BOSTON, Mass. – October 11, 2002 - www.skinnerinc.com -- Skinner, Inc., one of the nation’s leading auctioneers and appraisers of antiques and fine art, and a growing force in the sale of rare books, manuscripts, documents, maps, and botanical prints at auction will hold its annual fall auction of Rare Books & Manuscripts on Saturday, October 26, 2002 at 10:00 a.m. in its Boston gallery. The auction will feature nearly 600 lots of rare books, manuscripts, maps, and natural history prints. The auction is being held in conjunction with the Boston Book Fair, happening at the Hynes Convention Center, October 25-27th. Book Fair attendees are urged to visit Skinner during the previews and auction to view the sale.

The highlight of Skinner’s Book Auction is over 300 lots of fine and decorative bindings from the estate of Robert Marceau, a Foxboro, Massachusetts collector. He amassed an extensive collection of books ranging from the late 18th to the late 20th century, comprising a vast array of diverse subject matters. Marceau was fascinated with the beauty of gilding on fine colored leathers, and his collection includes fine examples from some of the world’s most famous binderies such as Sangorski and Sutcliffe, Baytun of Bath, Riviere, and others. These lots range in price from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.

The natural history portion of the sale feature over 20 lots of natural history prints highlighted by two superb Audubon prints: Lot 234: the Blue Crane or Herron (estimated at $15,000-$20,0000); and Lot 236: the Osprey or Fish Hawk, (estimated at $10,000-$15,000)./p>

Other top lots in the sale include: · Lots 16-18: Three interesting letters from Samuel Clemens to his daughter and Mrs. Pearmain. Lots range in estimate from $1,500-$3,500. · Lot 44: Abraham Lincoln signed document, dated July 2nd, 1863. The first draft call for troops for Massachusetts. This lot was owned by local Bostonian. This document is significant, as Lincoln was the first president to enact a national draft, and his actions in this regard spawned the NYC draft riots where mobs ruled the streets. The lot is estimated at $12,000-$15,000. · Lots 45-52 – Several lots related to Abraham Lincoln and his family, many feature physical memorabilia from Lincoln, including a locks of both Abraham and Willy Lincoln’s hair, and a rosebud taken from the casket of Lincoln. Lots range in estimate from $1,500-$7,000. · Lot 77: Previously unpublished autographed manuscript poem by Henry David Thoreau, dated June 1843. Entitled “The Just Made Perfect.” Estimated at $15,000-$25,000. · Lot 81: A letter from George Washington to William Sever of Massachusetts. Written 1777, during busy time in the revolution. It is estimated at $20,000–$30,000. · Lots 85-90: A group of letters from Woodrow Wilson to his daughters Eleanore and Margaret, the day after he secretly married. They range in estimate from $3,000-$4,000. · Lot 119: Robert Burns (1759-1796) Poems Chiefly in the Scottish Dialectic, 1786, First Edition. This is the very rare Kilmarnock edition, the very first edition. The lot was given to the present owner by the Vanderbilt family. Estimated $8,000-$12,000.

An illustrated catalog of the sale (#2167) is available for $29 by mail ($35 for foreign requests) from the subscription department at Skinner at 978-779-6241 ext. 240. Prices realized at the auction are available in real-time during the auction at www.skinnerinc.com. For more information, call 978-779-6241, fax 978-779-5144, or visit www.skinnerinc.com.

Note to Editors: Photos available upon request. Contact Catherine Riedel at 978-779-6241 x 231.

About Skinner:
With galleries in Boston and Bolton, Mass., Skinner is a one of the nation’s leading auction houses. As a full-service auction house, Skinner provides auction and appraisal services for all manner of antiques and fine art, and its appraisal experts are regularly seen on the PBS series, The Antiques Roadshow. Skinner conducts auctions year-round and has received world-record prices for many pieces sold at auction. Departments include American Furniture & Decorative Arts, Paintings & Prints, English & Continental Furniture & Decorations, Fine Ceramics, Jewelry, Couture, 20th Century Furniture & Decorative Arts, Fine Musical Instruments, Asian Art, Fine Judaica, Toys, Dolls & Collectibles, Science & Technology, Oriental Rugs & Carpets, American Indian & Ethnographic Art, and Discovery. For more information on upcoming auctions, visit Skinner’s web site www.skinnerinc.com.