• 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
PreviousNext

Auction Update Review

Sotheby's Paris April 27.
Click image for more info.

AUCTIONATA April 28. Click
image for more info.

Thirty Auctions Archived, 36 Upcoming this Week

For the week ended Saturday April 16th 30 auctions were archived to the Rare Book Hub database; 1 in Australian dollars, 13 in euros, and 16 in US dollars.  Turnover was $8,570,865 as 6,394 lots were offered and 5,253 sold for an 82% success rate.  It was another strong week.

3 auctions saw their total proceeds reach a million dollars: 

JA Stargardt Autographenhandlung. Autographs - Day 1 on April 5th: $1,445,423 
Kestenbaum and Company. Fine Judaica on April 7th: $1,142,178 
Doyle New York. Rare Books, Manuscripts and Photographs on April 13th: $1,004,838 

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

OSENAT. Spirit of the 20th Century - Prints on March 26th: 175.71% 
JA Stargardt Autographenhandlung. Autographs - Day 2 on April 6th: 141.21% 
JA Stargardt Autographenhandlung. Autographs - Day 1 on April 5th: 139.41% 
Swann Galleries. Early Printed, Medical, Scientific and Travel Books on April 12th: 127.10% 
ALDE. Original Editions, Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries on April 8th: 121.35% 
OSENAT. Automobilia on January 30th: 105.30% 

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

Aspire Auctions. Fine Art - Prints - Internet Bidstart 4/1 on April 9th: 100.00% 
Heritage Auctions. Comics - Internet bidstart 4/3 on April 10th: 99.86% 
Heritage Auctions. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 4/3 on April 10th: 97.65% 
Heritage Auctions. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 4/7 on April 14th: 96.74% 
Potter and Potter Auctions. Houdiniana on April 9th: 94.85% 
Swann Galleries. Early Printed, Medical, Scientific and Travel Books on April 12th: 93.46% 
Artcurial. Aeronautics on April 10th: 87.50% 
JA Stargardt Autographenhandlung. Autographs - Day 1 on April 5th: 84.49% 
ALDE. Original Editions, Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries on April 8th: 83.55% 
Grays Auctioneers. Fine Art - Prints on April 6th: 83.33% 
Doyle New York. Rare Books, Manuscripts and Photographs on April 13th: 81.98% 
OSENAT. Spirit of the 20th Century - Prints on March 26th: 81.82% 

30 total sales reported this week: 

Heritage Auctions. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 4/7 on April 14th: 96.74% 
Australian Book Auctions. The Collection of Ralph Renard Esq. Pacific and Australian Voyages, Travels, and Description, Privat on April 11th: 70.62% 
Charlton Hall. International Sale on April 7th: 78.33% 
Potter and Potter Auctions. Houdiniana on April 9th: 94.85% 
Doyle New York. Rare Books, Manuscripts and Photographs on April 13th: 81.98% 
Swann Galleries. Early Printed, Medical, Scientific and Travel Books on April 12th: 93.46% 
Bruun Rasmussen. Photographs on April 12th: 66.32% 
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on April 12th: 72.97% 
Auctionata. German Post-War Art: Prints on April 8th: 53.80% 
Auctionata. Art of the 20th Century - Prints on April 8th: 58.79% 
Potomack Company. Print, Photographs, Manuscripts, Books on April 9th: 73.68% 
Ader. Antiquarian and Modern Books on April 7th: 56.12% 
Grays Auctioneers. Fine Art - Prints on April 6th: 83.33% 
Rossini. Prints on April 5th: 60.00% 
OSENAT. Spirit of the 20th Century - Prints on March 26th: 81.82% 
OSENAT. Automobilia on January 30th: 69.23% 
OSENAT. Empire at Fontainebleau on April 10th: 59.76% 
Michaans Auctions. April Estate Auction on April 9th: 55.56% 
Aspire Auctions. Fine Art - Prints - Internet Bidstart 4/1 on April 9th: 100.00% 
Artcurial. Aeronautics on April 10th: 87.50% 
Bonhams. Treasures from the Caren Archive on April 11th: 61.16% 
Bonhams. Fine Literature on April 11th: 57.14% 
ALDE. Original Editions, Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries on April 8th: 83.55% 
Eldreds. Autographs in Americana, and Maritime - Books and Prints on April 9th: 59.18% 
JA Stargardt Autographenhandlung. Autographs - Day 2 on April 6th: 78.33% 
JA Stargardt Autographenhandlung. Autographs - Day 1 on April 5th: 84.49% 
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. Palm Beach Spring Auction - Prints on April 8th: 75.00% 
Heritage Auctions. Comics - Internet bidstart 4/3 on April 10th: 99.86% 
Heritage Auctions. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 4/3 on April 10th: 97.65% 
Kestenbaum and Company. Fine Judaica on April 7th: 70.49% 

