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Forum
Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
Thursday 19th NovemberForum, 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 - £50,000Forum, Nov. 19: Crescenzi (Bartolomeo). Nautica mediterranea, 2 parts in 1, second edition, with rare engraved folding map, Rome, Bartolomeo Bonfadino, 1607. £15,000 - £20,000Forum, Nov. 19: Aristotle. [The Works], 10 vol.,, translated by Thomas Taylor, Printed for the Translator... by Robert Wilks, 1807-12. £6,000-8,000Forum
Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
Thursday 19th NovemberForum, 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]. £6,000-8,000Forum, Nov. 19: Vitruvius Pollio (Marcus). I Dieci Libri dell'Architettura, translated by Daniele Barbaro, Venice, Francesco Marcolini, 1556. £7,000-10,000Forum, Nov. 19: Rowling (J.K.) Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, first edition, hardback issue, first printing, Bloomsbury, 1997. £50,000-70,000Forum
Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
Thursday 19th NovemberForum, 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. £15,000-20,000Forum, 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). £35,000-45,000Forum, 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. £15,000-20,000Forum
Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
Thursday 19th NovemberForum, Nov. 19: Gersdorff (Hans von). Feldtbuch der Wund-Arzney, enlarged edition, Strassburg, Hans Schotten, 1540. £20,000-30,000Forum, 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. £8,000-12,000Forum, 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 - $17,000Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 63. The Largest of the Strada "Leo Belgicus" Editions (1632) Est. $3,250 - $4,000Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 71. Blaeu's Stunning Carte-a-Figures Map of the Americas (1640) Est. $4,000 - $4,750Old 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 - $6,000Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 172. 1775 Edition of the Landmark Fry-Jefferson Map of Virginia and Maryland (1775) Est. $12,000 - $15,000Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 46. Doppelmayr's Fine Celestial Chart (1742) Est. $800 - $950Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 212. First Edition Ski Country Map by Pioneer Hal Shelton (1965) Est. $500 - $700Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 732. Ruscelli's Complete Atlas with 69 Maps and Updated Maps of the Continents (1599) Est. $8,000 - $9,500Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 329. Ortelius' Map of Iceland Surrounded by Sea Monsters (1585) Est. $11,000 - $13,000Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 600. Heinrich Bunting's Rare Map of Asia in the Form of a Pegasus (1581) Est. $3,000 - $3,750Old 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 23Ketterer, Nov. 23: L. Feininger, Collection of autograph letters to Alois J. Schardt, 1920-1955. Est: € 150,000-250,000Ketterer, Nov. 23: Flemish book of hours, Ghent-Bruges School around 1480-1500. Est: € 40,000Ketterer, Nov. 23: F. de Wit, Atlas maior, around 1700. Est: € 50,000Ketterer Rare Books
Auction November 23Ketterer, Nov. 23: A. Stieglitz, Camera Work, 48 volumes, 1903-1914. Est: € 60,000Ketterer, Nov. 23: M. Merian & M. Zeiller, Sämtliche Topographien, 21 volumes, 1642-1736. Est: € 50,000Ketterer, Nov. 23: R. Indiana and R. Creely, Numbers, 1968. Est: € 4,000Ketterer Rare Books
Auction November 23Ketterer, Nov. 23: Salerno Breviarium, Latin manuscript on vellum, North Italy around 1470-1476. Est: € 40,000Ketterer, Nov. 23: M. S. Merian, Surinaamsche (&) europische Insecten, 1730. Est: € 30,000Ketterer, Nov. 23: M. Beckmann, Jahrmarkt, Portfolio of 10 signed etchings, 1922. Est: € 25,000Ketterer Rare Books
Auction November 23Ketterer, Nov. 23: Justinianus, Infortiatum, 1475. Est: € 10,000Ketterer, Nov. 23: B. Besler, Hortus Eystettensis, around 1750. Est: € 28,000Ketterer, Nov. 23: J. Gris and P. Reverdy, Au soleil du plafond, 1955. Est: € 3,000
Auction Update Review
What to make of a wild week: opportunity
By the numbers this was a significant
week. More than 16,000 lots were offered
and, because earlier undisclosed results are included, 19,497 lots
reported. Two decades ago these numbers
represented a full year, these days a week. Today we live
in a brave new world that is seeing a
copy of Huxley’s classic of the same name come up at auction every 23 days. Fifteen sales were denominated is euros, 14
in US dollars, 8 in British pounds, and 1 in Australian dollars – 38 sales in
all. Twelve thousand and three lots, or
62% of all lots offered, sold. Leaving
aside the 8,074 lot sale handled by Kiefer that saw 4,114 lots, or 51% sell,
the percentage of lots sold at all other reported auctions was 69%, just a
small fraction below the 72% statistical norm that has prevailed for most of the
year.
