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RARE EARLY MEDICINAL PLANT WORK STAR OF KEYS BOOK SALE

21st May 2020
Pietro Andrea Mattioli Medica Senensis estimate 3000 4000 1

Keys Auctioneers and Valuers in Aylsham, Norfolk is holding its first Book Sale since relaunching its auction calendar following a month’s pause for lockdown.

The online-only sale, which will take place on Keys’ own KeysLive online bidding platform and at www.the-saleroom.com, takes place on Tuesday 16th and Wednesday 17th June.

Included in the auction are:

  • ‘Medica Senensis… de Medica Materia’, a ground-breaking 16th century study of plants as medicine by Pietro Andrea Mattioli.  The first Latin edition dates from 1554, and has a pre-sale estimate of £3,000-£4,000
  • A 1970 first edition of Richmal Crompton’s ‘William The Lawless’ in original cloth and dust wrapper (estimate £500-£600)
  • A 1987 first edition of Ian Rankin’s ‘Knots And Crosses’, signed together with the author’s noughts and crosses doodle, in original cloth and dust wrapper (estimate £750-£1,000)

“We are delighted to be holding our first Book Sale since relaunching our sales after the lockdown pause,” said Keys director Tim Blyth.

“With the current interest in vaccines and anti-viral medicines, it is fascinating to be selling a book which is nearly 500 years old, one of the very first scientific studies into the medicinal use of plants.”

The Keys Book Sale takes place on Tuesday 16th and Wednesday 17th June on the KeysLive bidding platform at bid.keysauctions.co.uk, and on www.the-saleroom.com.