Auction Update Review

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35 Auctions Archived, 30 Upcoming this Week

For the week ended Saturday 19 June 35 auctions were archived to the Rare Book Hub Transaction Database; 11 denominated in euros, 4 in British pounds, 1 in Mexican pesos, and 19 in US dollars.  Turnover was $17,017,707 as 9,640 lots were offered and 7,192 sold for a 75% success rate.  The numbers were solid.


5 auctions saw their total proceeds reach a million dollars:

Sothebys. Fine Books and Manuscripts on June 14th: $2,666,693
Christies. Books and Manuscripts on June 16th: $2,476,001
Ketterer Kunst Doerling. Rare Books on May 24th: $1,889,245
Heritage Auctions. Animation Art on June 12th: $1,462,165
Bonhams. Fine Books and Manuscripts on June 15th: $1,360,229

5 auctions saw total sales exceed 100% of the high estimates of all lots offered:

Waverly Auctions. Books on June 9th: 123.54%
Ketterer Kunst . Post War Art I - Prints on June 11th: 115.53%
Ketterer Kunst . Modern Art I - Prints on June 11th: 114.52%
Skinner. Gentleman's Auction - Online Bidstart 6/3 on June 9th: 101.90%
Stair Auctioneers and Appraisers. Fine Auction - Books and Prints on June 12th: 101.78%


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

Skinner. Gentleman's Auction - Online Bidstart 6/3 on June 9th: 100.00%
Heritage Auctions. A Private Collection of Western Americana: Offered in a Special Internet Auction on June 13th: 99.76%
Heritage Auctions. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 6/5 on June 12th: 99.60%
Heritage Auctions. Comics - Internet bidstart 6/5 on June 12th: 99.59%
Heritage Auctions. Animation Art on June 12th: 99.31%
John McInnis Auctioneers. Americana on May 30th: 97.37%
Stair Auctioneers and Appraisers. Fine Auction - Books and Prints on June 12th: 95.00%
Waverly Auctions. Books on June 9th: 91.83%
Swann Galleries. Art, Press & Illustrated Books on June 14th: 83.33%
25 Blythe Road. Charles Miller Ltd. - Maritime Collectibles on May 10th: 82.22%
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on June 14th: 80.72%

