Press Contact:	Stuart Whitehurst, Director	Catherine Riedel, Director
	Books & Manuscripts	Marketing & Public Relations
	Skinner, Inc	Skinner, Inc
	978-779-6241 x293	978-779-6241 x231

SKINNER'S BOOK AUCTION FEATURES RARE AUDUBONS,
PRESIDENTIAL PAPER COLLECTION, AND JOHN WILKES BOOTH LETTER

BOSTON, Mass. - November 1, 2004 – www.skinnerinc.com - Skinner, Inc., one of the nation's leading auction houses for antiques and fine art and a major force in the sale of rare and beautiful books, prints, and manuscripts, will host a wonderfully diverse auction of rare Books & Manuscripts on Sunday, November 21, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. in Boston. The auction will feature over 600 lots of rare books, manuscripts, maps, and natural history prints. Many offerings will interest collectors of Americana and European Decorative Arts, as well book and historical document collectors. The auction is being held in conjunction with the Boston Book Fair, happening at the Hynes Convention Center, November 18th-21stth. Book Fair attendees are urged to visit Skinner during the previews and auction to view the sale.

Presidential Paper Collection
Of local interest to collectors of presidential paper is property from the estate of Dr. Janet Travell, M.D., physician to John F. Kennedy and the first female physician to attend a sitting president. Travell was Kennedy's personal physician from 1955, throughout his campaign for the White House, and during his tenure in office until the time of his death. An early and important researcher in chronic pain, Travell was credited with alleviating the debilitating back pain suffered by the President. Property from her estate includes signed photos, books, personal papers, private notations, and other personal effects from one of the nation's most beloved presidents. Highlights include two books of presentation copies of the inaugural addresses of all U.S. presidents, estimated at $4,000-$6,000.

European Offerings
For those interested in European offerings, the sale includes collections from the estate of Halstead B. Van der Poel, one of the world's most noted collectors of literature and an acclaimed classical scholar. One of the most unusual offerings is a manuscript draft of Sir Isaac Newton's family tree in his own hand detailing Newton's geneology. This document was penned in the early 18th century, most likely to submit to the crown in order to prove Newton's lineage as he was considered for knighthood. This exceptionally rare and personal document is estimated $8,000-$12,000.

American Historical Paper
One of the finest pieces in the sale is an extremely rare John Wilkes Booth letter, written February 9, 1865, just three short months before he assassinated President Abraham Lincoln. Written to a friend in Boston, the letter details Booth's request to order additional card de visites (calling cards with portraits). Ironically, it was the photograph taken for this card de visite that was used on Booth's wanted poster after he shot the President. The chilling last passage of the letter reads as follows: "I return to the city [Washington, D.C.] in about a week, stop at national hotel and will get any letter sent to Ford's Theater." Probably the latest letter written by Booth that is left in private hands, it is estimated $30,000-$40,000.

Also for sale is a widely diverse collection of autograph material related to American Presidents, from George Washington, a signed letter concerning espionage, estimated $25,000-35,000, to John F. Kennedy, a signed letter of thanks, estimated $800-1200. Another patriotic offering is a manuscript copy of America the Beautiful, circa 1914, signed by Katharine Lee Bates. It is estimated at $3,000-$4,000.

Audubon Prints and Decorative Bindings
A good selection of John James Audubon prints will also be featured including Snowy Owl, estimated at $20,000-30,000, as well as quadruped prints such as Jaguar Female, estimated at $3,000-5,000. For those interested in beautiful bindings we will be selling over thirty lots of fine morocco and calf bindings. Rounding out the sale are approximately sixty lots of autograph material from celebrated authors and artists such as Ernest Hemingway, Mark Twain, Franz Liszt, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and Jack Kerouac, to name a few.

Preview Dates & Times
Previews for the auction will be held on Friday, November 19, from 12 noon to 5 p.m., Saturday, November 20, from 1 to 7 p.m., and Sunday, November 21, from 9 to 11 a.m. An illustrated catalog of the sale (#2256) 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 sale. For more information, call 978-779-6241, fax 978-779-5144, or visit www.skinnerinc.com.

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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 full-service auctioneer and appraiser of antiques and fine art. Regularly seen on the PBS series, Antiques Roadshow, Skinner is one of the nation’s leading auction houses. 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 & Ethnographica, and Discovery. For more information on upcoming auctions, visit Skinner’s web site www.skinnerinc.com.