Bethunes at Webb's Rare Books

Bethunes at Webb's operates as the rare book department of Webb's - New Zealand's Premier Auction House.

The department deals in rare, out-of-print and collectable books; maps and plans; manuscripts; documents and ephemera; posters and prints; historical photographs; and postcards.

Bethunes, one of New Zealand's oldest auctioneers and retailers (established 1877), joined Webb's in 2004. Previously under the management of Mowbray Collectables, New Zealand's leading stamp dealer and auctioneer, Bethunes at Webb's holds upwards of four major auctions each year, supplying bibliophiles from New Zealand and around the world.

Specialist subjects covered include New Zealand history and biography; Maori and Moriori; Australia and the Pacific; voyages and travels; Captain James Cook; natural history; transport; sport and recreation; military; literature; antiquarian books; and bibliography.

Forthcoming auctions
20 FEB 12	Historical photography and rare books
21 MAR 12	C L Thomas Collection

Francis McWhannell
+64 9 529 5602 MOB +64 21 232 6032

John Middleton Murry (Editor)
The Letters of Katherine Mansfield, in two volumes. John Middleton Murry's 'working copy', with his many meticulous additions.
Realised: $12,000 - June 2009 - View detail

Previous Sale Highlights:

Katherine Mansfield
In a German Pension, first edition/first impression.
Realised: $2,200 - June 2009

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Ranfurly Medal
A commemmorative medal presented to Malcolm Ross by His Excellency the Governor, Lord Ranfurly.
Realised: $5,900 - June 2009

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Malcolm Ross
The First Traverse of Mount Cook.
Realised: $850 - June 2009

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John White
The Ancient History of the Maori, in 6 vols, one inscribed by the author. Together with the scarce book of Illustrations.
Realised: $4,300 - September 2009

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William Colenso
A selection of materials of a highly personal nature relating to William Colenso, being a bound typescript etc.
Realised: $3,000 - September 2009

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R A K Mason
The Beggar. The author's own copy, bearing his name (twice) and amendments to the text.
Realised: $1,500 - September 2009

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Allen Curnow
Poetry & Language. A Right Angle Booklet.
Realised: $540 - December 2009

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Herries Beattie
A collection of materials formerly the property of the family of Herries Beattie.
Realised: $600 - December 2009

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Zane Grey
Tales of Fishing Virgin Seas, inscribed to Harry P Burton, 'An Ohio boy who ought to know how to fish'.
Realised: $800 - December 2009

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Postcard and Photo Album, Japanese
An album featuring quality postcards and photos of a trip to Japan, circa 1930s.
Realised: $450 - December 2009

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Sydney Parkinson
A Journal of a Voyage to the South Seas, in His Majesty's Ship the 'Endeavour'.
Realised: $8,250 - December 2009

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Leo Bensemann
Fantastica, Thirteen Drawings by Leo Bensemann, signed by artist.
Realised: $900 - March 2010

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Denis Glover
Short Reflection on the Present State of Literature in This Country.
Realised: $350 - March 2010

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Hone Tuwhare
Come Rain Hail, first edition.
Realised: $290 - March 2010

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The New Zealanders Illustrated, in 2 vols.
Realised: $17,500 - June 2010

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Press docket with 'C Mission Press' in decorative vignette. Extremely scarce example of early New Zealand printing.
Realised: $1,600 - June 2010

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Abel Janszoon Tasman's Journal of His Discovery of Van Diemen's Land and New Zealand in 1642 [etc].
Realised: $2,800 - June 2010

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New Zealand Ferns and Fern Allies, a folding album gifted to Mary, Christmas 1885.
Realised: $700 - June 2010

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Wednesday's Children, warmly inscribed by author to friend Warwick Lawrence.
Realised: $900 - June 2010

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Manuscript notes from William Colenso's papers, thought to be copy for a catechism for use in Waitangi Mission, Hawke's Bay.
Realised: $1,200 - September 2010

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A manuscript diary kept by William Henry Churton of Auckland, teenage brother-in-law of Charles Heaphy.
Realised: $4,500 - September 2010

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Twenty cartes de visite, South Island photographers including J McGregor & Co.
Realised: $220 - September 2010

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The New Zealand Rugby Football Annual for 1885.
Realised: $1,300 - December 2010

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The Bruce Gamble Collection of Postcards.
Realised: $25,000 - December 2010

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Thirty-three photographs concerning early New Zealand mountaineering including six attributed to G E Mannering.
Realised: $850 - December 2010

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Map of the Province of Canterbury, New Zealand, Shewing Freehold Stations and Pasturage Runs [etc].
Realised: $1,400 - December 2010

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A Treatise on the Culture of the Vine, and the Art of Making Wine. Compiled from the Works of Chaptal [etc].
Realised: $5,500 - March 2011

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Voyage au Pole Sud et dans l'Oceanie sur les Corvettes l'Astrolabe et la Zelee [etc].
Realised: $3,200 - March 2011

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The Lagoon. Stories by Janet Frame. First edition.
Realised: $1,600 - March 2011

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Banks, Joseph et al
Banks' Florilegium. Part XXVI, New Zealand, Plates 539-561.
Realised: $7,100 - July 2011

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Craig, Eric
New Zealand Ferns and Fern Allies. Collected, Dried, and Mounted by Eric Craig, Fern and Curiosity Dealer, Princes Street [etc].
Realised: $5,600 - July 2011

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Brees, S C
Pictorial Illustrations of New Zealand. Standard issue.
Realised: $4,100 - July 2011

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Collection of three hundred and fifty-one postcards relating to Australia.
Realised: $2,850 - July 2011

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Collection of approximately one hundred letters, most sent by John 'Jack' Thomas McNaughton while on active service.
Realised: $1,900 - July 2011

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Warhol, Andy
Invitation to an exhibition of work by Andy Warhol at Anthony d'Offay Gallery, London, 1986. Inscribed and signed by Warhol.
Realised: $1,200 - July 2011

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Meggendorfer, Lothar
Always Jolly! A Movable Toybook.
Realised: $1,150 - July 2011

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Collection of materials relating to the Waitangi Treaty House and Grounds.
Realised: $950 - September 2011

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Rutherford, Ernest
Handwritten letter to family friend W H Smith of Havelock, Marlborough.
Realised: $2,300 - September 2011

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Hawthorne, James
A Dark Chapter from New Zealand History. By a Poverty Bay Survivor.
Realised: $650 - September 2011

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Buller, Walter Lawry
A History of the Birds of New Zealand. First edition.
Realised: $9,000 - September 2011

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Featon, Mr and Mrs E H
The Art Album of New Zealand Flora [etc]. Volume I.
Realised: $870 - September 2011

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Shackleton, E H
Handwritten note from the renowned explorer to A S Collins.
Realised: $1,100 - September 2011

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Collection of around one hundred and twenty postcards, most relating to New Zealand.
Realised: $950 - September 2011

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Potocki de Montalk, Geoffrey
Draft of 'Wild Oats, A Sheaf of Poems', the author's first major collection.
Realised: $950 - September 2011

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