Charles Hamilton Auction (Auction Number One -- 16 May 1963 through Auction Number 166 -- 29 November 1984) (HAMILTON, CHARLES / AUCTION CATALOGUES) Bibliography & Books About Books,Books

8vo and small 4to. Various color stiff wrappers. Various paginations (mostly 40pp to 80pp and everything in between, a few over 100pp). Illustrations. Very good to near fine. Occasional bit of wear, but for the most part tight and clean, some pristine; some bear marginal notes, the majority have none. Extraordinary and complete 21-year run of the auction catalogues of New York autograph dealer Charles Hamilton (1913-96), the colorful self-proclaimed dean of American autograph dealers, author of a dozen standard books on historical documents. The first 30 or so issues of this huge gathering are spiral bound, the remainder saddle-stitched. It begins with "Auction Number One," and in the introduction Hamilton sets the bar high: "The time is long overdue for an auction house based upon the same ethical standards as other businesses -- an auction that will guarantee, without reservation, what it sells. you are holding in your hands an American autograph catalog with every lot guaranteed to be genuine." Item #1 in "Sale No. 1" is a John Adams document, a ship's papers at an estimate that brings tears to your eyes: $75.00. The catalogue descriptions are detailed and the illustrations ample -- and among the offerings are many rarities that simply never enter the market any more. Prices realized lists are laid into the front cover of most issues. A total of 167 issues, starting with number 1 in 1963 and concluding with number 166 in 1984 (one auction was a 2-parter). With each auction featuring anywhere from 150-200 lots on up through more than 300 lots, this run records the auction of perhaps 40,000 or more items. An enormous continuous run such as this is never seen and would prove near impossible to duplicate.