Numerous items reflecting our country’s intellectual and cultural heritage are included in the “Rare Books, Manuscripts, Documents & Engravings” auction by VERGOS Auctions. The auction is divided into two parts and will take place on Tuesday, April 29, and Wednesday, April 30 (at 5:30 p.m.) at the “Parnassos” Literary Society.

Find out more and learn how to participate in the auction on www.vergosauctions.com. 

Part I of the auction includes, as in every auction of this category, extremely rare books, documents, and manuscripts of historical interest, photographs, posters, and engravings, while Part II consists entirely of travel and history books from the collection of physician and bibliographer Athanasios D. Hatzidimos (1910–1967).

Highlights from the auction catalog include, among others:

• Two rare philhellenic publications inspired by the Exodus of Missolonghi, the defining event of the Greek Revolution, which marks its 200th anniversary this year. These are two poems written immediately after the fall of Missolonghi, paying tribute to the heroic Exodus of the people of Missolonghi—an event that deeply moved international public opinion and gave new impetus to the Philhellenic movement. Both editions were sold “For the benefit of the Greeks,” as stated on their covers.

• Autographs of five poems from the section “Calligraphies” (1941–1942) by George Seferis. G. P. Savvidis, referring to the title and form of the Calligraphies manuscripts, notes that “it concerns poems whose verses are calligraphically rendered in such a way as to form an image related to the poem’s theme.”

• The album “The Olympic Hymn” (lyrics by Kostis Palamas) features a pochoir and four illustrations (two color copperplate engravings, one color lithograph, and one folding woodcut) by Alekos Fassianos, all signed by the artist. One of only 50 numbered copies published by Mimnermos in 2004.

• The luxurious and extremely rare album “New York Easter Parade” by Nelly’s, published to coincide with the exhibition of the same name by the leading Greek photographer at the A.D. Gallery (April 15–May 15, 1991). It contains 19 photographs (taken in 1953), all numbered, signed, and dated by the photographer. The accompanying texts were selected by Robert Crist and translated into Greek by Katerina Angelaki-Rook.