The Christopher Parr Collection

The Christopher Parr Collection auction on Wednesday 26 June was Art+Object's most successful rare book and manuscript auction in recent years, only preceded by The Pycroft Collection auction in 2011, and achieved an impressive auction total of $560 000. Over a lifetime of collecting Christopher Parr accumulated the collection of rare, early New Zealand documents, Maori proclamations, printings and books of national importance with the auction granting collectors the opportunity to acquire material unlikely to ever be seen on the market again. The auction was well attended by New Zealand collectors and institutions, with strong bidding from absentee and phone bidders. The highest prices achieved were $34 440 for lot 201 Hobson's second amended Declaration of Sovereignty over the Islands of New Zealand, $38 130 for lot 205 Hobson's Declaration of Sovereignty - a rare first printing, and $40 590 for lot 297 Joseph Jenner Merrett's Warrior Chieftains of New Zealand watercolour. Preliminary highlights from the auction included:

Lot
6. Robert Burford Description of the Bay of Islands $2275
21. James Cook Complete set of the Three Voyages $23 985
29. Barnet Burns A Brief Narrative of a New Zealand Chief $4305
51. John Savage Some Account of New Zealand $7870
58. Edward Wakefield Illustrations to Adventure in New Zealand $15 375
176. Patu Onewa Stone Mere $4920
193. James Busby The British Resident at New Zealand $19 065
201. Hobson's second amended Declaration of Sovereignty $34 440
202. Treaty of Waitangi Proclamation 1840 $30 750
204. Treaty of Waitangi Proclamation in Maori 1840 $30 750
205. Hobson's Declaration of Sovereignty - a rare first printing $38 130
207. Prospectus of an Institution of the Maintenance and Education of Children $11 070
209. Gazette Extraordinary, New Zealand No.1 $3690
222. St Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians and Philippians $8915
226. Hawkes Bay William Colenso Letters $30 750
227. The Gospel according to St Luke $6455
259. Busby & Goderich - Address and Letter $2460
262. Thomas Kendall A Grammar and Vocabulary of the Language $13 220
273. Multiplication table for Maori Pupils $5045
288. George French Angas The New Zealanders Illustrated $18 450
297. Joseph Jenner Merrett's Warrior Chieftains of New Zealand watercolour $40 590
299. John Arrowsmith The Harbour and City of Auckland $3690
315. Waikato-Maniapoto Opposition to WW I Conscription photo album $5660

* All listed prices include buyer's premium and GST.