• One of a Kind Auctions
    Art, Literature, Royalty & Exploration
    Special No Reserve Auction!
    November 18, 2026
    One of a Kind, Nov. 18: Lot 1 – Claude Monet ALS in Purple Ink from Giverny, with Original Envelope
    One of a Kind, Nov. 18: Lot 5 – Camille Pissarro ALS from Eragny, 1894
    One of a Kind, Nov. 18: Lot 340 – Space Shuttle Challenger 51-L Crew Photograph, Signed by All Seven
    One of a Kind Auctions
    Art, Literature, Royalty & Exploration
    Special No Reserve Auction!
    November 18, 2026
    One of a Kind, Nov. 18: Lot 54 – Henry Fielding Signed Legal Affidavit as Magistrate, 1750
    One of a Kind, Nov. 18: Lot 55 – Henry David Thoreau Autograph Manuscript Leaf, 1906 Manuscript Edition
    One of a Kind, Nov. 18: Lot 56 – O. Henry ALS Signed “Sydney Porter,” Three Pages
    One of a Kind Auctions
    Art, Literature, Royalty & Exploration
    Special No Reserve Auction!
    November 18, 2026
    One of a Kind, Nov. 18: Lot 57 – J.R.R. Tolkien from Oxford, 1964, with Original Mailing Envelope
    One of a Kind, Nov. 18: Lot 254 – Ho Chi Minh Inscribed to a French Minister, with His Seal, 1955
    One of a Kind, Nov. 18: Lot 286 – Fidel Castro, Che Guevara & Raúl Castro — Cuban Revolution Album, 1959
    One of a Kind Auctions
    Art, Literature, Royalty & Exploration
    Special No Reserve Auction!
    November 18, 2026
    One of a Kind, Nov. 18: Lot 288 – Toussaint Louverture Safe Passage from the Liberator of Haiti, 1799
    One of a Kind, Nov. 18: Lot 300 – Georges Picquart, the Officer Who Unmasked the Traitor — Inscribed 1900
    One of a Kind, Nov. 18: Lot 317 – William Clark Signed Receipt as U.S. Agent for Indian Affairs, 1810
  • Arader Galleries
    Extraordinary Works of Art & World History
    December 5, 2026
    Arader, Dec. 5: Audubon Havell aquatint, Brown Pelican Standing, Plate 251 – State Bird of Louisiana. $100,000 to $150,000.
    Arader, Dec. 5: Bateman’s Orchids of Mexico and Guatelamal – The John Roland Abbey Example. $120,000 to $150,000.
    Arader, Dec. 5: A beautifully detailed manuscript Book of Hours – Use of Rome, published in Barcelona c. 1490. $100,000 to $150,000.
    Arader, Dec. 5: Braun & Hogenburg – The first atlas of the cities of the world with splendid original Renaissance color. $400,000 to $600,000.
    Arader, Dec. 5: Brookshaw’s Pomona Britannica – “One of the finest colour-plate books in existence.” $70,000 to $100,000.
    Arader, Dec. 5: Mark Catesby’s 2nd edition of the Natural History of Carolina… “The most famous colorplate book of American plant and animal life.” $150,000 to $200,000.
    Arader, Dec. 5: Gould’s Birds of Europe – The beginning of the great project. $80,000 to $120,000.
    Arader, Dec. 5: Joinville’s History of Louis IX – Bound for Marie de’ Medici, Queen Regent of France. $35,000 to $55,000.
    Arader, Dec. 5: Moran’s The Yellowstone National Park, framed in 15 parts – The foundational document of the National Park Service. $250,000 to $350,000.
    Arader, Dec. 5: Ortelius’ Theatrum Orbis Terrarum – From the father of modern atlas-making – The Martelli Example. $175,000 to $250,000.
