Auction Update Review

Thirty-One Auctions Archived, 40 in the Batter’s Cage

For the week ended Saturday 2 December 2017 31 auctions were archived to the Rare Book Hub Transaction Database; 10 denominated in euros, 7 in British pounds, 1 in Mexican pesos, 1 in Swedish krona, and 12 in US dollars.  These sales raised U$15,097,441 as 8,403 lots were offered and 6,481 lots sold for a 77% success rate.  As the year completes there continues to be strength in the rooms.

 

4 auctions saw their total proceeds reach a million dollars: 

Ader. Modern Prints: Henri M. Petiet - 50th and Last Sale chez Ader on November 25th: $2,948,753 
Blanchard's Auction Service. The Mulford-Gardiner-Buell Papers - Including John Holt's Declaration of Independence on November 11th: $2,148,000 
Christies. Rare Books and Manuscripts on November 28th: $2,106,672 
Sothebys. Music Manuscripts on November 28th: $1,544,961 

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

Nye & Company Auctioneers. November Backyard Timed Auction on November 30th: 470.40% 
Blanchard's Auction Service. The Mulford-Gardiner-Buell Papers - Including John Holt's Declaration of Independence on November 11th: 204.57% 
Ader. Modern Prints: Henri M. Petiet - 50th and Last Sale chez Ader on November 25th: 164.53% 
Ader. PrModern Prints: Henri M. Petiet - 50th and Last Sale chez Ader on November 26th: 145.43% 
Sothebys. Music Manuscripts on November 28th: 105.92% 
Chiswick Auctions. Printed Books and Manuscripts on November 29th: 103.82% 
Romantic Agony Book and Print Auctions. Books and Prints, Part I on November 24th: 101.09% 


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

Blanchard's Auction Service. The Mulford-Gardiner-Buell Papers - Including John Holt's Declaration of Independence on November 11th: 100.00% 
Heritage Auctions. The NCS Thanks & Giving Auction benefiting Hurricane Relief - Internet bidstart 11/22 on November 30th: 100.00% 
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 11/19 on November 26th: 99.30% 
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 11/19 on November 26th: 98.40% 
Heritage Auctions. Tuesday Internet Currency Auction - Online bidstart 11/21 on November 28th: 97.78% 
Ader. Modern Prints: Henri M. Petiet - 50th and Last Sale chez Ader on November 25th: 94.64% 
Ader. PrModern Prints: Henri M. Petiet - 50th and Last Sale chez Ader on November 26th: 94.43% 
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on November 28th: 94.19% 
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper on November 24th: 83.33% 
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Sports Collectibles - Internet bidstart 10/29 on November 26th: 82.22% 
RR Auction. Space Exploration - Internet bidstart 11/9 on November 16th: 81.59% 
Christies. Interiors: Ski Posters on November 28th: 81.08% 

 