The total low estimates of
the lots sold was $20,968,244, their aggregate high estimate $27,486,920. Altogether these items brought $35,528,340, a
29% premium to their high estimates.
Thirty eight percent, or 7,464 lots, did not receive bids at
or above consignor reserves.
Of the auctions archived 12 reached
a million dollars:
Christie’s. Books and Manuscripts Session I on December 7th: $7,709,252
Christie’s. Old Master Prints on December 6th: $2,362,131
Guernsey’s. The Arader Sale - Color Plate Books, Rare Maps, Natural History on
December 5th: $2,258,342
Heritage Auctions.
Vintage Movie Posters on November 29th: $2,216,847
Galerie Bassenge.
Prints 15th to 19th Century on November 29th: $1,697,754
Osenat.
Fontainebleau Empire on December 2nd: $1,328,889
Kiefer - Buch- und Kunstauktionen. Books, Graphics modern and ancient Arts,
Antiques on October 5th:
$1,318,488
Bloomsbury Auctions. Modern and Contemporary Prints on December 4th: $1,312,248
Bonhams.
Illuminated Space on December 5th: $1,263,980
Christie’s.
Multiples by Matisse from
the Matisse Family Collections Internet only ended December 4th: $1,290,125
Bonhams. The Dictionary Collection of Thomas Malin Rodgers
on December 4th: $1,133,692
Eleven
sales saw their total sales reach a hundred percent of their total high
estimates:
Osenat. Fontainebleau Empire
on December 2nd: 297%
Bonhams. The Dictionary Collection of Thomas Malin Rodgers
on December 4th: 169%
Heritage Auctions.
Vintage Movie Posters on November 29th: 161%
Profiles in History. Historical Documents on November 15th: 146%
Galerie Bassenge.
"Drama and Vision" Collection of Ivan Nagel on November 29th: 126%
Ketterer Kunst / F. Doerling. Old Master Prints on November 23rd: 124%
Bonhams.
Polar Sale, Travel and Photographs on December 4th: 117%
Galerie Bassenge.
Modern Art Part I on December 1st: 115%
Christie’s.
Multiples by Matisse from
the Matisse Family Collections Internet only ended December 4th: 106%
Christie’s. Old Master Prints on December 6th: 105%
Galerie
Bassenge. Modern Art Part II on December
1st: 101%
Seven
sales saw at least 80% of their lots sell:
Bonhams. The Dictionary Collection of Thomas Malin Rodgers
on December 4th: 95%
Christie’s.
Multiples by Matisse from
the Matisse Family Collections Internet only ended December 4th: 93%
Profiles in History. Historical Documents on November 15th: 89%
Heritage Auctions.
Vintage Movie Posters on November 29th: 87%
Swann Galleries.
Maps & Atlases, Natural History and Historical Prints,
Ephemera: 86%
Heritage Auctions.
Books and Autographs, internet sale ended December 6th: 85%
Galerie Bassenge.
Modern Art Part I on December 1st: 82%
For the week ahead 36 sales are
upcoming and 13,327 lots searchable in the AE Auction Search:
Monday Dec. 10th
Cornette de Saint Cyr. Sale No. 19629. Prints and Multiples. 352 lots
Cowan’s. Stereoview and Early Photography – Internet
sale ending today. 168 lots
Tuesday Dec. 11th
Henri Godts Books & Prints
Auctions. Sale No. 18147. Books from the XVth to the XXth Century. 431 lots
Piasa. Sale No. 20131. Manuscripts.
306 lots
Heritage Auctions [HA.com]. Legends of the Old West. 1825 lots
Swann Galleries, Inc. Sale No. 2298. Fine Photographs and Photobooks. 425 lots
Wednesday Dec. 12th
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Sale No. 121212. Printed Books, Maps and Documents. 641 lots
Sothebys. The Art of Illustration from the Collection
of Michael Winner [12409]. 157 lots
Ader. Sale No. 19598. Prints.
500 lots
Bloomsbury. Astronomy and Space Exploration [36006]. 403 lots
Woolley and Wallis. Sale No. 121212b. Books.
54 lots
Woolley and Wallis. Sale No. 121212p. Books.
43 lots
Sothebys. Sale No. N08886. A Show of Hands: Photographs from the Collection of Henry Buhl. 428 lots
Sothebys. English Literature and History [L12408]. 183 lots
Dorotheum. Sale No. 121212. Prints.
