Books & Autographs

Switzerland has always been a central marketplace for ideas as well as for the sharing of the culture of knowledge in Europe: in other words, for books.

Koller’s auctions for Books and Autographs reflect the enormous variety of forms which the written and printed word has assumed over the centuries: from incunables to modern first editions; from books of hours to avant-garde publications, we present desirable works from all periods and on all subjects.

The minutely researched and lavishly illustrated catalogues are dedicated to a discerning international clientele of collectors and specialists, libraries and archives. Excellent prices are achieved for botanical masterworks, important travel literature and historic atlases, as well as for rare Bibles, letters by famous authors, and modern artist’s books. Entire collections dedicated to specific areas of knowledge are regularly presented in their own single-owner catalogues.

Valuations / Consignments

If you wish to consign to one of our auctions, we will value your artworks free of charge. Please send us photos if possible, or call us. We will arrange an appointment to view your property at your home or in one of our offices in Zurich, Geneva, Florence, Munich or Düsseldorf. You will then receive our auction estimates so that you can make your decision.

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DR. ANDREAS TERWEY

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Cyril Himmer
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Ulrike Gruben
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SELECTED RESULTS Books & Autographs

Hortus Sanitatis -

[H]ortus Sanitatis. De herbis et plantis. De animalibus et reptilibus. De avibus et volatilibus. De piscibus et natalibus. De lapidibus et in terre venis nascentibus. De urinis et earum specibus. Tabula medicinalis cum directorio generali per omnes tractatus. With woodcut-border to title page by Hans Wechtlin and 1066 (1 fullpage) woodcuts to text.

[Strassburg, Reinhard Beck], 1517. Folio (31,8 × 22 cm). [356] leaves. Embossed contemporary leather-binding over wooden boards. With handwirtten labels to spine and front cover (older restorations, front hinge split open, slightly rubbed, some defects to spine cover, clasps removed, inner cover with mounted maculature).

CHF 31 250 (including buyer's premium)

A218 / 4138

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Hortus Sanitatis -

CHF 31 250

Hesse, Hermann, Schriftsteller (1877-1962).

Zwölf Gedichte. Eigenhändiges Manuskript auf Papier. Mit aquarellierter Titeleinfassung und 12 aquarellierten Vignetten.

[Montagnola], undatiert. 4° (25,2 x 17,5 cm.). [13] Doppelblatt. Jeweils mit Titel und Aquarell auf erstem Blatt recto, zweites Blatt recto mit der Gedichthandschrift.

CHF 17 500 (including buyer's premium)

A218 / 4220

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Hesse, Hermann, Schriftsteller (1877-1962).

CHF 17 500

Piranesi, Giovanni Battista.

Différentes vues de quelques Restes de trois grands Edifices qui subsistent encore dans le milieu de l'ancienne Ville de Pesto autrement Posidonia qui est située dans la Lucanie. Engraved title and 21 engraved plates (num. I-XX).

Rome, 1778. Imperial-Folio (77 × 54 cm). Also includes 7 etchings from ‘Vedute di Roma’, including ‘Colosseo’ (see below). Plano mounted in a marbled Italian leather binding of the period with new label to spine and magnificent floral cover gilding consisting of double borders with inlaid edge strips, projecting inner frame with net-shaped corner pieces and large diamond-shaped centre piece (somewhat rubbed, scratched and bumped).

CHF 40 000 (including buyer's premium)

A216 / 4109

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Piranesi, Giovanni Battista.

CHF 40 000

JUDAICA -

A devotional booklet on Old Testament history, such as "The Book of the Golden Sceptre". Hebrew manuscript on parchment. With broad borders on the title and final pages, as well as three vignettes, all executed in figurative gouache over pen and ink.

Amsterdam (?), 18th century. 12 × 10 cm. [12] leaves, written on both sides in black and red ink, with yellow border lines. - Also bound in another [18] leaves of strong white paper with a few Hebrew entries. Contemporary parchment binding with coloured floral gold embossing on the covers and pasted paper endpapers (somewhat rubbed and stained). In original cardboard slipcase (heavily rubbed, bottom missing).

