Book-Auction Records; A Priced And Annotated Record Of London, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow And American Book-Auctions (Volume 18)

A ledger of the rare book market: prices, provenance and the shifts of taste that mark collecting. A precise and rare reference. Compiled by Henry Stevens, this eighteenth volume gathers priced and annotated accounts of London, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow and American book auctions, preserving the records of nineteenth-century book auctions and the London and American auctions where collections were dispersed and rarities reappeared. Its entries pair succinct lot descriptions with sale prices and contextual notes, making historical book sales data intelligible for readers and researchers who need authoritative citation. More than mere figures, the annotations illuminate bibliographical variants, binding states and the occasional trace of ownership, so that a single entry can reveal both market value and scholarly nuance.Essential among antiquarian book auction records, the work functions as a rare book price guide and a bibliographic reference collection; auction catalogue annotations explain variant states, bindings and occasional provenance. As a book collecting resource and practical book collectors guide it addresses casual readers curious about the commerce of reading and classic literature collectors seeking provenance and price. Librarians recognise it as a reliable library acquisitions tool, while dealers and scholars draw on its rare book market analysis to map trends, compare valuations and trace the movement of titles across salesrooms. For historians of print and collectors alike, Stevens auction records supply a continuous thread through otherwise scattered catalogues, allowing reconstruction of collecting habits, institutional formation and the circulation of specific editions. Beyond prices, it reveals changing tastes and scholarly priorities across decades. For any serious student of book history, the volume is a quiet, indispensable witness. Out of print for decades and now republished by Alpha Editions. Restored for today’s and future generations. More than a reprint - a collector’s item and a cultural treasure. Accessible to casual readers; indispensable for classic literature collectors.