Auction Update Review

Sotheby's: Two Centuries of
American History.
Thirty-seven Auctions Archived, 40 Sales Upcoming
For the week ended Saturday May 21st 37 auctions were archived to the Rare Book Hub Transaction Database; 10 denominated in euros, 11 in British pounds, and 16 in US dollars. Turnover was a robust $19,667,881 as 10,516 lots were offered and 8,294 sold for a 79% success rate. It was a very strong week.
6 auctions saw their total proceeds reach a million dollars:
Heritage Auctions. Comics on May 13th: $6,557,066
Christies. Photographs on May 20th: $2,425,608
Sothebys. Photographs on May 19th: $2,076,668
Sothebys. Comic Strips on May 14th: $1,514,697
Zisska and Lacher. Rare Books and Prints on May 13th: $1,141,832
Christies. Prints and Multiples on May 19th: $1,115,087
5 auctions saw total sales exceed 100% of the high estimates of all lots offered in the sale:
Pierre Berge and Associes. Michel Auchiard Sale - Part 2: Books on May 13th: 240.26%
Woolley and Wallis. Asian Art - Books and Prints on May 18th: 158.60%
Pierre Berge and Associes. Michel Auchiard Sale - Part 1: Books on May 12th: 138.65%
ALDE. Autograph Letters and Manuscripts on May 19th: 115.45%
Tooveys. Ephemera on May 17th: 100.34%
16 sales saw at least 80% of their lots sell:
National Book Auctions. Books, Art and Ephemera - Maps, Egypt, Paintings, West, etc. on May 15th: 100.00%
Woolley and Wallis. Asian Art - Books and Prints on May 18th: 100.00%
Northeast Auctions. Portsmouth Sunday Auction - Prints on May 15th: 100.00%
Heritage Auctions. Comics - Internet bidstart 5/8 on May 15th: 99.21%
Heritage Auctions. Comics on May 13th: 98.46%
Heritage Auctions. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 5/8 on May 15th: 97.14%
Central Mass Auctions. Online Estates Auction on May 18th: 96.67%
Tooveys. Ephemera on May 17th: 94.48%
Heritage Auctions. Americana, Political on May 14th: 94.04%
Heritage Auctions. Red Dot Auction Benefitting the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity on May 13th: 90.07%
PBA Galleries. Rare Cartography, Exploration & Voyages: The Warren Heckrotte Collection, Part IV - The Reference Li on May 19th: 89.66%
Tooveys. Prints on May 18th: 88.24%
Pierre Berge and Associes. Michel Auchiard Sale - Part 2: Books on May 13th: 83.33%
Bonhams. Instruments of Science - Globes on May 18th: 83.33%
Bruun Rasmussen. Books and Manuscripts on May 17th: 80.28%
Swann Galleries. 19th and 20th Century Literature on May 18th: 80.10%
37 total sales reported this week:
Bloomsbury Auctions. Fine Photographs on May 20th: 32.14%
Christies. Photographs on May 20th: 65.96%
ALDE. Autograph Letters and Manuscripts on May 19th: 68.73%
Sothebys. Photographs on May 19th: 59.70%
RR Auction. Auction Title: RR Auction: Marvels of Modern Music - Internet bidstart 5/12 on May 19th: 64.67%
PBA Galleries. Rare Cartography, Exploration & Voyages: The Warren Heckrotte Collection, Part IV - The Reference Li on May 19th: 89.66%
Christies. Prints and Multiples on May 19th: 75.00%
Auctionata. Portraits: Character Studies of Different Epochs on May 19th: 6.90%
Bearnes Hampton and Littlewood. 2-Day Sporting and Collectible Auction on May 18th: 69.80%
Tooveys. Prints on May 18th: 88.24%
Woolley and Wallis. Asian Art - Books and Prints on May 18th: 100.00%
Bonhams. Instruments of Science - Globes on May 18th: 83.33%
Paige Auction. The Joy of Collecting on May 17th: 60.98%
Guernseys. Forever Ellington on May 18th: 68.13%
Bonhams. The Sporting Sale on May 18th: 71.08%
Swann Galleries. 19th and 20th Century Literature on May 18th: 80.10%
Central Mass Auctions. Online Estates Auction on May 18th: 96.67%
Bruun Rasmussen. Books and Manuscripts on May 17th: 80.28%
Tooveys. Ephemera on May 17th: 94.48%
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on May 17th: 75.71%
National Book Auctions. Books, Art and Ephemera - Maps, Egypt, Paintings, West, etc. on May 15th: 100.00%
Northeast Auctions. Portsmouth Sunday Auction - Prints on May 15th: 100.00%
Pierre Berge and Associes. Michel Auchiard Sale - Part 2: Books on May 13th: 83.33%
Pierre Berge and Associes. Michel Auchiard Sale - Part 1: Books on May 12th: 76.19%
