• 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.
PreviousNext

Auction Update Review

28 Auctions Archived, 27 Sales Upcoming

For the week ended Saturday 24 May 28 auctions were archived to the Rare Book Transaction database; 14 denominated in euros, 5 in British pounds, and 9 in US dollars.  Turnover was $12,316,537.58 as 17,580 lots were offered and 11,152 sold for a 63.44% success rate.

2 auctions saw their total proceeds reach a million dollars: 

Bloomsbury Auctions. Important Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper on May 21st: $1,545,963 
Swann Galleries. Fine Photographs on May 21st: $1,407,119 

6 auctions saw total sales exceed 100% of the high estimates of all lots offered in the sale: 

Burgersdijk and Niermans. Books on May 13th: 189.32% 
Tooveys. Photographs, Autographs, Printed and Manuscript Ephemera on May 19th: 116.71% 
Ferraton. Books and Prints, Part I on May 8th: 113.79% 
Dorotheum . Modern and Contemporary Prints on May 21st: 110.02% 
Artcurial. Limited Editions on May 19th: 107.18% 
Bloomsbury Auctions. Important Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper on May 21st: 105.03% 

The Arader Galleries Top 25 Lots Reported This Past Week.
  1. Bloomsbury Auctions Rights of Man: Being an Answer to Mr. Burke's Attack on the French Revolution, on May 21st Actual price: USD $253,084.
  2. Swann Galleries The North American Indian. on May 21st Actual price: USD $233,000.
  3. Christies Three young farmers on their way to a dance, Westerland, 1914 on May 22nd Actual price: USD $164,065.
  4. Swann Galleries De Zee-Atlas Ofte Water-Waereld Vertoonende all de Zee-Kusten Van het bekende Deel des Aerd-Bodems, Met een generale beschrijvinge van dien. Seer dienstigh vooralle Schippers en Stuurlieden; mitsgaders Koop-lieden om op't Kantoor gebruykt te werden Nieuwe on May 19th Actual price: USD $125,000. ARader Auction Galleries
  5. ALDE [Rarissime paire de globes de parquet] Globe terrestre et globe céleste. on May 13th Actual price: USD $117,510.
  6. ALDE [X01] Histoire naturelle des oiseaux. on May 13th Actual price: USD $109,312.
  7. Swann Galleries The Grand Tetons and the Snake River. on May 21st Actual price: USD $81,250.
  8. Swann Galleries De Zee-Atlas / Ofte Water-Wereld, Waer in vertoont warden alle de Zee-Kusten Van het bekende des Aerd-Bodems. on May 19th Actual price: USD $81,250.
  9. Artcurial MIROIR DE LA TAUROMACHIE on May 19th Actual price: USD $79,632.
  10. Christies Brig on the Water, 1856 on May 22nd Actual price: USD $78,500.
  11. Swann Galleries A remarkable set of 50 platinum prints from the Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition, most featuring portraits of the leaders and members of the Native American delegations that attended the Exposition, including Geronimo; some depicting outdoor on May 21st Actual price: USD $71,500.
  12. Swann Galleries Extremely rare and important separately-issued engraved view of Honolulu, printed on the island at the famous Lahainaluna Seminary press. on May 19th Actual price: USD $70,000.
  13. Leslie Hindman Auctioneers Traffic Control, 1936 on May 21st Actual price: USD $60,000.
  14. Artcurial MICK JAGGER on May 19th Actual price: USD $58,262.
  15. Christies Lightness of Being, 2008 on May 22nd Actual price: USD $54,950.
  16. Artcurial LAND'S END on May 19th Actual price: USD $54,790.
  17. Bloomsbury Auctions The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner [&] The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe [&] Serious Reflections During the Life and Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, on May 21st Actual price: USD $48,670.
  18. Swann Galleries Portrait of Elephant in Dust, Amboseli (from "Across the Ravaged Land, Part I"). on May 21st Actual price: USD $46,800.
  19. Bloomsbury Auctions Sense and Sensibility: A Novel, on May 21st Actual price: USD $46,723.
  20. Artcurial ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE on May 19th Actual price: USD $45,069.
  21. Leslie Hindman Auctioneers Le pitre rose, 1974 on May 21st Actual price: USD $45,000.
  22. Dorotheum Ohne Titel on May 21st Actual price: USD $42,000.
  23. Artcurial ETUDE POUR UN PORTRAIT DU PAPE INNOCENT X D'APRES VELASQUEZ on May 19th Actual price: USD $40,768.
  24. Leslie Hindman Auctioneers Mick Jagger, 1975 on May 21st Actual price: USD $40,000.
  25. Leslie Hindman Auctioneers Flowers III, 1970 on May 21st Actual price: USD $40,000.


