• 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
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Auction Update Review

Fonsie Mealy Auction Dec 15,
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19th Century Shop. Click
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Forty-one Auctions Archived, 28 upcoming this week

For the week ended Saturday 12 December 41 auctions were archived to the RBH database; 1 in Swiss francs, 12 in euros, 10 in English pounds and 18 in US dollars. Turnover was a breathtaking $37,790,208. Across all the sales 10,829 lots were offered and 7,807 sold for a 72% rate. There have recently been ramblings of concern for the market. These results should dispel some of these concerns. 

9 auctions saw their total proceeds reach a million dollars: 

Sothebys. Books and Manuscripts on December 4th: $14,900,129 

Christies. Old Master Prints on December 9th: $3,596,748 
Christies. SELECTIONS FROM THE DAVIDSON COLLECTION: IMPORTANT ENGLISH AND AMERICAN LITERATURE AND HISTORICAL AM on December 8th: $2,880,064 
Sothebys. Music, Continental and Russian Books and Manuscripts on December 7th: $2,514,284 
Christies. THE CHARLES E. SIGETY COLLECTION OF FINE PRINTED BOOKS AND AMERICANA, PART II on December 7th: $1,823,074 
Christies. Books and Manuscripts on December 8th: $1,380,316 
Swann Galleries. Maps and Atlases, Natural History and Color Plate Books on December 8th: $1,272,810 
Bonhams. Fine Books and Manuscripts, Including the Collection of Harry E. Gould, Jr. on December 9th: $1,246,389 
Koller Auctions. Prints, Multiples and Photography on December 5th: $1,084,290 

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

Henri Godts Books and Prints Auctions. Books, Maps, Prints on December 8th: 149.89% 
Freemans. American Art & Pennsylvania Impressionists on December 6th: 147.33% 
Christies. Old Master Prints on December 9th: 137.42% 
Christies. THE CHARLES E. SIGETY COLLECTION OF FINE PRINTED BOOKS AND AMERICANA, PART II on December 7th: 128.12% 
Koller Auctions. Prints, Multiples and Photography on December 5th: 116.54% 
Artcurial. Prints and Illustrated Books on December 9th: 112.32% 
Sothebys. Books and Manuscripts on December 4th: 106.44% 


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

Freemans. American Art & Pennsylvania Impressionists on December 6th: 100.00% 
Heritage Auctions. Comics - Internet bidstart 11/29 on December 6th: 99.34% 
Heritage Auctions. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 11/29 on December 6th: 98.34% 
Potter and Potter Auctions. Winter Magic Auction on December 5th: 94.00% 
Stair Auctioneers and Appraisers. Prints, Books, Photographs on December 5th: 90.65% 
Christies. THE CHARLES E. SIGETY COLLECTION OF FINE PRINTED BOOKS AND AMERICANA, PART II on December 7th: 88.75% 
Sothebys. Books and Manuscripts on December 4th: 85.26% 
Koller Auctions. Prints, Multiples and Photography on December 5th: 83.61% 
Heritage Auctions. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 12/3 on December 10th: 82.86% 
Christies. Old Master Prints on December 9th: 80.26% 
Dirk Soulis Auctions. Carl Marxen Estate - Prints on December 6th: 80.00% 
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on December 8th: 80.00% 


41 total sales reported this week: 