Top 25 Lots Reported This Past Week.
  1. Christies McHENRY, James (1753-1816), Delegate to the Constitutional Convention from Maryland, containing notes taken in Philadelphia at the proceedings of the Convention, 1787. on June 16th Actual price: USD $389,000.
  2. Bonhams Das Kapital. Kritik der politischen Oekonomie... Erster Band on June 15th Actual price: USD $310,270.
  3. Ketterer Kunst Monochrome bleu (IKB 262) on June 11th Actual price: USD $254,250.
  4. Sothebys AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT, TITLE "SECT 7. INSTINCT", BEING THE PAGE NUMBERED "270" FROM THE MANUSCRIPT OF ON THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES BY MEANS OF NATURAL SELECTION. on June 14th Actual price: USD $250,000.
  5. Christies Manuscript journal of a British sailor, with extensive entries dated from 1767 to 1783, on June 16th Actual price: USD $245,000.
  6. Sothebys LA PROSE DU TRANSSIBÉRIEN ET DE LA PETITE JEHANNE DE FRANCE. COULEURS SIMULTANÉES DE MME DELAUNAY-TERK on June 14th Actual price: USD $225,000.
  7. Sothebys A SUPERB ARCHIVE OF DRAWINGS ASSEMBLED BY THE ARTIST'S SON JEREMY. on June 14th Actual price: USD $187,500.
  8. Christies Nova Totius Terrarum Orbis Tabula. on June 16th Actual price: USD $185,000.
  9. Christies The Great West Illustrated in a Series of Photographic Views Across the Continent; Taken Along the Line of the Union Pacific Railroad, West from Omaha, Nebraska. on June 16th Actual price: USD $161,000.
  10. Christies March 4, 1865 [caption title]. on June 16th Actual price: USD $149,000.
  11. Ketterer Kunst 25 Cats name[d] Sam and one Blue Pussy on June 11th Actual price: USD $141,250.
  12. Cowans Auctions The Confederate Blockade Runner <i>CSS Colonel Lamb</i> at Sea, 1864, by Samuel Walters  on June 10th Actual price: USD $126,000.
  13. Sothebys LEAVES OF GRASS. on June 14th Actual price: USD $125,000.
  14. Christies On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life. on June 16th Actual price: USD $118,750.
  15. Sothebys THE CONSTITUTION OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA: MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA. BY SHORTER & REID(?) FOR THE PROVISIONAL CONGRESS, CA. 26–28 FEBRUARY 1861] — THE CONSTITUTION OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA on June 14th Actual price: USD $112,500.
  16. Cowans Auctions Brevet Brigadier General James H. Kidd, 6th Michigan Cavalry, Exceptional Collection Featuring <i>Custer</i> 14K Gold Tiffany Badge, GAR Medals, Sword, & Painted Escutcheon  on June 10th Actual price: USD $102,000.
  17. Christies A general Map of the Middle British Colonies in America. on June 16th Actual price: USD $100,000.
  18. Ketterer Kunst Doerling Die Siegel des Obezvelvolpal (russ.). Les Sceaux. on May 24th Actual price: USD $97,632.
  19. Ketterer Kunst Sweet Dreams Baby! on June 11th Actual price: USD $96,050.
  20. Christies Lolita. on June 16th Actual price: USD $93,750.
  21. Christies An important archive containing 19 autograph letters, 11 typed letters, 2 autograph card, and 2 printed e-mails from Francis Crick to Georg Kreisel, mathematician and internationally known expert on the foundations of logic and mathematics. on June 16th Actual price: USD $87,500.
  22. Arader Galleries Audubon Aquatint by Havell, Wild Turkey, Male on June 11th Actual price: USD $87,500.
  23. Ketterer Kunst Doerling The vegetable system. Or, the internal structure and the life of herbs; on May 24th Actual price: USD $84,072.
  24. Bonhams Autograph manuscript, in English, headed "The Question stated about abstaining from blood" on June 15th Actual price: USD $83,425.
  25. Sothebys UNIVERSALE DESCRITTIONE DI TUTTA LA TERRA CONOSCIUTA FIN QUI. on June 14th Actual price: USD $81,250.


The 35 auctions reported this week:

Tooveys. Prints on June 15th: 50.00%
PBA Galleries. Fine Americana - Travel - Cartography on June 16th: 64.84%
Bloomsbury Auctions. Bibliophile on June 16th: 74.43%
Christies. Books and Manuscripts on June 16th: 74.83%
Morton Subastas. Books and Documents on June 15th: 17.84%
Bonhams. Fine Books and Manuscripts on June 15th: 75.24%
Dorotheum . Modern and Contemporary Prints on June 14th: 46.43%
Sothebys. Fine Books and Manuscripts on June 14th: 71.48%
Swann Galleries. Art, Press & Illustrated Books on June 14th: 83.33%
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on June 14th: 80.72%
John McInnis Auctioneers. Americana on May 30th: 97.37%
Tajan. Ancient and Modern Prints on June 7th: 57.23%
Dorotheum . Art Photography on June 13th: 46.60%
Bonhams. TCM PRESENTS ... ANIMATION ART INCLUDING THE COLLECTION OF TED AND DAWN HOPKINS on June 13th: 78.33%
Heritage Auctions. A Private Collection of Western Americana: Offered in a Special Internet Auction on June 13th: 99.76%
Heritage Auctions. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 6/5 on June 12th: 99.60%
Ketterer Kunst . Contemporary Art - Prints on June 11th: 20.00%
Ketterer Kunst . Post War Art I - Prints on June 11th: 70.00%
Ketterer Kunst . Modern Art I - Prints on June 11th: 76.47%
Ketterer Kunst . Post-War II - Prints on June 10th: 62.03%
Ketterer Kunst . Modern Art II - Prints on June 9th: 68.75%
25 Blythe Road. Charles Miller Ltd. - Maritime Collectibles on May 10th: 82.22%
Bubb Kuyper. Old & Rare Books (part 2) on May 25th: 62.34%
Ketterer Kunst Doerling. Rare Books on May 24th: 66.11%
Waverly Auctions. Books on June 9th: 91.83%
Skinner. Historic Maritime - Online bidstart 6/1 on June 9th: 39.16%
Skinner. Gentleman's Auction - Online Bidstart 6/3 on June 9th: 100.00%
Stair Auctioneers and Appraisers. Fine Auction - Books and Prints on June 12th: 95.00%
Potomack Company. Books, Prints on June 11th: 70.00%
Arader Galleries. Summer Auction on June 11th: 77.29%
Michaans Auctions. June Estate Auction on June 11th: 46.81%
Auctionata. Post War and Contemporary - Prints on June 10th: 23.97%
Heritage Auctions. Comics - Internet bidstart 6/5 on June 12th: 99.59%
Heritage Auctions. Animation Art on June 12th: 99.31%
Heritage Auctions. Legends of the West on June 11th: 72.83%

