One of the most significant private libraries to appear at auction this century

The Library of Dr. Rodney P. Swantko

An outstanding selection from the great American poet, including the Martin-Self copy of Edgar Allan Poe’s first book, Tamerlane and Other Poems, as well as three autograph poetical manuscripts by Poe, including the first eight stanzas of “For Annie”&nbsp;

An outstanding selection from the great American poet

Edgar Allan Poe

The autograph manuscript signed by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle of the second Sherlock Holmes novel, The Sign of the Four, is joined by Sidney Paget’s original pen and ink and wash drawing of the illustration “The Death of Sherlock Holmes” for the short story “The Final Problem”

The most significant manuscript to appear at auction, and more

Arthur Conan Doyle

F. Scott Fitzgerald

The original watercolor for the upper cover of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, J.K. Rowling’s modern classic runaway best-seller.

The magical cover art for J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

Thomas Taylor

The Magical Cover Art for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

An impressive selection of manuscripts that chronicle the development and codification of the sport of golf.

A comprehensive collection of golf material

The Sport of Golf

A Comprehensive Collection of Golf Material

New York

Global Head of Department | Books &amp; Manuscripts

Richard Austin

Senior Vice President | International Senior Specialist

Selby Kiffer

AVP | Specialist

Ella Hall

VP | Head of Department, New York

Dr. Kalika Sands

Cataloguer

Fenella Theis

Pre-Sale Coordinator, Books & Manuscripts

Caroline Woodward

Meet our Specialists

New York, Paris, London | 12 June–10 July 2024

Stay informed with Sotheby’s top stories, videos, events &amp; news.

For assistance with bidding and registration, please contact: +1 212 606 7000 
 
 <a class="Link" href="mailto:enquiries@sothebys.com" target="_blank">ENQUIRIES@SOTHEBYS.COM</a>

The Library of Dr. Rodney P. Swantko, compact and highly personalized, is nevertheless one of the most significant private libraries to appear at auction this century. Small, perhaps, in number, but massive in impact, these books, manuscripts, and drawings meticulously integrate great rarities and significant presentation copies representing the most celebrated and most read authors of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries: from Frank Baum to Charles Dickens, from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to F. Scott Fitzgerald, and from Edgar Allan Poe to Vladimir Nabokov. The printed books are complemented by vitally significant autograph manuscripts and original and iconic literary drawings.