366 lots
Thursday Dec. 13th
Artcurial Briest-Le Fur-Poulain-F.
Tajan. Sale No. 19588. Books and Manuscripts. 290 lots
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Sale No. 121312. Children’s Illustrated Books. 568 lots
Knotty Pine Auction Service. Sale No. 121312. Ephemera, Advertising and Estate Books. 222 lots
Sothebys. N08886.
A Show of Hands: Photographs from
the Collection of Henry Buhl. 428 lots
PBA Galleries. Sale No. 495.
Fine Books in all Fields. 406
lots
Minerva Auctions Roma. Books, Autographs and Prints [ROMA-85]. Ends
today. 820 lots
Tajan. Sale No. 9758. Ancient and Modern Prints. 336 lots
Ader. Letters, Manuscripts and Autographs
[20504]. 127 lots
Ader. Francis Picabia [20503]. 87 lots
Heritage Auctions. Rare Books internet bidding ending December 6th
[201250]. 272 lots
Friday Dec. 14th
Sothebys. Sale No. N08919. Books and Manuscripts. 190 lots
Keys Fine Arts Auctioneers. Sale No. 1031. Selected Quality Pictures, including
Ornithological [1031]. 26 lots
Bloomsbury Auctions. Sale No. 36007. Antiquarian Books. 417 lots
Aspire Auctions. Prints – Internet bidding ends today [319]
Heritage Auctions [HA.com]. Music Memorabilia and Autographs [7064]. 259 lots
Ferraton. Ancient Books and Prints – 1st
Vacation [20471]. 590 lots
Ader. Letters, Manuscripts and Autographs II
[20505]. 228 lots
Saturday Dec. 15th
ERA Encheres. Sale No. 19969. Books about Teratology, Curiosa, Documents
about Cinema. 366 lots
Ferraton. Ancient Books and Prints – 2nd
Vacation [20472]. 622 lots
Profiles in History. Drama, Action, Romance – the Hollywood
Auction [53]. 400 lots
Sunday Dec. 16th:
Bonhams. Sale No.
20087. Period Art and Design.
We are now in the crescendo and the
opportunities are alive.
Bruce McKinney
AE
Sunday December 9th,
2012
-
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 2026Pandolfini, 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 2026Pandolfini, 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. -
Sotheby’s
Nelson, His Life and His Navy:
The Clive Richards Collection of Letters and Manuscripts
November 18, 2026Sotheby’s
Nelson, His Life and His Navy:
The Clive Richards Collection of Letters and Manuscripts
November 18, 2026Sotheby’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. -
One of a Kind Auctions
Art, Literature, Royalty & Exploration
Special No Reserve Auction!
November 18, 2026One of a Kind, Nov. 18: Lot 1 – Claude Monet ALS in Purple Ink from Giverny, with Original EnvelopeOne of a Kind, Nov. 18: Lot 5 – Camille Pissarro ALS from Eragny, 1894One of a Kind, Nov. 18: Lot 340 – Space Shuttle Challenger 51-L Crew Photograph, Signed by All SevenOne of a Kind Auctions
Art, Literature, Royalty & Exploration
Special No Reserve Auction!
November 18, 2026One of a Kind, Nov. 18: Lot 54 – Henry Fielding Signed Legal Affidavit as Magistrate, 1750One of a Kind, Nov. 18: Lot 55 – Henry David Thoreau Autograph Manuscript Leaf, 1906 Manuscript EditionOne of a Kind, Nov. 18: Lot 56 – O. Henry ALS Signed “Sydney Porter,” Three PagesOne of a Kind Auctions
Art, Literature, Royalty & Exploration
Special No Reserve Auction!
November 18, 2026One of a Kind, Nov. 18: Lot 57 – J.R.R. Tolkien from Oxford, 1964, with Original Mailing EnvelopeOne of a Kind, Nov. 18: Lot 254 – Ho Chi Minh Inscribed to a French Minister, with His Seal, 1955One of a Kind, Nov. 18: Lot 286 – Fidel Castro, Che Guevara & Raúl Castro — Cuban Revolution Album, 1959One of a Kind Auctions
Art, Literature, Royalty & Exploration
Special No Reserve Auction!
November 18, 2026One of a Kind, Nov. 18: Lot 288 – Toussaint Louverture Safe Passage from the Liberator of Haiti, 1799One of a Kind, Nov. 18: Lot 300 – Georges Picquart, the Officer Who Unmasked the Traitor — Inscribed 1900One 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, 2026Arader, 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.