CHF 38 750 (including buyer's premium)

A216 / 4204

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JUDAICA -

CHF 38 750

Kafka, Franz, Schriftsteller (1883-1924).

Eigenh. Brief mit Unterschrift.

Prag, 20. Oktober [19]15. 8°. 1 S. auf Doppelblatt (kleine Bestossung mit Loch oberhalb der Anrede, keine Textberührung; das zweite Blatt mit Ausriss).

CHF 67 500 (including buyer's premium)

A216 / 4233*

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Kafka, Franz, Schriftsteller (1883-1924).

CHF 67 500

Beckmann, Max.

Apokalypse. Mit 27 eigenhändig kolorierten Original-Lithographien, davon 16 ganzseitig.

Frankfurt a. M., Privatdruck der Bauerschen Giesserei, 1943. Folio (40 × 31 cm). [1] w. Bll., 76 S., [2] Bll., [1] w. Bl. Blindgeprägter dunkelroter Maroquin-Handeinband von Christian Zwang, Hamburg mit Schuber. Der Deckeltitel in Anlehnung an den Original-Pappband, dieser im Zuge der Neubindung entfernt und lose beiliegend.

CHF 43 750 (including buyer's premium)

A214 / 4042*

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Beckmann, Max.

CHF 43 750

ATLASES -

Ortelius, Abraham.

Theatrum orbis terrarum. 3 parts in 1 volume. With 2 engraved titles, 1 title vignette, 1 portrait, 7 (of which 5 are double-page) copper plates, and 161 double-page copperplate maps, 5 text engravings, all hand-colored, as well as 169 (of which 168 are colored) initials, and some colored text vignettes.

Antwerpen, Plantin, 1612. Large folio (48 × 30.5 cm). [26], 128, [4], XL, [1] leaves, 30 pages, [3] leaves. Contemporary vellum binding with handwritten title on the spine, ornamental blind tooling on the spine and covers, blind-stamped double border frame and corner fleurons (ribbon ties removed, lower front joint expertly repaired, somewhat spotted, browned, lightly rubbed and bumped)

CHF 125 000 (including buyer's premium)

A214 / 4109

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ATLASES -

CHF 125 000

Newton, Isaac.

Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica. [Herausgegeben von Edmond Halley]. Mit zahlreichen Holzschnitt-Figuren im Text u. 1 gefalt. Kupfertafel.

London, Joseph Streater für die Royal Society, "Prostat apud plures Bibliopolas", 1687. Kl.-4°. [4] Bll., 510 (recte 496, Paginierungssprung von 383 auf 400) S., [1] Bl. (Errata als Ersatz für das w. Bl. Ooo4). Halbleder des 19. Jahrhunderts mit goldgepr. Rückentitel u. Rückenvergoldung. In neuer Leinen-Kassette. "Perhaps the greatest intellectual stride that it has ever been granted to any man to make" (Einstein).

CHF 312 500 (including buyer's premium)

A214 / 4130

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Newton, Isaac.

CHF 312 500

Schedel, Hartmann.

Buch der Chroniken und Geschichten. Mit 2 doppelblattgrossen Holzschnittkarten und über 1800 Textholzschnitten (inkl. Wiederholungen) von Michael Wohlgemuth und Wilhelm Pleydenwurff, darunter zahlreiche grosse Stadtansichten.

Nürnberg, Anton Koberger, 23. Dez. 1493. Folio. [10], CCLXXXVI Bll., [1] Bl. Got. Type. 59 Zeilen. Sorgfältig restaurierter Schweinslederband d. Z. mit 2 erneuerten Schliessen und Buckelbeschlägen. Fragmentarisches Rückenschild des 18. Jhs.

CHF 50 000 (including buyer's premium)

A214 / 4157

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Schedel, Hartmann.

CHF 50 000

Schiller, Friedrich von, Dichter (1759-1805).

Eigenhändiges Manuskript-Fragment.

Undatiert. Kl.-Folio (34 × 21 cm). 1 S. Mit Streichungen und Zusätzen (etwas gebräunt).

CHF 23 750 (including buyer's premium)

A214 / 4224

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Schiller, Friedrich von, Dichter (1759-1805).

CHF 23 750

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