• 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, 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
PreviousNext

Auction Update Review

45 Auctions Archived, 26 Upcoming

For the week ended Saturday April 4th, 45 auctions were archived to the Rare Book Database; 19 denominated in US dollars, 9 in British pounds, 15 in euros, 1 in Swiss francs, and 1 in Australian dollars.  Turnover was $21,782,315 as 10,930 lots were offered and 8,066 sold for a 74% success rate.  It was another very strong week.


7 auctions saw their total proceeds reach a million dollars:

Sothebys. Photographs on April 1st: $5,166,875
Bonhams. Library of the Late Hugh Selbourne, M.D. on March 25th: $2,628,536
Venator and Hanstein. Books, Prints and Drawings, Autographs on March 21st: $2,376,601
Swann Galleries. Ascension: A Century of African American Art on April 2nd: $2,343,218
Heritage Auctions. Movie Posters on March 29th: $2,068,797
Kestenbaum and Company. Judaica: Books and Manuscripts on March 19th: $1,307,521
Christies. 20/21 PHOTOGRAPHS/ LEAVES OF LIGHT AND SHADOW: PHOTOGRAPHS GATHERED BY WILLIAM T. HILLMAN on March 31st: $1,271,000

The Arader Galleries Top 25 Lots Reported This Past Week.
  1. Venator and Hanstein Antiphonar. - Liturgische Handschrift auf Pergament, wohl Florenz oder Emilia, 14 Jahrhundert. on March 21st Actual price: USD 1009584.0.
  2. Sothebys THE LITTLE SCREENS on April 1st Actual price: USD 850000.0.
  3. Bonhams The Sceptical Chymist: or Chymico-Physical Doubts & Paradoxes, touching the Spagyrist's Principles commonly call'd Hypostatical, as they are wont to be Propos'd and Defended by the Generality of Alchymists, FIRST EDITION, J. Cadwell, for J. Crooke, 1661 on March 25th Actual price: USD 536500.0.
  4. Sothebys THE BROWN SISTERS on April 1st Actual price: USD 370000.0.
  5. Heritage Auctions Frankenstein (Universal, 1931). Three Sheet (41" X 78.5") Style C. on March 29th Actual price: USD 358500.0. ARader
  6. Venator and Hanstein Atlas maior, sive Cosmographia Blaviana, qua solum, salum, coelum, accuratissime describuntur. 11 Bde. on March 21st Actual price: USD 345384.0.
  7. Sothebys NEGATIVE/POSITIVE PHOTOGRAM PAIR on April 1st Actual price: USD 334000.0.
  8. Sothebys NOTRE DAME DE PARIS on April 1st Actual price: USD 200000.0.
  9. Heritage Auctions The Maltese Falcon (Warner Brothers, 1941). Six Sheet (80.5" X 80"). on March 29th Actual price: USD 191200.0.
  10. Bonhams American white pelican (Pl. CCCXI) on March 31st Actual price: USD 173000.0.
  11. Kestenbaum and Company Prayers for Shabbath, Rosh-Hashanah and Kippur...According to the Order of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews. Translated by Isaac Pinto on March 19th Actual price: USD 159900.0.
  12. Kestenbaum and Company The Occident and American Jewish Advocate. A Monthly Periodical Devoted to the Diffusion of Knowledge of Jewish Literature and Religion. Edited by Isaac Leeser (vol. 26 (ed.) Mayer Sulzberger). on March 19th Actual price: USD 153750.0.
  13. Venator and Hanstein Beschreibung vnd Contrafactur der vornembster Stat der Welt. 6 in 3 Bden on March 21st Actual price: USD 146124.0.
  14. Bonhams The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life, FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE, John Murray, 1859 on March 25th Actual price: USD 145780.0.
  15. Sothebys FRED BRIEHL'S BARN, WALLKILL, N. Y.' on April 1st Actual price: USD 137500.0.
  16. Sothebys CHURCH, MOTHERLODE' on April 1st Actual price: USD 125000.0.
  17. Bonhams A Treatise of Human Nature, being an Attempt to introduce the experimental Method of Reasoning into Moral Subjects, 3 vol. (Of the Understanding; Of the Passions; An Appendix... of Morals), FIRST EDITION, John Noon [-Thomas Longman], 1739-1740 on March 25th Actual price: USD 119140.0.
  18. Bonhams Series of over forty autograph letters signed, to Jane, Lady Simon, and her husband Sir John Simon; Ruskin writes on Turner, his bouts of madness, the difficulties he has in loving others, his mission in life, the death of his old nurse and of his mother, on March 25th Actual price: USD 117364.0.
  19. Christies Blast Furnaces, Frontal Views, 1979-1986 on March 31st Actual price: USD 112500.0.
  20. Sothebys MARILYN MONROE, ACTRESS, NEW YORK CITY' on April 1st Actual price: USD 106250.0.
  21. Kestenbaum and Company Speech of Hon. David S. Kaufman of Texas on The Slavery Question. Delivered in the House of Representatives. on March 19th Actual price: USD 92250.0.
  22. Sothebys FROM THE EEL SERIES, ROME annotation in pencil on the reverse, 1977-78 on April 1st Actual price: USD 87500.0.
  23. Sothebys UNTITLED' on April 1st Actual price: USD 87500.0.
  24. Sothebys MOONRISE, HERNANDEZ, NEW MEXICO' on April 1st Actual price: USD 87500.0.
  25. Christies Valencia, 1933 on March 31st Actual price: USD 87500.0.


