PreviousNext

Auction Update Review

Click slideshow for more
info.

Click slideshow for more
info.

Twenty-four Auctions Archived, 19 Sales Upcoming this Week

For the week ended Saturday, March 11, 2017, 24 auctions in the rare books, manuscripts, maps and ephemera categories were archived to the Rare Book Hub Transaction Database; 3 in Danish krona, 1 in euros, 1 in British pounds, and 19 in US dollars.  Turnover was $6,939,173 as 11,574 lots were offered and 7,951 sold for a 69% success rate.

3 auctions saw their total proceeds reach a million dollars: 

Heritage Auctions. Books on March 9th: $1,880,620 
Bonhams. Fine Books and Manuscripts on March 9th: $1,463,494 
Kiefer Buch und Kunstauktionen. Books, Graphics modern and ancient Arts, Antiques on February 18th: $1,382,915 

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

Cowans Auctions. Advertising and Toys: Books and Prints - Internet bidstart 2/20 on March 6th: 293.31% 
Moreshet Auctions. Books and Manuscripts on March 7th: 162.57% 
Charlton Hall. ARTURO PERALTA-RAMOS ESTATE on March 4th: 154.69% 
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on March 8th: 113.31% 
Swann Galleries. Early Printed, Medical, Scientific & Travel Books on March 9th: 111.27% 


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

National Book Auctions. Colonial, Hemingway, Civil War, etc. on March 4th: 100.00% 
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 2/26 on March 5th: 99.86% 
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 2/26 on March 5th: 96.59% 
Cowans Auctions. Advertising and Toys: Books and Prints - Internet bidstart 2/20 on March 6th: 96.15% 
Heritage Auctions. Books on March 9th: 95.15% 
Clars Auction Gallery. Prints on February 18th: 94.35% 
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on March 7th: 91.67% 
Swann Galleries. Early Printed, Medical, Scientific & Travel Books on March 9th: 91.36% 
Clars Auction Gallery. Antiques, Asian and Fine Arts: Prints on February 19th: 84.13% 
Charlton Hall. ARTURO PERALTA-RAMOS ESTATE on March 4th: 82.88% 

Top 25 Lots Reported This Past Week.
  1. Bonhams Autograph Manuscript, being a draft of her revised translation of the Aeschelus play Prometheus Bound, for publication in her 1850 work Poems, on March 9th Actual price: USD $215,000.
  2. Heritage Auctions The Joan Anderson Letter to Jack Kerouac (1922-1969). on March 9th Actual price: USD $206,250.
  3. Bonhams Two leaves, pp 31-34, from the first appearance of The Picture of Dorian Gray in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine for July, 1890, with Wilde's autograph revisions toward the book-version published in April 1891, on March 9th Actual price: USD $185,000.
  4. Kiefer Buch und Kunstauktionen Le Cirque, Lithographies originales de Marc Chagall. on February 18th Actual price: USD $171,720.
  5. Bonhams A Journal of the Operations of the Queen's Rangers, from the End of the Year 1777, to the Conclusion of the Late American War. Exeter: Printed for the Author, [1787]. on March 9th Actual price: USD $161,000.
  6. Heritage Auctions Original Typescript of The Dharma Bums (published October 2, 1958), typed by Kerouac himself from his original scroll manuscript. on March 9th Actual price: USD $137,500.
  7. Bonhams Autograph Manuscript Signed ("Jules Verne"), being the complete short story "Une fantaisie de docteur Ox," on March 9th Actual price: USD $112,500.
  8. Bonhams Printed Broadside Signed ("Th: Jefferson") as Secretary of State, 1 p, folio (9 7/8 x 15 1/8 inches), Philadelphia, February 12, 1793, on March 9th Actual price: USD $106,250.
  9. Heritage Auctions The New Testament of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: Newly Translated out of the Original Greek; And with the former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised. on March 9th Actual price: USD $75,000.
  10. Bonhams Portrait of Sir Isaac Newton. English School, c.1715 - 1720, on March 9th Actual price: USD $68,750.
  11. Heritage Auctions De humani corporis fabrica libri septem. on March 9th Actual price: USD $60,000.
  12. Bonhams A Book of Cats. New York: Covici Friede, 1930. on March 9th Actual price: USD $52,500.
  13. Swann Galleries (BIBLE IN LATIN.) Single leaf from a paper copy of the Gutenberg Bible, with the text of Ecclesiasticus 16:14-18:29. on March 9th Actual price: USD $52,500.
  14. Heritage Auctions Collection of Twenty-Eight Early United States Government Publications. on March 9th Actual price: USD $47,500.
  15. Bruun Rasmussen 'La femme toupie" on March 8th Actual price: USD $46,375.
  16. Bonhams Autograph Manuscript Signed ("Emile Zola"), being the manuscript of the short story "Le Capitaine Burle," on March 9th Actual price: USD $43,750.
  17. Clars Auction Gallery "Blue with Red on February 19th Actual price: USD $42,350.
  18. Heritage Auctions Pair of Hermes 3000 Typewriters. on March 9th Actual price: USD $37,500.
  19. Leland Little Auctions Complete First American Octavo Edition of Audubon's Birds of America... on March 4th Actual price: USD $35,400.
  20. Heritage Auctions Stagecoach Trunk once owned by Samuel L. Clemens. on March 9th Actual price: USD $31,250.
  21. Heritage Auctions The Holy Bible, Conteyning the Old Testament, and the New: Newly Translated out of the Originall tongues: & with the former Translations diligently compared and revised by his Majesties Speciall Comandement. Appointed to be read in Churches. on March 9th Actual price: USD $31,250.
  22. Kiefer Buch und Kunstauktionen Poèmes. on February 18th Actual price: USD $30,528.
  23. Charlton Hall Japanese woodblock folding book depicting the conquest of Korea Edo period, brocade-covered orihon on March 4th Actual price: USD $30,000.
  24. Bruun Rasmussen 'Le cracheur de flammes'' on March 8th Actual price: USD $29,750.
  25. Leland Little Auctions A 17th Century State 9 Edition of John Smith's Virginia Map on March 4th Actual price: USD $29,500.


