• 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
  • 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
PreviousNext

Auction Update Review

19th Century Shop. Click
image for more info.

19 Auctions Archived, 5 Upcoming

For the week ended Saturday 26 December 19 sales were archived to the RBH database; 8 denominated in euros and 11 in US dollars.  Sales were $21,558,344 as 11,835 lots were offered and 8,435 sold for a 71% success rate.

The fall sales have ended.

2 auctions saw their total proceeds reach a million dollars: 

Sothebys. The Valmadonna Trust Library: Part I Magnificent Manuscripts and the Bomberg Talmud on December 22nd: $14,868,000 
Sothebys. Important Judaica on December 22nd: $3,418,375 

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

Bolaffi Ambassador Auctions. Rare Books and Autographs on December 16th: 124.85% 
Bubb Kuyper. Modern Art: Prints and Drawings (part 1) on November 26th: 108.91% 

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

Heritage Auctions. Comics - Internet bidstart 12/13 on December 20th: 100.00% 
Heritage Auctions. Entertainment on December 19th: 99.28% 
Heritage Auctions. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 12/13 on December 20th: 97.97% 
Heritage Auctions. The William E. Fredeman Victoriana Collection Rare Books Internet Auction on December 20th: 95.92% 
Holabird Kagin Americana. December Sale - Part 1 on December 12th: 93.42% 
Heritage Auctions. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 12/17 on December 24th: 92.14% 

19 total sales reported this week: 

Heritage Auctions. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 12/17 on December 24th: 92.14% 
Holabird Kagin Americana. Americana - Online Only on December 15th: 24.44% 
Holabird Kagin Americana. Western Americana Live Auction - session 2 on December 14th: 74.22% 
Holabird Kagin Americana. Western Americana Live Auction - session 1 on December 13th: 61.05% 
Holabird Kagin Americana. December Sale - Part 1 on December 12th: 93.42% 
Sothebys. Important Judaica on December 22nd: 70.89% 
Sothebys. The Valmadonna Trust Library: Part I Magnificent Manuscripts and the Bomberg Talmud on December 22nd: 75.00% 
Bubb Kuyper. Drawings, Old Master Prints, Maps and Plans on November 27th: 76.05% 
Bubb Kuyper. Modern Art (2), Photographs, Japanese Prints on November 26th: 69.68% 
Bubb Kuyper. Modern Art: Prints and Drawings (part 1) on November 26th: 69.58% 
Bubb Kuyper. Manuscripts, Old and Rare Books on November 25th: 67.75% 
Bubb Kuyper. Books: Varia, History, Natural History on November 25th: 60.87% 
Bubb Kuyper. Books: Fine Printing, Literature on November 24th: 65.71% 
Bubb Kuyper. Books: Bibliography, Arts, Children's Books on November 24th: 68.02% 
Bolaffi Ambassador Auctions. Rare Books and Autographs on December 16th: 71.34% 
Heritage Auctions. Comics - Internet bidstart 12/13 on December 20th: 100.00% 
Heritage Auctions. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 12/13 on December 20th: 97.97% 
Heritage Auctions. The William E. Fredeman Victoriana Collection Rare Books Internet Auction on December 20th: 95.92% 
Heritage Auctions. Entertainment on December 19th: 99.28% 

