Book auction to feature rare review and proof copies

The number of auction firms that have a specialist books department is really quite limited. Offering this service requires serious expertise and experience, a knowledge of what can sometimes be an arcane trade, and above all a passion for the written word.

Emily Ayson of Keys Auctioneers & Valuers (Image: Keys)
Keys has been one of those that has offered such a specialist department for many years, and many valuable and fascinating volumes have gone under the hammer both during our quarterly specialist Books and Ephemera Sales, and in special sections of other sales such as our Wildlife and Ornithology or Popular Culture auctions.

Occasionally, Keys’ reputation in this field will attract a serious collector who is seeking to sell part or even all of their collection in a one-off special sale, and these are always fascinating because the whole catalogue reflects the enthusiasm and tastes of one single reader.

Such as sale is taking place next week at Keys, when 331 lots of books and ephemera from a single collection go under the hammer. And while this collection has been amassed over the years by a single collector, it is notable for the variety of themes contained within its volumes.

First editions often feature large in the collections of serious bibliophiles, and this one is no different. Many leading 20th century authors are represented in this section, with lots including first editions of Graham Greene’s A Burnt Out Case (1961), D.H. Lawrence’s Women In Love (1921), Ralph Steadman’s I, Leonardo (1983) and Jack London’s White Fang (1906).

Even more collectable than first editions are review copies and proof copies, which are produced before the first edition even hits the shelves.  Next week’s sale includes a 1955 review copy of William Blake’s Songs Of Innocence And Of Experience, and an extremely rare uncorrected proof copy of Jeffrey Archer’s Kane & Abel, signed by the author.

Clearly the interests of our collector included history, as the collection includes a large number of books, documents and other ephemera relating to various periods in the past.

A report of the trial and execution of Rose Cullender and Amy Duny for witchcraft in Bury St Edmunds in 1664 (Image: Keys)
Perhaps the most fascinating is a 19th century report of the trial and execution in Bury St Edmunds of Rose Cullender and Amy Duny for witchcraft in 1664.  The two elderly widows, both from Lowestoft, were accused of witchcraft by their neighbours.

In scenes typical of the fevered atmosphere of the age, Cullender and Duny were accused of causing a toad to fall out of a child’s blanket and then vanish with a hiss in the fire.  

Once suspicion of witchcraft took hold, they were then accused of making children vomit pins and nails, of infesting a man with lice, causing a cart to collapse and a chimney to fall down, and causing the deaths of local pigs, cattle and horses.

They were tried at the Assizes at Bury St Edmunds by one of England’s most eminent judges of the time, the Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer, Sir Matthew Hale, and despite pleading not guilty, were convicted and sentenced to death – they were hanged a week later.  

The case became something of a model for the infamous Salem witchcraft trials in Massachusetts.

The collection also includes a large number of documents and archives from the Second World War, in particular from the Far East theatre of operations. Among these is a rare and extensive contemporary archive of manuscript and typescript material relating to Japanese weapons, artillery and activity across many campaigns including Guadalcanal, Maya and Burma.

Keys Special Books and Ephemera Sale takes place on Wednesday, September 18 at 10.30am at the Aylsham saleroom and live online at bid.keysauctions.co.uk 

To see a full catalogue, visit keysauctions.co.uk