Alexander Historical Auctions. Winter Auction on December 10th: 72.83% 
Bloomsbury Auctions. Autographs, Memorabilia and Vintage Posters on December 11th: 56.05% 
Adams Amsterdam Auctions. Art From Three Centuries on December 7th: 77.87% 
PIASA. PIERRE NÉTANGE COLLECTION , BOOKS on December 10th: 58.59% 
PIASA. Manuscripts and Books on December 10th: 31.11% 
PIASA. 20th Century Prints on December 10th: 58.33% 
Artcurial. Prints and Illustrated Books on December 9th: 73.86% 
Artcurial. Collectibles - Posters on December 7th: 55.56% 
Aguttes. Contemporary Art and Photography on December 7th: 25.00% 
Christies. Prints and Multiples on December 10th: 66.82% 
Christies. Old Master Prints on December 9th: 80.26% 
Heritage Auctions. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 12/3 on December 10th: 82.86% 
Bloomsbury Auctions. Books and Works on Paper on December 10th: 66.48% 
Bloomsbury Auctions. Western Manuscripts on December 9th: 56.00% 
Bonhams. The December Sale - Automobilia on December 10th: 35.71% 
Bonhams. Entertainment Memorabilia on December 10th: 61.67% 
Bonhams. Prints and Multiples on December 9th: 58.87% 
Bonhams. Fine Books and Manuscripts, Including the Collection of Harry E. Gould, Jr. on December 9th: 64.41% 
Stair Auctioneers and Appraisers. Prints, Books, Photographs on December 5th: 90.65% 
Potter and Potter Auctions. Winter Magic Auction on December 5th: 94.00% 
Koller Auctions. Prints, Multiples and Photography on December 5th: 83.61% 
Henri Godts Books and Prints Auctions. Books, Maps, Prints on December 8th: 79.85% 
Jeschke van vliet Buch und Kunstauktionen GmbH. Old and Modern Art, Modern Photography, Antiques on December 4th: 28.84% 
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on December 8th: 80.00% 
Swann Galleries. Maps and Atlases, Natural History and Color Plate Books on December 8th: 77.44% 
Christies. SELECTIONS FROM THE DAVIDSON COLLECTION: IMPORTANT ENGLISH AND AMERICAN LITERATURE AND HISTORICAL AM on December 8th: 48.45% 
Christies. Books and Manuscripts on December 8th: 50.00% 
Christies. THE CHARLES E. SIGETY COLLECTION OF FINE PRINTED BOOKS AND AMERICANA, PART II on December 7th: 88.75% 
Sothebys. Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts on December 8th: 51.32% 
Sothebys. Music, Continental and Russian Books and Manuscripts on December 7th: 45.38% 
Rago Arts and Auctions. Great Estates Auction - Books and Prints on December 5th: 62.96% 
Charlton Hall. Winter International Auction on December 5th: 65.63% 
Auctionata. Born in the USA: Modern & Contemporary Art - Prints on December 4th: 32.00% 
Auctionata. British Modern & Contemporary Art – with Damien Hirst Collection - Prints on December 5th: 33.77% 
Eldreds. Asian Arts at Auction - Books, Prints on December 4th: 65.38% 
Freemans. American Art & Pennsylvania Impressionists on December 6th: 100.00% 
Dirk Soulis Auctions. Carl Marxen Estate - Prints on December 6th: 80.00% 
Dirk Soulis Auctions. Important Historical Prints on December 5th: 66.07% 
Heritage Auctions. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 11/29 on December 6th: 98.34% 
Heritage Auctions. Comics - Internet bidstart 11/29 on December 6th: 99.34% 
Sothebys. Books and Manuscripts on December 4th: 85.26% 

The Top 25 Lots Reported This Past Week.
  1. Christies Autograph draft manuscript of Federalist Number Four on December 8th Actual price: USD $1,445,000.
  2. Sothebys OPTICKS: OR, A TREATISE OF THE REFLEXIONS, REFRACTIONS, INFLEXIONS AND COLOURS OF LIGHT. ALSO TWO TREATISES OF THE SPECIES AND MAGNITUDE OF CURVILINEAR FIGURES on December 4th Actual price: USD $1,330,000.
  3. Christies Samson rending the Lion on December 9th Actual price: USD $656,095.
  4. Sothebys THE EXCELLENT HISTORY OF THE MERCHANT OF VENICE. WITH THE EXTREME CRUELTY OF SHYLOCKE THE JEW TOWARDS THE SAIDE MERCHANT, IN CUTTING A JUST POUND OF HIS FLESH. AND THE OBTAINING OF PORTIA, BY THE CHOYSE OF THREE CASKETS on December 4th Actual price: USD $550,000.
  5. Christies The Rhinoceros on December 9th Actual price: USD $474,895.
  6. Sothebys MR. VVILLIAM SHAKESPEARES COMEDIES, HISTORIES, AND TRAGEDIES. PUBLISHED ACCORDING TO THE TRUE ORIGINALL COPIES. THE SECOND IMPRESSION on December 4th Actual price: USD $430,000.
  7. Sothebys AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT OF THE FINAL CHORUS OF THE ESTERHÍZY CANTATA "QUAL DUBBIO ORMAI" [HOB.XXIVA:4] on December 7th Actual price: USD $403,500.
  8. Sothebys FINE AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT OF THE FIRST MOVEMENT OF THE "SONATINE", ORIGINALLY COMPOSED AS A SELF-CONTAINED PIECE on December 7th Actual price: USD $367,500.
  9. Swann Galleries The North American Atlas. on December 8th Actual price: USD $341,000.
  10. Sothebys AUTHORITATIVE SCRIBAL COLLECTION OF POEMS KNOWN AS THE "GOWER MANUSCRIPT" on December 4th Actual price: USD $322,000.
  11. Christies The Federalist: A Collection of Essays, Written in Favour of the New Constitution, as Agreed Upon by the Federal Convention, September 17, 1787. on December 8th Actual price: USD $317,000.
  12. Sothebys TWO TREATISES OF GOVERNMENT: IN THE FORMER, THE FALSE PRINCIPLES AND FOUNDATION OF SIR ROBERT FILMER, AND HIS FOLLOWERS ARE DETECTED AND OVERTHROWN. THE LATTER IS AN ESSAY CONCERNING THE TRUE ORIGINAL, EXTENT, AND END OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT on December 4th Actual price: USD $274,000.
  13. Sothebys Julius Firmicus Maternus, Matheseos libri VIII, in Latin on December 8th Actual price: USD $259,500.
  14. Sothebys AUTOGRAPH WORKING DRAFT OF PART OF THE PIANO TRIO OP.90 ("DUMKY"), SIGNED AND INSCRIBED ("TO HIS DEAR FRIEND MR POLLNER [?], AS A KEEPSAKE FROM ANT. DVOŘÍK 18 26/11 90", AND ANNOTATED BY HIM "...PRVNI SKIZZA DUMEK" "...FIRST SKETCH OF THE DUMKY": TRANSLA on December 7th Actual price: USD $250,500.
  15. Sothebys COMPENDIUM IN GENEALOGIA CHRISTI, IN LATIN, ILLUSTRATED MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM on December 4th Actual price: USD $250,000.
  16. Sothebys THE WORKES OF BENIAMIN JONSON on December 4th Actual price: USD $250,000.
  17. Sothebys THE COMPLEAT ANGLER OR THE CONTEMPLATIVE MAN'S RECREATION. BEING A DISCOURSE OF FISH AND FISHING, NOT UNWORTHY THE PERUSAL OF MOST ANGLERS on December 4th Actual price: USD $206,250.
  18. Christies Autograph letter signed (“G:o Washington'') to Robert Dinwiddie (1693-1770), Belvoir, 7 March 1754. on December 8th Actual price: USD $197,000.
  19. Sothebys AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT AND TYPESCRIPT OF JUNO AND THE PAYCOCK.  on December 4th Actual price: USD $187,500.
  20. Sothebys A BOOK OF VERSES SERIA MIXTA JOCIS on December 4th Actual price: USD $187,500.
  21. Sothebys THE TWOO BOOKES OF FRANCIS BACON. OF THE PROFICIENCE AND ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING, DIVINE AND HUMANE on December 4th Actual price: USD $175,000.
  22. Bonhams Autograph Manuscript Signed ("A. Einstein") on final page, 10 pp, 4to, n.p., [1929], being the near final draft of "Die Kompatibilitat der Feldgleichungen in der Einheitlichen Feldtheorie" (The Compatibility of the Field Equations in the Unified Field The on December 9th Actual price: USD $173,000.
  23. Sothebys MANUSCRIPT MEMOIR on December 4th Actual price: USD $162,500.
  24. Sothebys THE FAMOUS TRAGEDY OF THE RICH JEW OF MALTA. AS IT WAS PLAYD BEFORE THE KING AND QUEENE, IN HIS MAJESTIES THEATRE AT WHITE-HALL, BY HER MAJESTIES SERVANTS AT THE COCK-PIT on December 4th Actual price: USD $162,500.
  25. Sothebys VOLPONE OR THE FOXE on December 4th Actual price: USD $162,500.