24 total sales reported this week:

Treadway Toomey Auctions. The Butch McGuire’s Collection - and - 20th Century Art and Design - Prints on March 4th: 78.75%
Bonhams. Fine Books and Manuscripts on March 9th: 55.38%
Eldreds. Antiques and Accessories - Books and Prints on March 9th: 45.00%
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on March 8th: 75.00%
Swann Galleries. Early Printed, Medical, Scientific & Travel Books on March 9th: 91.36%
PBA Galleries. Art and Illustration on March 9th: 77.29%
Moreshet Auctions. Books and Manuscripts on March 7th: 76.12%
Heritage Auctions. Books on March 9th: 95.15%
National Book Auctions. Colonial, Hemingway, Civil War, etc. on March 4th: 100.00%
Kiefer Buch und Kunstauktionen. Books, Graphics modern and ancient Arts, Antiques on February 18th: 50.84%
Cowans Auctions. Advertising and Toys: Books and Prints - Internet bidstart 2/20 on March 6th: 96.15%
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on March 7th: 91.67%
Alaska Auction. Iditarod Posters and Fine Art Prints on March 3rd: 76.79%
Charlton Hall. ARTURO PERALTA-RAMOS ESTATE on March 4th: 82.88%
Potomack Company. Creek Sculptor, Retha Walden Gambaro's Studio/Collections with Other Estates - Prints, Books on March 1st: 55.22%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 2/26 on March 5th: 99.86%
Clars Auction Gallery. Antiques, Asian and Fine Arts: Prints on February 19th: 84.13%
Clars Auction Gallery. Prints on February 18th: 94.35%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 2/26 on March 5th: 96.59%


For the week ahead 19 sales are scheduled:

Mon. Mar. 13th
Grays Auctioneers. Cleveland, . 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, Louisiana Purchase Exposition - Prints and Books. 26 lots
Bruun Rasmussen. Copenhagen. Prints. 113 lots

Tue. Mar. 14th
JA Stargardt Autographenhandlung. Berlin. Autographs (letters, manuscripts, documents, photographs): Music, History - Day 1Autographs (letters. 534 lots

Wed. Mar. 15th
Bearnes Hampton and Littlewood. Exeter. Books, Maps, Prints. 607 lots
JA Stargardt Autographenhandlung. Berlin. Autographs (letters, manuscripts, documents, photographs): Music, History. 430 lots

Thu. Mar. 16th
Swann Galleries. New York. Vintage Posters. 507 lots
Forum Auctions. London. Online Sale: Books and Works on Paper. 126 lots
Kestenbaum and Company. New York. Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts, Holy Land Maps and Art. 239 lots

Fri. Mar. 17th
Rago Arts and Auctions. Lambertville. Great Estates Auction - Books and Prints. 33 lots
Cowans Auctions. Cincinnati. Cleveland Springs Live Auction - Prints. 17 lots

Sat. Mar. 18th
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Entertainment. 672 lots
Vermot de Pas. Paris. Comics and Original Plates. 995 lots
Clars Auction Gallery. Oakland. Fine Art - Prints and Photography. 95 lots
Sothebys. New York. Saturdays at Sotheby's: Asian Art - Prints, Books. 10 lots
Ferraton. Bruxelles. Photographs, Prints. 379 lots
National Book Auctions. Ithaca. Books, Art and Ephemera - Civil War, Life, Emblems, Derriere.

Sun. Mar. 19th
Clars Auction Gallery. Oakland. Antiques, Asian and Fine Arts: Prints. 61 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 3/12.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 3/12.

Bruce McKinney

RBH and AE

  • 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
  • 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