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Auction Update Review

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Twenty-nine Auctions Archived, 11 Sales this Week

For the week ended Saturday, July 22nd, 29 auctions were archived to the Rare Book Hub Transaction Database; 5 sales denominated in euros, 5 in British pounds, and 19 in US dollars.  Turnover was $15,177,824 as 9,300 lots were offered and 6,761 sold for a 73% success rate.  We are in the summer quiet.

 

4 auctions saw their total proceeds reach a million dollars: 


Christies. Printed Books and Manuscripts on July 12th: $5,986,988 
Sothebys. English Literature, History, Children’s Books and Illustrations, including The Garrett Herman Collec on July 11th: $3,475,277 
Sothebys. Space Exploration on July 20th: $1,612,188 
Forum Auctions. Online Sale: Books and Works on Paper on July 10th: $1,045,528 

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

Sothebys. Space Exploration on July 20th: 157.44% 
Sothebys. English Literature, History, Children’s Books and Illustrations, including The Garrett Herman Collec on July 11th: 134.61% 
Cowans Auctions. Property from N. Flayderman & Co.: Online Timed Auction - Internet bidstart 7/6 on July 18th: 120.86% 
Forum Auctions. Online Sale: Books and Works on Paper on July 10th: 117.18% 


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

Forum Auctions in Italy. Antiquarian and Rare Books on July 13th: 100.00% 
Skinner. Irresistible. Unreserved. - Books, Prints - bidstart 6/21 on July 7th: 100.00% 
Dirk Soulis Auctions. Summer Collections - Books, Prints - Internet Bidstart 6/19 on July 13th: 98.72% 
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 7/9 on July 16th: 98.66% 
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 1/297/9 on July 16th: 96.25% 
Cowans Auctions. Property from N. Flayderman & Co.: Online Timed Auction - Internet bidstart 7/6 on July 18th: 94.22% 
Dirk Soulis Auctions. Our 19th Annual Spring Art Auction - Prints on June 9th: 94.12% 
Clars Auction Gallery. Prints on July 15th: 90.73% 
Winter Associates. Prints on July 10th: 86.96% 
Sothebys. Space Exploration on July 20th: 86.71% 
Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers. Rare Books, Literature, & Sporting Collectibles on May 30th: 85.52% 
Potter and Potter Auctions. Fine Books and Manuscripts on July 8th: 84.53% 
Christies. Printed Books and Manuscripts on July 12th: 82.69% 
Goldberg Coins and Collectibles. Collectibles and Space Memorabilia on July 9th: 81.33% 
Clars Auction Gallery. Antiques, Asian and Fine Arts: Prints on July 16th: 81.08% 

 

Top 25 Lots Reported This Past Week.
  1. Sothebys AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT NOTES ON CLASSICAL CHINESE LITERATURE, on July 11th Actual price: USD $916,175.
  2. Christies Exercitia Spiritualia. on July 12th Actual price: USD $388,700.
  3. Christies Autograph letter signed ('Albert') to Michele Besso, n.p., n.d. on July 12th Actual price: USD $380,900.
  4. Christies On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection. on July 12th Actual price: USD $349,700.
  5. Christies With glosses according to Nicolaus de Lyra's postils. on July 12th Actual price: USD $310,700.
  6. Sothebys HOUSTON, WE'VE HAD A PROBLEM HERE. THE FLOWN APOLLO 13 FLIGHT PLANAPOLLO 13. FLIGHT PLAN. PART NO. SKB32100082-350. S/N: 1001. [HOUSTON: MANNED SPACECRAFT CENTER, MARCH 16, 1970] on July 20th Actual price: USD $275,000.
  7. Christies GILT BRASS TERRESTRIAL GLOBE -- on July 12th Actual price: USD $240,500.
  8. Christies 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 Maiesties Speciall Commandment. on July 12th Actual price: USD $217,100.
  9. Sothebys ON THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES BY MEANS OF NATURAL SELECTION, OR THE PRESERVATION OF FAVOURED RACES IN THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE. on July 11th Actual price: USD $211,250.
  10. Sothebys AUTOGRAPH LETTER, WRITTEN IN THE THIRD PERSON, TO HER NIECE ANNA AUSTEN (LATER LEFROY) on July 11th Actual price: USD $211,250.
  11. Christies Kunyu Wanquo Quantu ‘A Map of the Myriad Countries of the World’ or ‘Complete Geographical Map of all the Kingdoms of the World’. on July 12th Actual price: USD $201,500.
  12. Christies Flore des Antilles, ou histoire générale botanique, rurale et economique des végétaux indigènes des Antilles. on July 12th Actual price: USD $178,100.
  13. Christies Historia destructionis Troiae, in German: Hystori wie Troya erstört ward. on July 12th Actual price: USD $178,100.
  14. Sothebys AN INQUIRY INTO THE NATURE AND CAUSES OF THE WEALTH OF NATIONS. on July 11th Actual price: USD $154,375.
  15. Christies Autograph letter signed ('Albert') to Michele Besso, [Berlin], 31 October 1916. on July 12th Actual price: USD $138,125.
  16. Sothebys THE ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. BEAGLE, UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN FITZROY, R.N., DURING THE YEARS 1832 TO 1836. on July 11th Actual price: USD $138,125.
  17. Christies Autograph letter signed ('Albert') to Michele Besso, [Princeton], 29 July [1953]. on July 12th Actual price: USD $130,000.
  18. Sothebys STONE ARCHITECTURE ON MARS, DEMONSTRATING MARS' TWO-THIRDS LESS GRAVITY THAN EARTH'S. on July 20th Actual price: USD $125,000.
  19. Christies An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. on July 12th Actual price: USD $113,750.
  20. Forum Auctions Wuthering Heights; Agnes Grey, together 3 vol., … on July 10th Actual price: USD $106,438.
  21. Christies Medals and awards, comprising: on July 12th Actual price: USD $105,625.
  22. RR Auction Dr. John Warren's Revolutionary War Amputation Kits Amputation kits on July 12th Actual price: USD $104,147.
  23. Christies Discours de la methode pour bien conduire sa raison, & chercher la verité dans les sciences. on July 12th Actual price: USD $97,500.
  24. Christies DAVID IN PRAYER, initial ‘B’ cut from a Giant Psalter on vellum illuminated by Liberale da Verona (1441-1526) on July 12th Actual price: USD $97,500.
  25. Christies Areopagitica; a speech […] for the liberty of unlicenc’d printing, to the parliament of England. on July 12th Actual price: USD $89,375.