For the week ahead 36 auctions in the rare books, manuscripts, maps and ephemera fields are scheduled.

The Top 25 Lots Reported This Past Week.
  1. Bonhams Autograph Manuscript Signed ("A Conan Doyle"), entitled "The Problem of Thor's Bridge" and "Continuation of 'The Problem of Thor's Bridge'," on April 11th Actual price: USD $269,000.
  2. Bonhams Major George Washington's Journal to the River Ohio, &c. [and] The Conclusion of Major Washington's Journal, begun in our last. In: The Maryland Gazette. Nos 463-464. on April 11th Actual price: USD $173,000.
  3. Kestenbaum and Company (The “Chasam Sofer,” 1762-1839). Tephilah LeMoshe [poetry]. Including additional poems in the hand of his son, R. Shimon Sofer (the “Michtav Sofer,” 1820-83). on April 7th Actual price: USD $172,200.
  4. Bonhams The Holy Bible. on April 11th Actual price: USD $161,000.
  5. Bonhams Autograph and Typed Manuscript Signed ("H.G. Wells"), being chapters 12-25 of the novel When the Sleeper Wakes on April 11th Actual price: USD $143,000.
  6. Bonhams Autograph Manuscript, being working drafts of the play "The New Magdalen. A Dramatic Story in Three Acts," on April 11th Actual price: USD $100,000.
  7. JA Stargardt Autographenhandlung Eigenh. Schriftstück. on April 5th Actual price: USD $92,568.
  8. Bonhams Autograph Manuscript Signed ("T. Gray"), on April 11th Actual price: USD $81,250.
  9. Bonhams Autograph Manuscript Signed ("Boris Pasternak" in Cyrillic) and Inscribed, being a draft of chapters 3 and 4 of vol 1 part IV of Dr. Zhivago on April 11th Actual price: USD $77,500.
  10. Doyle New York The Origin Of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life. on April 13th Actual price: USD $75,000.
  11. Kestenbaum and Company Piskei Beth Din [Halachic responsa issued by the rabbis of Fez] on April 7th Actual price: USD $71,340.
  12. Bonhams An archive of approximately 8,000 Autograph Letters Signed and Notes Signed, approximately 3,500 to the Countess Waldegrave, and approximately 4,500 to Lord Carlingford, on April 11th Actual price: USD $56,250.
  13. JA Stargardt Autographenhandlung Über 100 S. verschiedener Formate. Einige Briefe mitSiegel(spur) und Adresse. on April 5th Actual price: USD $52,896.
  14. Potter and Potter Auctions Robert-Houdin Glass Column Mystery Clock. on April 9th Actual price: USD $50,400.
  15. Potter and Potter Auctions Massive Scrapbook Compiled by Houdini Of His Own Publicity and Press Clippings. on April 9th Actual price: USD $50,400.
  16. Doyle New York Group of approximately thirteen framed photographs by George Grosz, on April 13th Actual price: USD $50,000.
  17. JA Stargardt Autographenhandlung 26 Autographen: 22 E. Br. m. U., 1 Br. m. U. und 3 e.<br>Ansichtskarten m. U. on April 5th Actual price: USD $47,606.
  18. Doyle New York Exceptional group of approximately forty letters by Grosz, both typed and hand-written, many with extensive illustrations and other personalized touches, drawn by Grosz, almost all addressed to his dealer and patron, Erich Cohn, on April 13th Actual price: USD $46,875.
  19. JA Stargardt Autographenhandlung Eigenh. Musikmanuskript mit Initialen auf der Titelseite. on April 5th Actual price: USD $46,284.
  20. JA Stargardt Autographenhandlung Eigenh. Gedichtmanuskript mit Namenszug im Titel. on April 5th Actual price: USD $44,962.
  21. Bonhams Autograph Manuscript Signed ("W. Harrison Ainsworth"), entitled "True Account of Jack Sheppard the Housebreaker...," on April 11th Actual price: USD $43,750.
  22. Kestenbaum and Company (Responsa). on April 7th Actual price: USD $43,050.
  23. Kestenbaum and Company Tractate Shabbath. on April 7th Actual price: USD $41,820.
  24. JA Stargardt Autographenhandlung Eigenh. Musikmanuskript on April 5th Actual price: USD $39,672.
  25. JA Stargardt Autographenhandlung Eigenh. Musikmanuskript mit Widmung u. U. ''zu freundlichem Andenken / Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy''. on April 5th Actual price: USD $39,672.