Sothebys. Comic Strips on May 14th: 55.97%
Bolaffi Ambassador Auctions. Photography on May 17th: 50.00%
Bloomsbury Auctions. Asian Art - Books and Prints on May 17th: 34.48%
Auctionata. Fine Books including Rare Bindings & Association Copies on May 17th: 23.08%
Neret Minet and Tessier. Books on May 13th: 51.84%
Holabird Kagin Americana. Reports and Correspondence on May 14th: 78.92%
Heritage Auctions. Red Dot Auction Benefitting the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity on May 13th: 90.07%
Zisska and Lacher. Rare Books and Prints on May 13th: 70.82%
Winter Associates. Americana, etc. Books and Prints on May 16th: 62.07%
Heritage Auctions. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 5/8 on May 15th: 97.14%
Heritage Auctions. Comics - Internet bidstart 5/8 on May 15th: 99.21%
Heritage Auctions. Americana, Political on May 14th: 94.04%
Heritage Auctions. Comics on May 13th: 98.46%
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Forty sales are scheduled during the week ahead:
Mon. May. 23rd
Ketterer Kunst Doerling. Hamburg. Rare Books. 1198 lots
Australian Book Auctions. Armadale, . May Gallery Sale. 362 lots
Bruun Rasmussen. Copenhagen. Prints. 90 lots
Tue. May. 24th
ALDE. Paris. 2006-2016 Alde 10th Anniversary! - Books, Manuscripts, Coins. 74 lots
Beaussant Lefevre. Paris. Old and Modern Books, Autographs and Photographs. 221 lots
Bubb Kuyper. 2011 KM Haarlem. Books: Arts, Avantgarde Typography, Children's Books. 1099 lots
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. Chicago. Fine Prints. 298 lots
PIASA. Paris. Editions : prints, illustrated books, multiples. 184 lots
Sothebys. London. Music, Continental and Russian Books and Manuscripts. 165 lots
Jacksons Auction. Cedar Falls, Iowa . World Treasures: Important Russian, European, Asian & American Works. 31 lots
Bubb Kuyper. 2011 KM Haarlem. Books: Fine Printing, Literature. 711 lots
PIASA. Paris. HERGÉ, in partnership with Moulinsart SA. 178 lots
Quagga Rare Books and Art. Stellenbosch. Medals and Stamps of South Africa and the Anglo-Boer War. 24 lots
Alexander Historical Auctions. Chesapeake City. Autographs - Day 1. 1181 lots
Kedem Auction. Jerusalem . Online- Rare Books, Bibliophilic Editions, and Art.
Wed. May. 25th
Ader. PARIS. Historical Memories. 9 lots
Christies. London - King Street. Illustrated Manuscripts from the Collection of Maurice Burros. 39 lots
Jacksons Auction. Cedar Falls, Iowa . World Treasures: Important Russian, European, Asian & American Works. 14 lots
Bloomsbury Auctions. London. Fine Books and Works on Paper. 168 lots
Pierre Berge and Associes. Paris. Archeologie - Books. 8 lots
Purcell Auctioneers. Birr. Antiques and Collectables -Books and Prints. 118 lots
Christies. London - King Street. Shakespeare - The Four Folios. 4 lots
Bubb Kuyper. 2011 KM Haarlem. Books: (Natural) history, Manuscripts, Old & Rare (part 1). 915 lots
Bubb Kuyper. 2011 KM Haarlem. Old & Rare Books (part 2). 624 lots
Alaska Auction. Anchorage. Books, Prints. 21 lots
Sothebys. New York. Two Centuries of American History.
Thu. May. 26th
Swann Galleries. New York. Maps and Atlases, Natural History and Color Plate Books. 399 lots
Galerie Bassenge. Berlin-Grunewald . Art - Prints. 824 lots
Skinner. Boston. Fine Books and Manuscripts - Internet bidstart 5/18. 349 lots
Keys Fine Arts Auctioneers. Norwich. Marine and Travel - Books. 64 lots
Bubb Kuyper. 2011 KM Haarlem. Modern Art: Prints and Drawings, Ex Libris. 1202 lots
Bubb Kuyper. 2011 KM Haarlem. Photographs, Drawings, Japanese Prints. 617 lots
Fri. May. 27th
Jeschke van vliet Buch und Kunstauktionen GmbH. Berlin-Schoneberg. Rare Books, Prints and Historical Photographs. 1282 lots
Auctionata. New York. Icons of Animation and Illustration. 70 lots
Bubb Kuyper. 2011 KM Haarlem. Old Master Prints, Maps & Plans. 1152 lots
Sat. May. 28th
Aspire Auctions. Cleveland. Fine Art - Prints -Internet bidstart: 5/20. 4 lots
Alaska Auction. Anchorage. Prints, Books. 12 lots
Sun. May. 29th
OSENAT. FONTAINEBLEAU. Works of Art - Prints. 4 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Comics - Internet bidstart 5/22.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 5/22.