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

Heritage Auctions. Comics - Internet bidstart 5/10 on May 17th: 99.84%
Heritage Auctions. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 5/10 on May 17th: 97.33%
Tooveys. Photographs, Autographs, Printed and Manuscript Ephemera on May 19th: 96.38%
Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society. Rare and Used Books on May 8th: 93.43%
Heritage Auctions. Americana, Political on May 18th: 90.77%
Burgersdijk and Niermans. Books on May 13th: 88.77%
Swann Galleries. Maps and Atlases, Natural History and Color Plate Books on May 19th: 84.33%
Skinner. Asian Works of Art - Prints, Manuscripts, Catalogues on May 16th: 81.25%
Ferraton. Books and Prints, Part I on May 8th: 80.41%


28 total sales reported this week:

Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. Fine Prints on May 21st: 74.34%
Dorotheum . Modern and Contemporary Prints on May 21st: 69.52%
Christies. 20/21 PHOTOGRAPHS: PHOTOGRAPHS SELECTED BY JAMES DANZIGER on May 22nd: 59.22%
Bloomsbury Auctions. Important Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper on May 21st: 76.82%
Swann Galleries. Fine Photographs on May 21st: 65.19%
Tajan. Prints on May 21st: 52.68%
Artcurial. Limited Editions on May 19th: 73.26%
Ader. Photographs on May 19th: 51.41%
Tooveys. Prints on May 20th: 70.69%
Tooveys. Photographs, Autographs, Printed and Manuscript Ephemera on May 19th: 96.38%
Swann Galleries. Maps and Atlases, Natural History and Color Plate Books on May 19th: 84.33%
Aguttes. Old Books and Paper on May 6th: 66.13%
Heritage Auctions. Americana, Political on May 18th: 90.77%
RR Auction. Fine Autographs & Artifacts on May 13th: 58.99%
Burgersdijk and Niermans. Books on May 13th: 88.77%
Kiefer Buch und Kunstauktionen. Books, Autographs and Prints on April 25th: 44.88%
Dorotheum . Globes on May 18th: 66.67%
Bonhams. Scientific Instruments - Globes on May 19th: 63.64%
Bruun Rasmussen. Modern and Contemporary Prints on May 19th: 73.85%
Bruun Rasmussen. Old Master Prints on May 18th: 62.50%
Skinner. Asian Works of Art - Prints, Manuscripts, Catalogues on May 16th: 81.25%
Bolaffi Ambassador Auctions. Books on Food on May 14th: 67.45%
ALDE. Antiquarian and 19th Century Books on May 13th: 66.36%
Ferraton. Books and Prints, Part I on May 8th: 80.41%
Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society. Rare and Used Books on May 8th: 93.43%
Jeschke van vliet Buch und Kunstauktionen GmbH. Rare Books, Prints and Photographs on May 9th: 45.63%
Heritage Auctions. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 5/10 on May 17th: 97.33%
Heritage Auctions. Comics - Internet bidstart 5/10 on May 17th: 99.84%


For the week ahead 27 sales are scheduled:

Mon. May. 25th
Bruun Rasmussen. Copenhagen. Prints. 73 lots

Tue. May. 26th
Adams Amsterdam Auctions. Amsterdam. Art of the XXth Century. 213 lots

Wed. May. 27th
Neret Minet and Tessier. Paris. Books and Manuscripts. 437 lots
Christies. London - King Street. THE JOEL SPITZ COLLECTION OF ENGLISH COLOUR-PLATE BOOKS. 199 lots
Gonnelli Casa DAste. Firenze. Manuscripts, Incunabula and Books. 270 lots
Auctionata. New York. American and European Art. 84 lots

Thu. May. 28th
Galerie Bassenge. Berlin-Grunewald . 15th -19th Century Prints. 828 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Comics. 1737 lots
Sothebys. London. Music, Continental and Russian Books and Manuscripts. 315 lots
Ader. PARIS. Prints. 299 lots
PBA Galleries. San Francisco. Rare Books and Manuscripts. 289 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 5/21. 271 lots
Keys Fine Arts Auctioneers. Norwich. Books and Ephemera - Day 1. 709 lots

Fri. May. 29th
Binoche et Giquello. rue La Boetie, Paris. Books. 304 lots
Skinner. Boston. Americana and European Prints and Photography. 109 lots
Keys Fine Arts Auctioneers. Norwich. Books and Ephemera - Day 2. 366 lots
ALDE. Paris. Letters and Autograph Manuscripts. 415 lots
Neret Minet and Tessier. Paris. Comic Strips. 476 lots
Ader. PARIS. Prints. 289 lots

Sat. May. 30th
Clars Auction Gallery. Oakland. Prints and Photographs. 124 lots
Aspire Auctions. Cleveland. Printed Art - Internet bidstart 5/22. 10 lots
Audap and Mirabaud. PARIS. Sport. 138 lots
Galerie Bassenge. Berlin-Grunewald . Modern Art Part II - Prints. 374 lots
Galerie Bassenge. Berlin-Grunewald . Modern Art Part I - Prints. 180 lots

Sun. May. 31st
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Comics - Internet bidstart 5/24.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 5/24.
Clars Auction Gallery. Oakland. Fine Art and Antiques - Books, Prints - Day 2. 93 lots

Bruce McKinney

RBH and AE

  • 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