(Berkeley, California, August 4th) – PBA Galleries announces an auction of Americana – Travel & Exploration – World History – Cartography to be held on August 6th, 2020. Comprised of over three hundred and thirty-five lots of rare, important, and captivating works on the history, geography, culture, development and social fabric of the Americas and the world at large, the sale also includes printed books, manuscripts, photographs, ephemeral items, maps, and much more.
Highlights include Serindia, the magnus opus of explorer and archaeologist Sir Aurel Stein, 1921. The 5 volumes, including the plate volume and portfolio of maps, trace his investigations, and acquisition of artifacts, along the Silk Road through Central Asia into the western reaches of China (Estimate: $10,000-$15,000). America, with those known parts in that unknowne worlde, by John Speed, the 1676 issue of the carte-a-figures map first published in 1626, is the first English map of the Western Hemisphere, and the first map published in an atlas to depict California as an island (Estimate: $8,000-$12,000). The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803, 55 volumes is a rare complete set published by the Arthur H. Clark Company, 1903-1908. The volumes are an indispensable compilation of original documents and source material gathered shortly after the conquest of the islands by the United States (Estimate: $5,000-$8,000).
North American history is well-represented in the sale. Our Pacific outpost is represented by The Laws and Resolutions Passed at the Annual Council of the Hawaiian Nobles and Representatives, 1843, printed at the Seminary Press, Lahainaluna, Maui (Estimate: $3,000-$5,000). From the mainland, PBA will offer Memorias para la historia de la guerra de Tejas, by Vicente Filisola, 1849, a Mexican view of the Texas rebellion, including the Battle of the Alamo (Estimate: $2,000-$3,000). Up north, Edward Roper’s rare illustrated work, Muskoka: The Picturesque Playground of Canada, 1883-4 depicts 12 original lithographed plates of the sporting paradise in central Ontario (Estimate: $2,000-$3,000).
PBA continues to safeguard the health of employees and clients by remaining closed to the public. PBA will conduct previews via Zoom and limit live auction participation to online or phone bidding. For more information about upcoming sales or to schedule a Zoom preview or phone bidding for a future auction, please contact the galleries at 415.989.2665 or [email protected].