Last summer I wrote Recently I was offered a second edition of Wade & Croome’s Panorama of the Hudson River, printed in 1846. I look to understand the evolving waterfront of the Hudson River during the 19th century and this slim volume provides a remarkably detailed perspective. I bought it at the offered price from Greg Gibson of Ten Pound Island and am well pleased for the rich detail provided. This version is the plain one that was originally offered for $1.50. Those with more money at the time could buy a hand-colored version for $2.00.
Fast forward to early December. I have liked the black and white version enough to want a hand-colored copy and knew one was available when I price compared last summer. The price for the black and white version, with 32 page account of the Hudson River shoreline was $1,000 and when I recently checked again, the lovely colored copy of the 1847 3rd edition with 38 page explanation of the shoreline that I had thought was a bit rich, was still available and the sellers willing to consider an offer. Now I have both. The hand colored copy was $3,500. It’s very pleasing
Out of curiosity, and because compound interest calculators are a click away on line, I looked to see what a fifty cent difference in 1847 would need to yield year over year to equal the $2,500 difference today. If you guessed 5.08% you are correct. The uncolored copy appreciated at the rate of 3.68% compounded.
Over the years I’ve learned that hand colored is far preferable to black and white and this example seems to bear out the significant price difference the market demands today.
Both dealers I bought these volumes from are in the ABAA and these experiences remind me there is a lot to be said for dealing with knowledgeable folks. My collection is better for their contributions.
Forum Auctions Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper 28th May 2026
Forum, May 28: Book of Hours.- Heures de nostre dame a l'usaige de Romme, Paris, Antoine Chappiel pour Germain Hardouin, [1504]. £6,000-8,000
Forum, May 28: Colonna (Francesco). La Hypnerotomachia di Poliphilo, second edition, Venice, Sons of Aldus Manutius, 1545. £15,000-20,000
Forum, May 28:The Christ Child holding a crystal orb and surrounded by banderoles with devotional exhortations, on a leaf most probably from a Book of Hours, [Southern Netherlands, last decades of the fifteenth century]. £2,000-3,000
Forum Auctions Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper 28th May 2026
Forum, May 28: Jackson (Shirley). The Haunting of Hill House, first English edition, signed presentation inscription from the author to Claude Fredericks, 1960. £2,000-3,000
Forum, May 28: Lennon (John). In His Own Write, first edition, first impression, signed by the author, 1964. £3,000-4,000
Forum, May 28: Doves Press.- Keats (John). [Poems], one of 200 copies on paper, Doves Press, 1914. £5,000-7,000
Forum Auctions Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper 28th May 2026
Forum, May 28: Rodrigues (João Barbosa). Sertum Palmarum Brasiliensium, 2 vol., first and only edition, Brussels, 1903. £8,000-12,000
Forum, May 28: Newton (Sir Isaac). Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica…editio ultima, auctior et emendatior, Amsterdam, Sumptibus Societatis, 1714. £8,000-12,000
Forum, May 28: Kepler (Johannes). Ad Vitellionem paralipomena, wuibus astronomiae pars optica traditur, first edition, Frankfurt am Main, 1604. £5,000-7,000
Forum Auctions Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper 28th May 2026
Forum, May 28: Tagliacozzi (Gaspare). De Curtorum Chirurgia per insitionem, libri duo, first edition, Venice, Gasparo Bindoni, 1597. £7,000-10,000
Forum, May 28: Lootsman (Jacobsz). The Lightning Colomne, or Sea-Mirrour, containing the Sea-Coasts of the Northern, Eastern and Western Navigation..., 1670. £8,000-12,000
Forum, May 28: Ribelles y Helip (José), Attributed to. An album comprising 33 finely executed watercolours of Spanish costume, bull-fighting scenes, and other genre subjects, [circa 1830]. £10,000-15,000