For the week ahead 36 sales are scheduled:

Mon. Apr. 18th
Profiles in History. Calabasas Hills. Historical Auction. 191 lots
Tooveys. West Sussex. Antiquarian and Collectors Books. 335 lots
Winter Associates. Plainville, CT . Continental - Prints and Books. 31 lots
Peter Arnold. Prahran VIC . Rare Books, Australiana. 334 lots
Keys Fine Arts Auctioneers. Norwich. Antiques and Interiors - Books and Pictures. 13 lots
Bruun Rasmussen. Copenhagen. Prints. 93 lots

Tue. Apr. 19th
Swann Galleries. New York. Images and Objects: Photographs and Photobooks. 321 lots
Bonhams. Los Angeles. Prints and Multiples. 315 lots
Sothebys. London. The Library of Mohammed and Margaret Makiya. 296 lots
Bloomsbury Auctions. London. Interiors - Prints. 17 lots
Bearnes Hampton and Littlewood. Exeter. Two Day Fine Art Sale - Prints. 24 lots

Wed. Apr. 20th
Sothebys. New York. Prints. 259 lots
Tooveys. West Sussex. Prints and Maps. 271 lots
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. Chicago. Books and Prints. 12 lots
Sothebys. London. Arts of the Islamic World. 77 lots

Thu. Apr. 21st
AntiquarianAuctions.com. Cape Town. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 4/14. 355 lots
PBA Galleries. San Francisco. Fine Literature. 514 lots
Galerie Bassenge. Berlin-Grunewald . Geography. 252 lots
Sothebys. London. Alchemy: Objects of Desire. 65 lots
Bloomsbury Auctions. London. Books and Works on Paper. 206 lots
Christies. London -South Kensington. Travel, Science and Natural History. 129 lots
RR Auction. Amherst. Space and Aviation - Internet bidstart 4/14. 672 lots
Galerie Bassenge. Berlin-Grunewald . Miscellanea. 288 lots
Galerie Bassenge. Berlin-Grunewald . Manuscripts, Incunable, Theology. 211 lots

Fri. Apr. 22nd
ALDE. Paris. An Amateur Collection - Part 1. 204 lots
Christies. Paris. Books and Manuscripts. 220 lots
Alaska Auction. Anchorage. Books, Prints. 58 lots
Galerie Bassenge. Berlin-Grunewald . Literature (17th - 19th Century). 312 lots
Galerie Bassenge. Berlin-Grunewald . Autographs. 222 lots

Sat. Apr. 23rd
ALDE. Paris. An Amateur Collection - Part 2. 236 lots
Alaska Auction. Anchorage. Books, Prints. 49 lots
Galerie Bassenge. Berlin-Grunewald . Exile Collection Rudiger Harms. 525 lots
Galerie Bassenge. Berlin-Grunewald . Modern Literature A-Z. 468 lots
Mid Hudson Auction Galleries. Cornwall-on-Hudson, . Antiques and Fine Art - Books and Prints. 37 lots

Sun. Apr. 24th
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Comics - Internet bidstart 4/17.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 4/17.

Bruce McKinney

RBH and AE

 

 

  • 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