    Arader, Dec. 5: The Foljambe Set of Pennant’s Zoology, with the maximum complement of plates. $50,000 to $70,000.
    Arader, Dec. 5: Ptolemy’s Geography 1511 edition, the first atlas with maps printed in red and black ink. $120,000 to $180,000.
    Arader, Dec. 5: Redoute Lillies wwith the plates bound alphabetically by genus in emulation of the rare large paper issue. $400,000 to $500,000.
    Arader, Dec. 5: Roberts’ Holy Land – “The finest illustrated travel book of the 19th century” – The apotheosis of the tinted lithograph. $90,000 to $120,000.
    Arader, Dec. 5: Vesalius’ De Humani Corporis – The renaissance of anatomy, the anatomy of the Renaissance. $350,000 to $450,000.
  • Heritage, Nov. 18: Orson Welles. Signed Third Revised Final Draft for Citizen Kane (RKO, 1941). July 16, 1940.
    Heritage, Nov. 18: Bob Dylan. Autograph manuscript working lyrics to "Man on the Street."
    Heritage, Nov. 18: Ernest Hemingway. Death in the Afternoon. Inscribed by the author to the daughter of the Spanish Ambassador.
    Heritage, Nov. 18: Jack London. The Call of the Wild. Inscribed by the author.
    Heritage, Nov. 18: John Steinbeck. East of Eden. Inscribed by 27 members of the movie cast and crew, including James Dean and Elia Kazan.
  • Pandolfini
    Books, Manuscripts and Autographs
    19 November 2026
    Pandolfini, Nov. 19: [da Capoferro, Ridolfo]. Scherma. Secolo XVII. Fascinating 17th-century fencing manuscript, richly illustrated. €4,000 to €6,000.
    Pandolfini, Nov. 19: Lilio, Zaccaria. Orbis breviarium. Napoli, Ayolfus de Cantono, 1496. An important collection of ancient texts. €8,000 to €10,000.
    Pandolfini, Nov. 19: Tolomeo. Geographia universalis. Basilea, Heinrich Petri,1540. A sought-after first Latin edition of Münster’s Geographia. €27,000 to €30,000.
    Pandolfini, Nov. 19: Coronelli, Vincenzo. I palazzi di Venezia. [Venezia, presso l’autore, 1709]. Wide-margined copy of the rare first and only edition. €8,000 to €10,000.
    Pandolfini, Nov. 19: Homann, Johann Baptist. Grosser atlas über die ganze Welt. Norimberga, Homann, circa 1720-30. Important 18th-century atlas. €20,000 to €25,000.
    Pandolfini
    Books, Manuscripts and Autographs
    19 November 2026
    Pandolfini, Nov. 19: Pigafetta, Antonio. Primo viaggio intorno al globo terracqueo ossia Ragguaglio della navigazione alle Indie orientali per la via d’occidente. Milano, 1800. €4,000 to €6,000.
    Pandolfini, Nov. 19: Libro di Esther. 5491 [1730-31]. Rare example of a Megillah from the early 18th century. €3,000 to €4,000.
    Pandolfini, Nov. 19: Manifattura Davide Berti e Fratelli. Mazzo di carte. Bologna, Al Mondo, [seconda metà del secolo XVIII]. A rare complete set of Bolognese cards. €5,000 to €7,000.
    Pandolfini, Nov. 19: Allan, David. The opening of the Carnival at Rome. Paul Sandby, 1780. A complete set of four splendid engravings depicting the Roman Carnival.
    Pandolfini, Nov. 19: Borges, Jorge Luis e Arnaldo Pomodoro. Siete Poemas Sajones. Seven Saxon Poems. Verona, Plain Wrapper Press, 1974. A bibliographical masterpiece born from the meeting of Borges’s universe and Pomodoro’s art. €3,000 to €5,000.