Top 25 Lots Reported This Past Week.
  1. Ader Suite Vollard.1930-1937. on November 25th Actual price: USD $2,305,625.
  2. Blanchard's Auction Service THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE and eight support-ing documents on November 11th Actual price: USD $1,800,000.
  3. Christies Locupletissimi rerum naturalium thesauri. on November 28th Actual price: USD $608,685.
  4. Sothebys THE AUTOGRAPH WORKING MANUSCRIPT OF THE SECOND RHAPSODY FOR VIOLIN AND PIANO, BB 96 on November 28th Actual price: USD $410,970.
  5. Blanchard's Auction Service the MULFORD-GARDINER-BUELL PAPERS on November 11th Actual price: USD $348,000.
  6. Sothebys AUTOGRAPH WORKING MANUSCRIPT OF PART OF AN ARIA FROM AN ITALIAN OPERA, INTENDED FOR "IL PASTOR FIDO" IN 1734 on November 28th Actual price: USD $241,063.
  7. Christies [La Tauromaquia.] Treinta y tres estampas, que representan diferentes suertes y actitudes del arte de lidiar los Toros. on November 28th Actual price: USD $208,250.
  8. Christies Les Vases Communicants. on November 28th Actual price: USD $178,500.
  9. RR Auction Buzz Aldrin's Apollo 11 Cartier Solid Gold Lunar Module Replica on November 16th Actual price: USD $149,862.
  10. Christies LIVRE D'HEURES, à l'usage de Paris, en latin et en français, manuscrit enluminé sur vélin on November 28th Actual price: USD $141,313.
  11. Sothebys AUTOGRAPH SKETCHLEAF FOR THE SECOND SYMPHONY on November 28th Actual price: USD $108,063.
  12. Sothebys HIGHLY IMPORTANT SERIES OF FORTY-THREE LETTERS, ALL BUT TWO AUTOGRAPH, WITH OTHER ITEMS, TO THE VIOLINIST ZOLT"N SZÉKELY on November 28th Actual price: USD $99,750.
  13. Sothebys FINE ALBUM OF TWENTY AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPTS OF SONGS BY ROSSINI, BELLINI, MEYERBEER, CHERUBINI AND OTHERS on November 28th Actual price: USD $91,438.
  14. Sothebys AUTOGRAPH SKETCHLEAF FOR THE SYMPHONY NO.3 IN D MINOR on November 28th Actual price: USD $83,125.
  15. Christies 12 Notations. on November 28th Actual price: USD $81,813.
  16. Christies Elementorum Philosophiae sectio tertia. on November 28th Actual price: USD $81,813.
  17. RR Auction Apollo 11 LM Flown Page With Neil Armstrong Notations on November 16th Actual price: USD $78,346.
  18. Sothebys ALBUM CONTAINING THREE AUTOGRAPH MUSICAL QUOTATIONS ON ONE PAGE, on November 28th Actual price: USD $66,500.
  19. Christies LIVRE D’HEURES, à l’usage de Rome, en latin, manuscrit enluminé sur vélin on November 28th Actual price: USD $62,475.
  20. RR Auction Dave Scott's Apollo 15 Lunar Orbit-Flown CSM Systems Data Book on November 16th Actual price: USD $60,995.
  21. Romantic Agony Book and Print Auctions ca. 350 catalogues de ventes publiques de la Galerie Giroux à Bruxelles, 1916-1959 on November 25th Actual price: USD $53,550.
  22. Christies Contes fantastiques.- Contes nocturnes.- Contes et fantaisies.- La Vie d'E.T.A. on November 28th Actual price: USD $52,063.
  23. Ader Le Chapeau épinglé (2e pl.). on November 26th Actual price: USD $52,063.
  24. Ader Ten Etchings / by / J. J. Tissot / first Series. A Londres, chez l’auteur. 1876. Format de l’album : 630 x 445. on November 26th Actual price: USD $51,103.
  25. Christies Jeux vagues. on November 28th Actual price: USD $47,600.



31 total sales reported this week:

Blanchard's Auction Service. The Mulford-Gardiner-Buell Papers - Including John Holt's Declaration of Independence on November 11th: 100.00%
Keys Fine Arts Auctioneers. Fine Sale - Day 3: Books on November 30th: 67.05%
Chiswick Auctions. Printed Books and Manuscripts on November 29th: 79.61%
Tooveys. Asian and Islamic Works of Art - Prints on November 30th: 71.43%
Tooveys. Prints on November 29th: 66.67%
PBA Galleries. The Richard E. Bateman Collection on Celestial Mechanics with Rare Books & Manuscripts from various on November 30th: 56.66%
Nye & Company Auctioneers. November Backyard Timed Auction on November 30th: 75.41%
Bonhams. Prints and Multiples on November 29th: 74.78%
Heritage Auctions. The NCS Thanks & Giving Auction benefiting Hurricane Relief - Internet bidstart 11/22 on November 30th: 100.00%
Heritage Auctions. Tuesday Internet Currency Auction - Online bidstart 11/21 on November 28th: 97.78%
Romantic Agony Book and Print Auctions. Books and Prints, Part II on November 25th: 64.33%
Romantic Agony Book and Print Auctions. Books and Prints, Part I on November 24th: 66.90%
Aguttes. Autograph Books on November 22nd: 51.17%
Morton Subastas. Books, Documents and Photographs on November 28th: 31.62%
Christies. Rare Books and Manuscripts on November 28th: 50.00%
Christies. Interiors: Ski Posters on November 28th: 81.08%
Sothebys. Music Manuscripts on November 28th: 64.86%
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper on November 24th: 83.33%
Dorotheum . Autographs, Manuscripts and Certificates on November 27th: 72.08%
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on November 28th: 94.19%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Sports Collectibles - Internet bidstart 10/29 on November 26th: 82.22%
Treadway Toomey Auctions. Objects Online Only - part one of the Wilbert & Marilyn Hasbrouck collection - books, prints on October 25th: 68.89%
Ader. PrModern Prints: Henri M. Petiet - 50th and Last Sale chez Ader on November 26th: 94.43%
Ader. Modern Prints: Henri M. Petiet - 50th and Last Sale chez Ader on November 25th: 94.64%
OSENAT. The Empire, Historical Memories on November 19th: 75.56%
RR Auction. Space Exploration - Internet bidstart 11/9 on November 16th: 81.59%
Clars Auction Gallery. Antiques, Asian and Fine Arts: Prints on November 18th: 77.71%
Stockholms Auktionsverk. Rare Books, Maps and Manuscripts on November 21st: 73.64%
Purcell Auctioneers. Autumn Irish Interest Books on November 15th: 78.35%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 11/19 on November 26th: 98.40%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 11/19 on November 26th: 99.30%