7 auctions saw their total proceeds reach a million dollars:

Sothebys. Photographs on April 1st: $5,166,875
Bonhams. Library of the Late Hugh Selbourne, M.D. on March 25th: $2,628,536
Venator and Hanstein. Books, Prints and Drawings, Autographs on March 21st: $2,376,601
Swann Galleries. Ascension: A Century of African American Art on April 2nd: $2,343,218
Heritage Auctions. Movie Posters on March 29th: $2,068,797
Kestenbaum and Company. Judaica: Books and Manuscripts on March 19th: $1,307,521
Christies. 20/21 PHOTOGRAPHS/ LEAVES OF LIGHT AND SHADOW: PHOTOGRAPHS GATHERED BY WILLIAM T. HILLMAN on March 31st: $1,271,000

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

Bloomsbury Auctions. English and Continental Letters and Documents on March 31st: 233.66%
Bonhams. THE LAUREN BACALL COLLECTION - Prints on March 31st: 210.68%
Ferraton. Modern and Contemporary Art - Prints and Photographs on March 28th: 162.46%
Venator and Hanstein. Books, Prints and Drawings, Autographs on March 21st: 155.04%
Bonhams. Library of the Late Hugh Selbourne, M.D. on March 25th: 152.58%
Koller Auctions. Old Master Prints on March 27th: 129.88%
Bruun Rasmussen. Modern and Contemporary Prints on March 31st: 115.34%
Cowans Auctions. Wes Cowan Stereoview Auction - online bidstart 3/13 on March 30th: 111.51%
Dorotheum . Prints Before 1900 on April 2nd: 102.82%
Sothebys. The New York Sale on April 1st: 101.12%


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

Dirk Soulis Auctions. The Military Collection of Glen 'Corky' Reed on March 29th: 100.00%
Rago Arts and Auctions. Rago Unreserved: Modern Design and Contemporary Art on March 28th: 100.00%
Rago Arts and Auctions. Rago Unreserved: Rago Unreserved: Early 20th C., Fine Art, Estate goods, Scandinavian on March 27th: 100.00%
Heritage Auctions. Comics - Internet bidstart 3/22 on March 29th: 100.00%
Bonhams. THE LAUREN BACALL COLLECTION - Prints on March 31st: 100.00%
Cowans Auctions. Wes Cowan Stereoview Auction - online bidstart 3/13 on March 30th: 98.39%
Bloomsbury Auctions. English and Continental Letters and Documents on March 31st: 97.51%
Heritage Auctions. Movie Posters on March 29th: 93.88%
Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society. Rare and Used Books on March 13th: 93.16%
Ferraton. Modern and Contemporary Art - Prints and Photographs on March 28th: 90.37%
Bonhams. Library of the Late Hugh Selbourne, M.D. on March 25th: 90.27%
Bruun Rasmussen. Modern and Contemporary Prints on March 31st: 88.61%
Bearnes Hampton and Littlewood. Books, Maps and Prints on March 11th: 86.01%
Bonhams. Wellington, Waterloo and the Napoleonic Wars on April 1st: 82.61%


45 total sales reported this week:

