Auction Update Review

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41 Auctions Archived, 44 Upcoming this Week

For the week ended Saturday, December 3rd, 41 sales were archived to the Rare Book Hub Transaction Database; 14 denominated in euros, 9 in British pounds, 1 in Mexican pesos, and 17 in US dollars. Turnover was $21,104,678 as 11,093 lots were offered and 7,470 sold for a 67% success rate.

4 auctions saw their total proceeds reach a million dollars: 

Sothebys. Music and Continental Books and Manuscripts on November 29th: $7,392,896 
Christies. Valuable Printed Books and Manuscripts on December 1st: $3,276,094 
Christies. Giancarlo Bettrame Library of Science Books, Part 2 on November 30th: $1,182,350 
Ketterer Kunst Doerling. Rare Books Day 2 on November 22nd: $1,038,995 

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

Neret Minet and Tessier. Comic Strips on November 26th: 170.54% 
Christian Hesse Auktionen. Rare Books - Day 1 on November 18th: 143.89% 
Ketterer Kunst Doerling. Rare Books - Evening Sale on November 21st: 128.41% 
OSENAT. Empire at Fontainebleau on November 19th: 113.40% 
Rago Arts and Auctions. Adriana Williams Collection - Fine Art Prints on November 5th: 104.78% 


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

Dirk Soulis Auctions. Thanksgiving Weekend Sale - Prints on November 25th: 100.00% 
Alaska Auction. Prints on November 19th: 100.00% 
Heritage Auctions. Comics - Internet bidstart 11/20 on November 27th: 99.77% 
Heritage Auctions. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 11/20 on November 27th: 95.23% 
Forum Auctions. Important Books, Western Manuscripts and Works on Paper - Day 2 on November 16th: 91.77% 
Stair Auctioneers and Appraisers. Fine Prints and Photographs on November 18th: 90.91% 
Rago Arts and Auctions. 19th and 20th Century Art - Prints on November 5th: 88.89% 
Christian Hesse Auktionen. Rare Books - Day 1 on November 18th: 86.29% 
Ketterer Kunst Doerling. Rare Books - Evening Sale on November 21st: 84.25% 
Swann Galleries. Art, Press & Illustrated Books on December 1st: 83.20% 
Neret Minet and Tessier. Comic Strips on November 26th: 82.30% 
Grays Auctioneers. The Chicago World's Fair, Columbian Exposition 1893 - Prints, Books on November 21st: 82.00% 
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on November 29th: 80.36% 
 
 
Top 25 Lots Reported This Past Week.
  1. Sothebys THE AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT OF THE SECOND SYMPHONY ("THE RESURRECTION"), THE COMPLETE WORK IN FIVE MOVEMENTS on November 29th Actual price: USD $5,682,813.
  2. Christies LITERATURE OF THE HEROIC AGE on December 1st Actual price: USD $846,250.
  3. Sothebys AUTOGRAPH WORKING MANUSCRIPT OF THE OPENING OF THE FIRST BALLADE IN G MINOR OP.23 on November 29th Actual price: USD $250,000.
  4. Sothebys THE ORIGINAL AUTOGRAPH COMPOSITION DRAFT OF THE CHORUS "AUFERSTEH’N!" [RESURRECTION CHORALE], FROM THE FINALE OF THE SECOND SYMPHONY IN C MINOR on November 29th Actual price: USD $234,375.
  5. Romantic Agony Book and Print Auctions Graduale on November 26th Actual price: USD $212,000.
  6. Christies [Lunar Planispheres. on December 1st Actual price: USD $156,250.
  7. Christies Etymologiae on December 1st Actual price: USD $140,625.
  8. Forum Auctions Viaggio in Oriente, Florence, autograph manuscript, 1385-92. on November 15th Actual price: USD $132,813.
  9. Christies [MEMORIAL:] Señor. Capitan Pedro Fernandez de Quiros. V[uestra] Magestad me mandó despachar dos vezes, la segunda a mi satisfacion … on December 1st Actual price: USD $125,000.
  10. Christies MADONNA AND CHILD, initial ‘S’ on a cutting from an illuminated Antiphonal on vellum on December 1st Actual price: USD $125,000.
  11. Christies ALEXANDER MAGNUS -- Historia Alexandri Magni, in German: Hienach volget die histori von dem grossen Alexander wie die Eusebius beschriben hat. on December 1st Actual price: USD $121,875.
  12. Forum Auctions Book of Hours, use of Rome Illuminated manuscript on vellum, on November 15th Actual price: USD $104,688.
  13. Christies The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy. on December 1st Actual price: USD $85,938.
  14. Sothebys AUTOGRAPH WORKING MANUSCRIPT SIGNED ("RICHARD STRAUSS") OF THE ERSTE WALZERFOLGE AUS DER ROSENKAVALIER, A CONCERT SUITE OF WALTZES FROM STRAUSS'S MOST FAMOUS OPERA, on November 29th Actual price: USD $85,938.
  15. Christies De Ludo Scachorum, in German: Schachzabelbuch. on December 1st Actual price: USD $78,125.
  16. Ketterer Kunst Doerling Erster (und zweyter) Beytrag zur Naturgeschichte der vierfüßigen Thiere. on November 21st Actual price: USD $76,320.
  17. Neret Minet and Tessier "Un Numéro de Tapis". on November 26th Actual price: USD $72,875.
  18. Ketterer Kunst Doerling Eaux-fortes originales. on November 21st Actual price: USD $64,872.
  19. Christies Biblia Sacra vulgatae editionis. on December 1st Actual price: USD $62,500.
  20. Swann Galleries Das Werk von Gustav Klimt. on December 1st Actual price: USD $60,000.
  21. Christies MOSES PREACHING TO THE ISRAELITES, historiated initial ‘D’ from a choirbook, illuminated manuscript on vellum on December 1st Actual price: USD $59,375.
  22. Sothebys AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT OF ["...EXPLOSANTE-FIXE..."], FOR SOLO FLUTE, SIGNED AND INSCRIBED TO CAROL AND BOB FRANKEL on November 29th Actual price: USD $59,375.
  23. Christies Supplementum Summae Pisanellae.- ASTESANUS DE AST (fl. 1st half of 14th century) on December 1st Actual price: USD $53,125.
  24. Sothebys GEOGRAPHIA [TRANSLATED BY GUARINUS VERONENSIS AND GREGORIUS TIPHERNAS; EDITED BY JOANNES ANDREAE, BISHOP OF ALERIA]. [VENICE]: VINDELINUS DE SPIRA, 1472 on November 29th Actual price: USD $53,125.
  25. Christies Speculum aureum decem praeceptorum. on December 1st Actual price: USD $46,875.