Auction Update Review

We are into the high snow

For the week ending Saturday December 1st 30 auctions were archived to the AED; 16 in euros, 9 in British pounds, 4 in dollars and 1 in Swiss francs.  Total turnover was $26,449,140, 103% of the total high estimate of all lots offered.  Eleven thousand eights hundred and forty-two lots were offered and 8,697 sold for a 73% success rate.

 

Sixteen sales saw their total sales exceed the total of their high estimates:

 

Pierre Berge & Associes.  Books on November 21st:  227%

Bonhams.  Marcus, The Property of Lord Mowbray and Stourton & The Honorable James Stourton on November 29th:  227%

Burgersdijk & Niermans.  Books on November 13th:  186%

Sotheby’s.  Musical Manuscripts and Continental Books on November 28th:  134%

Artcurial Briest-Le Fur-Poulain-F.Tajan.   Comic Strips - 1st Vacation on November 18th:  131%

Zisska & Schauer.  Books, Manuscripts on November 8th:  130%

Zisska & Schauer.  Books, Manuscripts on November on November 9th:  129%

Christies.  An Important Collection of Russian Books and Manuscripts with Imperial Provenance on November 29th:  120%

Bonhams.  Printed Books and Maps on November 27th:  117%

Zisska & Schauer.  Books, Manuscripts, Incunabula on November 7th:  112%

Alde.  Documents; Artistic and Literary Autographs on November 29th:  111%

Zisska & Schauer.  Books, Manuscripts on November 8th:  111%

Dirk Soulis Auctions.  Prints on November 10th:  108%

Bonhams.  Printed Books and Maps on November 23rd:  107%

Swann Galleries.  Autographs on November 29th:  101%

 

Eights sales saw their totals reach a million dollars:

 

Sotheby’s.  Musical Manuscripts and Continental Books on November 28th:  $5,661,040

Artcurial Briest-Le Fur-Poulain-F.Tajan.  Comics on November 24th:  $3,754,687

Christie’s.    An Important Collection of Russian Books and Manuscripts with Imperial Provenance on November 29th:  $2,340,282

Ketterer Kunst / F. Doerling.  Rare Books on November 19th:  $2,014,522

Sotheby’s.  Important Manuscripts, Letters and Memorabilia from the family of Arturo Toscanini on November 28th:  $1,895,923

Bonhams.  Prints on November 27th:  $1,400,096

Pierre Berge & Associes.  Books on November 21st:  $1,114,786

Zisska & Schauer.  Books, Manuscripts, Incunabula on November 7th:  $1,101,448

 

Fourteen sales saw 80% or more of their lots sell:

 

Dirk Soulis Auctions.  Prints on November 10th:  96%

Artcurial Briest-Le Fur-Poulain-F.Tajan.  Comic Strips - 1st Vacation:  92%

Swann Galleries.  Autographs on  November 29th:  92%

Bonhams.  Printed Books and Maps on November 27th:  91%

Sotheby’s.  Important Manuscripts, Letters and Memorabilia from the family of Arturo Toscanini on November 28th:  90%

Christie’s.  An Important Collection of Russian Books and Manuscripts with Imperial Provenance on November 29th:  90%

Bonhams.  Marcus, The Property of Lord Mowbray and Stourton & The Honorable James Stourton on November 29th:  89%

Heritage Auctions.  Rare Books Internet bidding ended November 29th: 

Pierre Berge & Associes.  Books on November 21st:  86%

Burgersdijk & Niermans.  Books on November 13th:  84%

Zisska & Schauer.   Books, Manuscripts, Incunabula on November 7th:  84%

Bruun Rasmussen.  Books on November 27th:  84%

Zisska & Schauer.   Books, Manuscripts on November 9th:  82%

 

For the week ahead 34 sales are scheduled:

 

Tuesday Dec. 4th

 

Bonhams.  Sale No. 19952.  Polar Sale, Travel and Photographs

Christies.  Sale No. 2769.  Multiples by Matisse from the Matisse Family Collections Internet only (bidstart 11/19)

Mealy’s Auctioneers.  No. 120412.  Rare Books and Literature

Delvaux.  Sale No. 19735.  Books and Autographs

Bonhams.  Sale No. 20475.  The Dictionary Collection of Thomas Malin Rodgers

Bonhams.  Sale No. 20078.  Fine Books, Maps and Manuscripts

Dorotheum.  Sale No. 120412.  Autographs

Minerva Auctions Roma.  Sale No. Roma-83.  Books, Autographs and Prints

Artcurial Briest-Le Fur-Poulain-F.Tajan.  Sale No. 20334.  Collection Liuba and Ernesto Wolf

Carlsen Gallery.  Sale No. 20334.  Prints, Books

 

Wednesday Dec. 5th

 

