• 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
  • 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.

Auction Update Review

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21 Auctions Archived, 28 upcoming this week

For the week ended Saturday March 14th 21 auctions were archived to the Transaction History database; 9 denominated euros, 2 in British pounds and 10 in US dollars.  Turnover was $7,995,319 as 6,505 lots were offered and 5,193 sold for an 80% success rate.

2 auctions saw total proceeds reach a million dollars:

Sothebys. Comic Strips on March 7th: $4,165,922
Binoche et Giquello. Library o Guy Bechtel on March 6th: $1,132,878

5 auctions saw total sales exceed 100% of the high estimates of all lots offered:

Bonhams. A PRIVATE EUROPEAN COLLECTION OF VICTORIAN CARRIAGES AND COACHES TO INCLUDE ASSOCIATED MEMORABILIA - on March 7th: 273.08%
Ferraton. Books on February 27th: 185.89%
Binoche et Giquello. Library o Guy Bechtel on March 6th: 134.09%
Marc van de Wiele Auctions. Antiquarian Books on March 7th: 130.52%
Addison and Sarova. Rare Books on March 7th: 126.63%


11 sales saw at least 80% of their lots sell:

Bonhams. A PRIVATE EUROPEAN COLLECTION OF VICTORIAN CARRIAGES AND COACHES TO INCLUDE ASSOCIATED MEMORABILIA - on March 7th: 100.00%
Heritage Auctions. Comics - Internet bidstart 3/1 on March 8th: 99.63%
Heritage Auctions. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 3/1 on March 8th: 97.65%
Addison and Sarova. Rare Books on March 7th: 95.00%
Doyle New York. Doyle at Home: Books and Decorative Prints on March 10th: 85.71%
Heritage Auctions. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 3/5 on March 12th: 85.35%
Old World Auctions. Maps on February 18th: 84.95%
Marc van de Wiele Auctions. Antiquarian Books on March 7th: 84.01%
Ferraton. Books on February 27th: 83.69%
Michaans Auctions. Estate Sale - Books and Prints on March 7th: 83.02%
Binoche et Giquello. Library o Guy Bechtel on March 6th: 82.64%


21 total sales reported this week:

Rossini. Prints on January 27th: 38.95%
Rossini. Books on March 10th: 61.07%
Kedem Auction. Judaica: Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters on March 11th: 74.89%
Bloomsbury Auctions. Bibliophile on March 12th: 76.81%
Heritage Auctions. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 3/5 on March 12th: 85.35%
Marc van de Wiele Auctions. Antiquarian Books on March 7th: 84.01%
Doyle New York. Doyle at Home: Books and Decorative Prints on March 10th: 85.71%
Jeschke van vliet Buch und Kunstauktionen GmbH. Rare Books on March 7th: 48.90%
Bruun Rasmussen. Modern and Contemporary Prints on March 10th: 64.81%
Bruun Rasmussen. Old Master Prints on March 9th: 71.43%
Old World Auctions. Maps on February 18th: 84.95%
Michaans Auctions. Estate Sale - Books and Prints on March 7th: 83.02%
Binoche et Giquello. Library o Guy Bechtel on March 6th: 82.64%
Bonhams. A PRIVATE EUROPEAN COLLECTION OF VICTORIAN CARRIAGES AND COACHES TO INCLUDE ASSOCIATED MEMORABILIA - on March 7th: 100.00%
PBA Galleries. Fine Golf BooksFine Golf Books & Memorabilia - The Library of John Burns, Part II - with Additions on March 5th: 70.93%
Sothebys. Comic Strips on March 7th: 65.63%
Sothebys. Joy, Love and Peace: The Peter B. Lewis Collection on March 7th: 69.05%
Ferraton. Books on February 27th: 83.69%
Addison and Sarova. Rare Books on March 7th: 95.00%
Heritage Auctions. Comics - Internet bidstart 3/1 on March 8th: 99.63%
Heritage Auctions. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 3/1 on March 8th: 97.65%

For the week ahead 28 sales are scheduled:

Mon. Mar. 16th
Cowans Auctions. Cincinnati. American History - Online bidstart 3/5. 346 lots
Bruun Rasmussen. Copenhagen. Old Master Prints. 5 lots
ALDE. Paris. Games and Entertainment - Collection of Philippe Messager. 627 lots

Tue. Mar. 17th
Sothebys. London. Prints and Multiples. 234 lots
Henri Godts Books and Prints Auctions. Bruxelles . Old & Modern Books, Prints, Maps, Photographs, Popular Art. 450 lots
PIASA. Paris. Antiquarian and Modern Books. 290 lots
Bruun Rasmussen. Copenhagen. Modern and Contemporary Prints. 51 lots

Wed. Mar. 18th
Christies. London - King Street. Prints and Multiples. 155 lots
Bonhams. London. Fine Books, Manuscripts, Atlases and Historical Photographs. 230 lots
Tajan. Paris. Raoul Lehouard Library. 156 lots
RR Auction. Amherst. Remarkable Rarities - Internet bidstart 3/11. 211 lots

Thu. Mar. 19th
Ader. PARIS. Ancient and Modern Books. 306 lots
Pierre Berge and Associes. Paris. Particular History of Photography - Mr. and Mrs. X Collection. 341 lots
Bloomsbury Auctions. London. English and Continental Books and Manuscripts. 169 lots
Sothebys. London. Exploration and Discovery, 1576-1939, The Library of Franklin Brooke- Hitching, Part III, K-P. 350 lots
Swann Galleries. New York. Autographs. 223 lots
Kestenbaum and Company. New York. Judaica: Books and Manuscripts. 248 lots
PBA Galleries. San Francisco. Illustrated and Children's Books - Fine Books in All Fields. 588 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 3/12. 200 lots

Fri. Mar. 20th
Bloomsbury Auctions. London. Autographs, Memorabilia and Vintage Posters. 291 lots
Venator and Hanstein. Köln . Books, Prints and Drawings, Autographs. 1134 lots

Sat. Mar. 21st
Clars Auction Gallery. Oakland. Prints and Photographs. 118 lots
Aguttes. Neuilly-sur-Seine . Automobilia. 116 lots
Rachel Davis Fine Arts. Cleveland. Fine Art - Prints. 162 lots

Sun. Mar. 22nd
Northeast Auctions. Portsmouth. Spring Afternoon Auction. 39 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Comics - Internet bidstart 3/15.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 3/15.
Clars Auction Gallery. Oakland. Fine Arts - Prints. 67 lots

Many houses are trying to capture more and better lots.  There is a sense of increased competition and consignors may benefit.

 

Bruce McKinney

Rare Book Hub and Americana Exchange

  • 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, um 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, um 1750. Est: € 28,000
    Ketterer, Nov. 23: J. Gris and P. Reverdy, Au soleil du plafond, 1955. Est: € 3,000