Press Release

Davenport, WA, USA, July 19, 2024 -- An important collection of rare books, maps and atlases from the recently closed Birmingham-Southern College in Alabama will be sold at auction on July 31st and August 1st by Grant Zahajko Auctions, online and live in the Grant Zahajko gallery located at 510 Morgan Street in Davenport. Start times on both auction days will be 9 am Pacific time.

“This collection represents three hundred years of history, with material relating to cartography, abolitionism, law, exploration, and U.S. history by state, featuring Alabama, Florida and others,” said Grant Zahajko of Grant Zahajko Auctions. “Many titles represent the first to come to market in decades. Some books are one of only a few to come to market in the last hundred-plus years.”

Birmingham-Southern College traces its roots back to 1856, the year the Alabama Legislature chartered Southern University as a Methodist institution. This collection of books was stored and shelved in a locked special collections room called the "Wood room". The school officially closed in May of this year. Many iconic important titles are scattered throughout the auction.

In all, nearly 1,000 lots will come up for bid. The books will feature subjects that include Americana, Presidents, Founding Fathers, Southern States, Alabama, Florida, the Carolinas, Anti-Slavery, Exploration and more. Also included are important atlases, maps, pamphlets and more. Session 1, on July 31st, will contain lots 1-499. The rest will be offered on August 1st.

Session 1 highlights will feature a copy of the 1741 book A Description of the English Province of Carolina, By the Spaniards Call’d Florida, and By the French Louisiane, by Daniel Coxe, published by Oliver Payne in London (est. $2,000-$4,000); and a first English edition, limited issue copy of James Joyce’s epic novel Ulysses, published in London and Paris in 1922 by John Rodker for the Egoist Press, #1631 of 2,000 copies, on handmade paper (est. $2,000-$3,000).

Session 2 star lots include a copy of A New General Atlas, Containing a Geographical and Historical Account of All the Empires, Kingdoms and Other Dominions of the World, by John Senex, published in London in 1721 and featuring 34 double-page, hand-colored maps (est. $12,000-$18,000); and a copy of the large folio A General Atlas, Describing the Whole Universe, complete with 35 maps, by Thomas Kitchen, published in London, 1780 (est. $10,000-$15,000).

Returning to Session 1, two Florida-related volumes have pre-sale estimate of $2,000-$4,000. One is a first edition copy of The Territory of Florida: or, Sketches of the Topography, civil and natural history of the country, the climate and the Indian Tribes, by John Lee Williams, published in 1837 (with an 1840 map) by A.T. Goodrich (N.Y.). The other is a complete, first edition copy (with six folding maps and one folding plate) of An Account of the First Discovery and Natural History of Florida by William Roberts and Thomas Jefferys, published in 1763.

A copy of The American Military Pocket Atlas of the British Colonies, a first edition of the so-called Holster Atlas, designed to “suit the pockets of officers of all ranks” during the American Revolution, with maps, published in London in 1776, should bring $6,000-$8000; while a copy of The Generall Historie of Virginia, New England and the Summer Isles, etc., with four maps (possibly printed later) and descriptions, published in 1624, is expected to hit $8,000-$12,000.

To learn more about Grant Zahajko Auctions and the auction scheduled for July 31st and August 1st, please visit https://bid.gzauctions.com.

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