 

For the week ahead 40 sales are scheduled:

Mon. Dec. 4th
Artcurial. Paris. Books and Manuscripts. 260 lots
Bruun Rasmussen. Copenhagen. Prints. 88 lots

Tue. Dec. 5th
Swann Galleries. New York. Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books. 431 lots
Aguttes. Neuilly-sur-Seine . Manuscripts, Ancient and Modern Books, Old Papers. 177 lots
Sothebys. London. Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts and Continental and Russian Books. 191 lots
Tajan. Paris. Books and Manuscripts. 410 lots
Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers. Kilkenny. Rare Books. 706 lots
Christies. New York. Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts, Including Americana. 251 lots
Dorotheum . Vienna. Books and Decorative Prints. 382 lots
Bonhams. New York. Modern and Contemporary Prints and Multiples. 130 lots
Dirk Soulis Auctions. Lee's Summit . Autographs/Animation Art. 77 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Tuesday Internet Currency Auction - Online bidstart 11/28. 494 lots

Wed. Dec. 6th
Galerie Bassenge. Berlin-Grunewald . Photography. 334 lots
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. Chicago. Fine Books and Manuscripts. 398 lots
PIASA. Paris. Editions. 71 lots
RR Auction. Amherst. Fine Autographs & Artifacts - Internet bidstart 11/17. 503 lots
Forum Auctions. London. Fine Books, Western Manuscripts and Works on Paper. 491 lots
Stair Auctioneers and Appraisers. Hudson. Photography Online. 91 lots
Bloomsbury Auctions. London. Western and Oriental Manuscripts and Miniatures. 148 lots
Heritage Auctions. Hong Kong. HKINF World Currency Signature Auction. 848 lots
Moreshet Auctions. Jerusalem. Judaica: Books and Manuscripts. 263 lots
Bonhams. New York. History of Science and Technology. 114 lots
Bonhams. New York. Voices of the 20th Century. 128 lots
Koller Auctions. Zurich. Fashion: Vintage and Photography. 72 lots
Tajan. Paris. Limited Editions. 99 lots
Koller Auctions. Zurich. Photography. 325 lots

Thu. Dec. 7th
Rossini. Paris. Bibliophilia and Autographs. 156 lots
Christies. New York. RUSSIAN AMERICA AND POLAR EXPLORATION: HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE MARTIN GREENE LIBRARY. 421 lots
One Of Kind Collectibles. Coral Gables. Rare Collectible - Internet bidstart 11/17. 270 lots

Fri. Dec. 8th
Binoche et Giquello. rue La Boetie, Paris. Ancient and Modern Books. 68 lots

Sat. Dec. 9th
Koller Auctions. Zurich. Prints and Multiples. 175 lots
Michaans Auctions. Alameda, CA . Gallery Auction - Books, Prints, Photographs. 49 lots
Kiefer Buch und Kunstauktionen. 75172 Pforzheim. Rare Books and Fine Prints. 721 lots
Heritage Auctions. Beverly Hills. Animation Art. 1045 lots
National Book Auctions. Ithaca. Books.
Rachel Davis Fine Arts. Cleveland. Fine and Decorative Arts - Prints. 381 lots

Sun. Dec. 10th
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 12/3.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 12/3.
Michael Treloar. Adelaide SA. Rare Books.
Mossgreen. Woollahra NSW. Collectors’ Cars & Automobilia – Featuring the Ferguson Collection of Motorsport Posters.

Bruce McKinney

RBH and AE

December Week One 2017

  • 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