Books Under the Hammer
Rare incunables, important works of science, complete sets of first editions by Ibsen and Kierkegaard, and a unique chance to become owner of the extremely rare first edition of Mendeleev’s “Principles of Chemistry” (1869-71). There are plenty to be tempted by at the book auction on 30 October at bruun-rasmussen.dk.
The absolute highlight of the upcoming book auction is a fine and very scarce copy of Dmitri Mendeleev’s seminal work “Osnovy khimii” (“Principles of Chemistry”) printed in Saint Petersburg in 1869-71. 2 vols. The preface contains the first appearance of his periodic table which he famously used to predict the elements that later came to be called Gallium, Germanium, and Scandium.
Rare medieval school bookThe auction also features a rare edition of one of the most popular medieval school books, a collection of moralizing epigrams: “Moralissimus Catho” printed by Gerard Leeu in Antwerp in 1485. About 150 surviving incunable editions were printed of these classical maxims commonly called “Cato” or “Disticha Catonis” after the Roman citizen Cato the Censor. Many of these editions survive in only a single copy. |
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A monument in the history of European thoughtNow is the chance to fill the empty shelves with the complete 39 volumes of the Lausanne edition (1778-81) of Diderot’s famous Encyclopédie, one of the principal works of the Age of Enlightenment and a landmark of Western intellectual history. The set is bound in uniform contemporary full calf and contains 443 engraved plates. |
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Complete set of Kierkegaard’s booksAnother landmark of Western intellectual history is the important writings by the Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855). Now is a unique chance to acquire an unusual fine set of all Kierkegaard’s books published in his lifetime, all in first editions. The collection includes Kierkegaard’s seminal work “Either-Or” (1843), 2 vols., bound with the often lacking half-titles. |
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A cornerstone of the Danish ReformationFinally to be highlighted, the auction features a rare, complete copy in a contemporary binding of the first Danish translation of the Bible, commissioned by King Christian III and printed by Ludwig Dietz in 1550. Christian III's Bible is the first folio Bible of Denmark and Norway, and it is famous for its numerous woodcuts by Altdorffer. It is considered a cornerstone of the Danish Reformation. |
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For further information, please contact
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Alexandra NilssonAlexandra NilssonSpecialist / Decorative Art & Classic Interior / København |
or Sarah Sauer / Specialist, books/ +45 8818 1217 ssa@bruun-rasmussen.dk