Bloomsbury Auctions.  Sale No. 36005.  Bibliophile

Galerie Bassenge.  Sale No. 100o.  Photography from the 19th- 21st Century

Christies.  Sale No. 7572.  Modern and Contemporary Prints

Rupert Toovey and Co.  Sale No. 1089.  Prints

Bonhams.  Sale No. 20377.  Russian Literature and Works on Paper

Bonhams.  Sale No. 20830.  Illuminating Space

Galeria Bassenge.  Sale No. 100n.  Photo Books and Photographic Literature

Guernsey’s.  Sale No. 34318.  The Arader Sale:  Color Plate Books, Rare Maps, Natural History

 

Thursday Dec. 6th

 

Artcurial Briest-Le Fur-Poulain-F. Tajan.  Sale No. 19585.  Prints and Illustrated Books

Christies.  Sale No. 5701.  Old Master Prints

Bloomsbury Auctions.  Sale No. 35997.  Modern and Contemporary Prints

Alde.  Sale No. 19728.  Ancient and Modern Books

Aguttes.  Sale No. 20255.  Ancient and Modern Books

Piasa.  Sale No. 20129.  H. M. Petiet

Swann Galleries, Inc.  Sale No. 2297.  Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Historical Prints, Ephemera.

Waverly Auctions, Inc.  Sale No 120612.  Quinn’s Auction:  Fine and Rare Books

 

Friday Dec. 7th

 

Galerie Koller Auctions.  Sale No. A163.  Modern Prints

Alde.  Sale No. 19729.  Ancient and Modern Books, Day 2

Christies.  Sale No. 2607.  Books and Manuscripts Session I

Christies.  Sale No. 2656.  Books and Manuscripts Session II

 

Saturday Dec. 8th

 

Heritage Auctions [HA.com].  Sale  No. 6083.  Civil War and Militaria

Clars Auction Gallery.  Sale No. 120812.  Prints

 

Sunday Dec. 9th

 

Clars Auction Gallery.  Sale No. 120812.  Prints continued.

National Book Auctions.  Books, Art, Ephemera, and Collectibles [120912]

 

For those with an interest in rare books and works on paper the results this past week suggest strength in the rooms.  It is uncommon for total sales for any week to exceed the total of high estimates for all lots offered.  This past week sales were 103%.  This said it needs to be also pointed out that most sales were outside the United States.  This coming week the focus shifts to New York with among other events the Arader Sale conducted by Guernsey’s.

 

