Remarkable White-Glove Collection of Darwiniana Headlines Freeman’s $1.8 Million Books & Manuscripts Auction
The Braydon C. Guild Collection of Charles Darwin spurred Freeman’s November Books & Manuscripts auction well past its presale estimate and on to a $1.8 million day. The remarkable 37-lot collection led off the sale and sold all 37 lots, realizing a combined total of $621,440.
“Coming in the midst of an election cycle and a turbulent week on Wall Street, it was encouraging to see collectors remain undeterred, with strong bidding throughout the sale,” said Christopher Brink, Freeman’s Associate Vice President of Books & Manuscripts and Head of Sale. “These results are worth keeping in mind as we consider where to place our assets, particularly as rare books and manuscripts have continued to demonstrate their stability year after year.”
Lot 8 | First Edition of Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel’s Joint Announcement of the Theory of Natural Selection
SOLD FOR $217,600
A Remarkable Collection of a True Nature Enthusiast
Braydon “Brad” Charles Guild was a true renaissance man. By trade, he was a molecular biologist who made significant contributions to the scientific community around the globe, but those who knew him best will remember him for his love of art, music, carpentry, antiques, and, of course, as a devoted husband, father, and friend. Always quick with a joke and eager to share both a story and his time, Guild’s prized possession was his collection of material related to his idol, Charles Darwin. Over the years, Guild amassed an exceptional assemblage of Darwiniana encompassing every title published by the naturalist. It was the sort of collection that was the envy of the collecting community, as evidenced by the frenzied bidding it attracted at auction.
“It was an honor to be entrusted with the Braydon C. Guild Collection of Charles Darwin. Many of these important works had not appeared on the market since the 1980s, and the results speak for themselves,” commented Brink. “Freeman’s has a long tradition of bringing important single-owner collections to market, and these results reflect both the strength of the market for exceptional material and our continued commitment to delivering outstanding results for our consignors.”
The top lot of the collection, perhaps appropriately, was William Barton Rogers’ personal copy of Darwin’s seminal On the Origin of Species (lot 9), which more than tripled its presale estimate, selling for $256,000. A first edition with its iconic original green cloth covers, this copy's value came from its original owner.
William Barton Rogers (1804-1882), geologist, physicist, educator, and founder of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was one of the leading figures in nineteenth-century American scientific education. He was also among the earliest American scientific readers of Darwin's Origin, writing his brother just 30 days after its publication that he found the book “truly admirable.” In March 1860, the Boston Courier published his review of Origin of Species. He predicted that Darwin's arguments would "command the earnest attention of scientific men" and recognized that the book had opened what he called a "grand contest of observation and argument."
Other highlights from the collection included:
- Lot 8 | A First Edition of Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace’s Joint Announcement of the Theory of Natural Selection.
SOLD FOR $217,600 - Lot 2 | First Editions of the Three Parts of Darwin’s Geology of the Beagle
SOLD FOR $32,000
Lot 265 | An Unrecorded First Edition of The Book of Mormon | SOLD FOR $140,800
Lot 287 | Manuscripts from Theodore Bryant Comstock Recounting his Exploration of Yellowstone | SOLD FOR $64.000
An Unrecorded Holy Book & The Exploration of Yellowstone
The top lot in the Americana category was a first edition of The Book of Mormon (lot 265), printed on the eve of the church's formal organization. Adding to the allure of the lot, this copy was not recorded in the Book of Mormon census, which helped the book sell for $140,800, nearly ten times its presale estimate.
Another standout from the category was a pair of manuscripts from Theodore Bryant Comstock (1849-1915) recounting his exploration of the Yellowstone wilderness that sold for $64,000, more than six times their presale estimate. Comstock was one of the first scientists to explore Yellowstone, and the manuscripts provide an invaluable scientific record of the natural wonders of the world’s first national park.
Other Highlights
Other highlights from the auction included:
- Lot 110 | A First Edition of John Gould's First Ornithological Monograph
SOLD FOR $44,800 - Lot 247 | A Copy of Perth Assembly, 1619. The Book That Forced the Pilgrims to North America
SOLD FOR $28,800 - Lot 248 | A Document Signed by Two Pilgrims and the Native American Sachem Quechataset, and Acknowledged in the Hand of John Alden, the Last Surviving Male Passenger of the Mayflower
SOLD FOR $28,800 - Lot 215 | An Autograph Endorsement Signed by President Lincoln in Response to an Anonymous Letter Accusing General Ulysses S. Grant of Drunkenness.
SOLD FOR $25,600
About Freeman’s
Freeman’s is a premier American auction house offering services in multiple categories including fine art, jewelry, design, books and manuscripts, furniture, decorative arts, antiquities, couture, and Asian works of art. With 16 regional locations nationwide, the firm provides auctions, appraisals, private sales, and art advisory services, connecting clients to the global art market. Freeman’s strives to bring art, history, and design to life by connecting people with extraordinary objects through exceptional service and expertise.