For the Book Collector, the Bookbinder and the Book Lover

If you are into beautifully decorated books from the 16th-18th centuries, you now have the chance to bid on the second part of the historic and extensive library from Valdemar’s Castle.

Between the auction's slightly more than 100 lots, you will find material on both history, theology, legislation and lovely illustrated engravings. Manuscripts and old Bibles are also among the items on offer, including a copy of Christian III's Bible from 1550. The Bible is the first complete Bible in Danish published by the King, and it only rarely appears on the open market.

Another rarity in the collection is Nicolas Sanson's Cartes Generales de Toutes les Parties du Monde from 1599. Nicholas Sanson was the founder of French geography, and the work is described as the most important geographical book in 18th century France. The work is illustrated with a total of 88 beautiful maps and plates. The Oldenburgische Chronicon from 1599 also deserves mention. It is considered an important source for the history of the Oldenburg House and the family’s relationship with the country of Denmark.

Are you more into the craft of bookbinding? Book artist Mogens Dichow Lund is the third in the line of bookbinders after Anker Kyster (1864-1939). In 1975, Dichow took over the workshop from his predecessor Bent Andrée and continued the prestigious tradition of Danish bookbinding craft. With the purchase of the workshop came materials and archives from the time when Kyster himself stood behind the workshop desk. These materials are now being offered at auction – including sketches, drawings and hand-decorated paper from Kyster's collaboration with the designer Thorvald Bindesbøll (1846-1908) as well as leather, laid paper, clichés and stamps.

In his work as a bookbinder, Dichow has taken part in several competitions, and several of his award-winning works are now being offered at auction. Here we can highlight Indiske Digte (Indian Poems) and H.C. Andersens liv fortalt til børn (Hans Christian Andersen’s life told for children).

Dichow is still active as one of the few remaining bookbinders in Denmark. About this now rare profession, Dichow says: "We have to face the fact that a few but skilled bookbinders must be trained to carry on the fine traditions of Danish bookcraft, so that our old masters will not have lived in vain." (Kristensen, 2010, Bogbindernes Blå Bog, p. 320).

No Auction Without Hans Christian Andersen!

I det Hjem hvor jeg fandt Hygge

da i Vaar jeg flagred' hid

gjemmes vil min Billed-Skygge

en Erindring om hiin Tid.

(In the home where I found comfort

when I fluttered there in spring

my self-portrait will hide

a memory of that time.)

In April 1868, Hans Christian Andersen visited the professor couple Rudolph and Lovise Henrichsen in Odense. He dedicated a poem to "Professor’s wife Henrichsen" on the back of a self-portrait. At our auction you now have the opportunity to bid on this original, handwritten and probably unpublished poem by Andersen. The poem is dated 22 April 1868 and is signed by the author.