Auction of Fine Books and Manuscripts Realizes $1.1 Million

Frederik Pohl’s L. Ron Hubbard Lifetime Achievement Award.

Narrative of a Journey Across the Balcan, 1831.

Chicago — Potter and Potter's spectacular 620 lot Fine Books and Manuscripts Sale was a best seller in all regards. After a long day of competitive bidding, 72 lots realized between $2,500-9,999; 14 lots made between $10,000-24,999; and 5 lots broke the $25,000 mark.

Among the Americana lots was one of the rarest and important Revolutionary War narratives, Ethan Allen’s account of his captivity in British prisons printed in 1779, along with scarce cartographic lots related to the Great Lakes region, and choice works on travel and exploration.

This auction achieved a sales total of $1.1 million

• Lot #92, Ethan Allan's (1738–1789) A Narrative of Colonel Ethan Allen's Captivity from the Time of his Being Taken by the British, near Montreal, on the 25th day of September, in the Year 1775, to the Time of his Exchange, on the 6th day of May 1778: Containing his Voyages and Travels Interspersed with Some Practical Observations. Written by Himself, and now Published for the Information of the Curious in all Nations, was estimated at $40,000-60,000 and traded hands at $78,000.

• Lot #185, Alexis de Tocqueville's (1805–1859) De la Democratie en Amerique, traded hands at $33,600.00 on its $30,000-40,000 estimate.

• Frederik Pohl’s L. Ron Hubbard Lifetime Achievement Award. A silver loving cup mounted onto a carved walnut base with engraved plaque. Awarded to Frederik Pohl for his achievements in the science fiction genre.

A complete list of items includes final prices for each.

You can download the catalog.