HARRY A. LEVINSON (1904-1995)
Harry A. Levinson was a leading American antiquarian bookseller who was active in the rare book trade for more than 75 years. He was a founding member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America whose post-war career was divided between East and West coast periods.
Born in New York City, he began working in the trade when he was only 14 years old. He opened his first bookshop under his own name in New York in 1928, and for the next twenty years he continued to gain experience as a dealer in rare books, specializing in early printing, science and medicine, astrology, magic & witchcraft, English literature, and of course, bibliography. In 1948 he moved to California and became active in the California rare book trade. He organized the first ABAA bookfair in Southern California in 1961. In the 1970s, he moved his stock and reference to his Benedict Canyon home where he continued his business until the early 1990s, when his declining health prevented him from continuing his work.
While the sale of an old Bookseller's stock often provides an unfair snapshot of the dealer at the end of his career, here a most significant component remains--the reference collection, which in a sense defines and complements the rare books and stock (both past and present). These reflect more accurately a picture of the bookman in his prime, increasing in breadth and depth over time and reflecting his many years of experience. These were Harry's tools of the trade--the books he kept closest at hand (and often in hand during the busy years).
This is not to say that the remaining stock does not contain some significant rarities such as: a rare first edition Robert Boyle's The Sceptical Chymist (1661) possibly containing corrections in Boyle's own hand (lot 31); Roger Ascham's copy of Livy (Mainz, 1518), bearing his own signature and marginal notes, which was almost certainly the copy used to tutor young Queen Elizabeth (lot 11); also a scarce edition of Plutarch's Vitae illustrium (Strassburg, after 1470-71) by the elusive "R" printer (who never signed or dated his books), with wide margins in a contemporary pigskin binding (lot 167); a copy of Lucan's Oratio (Rome, 1483-90) printed on vellum (lot 114); a manuscript on vellum of Gregory the Great's Homelia from northern Germany (circa 1450), (lot 120); and a significant collection of over a hundred volumes of 16th- to 18th-century books relating to witchcraft, magic & the occult.
Harry was well-known in the field and greatly respected as a professional; his passing marks the loss of another from the great generation of American booksellers active in the first part of this century, who have now become part of bookselling history.
BOOKS FROM THE ESTATE OF HARRY A. LEVINSON
including reference and remaining stock
Wednesday, October 9 at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
LOTS 1-201
AGRIPPA, HENRICUS CORNELIUS. The Vanity of Arts and Sciences. London: J.C. for Samuel Speed, 1676. Engraved portrait frontispiece. 8vo, old calf, minor wear to joints; a few leaves with marginal staining. Wing A791.
Details
AGRIPPA, HENRICUS CORNELIUS. The Vanity of Arts and Sciences. London: J.C. for Samuel Speed, 1676. Engraved portrait frontispiece. 8vo, old calf, minor wear to joints; a few leaves with marginal staining. Wing A791.