A stunning first edition of Sir Henry James Warre’s (1819-1898) Sketches in North America and the Oregon Territory, is the highlight of Gray’s Auctioneers’ Rare Books, Manuscripts and Autographs auction to be held on Thursday, August 26 at 1pm in the auction showrooms, with live bidding online through Live Auctioneers.

Listed at Lot 147 this large scale (Broadsheets, 535 x 360 mm) first edition, colored issue, of Warre’s numerous drawings and notes from his exploratory trip to the Oregon Territory for Great Britain in 1845, make up a magnificent work which includes a rare dedication leaf to the Hudson Bay Company, the title page, and three text leaves, 20 hand-colored lithographic views on 16 plates, and one lithographed map colored in outline. The outline map in this copy includes a manuscript note added in lower margin explaining that the red line shows the pair's outward journey, and the blue line the homeward journey. Described as including “the only western color plates comparable in beauty to those by Bodmer” (Howes, W114).  Sketches in North America and the Oregon Territory is estimated at $ 70,000-90,000.

Other notable lots included in the 152 lot auction curated by Melanie Halloran, Director of Rare Books & Manuscripts at Gray’s are Lot 56: Amelia Earhart (1897-1937) 20 Hrs. 40 Min. Our Flight in the Friendship. This lot is a presentation copy, inscribed by Earhart: "For Bruce Hartman with best wishes Amelia Earhart." In it Earhart describes her historic flight across the Atlantic with Wilmer Stulz and Louis Gordon, and includes details of her childhood, as well as early events in her aviation career. Serving in the capacity of passenger and charged with keeping the Friendship's flight diary, Earhart became the first woman to be flown across the Atlantic. 20 Hrs. 40 Min. Our Flight in the Friendship is estimated at $800-1,200.

Lot 69 is by Edward Gorey, (1925-2000) The Unstrung Harp; or, Mr. Earbrass Writes a Novel.  This is the first edition of Gorey's first independent work in which he takes on the complications of literary life, as seen through the eyes of his protagonist Clavius Frederick Earbrass. Included in this work are 30 full-page black and white illustrations by Gorey. The Unstrung Harp; or Mr. Earbrass Writes a Novel is estimated at $100-200.

For anyone fascinated by space travel Lot 130 is a dynamic account of the history of American space exploration through the Apollo missions; Lot 130: Edgar M. Cortright editor (b. 1923). Apollo Expeditions to the Moon. First edition, history of the Apollo Expeditions, signed or inscribed by thirteen astronauts and NASA administrators, including: Alan Shepard, Neil Armstrong, Frank Borman, Rusty Schweickart, Harrison "Jack" Schmitt, Ernst Stuhlinger, Lee James, James Webb, James Fletcher, Robert Gilruth, William R. Lucas, Charles Conrad, and Michael Collins, as well as Betty Grissom, wife of astronaut Virgil Grissom, who was killed during a pre-launch test of Apollo 1 at Kennedy Space Center in 1967. Several of those who signed also contributed chapters to the work. Other contributors include Dr. von Braun, Christopher Kraft, and Buzz Aldrin. Apollo Expeditions to the Moon is estimated at $2,000-3,000.

Gray’s Rare Books, Manuscripts and Autographs auction also includes Lot 8 Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Laws of England.  This is a first edition of Blackstone's important work on the laws of England. Commentaries proved extremely popular, due in large part to Blackstone's succinct and lucid explanations that made England's common law tradition easy to understand for the ordinary 18th-century reader. Estimate $8,000-12,000

This is Ms. Halloran’s second fine printed books auction since joining Gray’s in March 2010.  Formerly a specialist in the Fine Books department at Christies in New York, Ms. Halloran heads up the Rare Books and Manuscripts department at Gray’s bringing her not inconsiderable skills and knowledge to Northeast Ohio. Gray’s inaugural Fine Printed Books auction on May 6, 2010, sold 80% of lots to an eager national and international audience in the auction house, as well as to bidders on the phone, and bidding live through Live Auctioneers.

Gray’s Rare Books, Manuscripts and Autographs auction is offered on Thursday August 26, 2010 at 1pm Eastern.  Absentee, telephone and live online bidding are available. Live auction preview is being held at the auction house every weekday from 10 am – 5pm until Thursday August 26.  Full condition reports are included in the catalog, which may be viewed in its entirety at graysauctioneers.com.