CHURCHILL AUCTIONS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 29, 29 October 1942, Page 8

CHURCHILL AUCTIONS

Rare Books, Manuscripts, And Pictures CHANCE FOR COLLECTORS ■When the Churchill auctions begin in Wellington next Thursday, collectors ot books, pictures, manuscripts, and antiques will have an unrivalled opportunity ot indulging in their favourite hobbies and also assisting patriotic funds. More than 500 lots arc listed, and they cover a wide variety of New Zealand books, line editions, paintings, etchings, coins and objects of art generally. These are now on view "in the Jacobcun room of Ivirkcaldio and Stains, where the auction will be conducted by Mr. A. N. Hollis. Though there are many large gaps m the catalogue which collectors would like to see tilled, there are,a fair number ot first editions of New Zealand books listed. Most notable of these are "The New Zealanders,” by G. F. Angus, published m 1547, "Legends of the Maori,” by James Cowan and Sir Maui Pomace, Sir George Grey’s “Mythology and Traditions of the New Zealanders,” "The Aryan Maori, •, by Tregear, and a Maori prayer book printed in Sydney in 1833. Several of the books in the New Zealand section are certain to bring a gleam of envy into the eyes of any collector, and to be the subject of brisk bidding. Outstanding pieces are Sir William Buller’s “History of the Birds of New Zealand.” Printed in 1873, it. is among the rarest of bookn dealing with the Dominion, and has- the added advantage of tiein" attractive in itself, with 3o splendiuly coloured illustrations. Those who collect material of Samuel Butler will cherish -the fifth edition of “Erewhon which was- the first to carry his name. Four books published between 1773 and lib! deal with Captain Cook’s voyages, theu much in the public mind. Famous Work.

The highest price for the Wellington auction with the exception of the Churchill book may be reached by John White s justly famous "Ancient History of the Maori,” of which volumes one, two, three, and six will be offered. A iiue set complete except for four volumes, will be ottered of the Transactions of the New Zealand Institute, and also many volumes of the Journals of the Polynesian SoC ‘T special section is devoted to autographed . letters of people of varying degrees of < fame, including .Sir Joseph Banks John Bright, W. E. Gladstone, W; S. Grace, Sir Henry Irving, Samuel Marsden, Sir Ernest Shackleton, and Sir Charles Kingsford- Smith. Literary figures whose letters have found their way to New Zealand include Crosbie Gareton, W. W. Jacobs, Rudyard Kipling. Henry Lawson, John Masefield, George Bernard Shaw. There are also several autographed books such as a volume ot Aldous Huxley’s essays. New Zealand writers have autographed their works freely for the benefit of patriotic funds, signed copies comprising books by J. C. Andersen, Eric bradwell, James Cowan. Eileen Duggan, Pat Lawler, Alan Mulgan, and J. H. E. Schroeder. The many gifts which have built up the collection are too numerous to mention, but some idea of the pictures available can be gained from the fact that they include the work of Archibald Nieoll, Charles Meryon, D. K. Richmond, T. A. McCormack, Nugent Welch, and Frank Brangwyn. , . . It is hoped also to receive stamps likely to make an appeal to Ihe general philatelist rather than to the expert. These will be auctioned by a noled n ellington expert.

FIRST DAY OF AUCKLAND SALE The first day of the Churchill Auctions in Auckland resulted in the realization of a sum of £391/10/-, the deputy-mayor of the city, Mr. L. J. Coakley, acting as honorary auctioneer. Top price was brought by a fine iolio copv of "The New Zealanders Illustrated,” 1847, containing 60 hand-col-oured engravings of Maori subjects, which was knocked down for ±36. A graju - fatber clock dating from about ln>» fetched £25, and tile same was obtained for a fine pair of Sheffield plate candelabra and for a small Empire settee covered with Watteau style tapestry.