NEW YORK, NY.- The fabled private library of the most prominent antiquarian book dealer of his generation achieved extraordinary results over two live sales, totaling $16,141,944. The May 25 live evening sale, The Private Collection of William S. Reese: Part One totaled $8,216,292, with 95% sold by lot, and 146% hammer of low estimate. The May 26 live day sale, The Private Collection of William S. Reese: Part Two, totaled $7,925,652, with 97.5% sold by lot, 200% hammer above low estimate.

Part One was led by the first Massachusetts broadside printing of The Declaration Of Independence, John Rodgers, c.14-16 July 1776, which brought $2,100,000. Other notable lots included, The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles John Smith, 1624, $504,000; The Bloody Massacre, Paul Revere 1770, $352,800; The Federalist, Hamilton, Madison, Jay, 1788, $352,800; and Notes on the State of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson 1785, $302,400. Part Two saw top results for Portrait of Big Buffalo, A Chippewa by Charles Bird King, 1827, which brought $478,800 and Grapes and Grape Vines of California, Hannah Millard, 1877, $478,800. Among many other strong results were The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America, John James Audubon, which fetched $441,000, and Indian Hospitality—Conversing by Signs, Alfred Jacob Miller, C.1837, which realized $302,400.

The Reese sales continue with: The Private Collection of William S. Reese: Part Three Online through 2 June, and The Herman Melville Collection of William S. Reese Online, 1-14 September.

Christina Geiger, Head of the Book Department said: “We feel profoundly honored to have handled these sales, which together comprise the most important auction of printed Americana in a generation. The enormous success is a resounding tribute to the late William Reese’s connoisseurship, and reflects the wide respect in which he was held by a vast community of curators, fellow rare book dealers, and collectors. His legacy will continue to inspire and energize this community for many decades to come.”

THE PRIVATE COLLECTION OF WILLIAM S. REESE: PART ONE

• The Federalist,
Hamilton, Madison, Jay, 1788
PRICE REALIZED: $352,800

• The Bloody Massacre, Paul Revere 1770
PRICE REALIZED: $352,800

• The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles John Smith, 1624
PRICE REALIZED: $504,000

• Notes on the State of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson 1785
PRICE REALIZED: $302,400

THE PRIVATE COLLECTION OF WILLIAM S. REESE: PART TWO

• Portrait of Big Buffalo, A Chippewa by Charles Bird King, 1827
PRICE REALIZED: $478,800

• Grapes and Grape Vines of California, Hannah Millard, 1877
PRICE REALIZED: $478,800

• The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America
John James Audubon
PRICE REALIZED: $441,000

• Indian Hospitality—Conversing by Signs
Alfred Jacob Miller, C.1837
PRICE REALIZED: $302,400