Bruce McKinney

AE

December 2nd 2012

  • Forum
    Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    Thursday 19th November
    Forum, Nov. 19: The ‘Saxe-Meiningen Psalter’, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum, [northern France or adjacent southern Netherlands, second half of the thirteenth century]. £30,000 - £50,000
    Forum, Nov. 19: Crescenzi (Bartolomeo). Nautica mediterranea, 2 parts in 1, second edition, with rare engraved folding map, Rome, Bartolomeo Bonfadino, 1607. £15,000 - £20,000
    Forum, Nov. 19: Aristotle. [The Works], 10 vol.,, translated by Thomas Taylor, Printed for the Translator... by Robert Wilks, 1807-12. £6,000-8,000
    Forum
    Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    Thursday 19th November
    Forum, Nov. 19: Turing (Alan).- Alan Turing's Slide Rule, engraved initials "A.M.T. Noli Hoc Furari", alongside other ephemera, housed in early 20th-century letter box, [mid.1920s-40s]. £6,000-8,000
    Forum, Nov. 19: Vitruvius Pollio (Marcus). I Dieci Libri dell'Architettura, translated by Daniele Barbaro, Venice, Francesco Marcolini, 1556. £7,000-10,000
    Forum, Nov. 19: Rowling (J.K.) Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, first edition, hardback issue, first printing, Bloomsbury, 1997. £50,000-70,000
    Forum
    Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    Thursday 19th November
    Forum, Nov. 19: Tolkien (J.R.R.) The Lord of the Rings, later impressions, each vol. signed by the author, London, George Allen & Unwin, 1957-58. £15,000-20,000
    Forum, Nov. 19: Gould (John). The Birds of Great Britain, 5 vol., first edition, [1862]-73; plus a presentation copy of Gould's Introduction to the Birds of Great Britain (6). £35,000-45,000
    Forum, Nov. 19: Galilei (Galileo). Istoria e Dimostrazioni intorno alle Macchie Solari e loro accidenti, comprese in tre lettere scritte all’illustrissimo signor Marco Velseri Linceo, first edition, Rome, 1613. £15,000-20,000
    Forum
    Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    Thursday 19th November
    Forum, Nov. 19: Gersdorff (Hans von). Feldtbuch der Wund-Arzney, enlarged edition, Strassburg, Hans Schotten, 1540. £20,000-30,000
    Forum, Nov. 19: Kitchin (Thomas). A New Universal Atlas, first edition with maps in full original hand-colouring, Printed and Published by Robert Laurie and James Whittle, 1796. £8,000-12,000
    Forum, Nov. 19: Cassas (Louis François). Voyage Pittoresque de la Syrie, de la Phenicie, de la Palestine, et de la Basse Egypte, 2 vol., first edition, [Paris], 1799. £10,000-15,000
  • Heritage, Dec. 9: Philip K. Dick. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? First edition, author Brian Aldiss’ copy.
    Heritage, Dec. 9: Robert A. Heinlein. Assignment in Eternity. First edition, inscribed by Heinlein to author “Doc” Smith.
    Heritage, Dec. 9: Frank Herbert. Dune. First edition, inscribed by Herbert to his literary agent.
    Heritage, Dec. 9: J. R. R. Tolkien. The Hobbit, or There and Back Again. First edition, first impression, in an unrestored dust jacket.
    Heritage, Dec. 9: Jules Verne. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas. Exceedingly rare, perhaps unique variant, English sheets bound in an American Osgood binding.
    Heritage, Dec. 9: Isaac Asimov. The Naked Sun. First edition, inscribed by Asimov to Alex Berman, founder of Phantasia Press.
  • Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 41. Rare First State of the First Printed Map Devoted to the Arctic (1595) Est. $14,000 - $17,000
    Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 63. The Largest of the Strada "Leo Belgicus" Editions (1632) Est. $3,250 - $4,000
    Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 71. Blaeu's Stunning Carte-a-Figures Map of the Americas (1640) Est. $4,000 - $4,750
    Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 8. Mariette's Rare and Decorative Map of the World Based on the Work of Hondius (1642) Est. $4,750 - $6,000
    Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 172. 1775 Edition of the Landmark Fry-Jefferson Map of Virginia and Maryland (1775) Est. $12,000 - $15,000
    Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 46. Doppelmayr's Fine Celestial Chart (1742) Est. $800 - $950
    Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 212. First Edition Ski Country Map by Pioneer Hal Shelton (1965) Est. $500 - $700
    Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 732. Ruscelli's Complete Atlas with 69 Maps and Updated Maps of the Continents (1599) Est. $8,000 - $9,500
    Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 329. Ortelius' Map of Iceland Surrounded by Sea Monsters (1585) Est. $11,000 - $13,000
    Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 600. Heinrich Bunting's Rare Map of Asia in the Form of a Pegasus (1581) Est. $3,000 - $3,750
    Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 716. Bible Leaf with Hand-Colored Image of the Adoration of the Magi (1490) Est. $2,000 - $2,300
  • Ketterer Rare Books
    Auction November 23
    Ketterer, Nov. 23: L. Feininger, Collection of autograph letters to Alois J. Schardt, 1920-1955. Est: € 150,000-250,000
    Ketterer, Nov. 23: Flemish book of hours, Ghent-Bruges School around 1480-1500. Est: € 40,000
    Ketterer, Nov. 23: F. de Wit, Atlas maior, around 1700. Est: € 50,000
    Ketterer Rare Books
    Auction November 23
    Ketterer, Nov. 23: A. Stieglitz, Camera Work, 48 volumes, 1903-1914. Est: € 60,000
    Ketterer, Nov. 23: M. Merian & M. Zeiller, Sämtliche Topographien, 21 volumes, 1642-1736. Est: € 50,000
    Ketterer, Nov. 23: R. Indiana and R. Creely, Numbers, 1968. Est: € 4,000
    Ketterer Rare Books
    Auction November 23
    Ketterer, Nov. 23: Salerno Breviarium, Latin manuscript on vellum, North Italy around 1470-1476. Est: € 40,000
    Ketterer, Nov. 23: M. S. Merian, Surinaamsche (&) europische Insecten, 1730. Est: € 30,000
    Ketterer, Nov. 23: M. Beckmann, Jahrmarkt, Portfolio of 10 signed etchings, 1922. Est: € 25,000
    Ketterer Rare Books
    Auction November 23
    Ketterer, Nov. 23: Justinianus, Infortiatum, 1475. Est: € 10,000
    Ketterer, Nov. 23: B. Besler, Hortus Eystettensis, around 1750. Est: € 28,000
    Ketterer, Nov. 23: J. Gris and P. Reverdy, Au soleil du plafond, 1955. Est: € 3,000
  • Sotheby’s
    Nelson, His Life and His Navy:
    The Clive Richards Collection of Letters and Manuscripts
    November 18, 2026
    Sotheby’s
    Nelson, His Life and His Navy:
    The Clive Richards Collection of Letters and Manuscripts
    November 18, 2026
    Sotheby’s
    Nelson, His Life and His Navy:
    The Clive Richards Collection of Letters and Manuscripts
    November 18, 2026
  • ALDE, Nov. 25: BERTIUS (PETRUS). Tabularum geographicarum contractarum libri septem. Amsterdam, Jodocus Hondius, 1618. €2,000 to €3,000.
    ALDE, Nov. 25: BLAEU (WILHEM ET JOHAN). Toonneel des aerdrycx, oft Nieuwe Atlas. Tweede deel. [Amsterdam, Blaeu, vers 1650]. €3,000 to €4,000.
    ALDE, Nov. 25: VAN NOORT (OLIVIER). Description du pénible voyage faict entour de l'Univers ou globe terrestre. Amsterdam, Cornelis de Claesz, 1602. €15,000 to €20,000.
    ALDE, Nov. 25: STUART (JAMES) ET NICHOLAS REVETT. The Antiquities of Athens. Londres, John Haberkorn [puis John Nichols, et J. Taylor], 1762-1816. 4 vol. €5,000 to €6,000.
    ALDE, Nov. 25: Description de l’Égypte, ou recueil des observations et des recherches qui ont été faites en Égypte pendant l'expédition de l'armée française. Paris, 1820-1830. €4,000 to €5,000.
    ALDE, Nov. 25: [MANUSCRIT ALCHIMIQUE]. AL-JALDAKI (‘IZZ AL-DĪN ‘ALĪ IBN MUḤAMMAD AYDAMIR). Kitab al-Misbah fi ‘Ilm al-Miftah [Le Livre de la Lampe sur les secrets de la Science des Clés]. 1717. €3,000 to €4,000.
    ALDE, Nov. 25: NICOLAY (NICOLAS DE). Le Navigationi et viaggi, fatti nella Turchia. Venise, Francesco Ziletti, 1580. €4,000 to €5,000.
    ALDE, Nov. 25: [PÉROU]. Colleción de yaravíes peruanos [Collection de yaravís péruviens]. Manuscrit daté de Lima le 8 février 1854. €3,000 to €4,000.
    ALDE, Nov. 25: BROWN (PETER). New illustrations of zoology... Londres, Benjamin White, 1776. €2,000 to €3,000.
    ALDE, Nov. 25: BULLIARD (PIERRE). Herbier de la France, ou collection complète des plantes indigènes de ce royaume. Paris, A. J. Dugour & Durand, 1780-[1793]. €4,000 to €5,000.
    ALDE, Nov. 25: [DEZALLIER D'ARGENVILLE (ANTOINE-JOSEPH)]. L'Histoire naturelle éclaircie dans une de ses parties principales, la Conchyliologie… Paris, De Bure l'aîné, 1757. €3,000 to €4,000.
    ALDE, Nov. 25: RIEDEL (GOTTLIEB FRIEDRICH). [Tabulæ regni animalis].: Augsbourg, Negot. Academia Cæs. Franc. s.d. [1780]. €2,000 to €3,000.