Old classic books

An auction with classic older books is a natural feature the anniversary year at Bukowskis, which has organized book auctions since the start of the 1870s.

The oldest at this auction are books from the 16th and 17th centuries, including one rare edition in folio by Luther’s Hausspostill (1553) which is adorned with a even more unusual full-page exlibris in woodcut. Solinus ’“Polyhistor” (1543) contains the first complete map of Asia, and among rarities can also be seen in the beautifully illustrated “Das Schach- oder König-Spiel ”(1616) in a copy belonging to Carl Gustaf Tessin.

Read more

An auction with classic older books is a natural feature the anniversary year at Bukowskis, which has organized book auctions since the start of the 1870s.

The oldest at this auction are books from the 16th and 17th centuries, including one rare edition in folio by Luther’s Hausspostill (1553) which is adorned with a even more unusual full-page exlibris in woodcut. Solinus ’“Polyhistor” (1543) contains the first complete map of Asia, and among rarities can also be seen in the beautifully illustrated “Das Schach- oder König-Spiel ”(1616) in a copy belonging to Carl Gustaf Tessin.

The section with classic Swedish books is partly scientific works by Linnaeus, Wallerius, Rosenstein, and Triewald, but also one charming copy of the first edition of ”The Law of the Kingdom of Sweden” (1734/36), Schefferus’ ”Lapponia” (English edition, 1674, the first anthropological works printed in Oxford), as well as several well-known ones illustrated books: ”Ett år i Sverige” (1827), Linnerhielms ”Bref under travel in Sweden ”(1797) and Ehrensvärd’s“ Journey to Italy ”. The the latter is found in both the extremely rare first edition of 1786, printed for distribution, and in reprint from 1819. ”Sveriges Rikes Lagh books ”from 1666 are sold for the sake of rarity in a rich gold ornatecontemporary leather straps with e.g. a. the national coat of arms embossed on the binders.

Among the ”varia” are books on astronomy, hot air balloons (1784), sundials, calligraphy, Greenland, Roman and Swedish history, topography, coins and medals, costumes, and a whole small collection of elzevirer from the 17th century. Bochart’s great book from 1675 with a review of all the animals of the Bible does perhaps mainly impressions through some delicious woodcuts depicting unicorns and a hammerhead shark.

We also have the pleasure of convey books that once belonged to Queen Ulrika Eleonora d. y. (1688-1741, sister of Charles XII), Johan Skytte (Schroderus, 1577-1645), Carl Gustaf Tessin (1695-1770), and Säfstaholmsbiblioteket. A lot remarkable provenance specimens are some interconnected works in astronomy which belonged to one of our most famous astronomers, Bengt Ferrner (1724-1802).

Some of the books, are examples of pure delicacies. It concerns for example, a fore-edge painting on a book from 1803, Pfeiffer’s very beautiful poster work “Magazine for flower lovers and gardener ”(1803-09), and Helena Maria Linnerhielms little ”Witterhets-Attempt” (1795), by her husband Jonas Carl Linnerhielm provided with an engraved dedication sheet and 26 engraved vignettes! In addition, a handwritten German prayer book from around 1750 in a beautiful decorated leather strap with matching two-piece sliding cover.

But the whole range of nice books is too large to list here - warmly welcome to take part in the catalog and bid on the auction!