21.07.10. Bloomsbury's Natural History Books, Manuscripts & Watercolours sale on September 23rd includes the second part of Mike Walpole's botanical library. A highlight will be The Greate Herball by Joannes Platearius. An extremely rare black-letter herbal, it was printed by Jhon Kynge, and only three copies have come to auction in the last 30 years. The estimate is £4,000-6,000.   Add a comment

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While bargains are to be had at auction, for the uninitiated, I think it's worth quoting from John Carter's ABC for Book Collectors. "The novice collector does well to recognise that in a bookshop there is a strong bond of common interest across the counter, but that in the sale-room every man's hand is against him. If he is a man of spirit, he may relish the encounter; hoping to beat the professionals at their own game and be prepared to take a few knocks in the process. Yet if he is also a man of sense, he will only do so after careful reconnaissance, and then with his eyes wide open".

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