Rare Books

5:00PM 3 Abbey Street, Newton, Auckland

Art+Object are privileged to be handling a small but important archive of material relating to one of New Zealand’s foremost natural historians, Joseph Crosby Smith. It includes his shipboard diary written on his voyage to NZ on board the Calypso in 1876 and a brass microscope built by him when living in Invercargill, with his slides. The collection also includes an original sketch book by John Buchanan containing many fine pencil sketches of native trees, varieties of lichen and fungi etc.

A highlight of this sale is also a major collection of rare books from the library of John Pritchard. John fostered an interest in NZ history and book collecting from an early age and continued throughout his long career in law in Southland and Otago. In the mid 1980’s he acquired a significant New Zealand book collection which came from the library of Alfred Eccles, an early colonist, author and historian, and son in law of Johnnie Jones [Otago whaling pioneer].

This collection features a number of important and rare southern histories, New Zealand & Māori histories. Of particular interest is ‘The History of Tattooing and its Significance’ by W.D. Hambly, London 1925. John’s other interest has been military history. The sale includes his complete sets of New Zealand W.W. I. and II, and Official Histories.

Other major items are: A complete set of ‘The Voyages of Captain James Cook’. Sydney Parkinson – ‘A Journal of a Voyage to the South Seas’ London 1784. Edward Jerningham Wakefield – ‘Adventure in New Zealand’, including the rare folio of plates. ‘A History of the Birds of New Zealand’ by W.L. Buller [1st & 2nd editions]. A 19th century Eric Craig Fern Album. A long run of British Nautical Almanacs from 1832. Literature includes original typescripts signed and inscribed by Hone Tuwhare. An original manuscript poem by James K, Baxter. ‘Pictures from the Tyng Collection: The Royal Photographic Society, June 1931’ by Rudolph Koppitz [and others].

This is a large and diverse sale of nearly 500 lots, and we advise your inspection.

This is a timed online auction, which will begin closing with lot 1 from 5pm on Tuesday 9 September. Thereafter, lots will close consecutively every 15 seconds until completion. If a lot receives a bid within the last two minutes, it will auto-extend until no further bids are placed, without holding up the rest of the auction.

You can bid easily and conveniently through our personalised app available on App Store or Google Play, or via our desktop platform at live.artandobject.co.nz. You can alternatively place an absentee bid by filling out the form below/here.

Please contact info@artandobject.co.nz or ring reception 09 354 4646 if you require assistance, we are happy to provide condition reports and answer additional queries.

**IMPORTANT NOTES: The BUYER’S PREMIUM for this auction is 20% of the hammer price plus GST on the buyer’s premium (total of 23% of the hammer price). This is to be paid on top of any successful bid. The buyer must pay the full amount due not later than 5 working days after the auction date, unless arranged with us.

LOT CONDITIONS: The absence of a condition report does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition (some items may have a very brief description of the fault or may be described with "AF", which means “as found”). The estimates always reflect the condition of a lot. All property is sold “as is” without warranty of any kind by art+object. Bidders who are unable to inspect the items in person are welcome to request additional information at: info@artandobject.co.nz or 093544646.

LOT MEASUREMENTS: The measurements provided are of the artworks, not of the frames. You’re welcome to request frame measurements and images by contacting us as above.

BIDS UNDER RESERVE & HIGHEST SUBJECT BIDS: When the highest bid is below the vendor's reserve, this work is sold as “subject to vendor's approval”. This signifies that the highest bidder will be the purchaser at the bid price if the vendor accepts this price. If this highest bid is accepted, then the purchaser has entered a contract to purchase the item at the bid price plus any relevant buyer’s premium. As we are not yet able to mark subject bids online, any subject bids will be confirmed by email soon after the auction.

FREIGHT: Packing and courier options are available at buyer’s risk and expense. We’ll be in touch after the auction to arrange.

Important Notices for international bidders:

• An export license or certificate is required for any item over 50 years old. We can assist with this process after the auction.
• Any shipping quote provided doesn’t include customs duty, taxes and government charges in the receiving country.

The link to our full CONDITIONS OF SALE can be found on the app menu or at the bottom of each page on the desktop website. It is assumed that all bidders at auction have read and agreed to these conditions. Art+Object directors and staff are available to clarify any questions you may have: info@artandobject.co.nz or 093544646.