The Top 25 Lots Reported This Past Week.
  1. Sothebys The Complete Babylonian Talmud, Printed by Daniel Bomberg in Venice, Comprising tractates from the First (1519/20-1523) and Second (1525-1539) Editions on December 22nd Actual price: USD $9,322,000.
  2. Sothebys Hebrew Bible: Pentateuch with Haftarot and the Five Scrolls, England: 15 Tammuz 4949=2 July 1189 on December 22nd Actual price: USD $3,610,000.
  3. Sothebys Illuminated Hebrew Bible: Psalms, with Commentary by David Kimhi. Scribe: Shem-Tov ben Samuel Barukh [Bologna]: 1401 on December 22nd Actual price: USD $670,000.
  4. Sothebys Arba'ah Turim (Four Rows),  Jacob ben Asher, Soncino: Solomon ben Moses Soncino [1490] on December 22nd Actual price: USD $430,000.
  5. Sothebys An Important Illuminated Haggadah, [Calcutta, India]: 1868 on December 22nd Actual price: USD $418,000.
  6. Sothebys Grace after Meals (Seder Birkat Ha-Mazon), Vienna: 1737 [Scribe-Artist: Ze'ev Wolf Herlingen]<br> on December 22nd Actual price: USD $382,000.
  7. Sothebys Teshuvot She'elot (Responsa), Solomon ibn Adret, Rome: Obadiah, Manasseh and Benjamin [ca. 1469-73] on December 22nd Actual price: USD $346,000.
  8. Sothebys Hebrew Bible: Pentateuch with Masorah and Masoretic and Grammatical Introduction (Hamisha Humshei Torah with Mahberet ha-Tijan). Scribe: Benayah ben Sa'adyah ben Zechariah. Yemen: 1470 on December 22nd Actual price: USD $334,000.
  9. Sothebys SEFER TORAH (PENTATEUCH), MANUSCRIPT SCROLL ON PARCHMENT, ASHKENAZ:  CA.1270 on December 22nd Actual price: USD $310,000.
  10. Sothebys Zedah la-Derekh (Provisions for the Road), Joseph ben Azriel [ Zurich],  Scribe: Yehiel [Zurich: ca. 1426] on December 22nd Actual price: USD $280,000.
  11. Sothebys Perush ha-Torah (Commentary on the Pentateuch), Moses ben Nahman (Nahmanides), Rome: Obadiah, Manasseh and Benjamin of Rome [ca. 1469-73] on December 22nd Actual price: USD $200,000.
  12. Sothebys Decorated Hebrew Bible: (Pentateuch: Shemot-Devarim) Yemen: Early Fifteenth Century on December 22nd Actual price: USD $187,500.
  13. Sothebys The Earliest American Ketubbah (Jewish Marriage Contract), New York: 1751 on December 22nd Actual price: USD $187,500.
  14. Sothebys Samaritan Torah Scroll (Aktaba Kadisha), Land of Israel [ca. 1166, Scribe: Shalmah ben Abraham bar Yosef of Sarepta] on December 22nd Actual price: USD $162,500.
  15. Sothebys Sefer ha-Assufot (Halakhic Miscellany), Ashkenaz: ca. 1307 on December 22nd Actual price: USD $137,500.
  16. Sothebys Mishnayot ‘im Peirush le-ha-Rambam (Mishnah, with the Commentary of Maimonides), Moses ben Maimon (Maimonides), Naples: Joshua Solomon Soncino, 11 Iyar 5252 (8 May 1492) on December 22nd Actual price: USD $125,000.
  17. Sothebys Order of Blessings for Meals…Occasional Blessings…and the Order of Prayers for Women… (Seder Tikun Se'udah…Birkot ha-Nehenin…ve-Seder Nashim…) [Vienna or Dresden?, circa 1725] on December 22nd Actual price: USD $112,500.
  18. Sothebys Register of Internments, Isaac Leeser, Manuscript on Paper, Philadelphia: 1830-1858. Bound with: Sof Adam (The End of Man), Jacob de Meza, Amsterdam: 1827 on December 22nd Actual price: USD $112,500.
  19. Sothebys A Monumental Illuminated Micrographic Manuscript, Levi Van Gelder, [Chicago: ca. 1865] on December 22nd Actual price: USD $100,000.
  20. Sothebys Samaritan Pentateuch (Arhuta Kadishta), Land of Israel: late 14th–early 15th century<br> on December 22nd Actual price: USD $87,500.
  21. Bolaffi Ambassador Auctions Magnifico autografo musicale, 12 pagine in folio, con gli schizzi del più noto dei due quintetti composti da Dvoràk nella stessa tonalità, il Quintetto per pianoforte e archi in la maggiore op. 81 on December 16th Actual price: USD $68,125.
  22. Sothebys Tehillim (Psalms) with Commentary of David Kimhi, Italy [Bologna]: Joseph and Nerijah Hayyim, Mordecai and Hezekiah Montero, 29 August 1477 on December 22nd Actual price: USD $62,500.
  23. Bolaffi Ambassador Auctions [Raccolta di diverse vedute della città di Genova e delle principali sue parti e fabbriche. on December 16th Actual price: USD $61,313.
  24. Bubb Kuyper Toverspiegel. on November 26th Actual price: USD $50,767.
  25. Sothebys A Magnificient Illustrated Esther Scroll, (Prague: ca. 1700) on December 22nd Actual price: USD $43,750.


For the week ahead 5 sales are scheduled:

Thu. Dec. 31st
Tooveys. West Sussex. Prints. 35 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 12/24. 188 lots

Sun. Jan. 3rd
National Book Auctions. Ithaca. Books.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Comics - Internet bidstart 12/27.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 12/27.

Bruce McKinney

RBH and AE

  • 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.