Zuyderhout’ near Haarlem. Commelin amassed a fortune by selling herbs and drugs to apothecaries and hospitals in Amsterdam and other Dutch cities.
Caspar Commelijn or Caspar Commelin (14 October 1668 Amsterdam – 25 December 1731 Amsterdam), was a Dutch botanist.
Below is a recent realized price for a Jan Commelin Horti medici Amstelodamensis rariorum tam orientalis. We at Nate D. Sanders Auctions can obtain up to these amounts or more for you:
Jan Commelin Horti Medici Amstelodamensis Rariorum Tam Orientalis. Sold for nearly $20,000.
by Gerard Hoet (1648-1733) click to enlarge
Here are some recent items that our auction house, Nate D. Sanders (http://www.NateDSanders.com) has sold:
Gutenberg Bible Leaf 193 Chronicles of Old Testament
Scarce leaf from the Gutenberg Bible, one of the earliest major books printed from moveable metal type, the invention that ushered in the Age of Enlightenment by democratizing knowledge through mass production of literature. Printed by Johannes Gutenberg in Mainz, Germany from 1450-1455, less than 50 complete or near-complete copies of the Gutenberg Bible are now extant, with nearly all those housed in public institutions. Singular leaves are also scarce, with the leaf presented here having been acquired by bookseller Gabriel Wells, whose purchase of an incomplete Bible in 1920 gave way to selling the individual leaves alongside an essay by A. Edward Newton entitled “A Noble Fragment”. Leaf is number 193 of the full Latin Bible, with the recto being the Prologue to 1 Chronicles of the Old Testament, and the verso the first part of Chapter 1 of 1 Chronicles. Each page features two columns of 42 lines in dark black Gothic type, accented by red and blue rubrication. Each copy of the Gutenberg Bible differs in its rubrication and illumination, with buyers at the time deciding upon these embellishments after the Bible was printed. The six-line rubricated letters of this leaf were likely added later, restored to match the original style. Leaf measures 11.125″ x 15.375″, bound on edge to portfolio measuring 11.75″ x 16″. Paper quality is still bright with very little foxing or discoloration compared to other examples. A stunning example from the book that changed the course of history. Sold for $136,500.
Charles Darwin On the Origin of Species 1st Edition
First edition, first printing of “On the Origin of Species” by Charles Darwin, one of the most important books in the scientific canon. London: John Murray, 1859. In this revolutionary book that upended man’s own view of himself, Darwin posits natural selection as the engine driving species’ evolution, an argument so persuasive that even 19th century religious leaders adjusted their teachings to allow for evolution to work in concert with divine planning. Its importance has only grown in the 150+ years since publication, with Freeman concluding it to be “the most important biological book ever written”. First released on 24 November 1859, its scarcity nearly matches its importance, with the first printing consisting of only 1,250 copies, and the number of extant copies now significantly fewer.
All first printing points are present, including original binding, variant B, title page with copyright information on verso, Table of Contents (pages v-ix) with binder instructions to verso, complete pages 1-502, and folding table present between pages 116-117. Bound in publisher’s full green boards, stamped and lettered in gilt. Overall in very good condition; ads at back of volume have been removed as has half-title page, and endpapers have been replaced. Volume is rebacked using morocco, with original spine laid down. Some shelf wear to boards. Light foxing throughout book, with some chipping, small closed tears with repairs to a few pages, and a few dogeared pages. One small mark on page 109, otherwise no internal writing or marks. Housed in a custom quarter-leather clamshell box. Overall in very good condition, a handsome, presentable copy of this scarce first printing. Sold for $68,250.
Carl Linnaeus document signed, acknowledging receipt of his salary as Professor of Medicine and Botany at the Royal Swedish Academy. Datelined Uppsala, 10 October 1757 in Swedish, elegantly signed ”Carl Linnaeus”. Named the ”Father of Modern Taxonomy” and the ”Prince of Botanists”, Linnaeus was one of the most renowned scientists and naturalists of his day, having published ”Systema Naturae” in 1735, which classified 4,400 animal species and 7,700 plant species. The publication was so important that people from all over the world sent their specimens to be included in subsequent editions, which reached its 12th edition in the second half of the 17th century. Document measures 8” x 4”. Mounting remnant to verso and vertical fold, otherwise near fine condition. Sold for $3,438.
Charles Darwin autograph letter signed with evolution related content written shortly after ”On the Origin of Species” was published. Dated 16 August (1860 or 1861), Darwin writes to his second cousin William Darwin Fox, who introduced Charles Darwin to entomology. Upon Down, Kent stationery, Darwin writes in part, ”…you had seen a dozen instances of white cats with blue eyes being deaf: how can you by an extraordinary chance remember the sex of any of them…C. Darwin”. Fox’s reply to Darwin, giving additional details on the white, blue-eyed, blind cats, is archived in the Darwin Correspondence Project. Single page letter measures 5” x 8”, with an engraving of Darwin measuring 5.5” x 8”. Uniform toning, mounting tape remnants and writing at top not in Darwin’s hand, overall very good condition. Sold for $15,000.
Charles Darwin autograph letter signed, dated 12 February 1879 shortly before his publication ”The Power of Movement in Plants”. Darwin writes fellow English naturalist and explorer Henry Walter Bates regarding a document to be sent to the Royal Society. Letter reads, ”Feb 12th 79 / Dear Bates / Enclosed is the certificate with 7 signatures, which I would think was ample, but I send it to you instead of direct to R.S. [Royal Society], as you might have to get stamps from Martin and friend Sir H.C. Rowlinson’s signature, whom I do not know. If I were in your place I would append to your title ‘Ex Pres [President] of Ent. [Entomological] Soc. [Society] Yr’; but you are the best judge of this. I think that you had better send the certificate, with note enclosed by a safe hand or [?]. Yours sincerely, Ch. Darwin”. Darwin had earlier praised Bates seminal work, ”The Naturalist on the River Amazons”, as the ”best book of Natural History Travels ever published in England”. Single page letter measures 5” x 8”. Light soiling and wear; overall in very good plus condition with very bold handwriting and signature. Sold for $6,250.
Darwin’s “First Words”
London: Baldwin & Cradock, 1827-35 and Henry Bohn 1846. 2,202pp., 7 volumes of 11. Bound in six volumes, (the first and second volumes bound as one). Contains Mandibulata portion of work only, plus one supplementary volume (lacks four volumes of Haustellata). Contains 47 hand-colored engraved plates, bound from arts in quarter morocco, gilt rules, lettering to spines. Plain-paper sides, marbled endpapers. Bindings worn, rubbed, scuffed at head, tail of spines. Two volumes lacking .5″ piece at spine’s head. Volume VI split at head, tail of hinges. Covers detached on Volume I. Endpapers, title pages foxed, small embossed library stamp to top corner of title pages. Toning to pages, occasional light pencil note, tick to margins. Bindings tight. Good. Sold for $2,040.
Beautiful limited edition of ”Select Orchidaceous Plants”, dedicated and gifted to legendary actor Raymond Burr in 1975. Originally published in 1862, ”Select Orchidaceous Plants” features descriptions and color plates of 43 orchids. Burr’s copy was commissioned by Fort Caroline Orchids Inc. and published by Rare Editions Ltd.: Jacksonville: 1975. Bound in red calfskin boards with gilt title lettering and floral design. Edition number and ”Prepared Especially for Raymond Burr” plated to front free endpaper. Measures 13.25” x 18”, runs 187pp. Very slight rubbing to corners. Near fine. With an LOA from the estate of Raymond Burr. Sold for $275.
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