*Please note that the buyer's premium for this auction is 20% of the hammer price plus GST on the buyer's premium (total of 23%).

Welcome to Art+Object’s second online Rare Books auction, following on from the success of our October Rare Books auction. As we all adapt to a new way of working, we hope that you will enjoy the offering we have assembled for this auction.

Online bidding opens on Tuesday 7th December and will begin closing with lot 1 at 12pm (noon) on Tuesday 14th December. Thereafter lots will close consecutively every 30seconds until completion. If a lot receives a bid within the last two minutes, it will auto extend for two minutes until bidding stops. Please note that phone bids are not available for this auction.

The sale includes a consignment from postal historian Gerald Ellott MNZM which includes a number of important documents and letters relating to early New Zealand history and a series of letters written by Private Thomas Burgess written while aboard HMS Beagle on its epic voyage of discovery 1831-1835. Of a different nature his extensive collection of ‘Bonzo’ Big Tree postcards by G.E. Studdy.

We are privileged to be offering for sale books from the library of Richard Nunns (1945-2021). Richard was best known as an authority on and expert player of taongo pūoro, traditional Māori musical instruments. He was also an inspirational teacher and book collector, his collection of books reflects his interest and scholarship of Māori music and ethnology, ethnic and experimental music, and literature. These books will be sold over two sales, December 14th and March of 2022.

The catalogue also features part 2 of Elizabeth Steiner’s collection of private press and artist’s books; a complete set of Cook’s Voyages, 9 volumes, first editions; 22 signatures of members of the Terra Nova Expedition; a selection of 19th & early 20th century motoring catalogues; and a large collection of New Zealand Literature.

To request a condition report, please email info@artandobject.co.nz.