South Africa’s Antiquarian- Auctions.com Launches U.S. Affiliate with Rare Book Sale

Lakeville, CT — AntiquarianAuctions.com, South Africa’s leading online auction house announces the launch of its U.S. affiliate with an auction of carefully curated rare books, manuscripts, prints and ephemera. The sale will run from March 19 - March 26, 2020.
 
Founded in 2010 by rare book dealer Paul Mills, the U.S. affiliate, based in Litchfield County, CT is helmed by Adam Langlands, formerly of Christie’s London. With over 40 years of experience in the rare book trade, Mr. Langlands will bring an expert eye and unique sensibility to each auction.

In a crowded online marketplace, AntiquarianAuctions.com is a unique platform that enables sellers and buyers to build relationships by connecting directly with each other. This approach has been the winning formula for AntiquarianAuctions.com in South Africa. Langlands emphasizes that this feature was one of the main reasons he wanted to establish AntiquarianAuctions.com in the U.S., “We consider our online sales a hybrid—part book fair, part auction—that benefits everyone using the site”.

This first sale celebrates the U.S. launch with a focus on rare and unusual American books, ephemera and art, offering items that will be of interest to the seasoned collector as well as to the first-time buyer.  Auction highlights include: a manuscript letter from Governor George Clinton to his brother giving an eye-witness account of  the partial destruction of Kingston by the British (1777); an original ink and watercolor drawing from Walt Disney Studios, “Mickey Mouse Jitter Bug" (1930); a letter written by Lee Harvey Oswald to the Secretary General of the Communist Party USA (in early 1963); a large scale photo of Cape Cod by Joel Meyerowitz from Norman Mailer’s estate (1986);  a rare early work printed in Boston (1743); a set of poetry books by Edith Sitwell inscribed by her and presented by her to the Queen Mother (1959); the first book to be granted U.S. copyright protection (1785); a first US edition of Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary (1818); a first English edition of Noah Webster’s Dictionary (1841); a group of illustrated books, very limited editions, and all from the personal collection of the award-winning artist (Robert Andrew Parker).

With 5-6 auctions scheduled each year, subsequent sales will include items that encompass a broader range of material.  “The one constant will be our unwavering commitment to the uncommon and unusual.”