For the week ahead 28 sales are scheduled:

Mon. Dec. 14th
ALDE. Paris. Binders, Original, Modern, Illustrated. 262 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Animation Art. 1347 lots
Cowans Auctions. Cincinnati. The Golden Age of Travel - Internet bidstart 12/3. 88 lots
Sothebys. New York. Fine Books and Manuscripts, Including Americana. 108 lots
Holabird Kagin Americana. Reno. Western Americana Live Auction - session 2. 609 lots
Bruun Rasmussen. Copenhagen. Old Master Prints. 6 lots

Tue. Dec. 15th
Sothebys. London. English Literature, History, Children's Books & Illustrations. 211 lots
Stockholms Auktionsverk. Stockholm. Rare Books, Maps and Manuscripts. 265 lots
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. Chicago. Fine Prints. 199 lots
Pierre Berge and Associes. Paris. Edition. 206 lots
Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers. Kilkenny. Rare Books. 769 lots
Christies. Paris. Maurice Burrus (1882-1959): The Library of a Man of Taste. 229 lots
Swann Galleries. New York. African American Fine Art - Prints. 150 lots
Holabird Kagin Americana. Reno. Americana - Online Only. 761 lots
Christies. London - King Street. MRS THATCHER - PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE BARONESS THATCHER OF KESTEVE. 34 lots

Wed. Dec. 16th
Bolaffi Ambassador Auctions. Milan. Rare Books and Autographs. 789 lots
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Gloucestershire. Printed Books, Maps and Documents: Science, Medicine and Cookery. 580 lots
ALDE. Paris. Letters and Handwritten Autographs. 366 lots

Thu. Dec. 17th
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Gloucestershire. Children's and Illustrated Books. 426 lots
PBA Galleries. San Francisco. Rare Americana with Manuscript Material. 500 lots
Sothebys. Paris. Books and Manuscripts. 132 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 12/10. 393 lots
Bloomsbury Auctions. London. The Bibliophile Sale: Books and Works on Paper. 425 lots

Fri. Dec. 18th
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Entertainment. 138 lots

Sat. Dec. 19th
OSENAT. FONTAINEBLEAU. The Spirit of the 20th Century. 15 lots

Sun. Dec. 20th
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Comics - Internet bidstart 12/13.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 12/13.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. The William E. Fredeman Victoriana Collection Rare Books Internet Auction. 98 lots

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