41 total sales reported this week:

Swann Galleries. Art, Press & Illustrated Books on December 1st: 83.20%
PBA Galleries. Fine Books with Children's Literature, Art and Illustrated on December 1st: 72.91%
Christies. Valuable Printed Books and Manuscripts on December 1st: 71.52%
Bloomsbury Auctions. Autographs, Memorabilia and Vintage Posters on December 1st: 67.51%
Grays Auctioneers. The Chicago World's Fair, Columbian Exposition 1893 - Prints, Books on November 21st: 82.00%
Tooveys. Prints on November 30th: 63.64%
Morton Subastas. Books and Documents on November 30th: 28.16%
Neret Minet and Tessier. Comic Strips on November 26th: 82.30%
Dirk Soulis Auctions. Thanksgiving Weekend Sale - Prints on November 25th: 100.00%
Auctionata. Selected Works by Dieter Blum on November 26th: 4.55%
Bonhams. Prints and Multiples on November 30th: 63.31%
Sothebys. Music and Continental Books and Manuscripts on November 29th: 66.22%
Christies. Giancarlo Bettrame Library of Science Books, Part 2 on November 30th: 61.68%
Dorotheum . Autographs on November 28th: 62.80%
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on November 29th: 80.36%
Galerie Bassenge. Art - Prints on November 24th: 57.60%
Rago Arts and Auctions. Post War and Contemporary Art - Prints on November 5th: 74.77%
Rago Arts and Auctions. Adriana Williams Collection - Fine Art Prints on November 5th: 72.73%
Rago Arts and Auctions. 19th and 20th Century Art - Prints on November 5th: 88.89%
Pandolfini. OLD MASTER AND MODERN PRINTS AND DRAWINGS - OLD AND RARE BOOKS on November 22nd: 55.38%
RJM Autographs and Antiques. Distinguished Historical Documents, Letters on November 3rd: 11.88%
Christian Hesse Auktionen. Rare Books - Day 2 on November 19th: 64.25%
Christian Hesse Auktionen. Rare Books - Day 1 on November 18th: 86.29%
OSENAT. Empire at Fontainebleau on November 19th: 71.24%
Rossini. Prints, etc. on November 24th: 30.23%
Jeschke van vliet Buch und Kunstauktionen GmbH. Prints and Photographs on November 25th: 37.56%
Keys Fine Arts Auctioneers. Fine Sale - Books on November 24th: 75.96%
Romantic Agony Book and Print Auctions. Antiquarian Books on November 26th: 66.43%
Ketterer Kunst Doerling. Rare Books Day 2 on November 22nd: 59.65%
Ketterer Kunst Doerling. Rare Books - Evening Sale on November 21st: 84.25%
Stair Auctioneers and Appraisers. Fine Prints and Photographs on November 18th: 90.91%
Alaska Auction. Prints on November 19th: 100.00%
Alaska Auction. Prints on November 18th: 50.00%
Potomack Company. Alexander Calder Works, From a Friend's Collection on November 17th: 50.00%
Forum Auctions. Important Books, Western Manuscripts and Works on Paper - Day 2 on November 16th: 91.77%
Forum Auctions. Important Books, Western Manuscripts and Works on Paper - Day 1 on November 15th: 73.68%
Thomaston Place Auction Galleries. Weekend Auction Day 3 - Fine Art & Antiques on November 20th: 73.33%
Thomaston Place Auction Galleries. Auction Weekend Day 2 - Fine Art & Antiques on November 19th: 47.62%
Thomaston Place Auction Galleries. Auction Weekend Day 1 - Collector's Choice on November 18th: 58.62%
Heritage Auctions. Comics - Internet bidstart 11/20 on November 27th: 99.77%
Heritage Auctions. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 11/20 on November 27th: 95.23%