29 total sales reported this week:

Cowans Auctions. Property from N. Flayderman & Co.: Online Timed Auction - Internet bidstart 7/6 on July 18th: 94.22%
Sothebys. Space Exploration on July 20th: 86.71%
Forum Auctions in Italy. Antiquarian and Rare Books on July 13th: 100.00%
Holabird Kagin Americana. Great American July Auction - Session three: prints, books, ephemera on July 10th: 63.14%
Holabird Kagin Americana. Great American July Auction - Session two: prints, books, ephemera on July 9th: 50.81%
Goldberg Coins and Collectibles. Collectibles and Space Memorabilia on July 9th: 81.33%
Potter and Potter Auctions. Fine Books and Manuscripts on July 8th: 84.53%
Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers. Rare Books, Literature, & Sporting Collectibles on May 30th: 85.52%
AntiquarianAuctions.com. Books - Internet Bidstart 10/87/6 on July 13th: 37.73%
Forum Auctions. Online Sale: Books and Works on Paper on July 10th: 77.05%
Dirk Soulis Auctions. Our 19th Annual Spring Art Auction - Prints on June 9th: 94.12%
Dirk Soulis Auctions. Summer Collections - Books, Prints - Internet Bidstart 6/19 on July 13th: 98.72%
Tooveys. Prints on July 12th: 75.76%
Bloomsbury Auctions. Caricatures on July 13th: 72.93%
Clars Auction Gallery. Antiques, Asian and Fine Arts: Prints on July 16th: 81.08%
Clars Auction Gallery. Prints on July 15th: 90.73%
Jeschke van vliet Buch und Kunstauktionen GmbH. Rare Books, Prints and Historical Photographs on July 14th: 42.07%
PBA Galleries. Art and Illustration - Fine Children's Literature on July 13th: 69.23%
RR Auction. Fine Autographs & Artifacts - Internet bidstart 6/26 on July 12th: 64.09%
Christies. Printed Books and Manuscripts on July 12th: 82.69%
Sothebys. English Literature, History, Children’s Books and Illustrations, including The Garrett Herman Collec on July 11th: 66.42%
Winter Associates. Prints on July 10th: 86.96%
Quagga Rare Books and Art. Photographs and Photobooks - Internet bidstart 7/3 on July 10th: 46.00%
Michaans Auctions. Estate Sale - Books and Prints on July 8th: 50.88%
Skinner. Irresistible. Unreserved. - Books, Prints - bidstart 6/21 on July 7th: 100.00%
Vermot de Pas. Books, Posters, Photographs on July 11th: 47.98%
Vermot de Pas. Comics and Original Plates on July 1st: 63.65%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 1/297/9 on July 16th: 96.25%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 7/9 on July 16th: 98.66%


For the week ahead 11 sales are scheduled:

Tue. Jul. 25th
Potomack Company. Alexandria. July 2017 Online Auction. 40 lots
William H. Bunch Auctions and Appraisals. Chadds Ford, PA . July Premier Auction - Books and Prints. 57 lots

Wed. Jul. 26th
Chiswick Auctions. London. Printed Books and Manuscripts. 281 lots
Alaska Auction. Anchorage. Prints, Ephemera. 34 lots

Thu. Jul. 27th
Copley Fine Art Auctions. Boston. The Sporting Sale - Books and Prints. 65 lots
PBA Galleries. San Francisco. Fine Literature and Fine Books. 430 lots
Bloomsbury Auctions. London. Rare Books and Works on Paper, including Photographs and Autographs. 277 lots

Sat. Jul. 29th
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Movie Posters. 918 lots
National Book Auctions. Ithaca. Books.

Sun. Jul. 30th
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 7/23.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 7/23.

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.