A rare copy of Arthur Rackham's Peter Pan portfolio will be sold as part of Christie's auction of the Le Vivier Library, which is to be held on October 30.
The London auction will see a range of sporting books and modern first editions offered, with a huge collection of Henry Alken's hunting scenes dominating much of the sale.
 Rackham personally selected his favourite images for the portfolio |
Probably the rarest Rackham publication on the current market, the Peter Pan portfolio contains 12 window-mounted coloured plates, which the artist personally selected as his favourite images from his illustrations for the 1906 book Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens. Due to their suitability for framing, very few complete portfolios have remained intact.
The example at auction is numbered nine in an issue of 20 copies, which Arthur Rackham has signed in pencil on each mount, and is also one of 100 copies signed by the publisher and printer. With the original vellum gilt, pink silk ties and original box, the portfolio is expected to sell for £15,000-20,000 ($24,180-32,240).
Selling at the top of the auction will be a unique copy of the second edition of the Treatise on Fishing, the earliest printed English work on the subject, which is included in a third edition copy of the Book of Hawking, Hunting and Fishing. Printed in 1518 by Wynkyn de Worde, the book includes a "charming" woodcut of an angler, which was the earliest illustration of its kind printed in England. A highly influential work on fishing, it is estimated at £80,000-120,000 ($128,960-193,440).
See Paul Fraser Collectibles' brilliant selection of rare books and manuscripts here. We continue to bring you the latest news and features from across the auction world in our dedicated Books & Manuscripts news section.
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Images: Christie's