Ferraton. Modern and Contemporary Art - Prints and Photographs on March 28th: 90.37%
Dorotheum . Prints Before 1900 on April 2nd: 68.82%
Vermot de Pas. Comic Strips on March 28th: 66.49%
Bearnes Hampton and Littlewood. Lenkiewicz Legacy - posters, photos on March 28th: 67.54%
PBA Galleries. Fine Americana and Exploration of the West on April 2nd: 69.56%
Swann Galleries. Ascension: A Century of African American Art on April 2nd: 70.22%
Bonhams. Wellington, Waterloo and the Napoleonic Wars on April 1st: 82.61%
Cowans Auctions. Wes Cowan Stereoview Auction - online bidstart 3/13 on March 30th: 98.39%
Ader. Ancient and Modern Medicinal Books on May 14th: 46.26%
Ader. Photo Books - Collection of Jean-Claude Eidelman, Part 2 on April 1st: 75.21%
Aguttes. Photography on March 30th: 25.00%
Sothebys. The New York Sale on April 1st: 78.57%
Sothebys. Photographs on April 1st: 76.60%
Auctionata. Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts on March 30th: 46.77%
Auctionata. Modern Masters - Prints on March 31st: 25.37%
Bloomsbury Auctions. English and Continental Letters and Documents on March 31st: 97.51%
Bonhams. THE LAUREN BACALL COLLECTION - Prints on March 31st: 100.00%
Christies. 20/21 PHOTOGRAPHS/ LEAVES OF LIGHT AND SHADOW: PHOTOGRAPHS GATHERED BY WILLIAM T. HILLMAN on March 31st: 49.14%
Bruun Rasmussen. Modern and Contemporary Prints on March 31st: 88.61%
Bruun Rasmussen. Old Master Prints on March 30th: 66.67%
Australian Book Auctions. Books and Documents on March 30th: 78.62%
OSENAT. BONNARD - COLLECTION ANTOINE TERRASSE - Prints, books on March 29th: 66.67%
Dirk Soulis Auctions. The Military Collection of Glen 'Corky' Reed on March 29th: 100.00%
Rago Arts and Auctions. Rago Unreserved: Modern Design and Contemporary Art on March 28th: 100.00%
Rago Arts and Auctions. Rago Unreserved: Rago Unreserved: Early 20th C., Fine Art, Estate goods, Scandinavian on March 27th: 100.00%
Neret Minet and Tessier. Posters on March 27th: 49.36%
Koller Auctions. Old Master Prints on March 27th: 76.47%
Grays Auctioneers. Books and Prints on February 18th: 39.53%
Grays Auctioneers. Fine Art - Prints on March 25th: 44.78%
Binoche et Giquello. Photographs on March 27th: 69.70%
Aguttes. Automobilia on March 21st: 56.03%
Tooveys. Prints on March 25th: 72.73%
Beaussant Lefevre. Photographs on March 25th: 64.21%
Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society. Rare and Used Books on March 13th: 93.16%
Keys Fine Arts Auctioneers. Books - Day 2 on March 27th: 66.37%
Keys Fine Arts Auctioneers. Books and Ephemera on March 26th: 72.69%
Tooveys. Militaria on March 25th: 66.67%
Auctionata. Photography and Prints on March 27th: 48.54%
Auctionata. Precious Manuscripts, Books and Prints on March 23rd: 34.23%
Venator and Hanstein. Books, Prints and Drawings, Autographs on March 21st: 50.35%
Kestenbaum and Company. Judaica: Books and Manuscripts on March 19th: 61.29%
Bearnes Hampton and Littlewood. Books, Maps and Prints on March 11th: 86.01%
Heritage Auctions. Comics - Internet bidstart 3/22 on March 29th: 100.00%
Heritage Auctions. Movie Posters on March 29th: 93.88%
Bonhams. Library of the Late Hugh Selbourne, M.D. on March 25th: 90.27%

For the week ahead 26 sales are scheduled:

Mon. Apr. 6th
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Doodle for Hunger Illustration Art Auction Benefiting St. Francis Food Pantries and Shelter - online. 43 lots
Bruun Rasmussen. Copenhagen. Old Master Prints. 12 lots

Tue. Apr. 7th
Christies. New York. DON MCLEAN'S 'AMERICAN PIE': THE ORIGINAL LYRICS. 1 lots
Bruun Rasmussen. Copenhagen. Modern and Contemporary Prints. 100 lots

Wed. Apr. 8th
Heritage Auctions. New York. Historical Manuscripts. 420 lots
Heritage Auctions. New York. Rare Books. 1174 lots
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Gloucestershire. Printed Books, Maps & Documents; Travel, Atlases & Natural History. 541 lots

Thu. Apr. 9th
Bloomsbury Auctions. London. The Library of a Gentleman. 289 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Animation Art. 1353 lots
Swann Galleries. New York. Early Printed, Medical, Scientific and Travel Books. 330 lots
Binoche et Giquello. rue La Boetie, Paris. Ancient and Modern Books. 219 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 4/2. 356 lots
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. Chicago. Naples Online. 36 lots

Fri. Apr. 10th
Holabird Kagin Americana. Reno. Western Prospects: Discovering Americana & Numismatics (session 1). 688 lots
Keys Fine Arts Auctioneers. Norwich. Pictures and Prints. 99 lots
Neret Minet and Tessier. Paris. Paul Coze Archives - Wakanda. 70 lots
Beaussant Lefevre. Paris. Asia - Prints. 48 lots
Stair Auctioneers and Appraisers. Hudson. Prints. 67 lots
Charlton Hall. West Columbia, SC. 86 Anniversary Auction - Books and Prints. 46 lots

Sat. Apr. 11th
Michaans Auctions. Alameda, CA . Estate Auction. 27 lots
Holabird Kagin Americana. Reno. Western Prospects: Discovering Americana & Numismatics (session 2). 365 lots

Sun. Apr. 12th
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Comics - Internet bidstart 4/5.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 4/5.
National Book Auctions. Ithaca. Books.
Carlsen Gallery. Greenville, NY. "Spring Fling" ANTIQUE AUCTION - Prints. 55 lots
OSENAT. FONTAINEBLEAU. The Empire at Fontainebleau. 231 lots

We're now in April and the focus shifts to New York.  Best of luck to all the players.

Bruce McKinney

RBH and AE

 

  • 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