For the week ahead 30 sales are scheduled: 

Mon. Jun. 20th 
Dorotheum . Vienna. Imperial Court Memorabilia and Historical Objects. 65 lots 

Tue. Jun. 21st 
Stockholms Auktionsverk. Stockholm. Rare Books, Maps and Manuscripts. 314 lots 
Swann Galleries. New York. Printed and Manuscript Americana. 397 lots 
Henri Godts Books and Prints Auctions. Bruxelles . Antiquarian Books. 540 lots 
Sothebys. London. Impressionist and Modern Art Evening Sale. 1 lots 

Wed. Jun. 22nd 
Aguttes. Neuilly-sur-Seine . Books and Old Paper. 300 lots 
Bonhams. London. Prints and Multiples. 148 lots 
Dorotheum . Vienna. Autographs. 399 lots 
Old World Auctions. Glen Allen. Antique Maps, Globes, Charts, Atlases & Vintage Graphics - online bidstart 6/15. 471 lots 
Philobiblon Auctions. Rome. RARE AND ANCIENT BOOKS, INCLUDING AN IMPORTANT COLLECTION OF ALDINE EDITIONS AND RENAISSANCE BINDIN. 284 lots 
Ader. PARIS. Letters and Autograph Manuscripts. 299 lots 
Kedem Auction. Jerusalem . Israeli Culture of the 60's, 70's, and 80's. 219 lots 
Sothebys. London. Impressionist and Modern Art Day Sale. 1 lots 

Thu. Jun. 23rd 
Pandolfini. Florence . Prints and Drawings from the 16th to the 20th Century - Books. 242 lots 
Eldreds. East Dennis,. Fine and Decorative Arts - Prints. 59 lots 
RR Auction. Amherst. Pop Culture - Internet Bidstart 6/15. 482 lots 
Kestenbaum and Company. New York. Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts, Holy Land Maps and Ceremonial Objects. 304 lots 
Adams Amsterdam Auctions. Amsterdam. Fine Art - Modern and Contemporary Art - Prints, Photos, Books. 132 lots 
Sothebys. Hong Kong. Boundless: Contemporary Art. 13 lots 
Ader. PARIS. Letters and Autograph Manuscripts - Day 2. 285 lots 

Fri. Jun. 24th 
Kiefer Buch und Kunstauktionen. 75172 Pforzheim. Books, Graphics modern and ancient Arts, Antiques. 4086 lots 
Heritage Auctions. Beverly Hills. Entertainment & Music Memorabilia Signature Auction. 901 lots 
Auctionata. New York. That's Entertainment! - A Collection of Original Scripts, Ephemera & Memorabilia. 110 lots 

Sat. Jun. 25th 
Koller Auctions. Zurich. Prints, Multiples and Photography. 161 lots 
OSENAT. FONTAINEBLEAU. 20th Century Spirit. 4 lots 
Potter and Potter Auctions. Chicago. The Golden Age of Magic Posters - The Nielsen Collection - Part 1. 324 lots 
Kolbe and Fanning Numismatic Booksellers. Gahanna. Numismatic Books. 379 lots 

Sun. Jun. 26th 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Comics - Internet bidstart 6/19. 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 6/19. 
National Book Auctions. Ithaca. Books. 

 

Bruce McKinney

RBH and AE

 

  • 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
  • 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.