For the week ahead 44 sales are scheduled:

Mon. Dec. 5th
Forum Auctions. London. Editions and Works on Paper. 140 lots
Christies. Paris. LIVRES RARES ET MANUSCRITS DU XVE AU XXE SIÈCLES. 107 lots
Pandolfini. Florence . Modern and Contemporary Works of Art - Prints. 22 lots
Sothebys. New York. The Bible Collection of Dr. Charles Caldwell Ryrie. 195 lots
Auctionata. Berlin. Editions. 65 lots
Winter Associates. Plainville, CT . December Auction - Americana. 20 lots
Bruun Rasmussen. Copenhagen. Prints. 90 lots

Tue. Dec. 6th
Sothebys. London. Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts. 71 lots
Bonhams. New York. Modern and Contemporary Prints and Multiples. 123 lots
Sothebys. New York. Fine Books and Manuscripts, Including Americana. 162 lots
Bearnes Hampton and Littlewood. Exeter. Antiques, Interiors, Collectibles - Books, Prints. 17 lots
Potomack Company. Alexandria. December 6 Holiday Online Auction. 15 lots

Wed. Dec. 7th
Bonhams. London. December Sale - Automobilia. 24 lots
ALDE. Paris. Antiquarian and 19th Century Books. 207 lots
Bloomsbury Auctions. London. Western Manuscripts and Miniatures. 123 lots
Binoche et Giquello. rue La Boetie, Paris. ANCIENT AND MODERN BOOKS RARE AND PRECIOUS. 118 lots
Auctionata. Berlin. Collectibles and Rarities. 30 lots
RR Auction. Amherst. Autographs and Artifacts - Internet bidstart 11/18. 813 lots
Bonhams. New York. History of Science and Technology. 97 lots
Bonhams. New York. Voices of the 20th Century. 307 lots
Ader. PARIS. Ancient and Modern Prints. 292 lots

Thu. Dec. 8th
Swann Galleries. New York. Maps and Atlases, Natural History and Color Plate Books. 401 lots
Forum Auctions. London. Collectors Sale: Books and Works on Paper.
PBA Galleries. San Francisco. Miniature Books: Rico Onuma Memorial Auction from Lilliput Oval Saloon, Owned by Kazushige Onuma, To. 454 lots
Vermot de Pas. Paris. NASA Photographs. 156 lots
ALDE. Paris. Antiquarian Books of the XIXth Century. 154 lots

Fri. Dec. 9th
Pierre Berge and Associes. Paris. Philippe Zoummeroff. 344 lots
Jeschke van vliet Buch und Kunstauktionen GmbH. Berlin-Schoneberg. Books, Prints. 475 lots
Profiles in History. Calabasas Hills. Animation and Disneyana.
Holabird Kagin Americana. Reno. Western Americana - Day 1. 397 lots

Sat. Dec. 10th
Alexander Historical Auctions. Chesapeake City. Revolutionary War. 311 lots
Aspire Auctions. Cleveland. Fine Art - Prints - Internet Bidstart 12/2. 32 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Animation Art. 878 lots
Michaans Auctions. Alameda, CA . December Estate Sale - Books and Prints. 37 lots
Vermot de Pas. Paris. Comic Strips and Original Boards, 3D, Japanese Animation. 813 lots
Gibson Auction Inc.. Orange County. IMPORTANT JOSEPH “ABE” LEISCH CIVIL WAR AUCTION. 157 lots
Rachel Davis Fine Arts. Cleveland. Works on Paper - Prints.
Holabird Kagin Americana. Reno. Western Americana - Day 2. 217 lots
Mid Hudson Auction Galleries. Cornwall-on-Hudson, . Contemporary Art, Antiques and Fine Art. 71 lots
National Book Auctions. Ithaca. Books.
Stair Auctioneers and Appraisers. Hudson. Deck the Halls: December Exposition Auction. 32 lots

Sun. Dec. 11th
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Comics - Internet bidstart 12/4.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 12/4.
Rachel Davis Fine Arts. Cleveland. Fine and Decorative Arts - Prints. 87 lots

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.