• 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.
  • 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
PreviousNext

Auction Update Review

Here we go

 

 

 

For the week ending Saturday August 24th five auctions were archived to the AED; 1 in US dollars, 3 in British pounds and 1 in euros.  One thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine lots were offered and 1,458 sold for a 79% success rate.  Total sales were $369,318.  Bloomsbury did best realizing $228,362 and 106% of the total of the high estimates of all their lots offered.

 

Two sales sold at least 80% of their lots:

 

Heritage Auctions [HA.com].  Rare Books internet bidding ended August 22nd:  91%

Bloomsbury Auctions.  Bibliophile Sale on August 15th:  88%

 

For the week upcoming 4 events are scheduled:

 

Mon. Aug. 26th

Australian Book Auctions.  Important Books, including Voyages and Travel [65].  402 lots

 

Tues. Aug. 27th

Australian Book Auctions.  Important Books, including Voyages and Travel [65].  402 lots

Bruun Rasmussen.  Modern Prints [1335].  61 lots.

 

Thurs. Aug. 29th

Heritage Auctions [HA.com].  Rare Books internet bidding ending today.  250 lots

 

The single biggest event for the rare books field over this very quiet week is the once-every two year rebuild and re-launch of the AE site.   When you receive this email we expect to be on the sunny side of the transition.  Your current log-in and password will work.

 

The upcoming issue of AE Monthly will detail the changes but many are simply obvious.  A smoother interface sitting atop a chassis designed to handle the AED at 10 million records kind of sums it up.

 

There are always glitches and we expect and are prepared for some turbulence.  But our hope is for a smooth transition and if you experience problems or have questions send us a comment.

 

Bruce McKinney

AE

  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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