Original Babar Drawing, Oppenheimer's Passport, and Esquemelin's Pirates of the Caribbean Origin Story to Auction
Bonhams
Jean d Brunhoff, Le voyage de Babar, presentation copy with full-page pen and ink drawing of Babar, Paris, Editions du Jardin des Modes, 1932. Estimate: £10,000 - £20,000.
A rare original pen and ink drawing of Babar in a presentation copy of Le Voyage de Babar by Jean de Brunhoff is among the highlights of Bonhams’ Fine Books and Manuscripts sale on November 20 in London.
The illustration in the second in the series of Babar books by de Brunhoff (1899-1937) depicts Babar smartly dressed in the interior of a milliner's, buying a hat from the shop assistant and requesting it be sent to "Mr. Gregory au chalet La Fenière". The book was gifted by the author to the recipients as a souvenir of their meeting at Montana, Switzerland. From an early age de Brunhoff suffered from tuberculosis and spent much of his time receiving treatment at a sanatorium in Crans-Montana. It has an estimate of £10,000-20,000.
The sale also includes an extremely rare first edition of De Americaensche Zee-Roovers by Alexandre Oliver Esquemelin (c.1645-1707) the first complete copy to come to auction in 130 years and the origin of the myth of the Pirates of the Caribbean film series. The book has an estimate of £50,000-70,000.
Written in 1678, Americaensche Zee-Roovers is the author’s first-hand account of pirate exploits in the Caribbean. Featuring 12 engravings and countless captivating descriptions of pirate escapades, the book animates the lives of many notorious pirate captains. Among the characters populating Esquemelin's eye-witness account is the infamous privateer Henry Morgan. As Morgan's confidant and barber-surgeon, Esquemelin had a front-row seat to some of the most audacious raids in pirate history, including the sack of Maracaibo in 1669 and the assault on Panama in 1671, both of which are depicted in the plates. Esquemlin’s first-hand accounts captivated readers across Europe, and the text became the cornerstone of pirate literature.
Matthew Haley, Managing Director of Bonhams Knightsbridge and Head of Bonhams UK Books & Manuscripts Department, said: “The most recent record of a complete copy like this is in 1894, and only six copies have been traced in institutions. It is fascinating when items of historical significance come up, especially when they have such an interesting intersection with contemporary culture.”
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Bonhams
Alexandre Olivie Esquemelin, De Americaensche Zee-Roovers, first edition, t'Amsterdam, Jan ten Hoorn, boekverkoper, 1678. Estimate: £50,000 - £70,000.
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Bonhams
Robert Oppenheimer's passport with photograph for 1924, signed twice ("J. Robert Oppenheimer"), 10 June 1924[-26]. Estimate: £15,000 - 25,000
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Bonhams
Beatrix Potter drawing
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Bonhams
World War II D-Day invasion items
Also going under the hammer is the passport belonging to the young J. Robert Oppenheimer (1904-1967), complete with his signed photograph portrait. Issued in 1924, the passport records his travels as a student at both Harvard and Cambridge University. The passport and photograph have an estimate of £15,000-25,000.
The photograph shows Oppenheimer aged 17, taken from a previous passport application in 1921. He is described as 6ft 1in, with blue eyes, oval face, roman nose and medium forehead. The passport is signed twice, across his portrait and below ‘signature of bearer’, and features numerous consulate and immigration stamps from his travels to England, Italy, France and Germany. Aged 20 at the time the passport was issued, Oppenheimer travelled to Europe with his family and, having graduated from Harvard, began his studies at the University of Cambridge.
Other highlights include an original 1890s ink, pencil, and watercolor drawing by Beatrix Potter of a mouse at a spinning wheel (estimate: £15,000 - £20,000) and a group of top secret 'Bigot' maps, concertina photograph booklet ,and effects from the estate of D-day landings Commando Redevers Pryor, part of Operation Overlord (estimate: £5,000 - £10,000).
![Robert Oppenheimer's passport with photograph for 1924, signed twice ("J. Robert Oppenheimer"), 10 June 1924[-26]. Estimate: £15,000 - 25,000](https://cdn.finebooksmagazine.com/sites/default/files/media-images/2024-11/oppenheimer-j-robert-robert-oppenheimers-passport-photograph-1924-signed-twice-22j-robert.jpg)