Bruce McKinney
RBH and AE
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Forum
Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
Thursday 19th NovemberForum, 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 - £50,000Forum, Nov. 19: Crescenzi (Bartolomeo). Nautica mediterranea, 2 parts in 1, second edition, with rare engraved folding map, Rome, Bartolomeo Bonfadino, 1607. £15,000 - £20,000Forum, Nov. 19: Aristotle. [The Works], 10 vol.,, translated by Thomas Taylor, Printed for the Translator... by Robert Wilks, 1807-12. £6,000-8,000Forum
Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
Thursday 19th NovemberForum, 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]. £6,000-8,000Forum, Nov. 19: Vitruvius Pollio (Marcus). I Dieci Libri dell'Architettura, translated by Daniele Barbaro, Venice, Francesco Marcolini, 1556. £7,000-10,000Forum, Nov. 19: Rowling (J.K.) Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, first edition, hardback issue, first printing, Bloomsbury, 1997. £50,000-70,000Forum
Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
Thursday 19th NovemberForum, 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. £15,000-20,000Forum, 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). £35,000-45,000Forum, 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. £15,000-20,000Forum
Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
Thursday 19th NovemberForum, Nov. 19: Gersdorff (Hans von). Feldtbuch der Wund-Arzney, enlarged edition, Strassburg, Hans Schotten, 1540. £20,000-30,000Forum, 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. £8,000-12,000Forum, 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 -
Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 41. Rare First State of the First Printed Map Devoted to the Arctic (1595) Est. $14,000 - $17,000Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 63. The Largest of the Strada "Leo Belgicus" Editions (1632) Est. $3,250 - $4,000Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 71. Blaeu's Stunning Carte-a-Figures Map of the Americas (1640) Est. $4,000 - $4,750Old 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 - $6,000Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 172. 1775 Edition of the Landmark Fry-Jefferson Map of Virginia and Maryland (1775) Est. $12,000 - $15,000Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 46. Doppelmayr's Fine Celestial Chart (1742) Est. $800 - $950Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 212. First Edition Ski Country Map by Pioneer Hal Shelton (1965) Est. $500 - $700Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 732. Ruscelli's Complete Atlas with 69 Maps and Updated Maps of the Continents (1599) Est. $8,000 - $9,500Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 329. Ortelius' Map of Iceland Surrounded by Sea Monsters (1585) Est. $11,000 - $13,000Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 600. Heinrich Bunting's Rare Map of Asia in the Form of a Pegasus (1581) Est. $3,000 - $3,750Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 716. Bible Leaf with Hand-Colored Image of the Adoration of the Magi (1490) Est. $2,000 - $2,300
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Ketterer Rare Books
Auction November 23Ketterer, Nov. 23: L. Feininger, Collection of autograph letters to Alois J. Schardt, 1920-1955. Est: € 150,000-250,000Ketterer, Nov. 23: Flemish book of hours, Ghent-Bruges School around 1480-1500. Est: € 40,000Ketterer, Nov. 23: F. de Wit, Atlas maior, um 1700. Est: € 50,000Ketterer Rare Books
Auction November 23Ketterer, Nov. 23: A. Stieglitz, Camera Work, 48 volumes, 1903-1914. Est: € 60,000Ketterer, Nov. 23: M. Merian & M. Zeiller, Sämtliche Topographien, 21 volumes, 1642-1736. Est: € 50,000Ketterer, Nov. 23: R. Indiana and R. Creely, Numbers, 1968. Est: € 4,000Ketterer Rare Books
Auction November 23Ketterer, Nov. 23: Salerno Breviarium, Latin manuscript on vellum, North Italy around 1470-1476. Est: € 40,000Ketterer, Nov. 23: M. S. Merian, Surinaamsche (&) europische Insecten, 1730. Est: € 30,000Ketterer, Nov. 23: M. Beckmann, Jahrmarkt, Portfolio of 10 signed etchings, 1922. Est: € 25,000Ketterer Rare Books
Auction November 23Ketterer, Nov. 23: Justinianus, Infortiatum, 1475. Est: € 10,000Ketterer, Nov. 23: B. Besler, Hortus Eystettensis, um 1750. Est: € 28,000Ketterer, 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.
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Sotheby’s
Nelson, His Life and His Navy:
The Clive Richards Collection of Letters and Manuscripts
November 18, 2026Sotheby’s
Nelson, His Life and His Navy:
The Clive Richards Collection of Letters and Manuscripts
November 18, 2026Sotheby’s
Nelson, His Life and His Navy:
The Clive Richards Collection of Letters and Manuscripts
November 18, 2026

