The first two pages comprise a dedication in Spanish, but this catechism was one intended to allow increasing numbers of English-speaking immigrants to comply with Spanish laws and customs.
It sold at $6500 (£4690) in a February 11 sale that Bonhams (25/20/12.5% buyer’s premium) held in Pasadena to tie in with the ABAA California International Antiquarian Book Fair.
The sale’s more expensive lots included yet another Enigma machine, at $75,000 (£54,345), and, at $20,000 (£14,490), a page (with corrections and cancellations) on which Walt Whitman noted down a few thoughts on death.
A 1582 first of the Douai-Rheims version of the New Testament, in a 19th century Bedford binding of navy morocco made $18,000 (£13,045). This was part of consignment of early printed works from the estate of the late James ‘Ted’ Watkins, a very successful lawyer turned Oregon bookseller – as was an enormous collection of the works of Ray Bradbury offered in four lots.
One lot, comprising 14 signed and/or inscribed firsts, among them one of 200 limited edition copies of the 1953 first of Fahrenheit 451 issued in the original asbestos boards, was bid to $22,000 (£15,940).
