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Auction Update Review

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Rare Book Hub: 33 Auctions Archived, another 28 Upcoming this Week

For the week ended Saturday 20 October 2018 33 auctions were archived to the Rare Book Hub Transaction Database; 13 denominated in euros, 2 in British pounds, and 18 in US dollars.  Turnover was $15,779,733 as 16,280 lots were offered and 11,476 sold for a slim 70% success rate. Concerns in the United Kingdom over BREXIT and in the United States the recent stock market decline may auger that the linkage between economic uncertainty and auction outcomes is increasingly closely linked.  But it’s too early to say with any certainty whether a pattern will develop.

 

6 auctions saw their total proceeds reach a million dollars: 

James D Julia Auctioneers. Automobilia and Petroliana on October 8th: $1,919,128 
RR Auction. Space and Aviation - Internet bidstart 10/11 on October 18th: $1,791,914 
Heritage Auctions. Illustration Art on October 12th: $1,739,406 
Swann Galleries. Artists and Amateurs: Photographs and Photobooks on October 18th: $1,628,890 
Kiefer Buch und Kunstauktionen. Rare Books on October 6th: $1,460,818 
Arenberg Auctions. Books on October 13th: $1,346,050 



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

Sothebys. The Collection of Renand-Chapet on October 18th: 258.72% 
Forum Auctions. Online Sale: Art and Architecture Around the World on October 17th: 223.76% 
Swann Galleries. Early Printed, Medical, Scientific and Travel Books on October 16th: 160.25% 
Arenberg Auctions. Books on October 13th: 121.90% 
ALDE. Library of an Amateur - Modern Illustrated Books and Bindings on October 17th: 117.22% 
Purcell Auctioneers. Autumn Book Sale on October 17th: 104.88% 
Marc van de Wiele Auctions. Documents, Books and Manuscripts on October 6th: 104.37% 
Galerie Bassenge. Manuscripts, Incunables, Theology, Paper Antiquities on October 16th: 104.14% 
Sothebys. Gallison Hall: The James F. Scott Collection on October 15th: 103.42% 
RR Auction. Space and Aviation - Internet bidstart 10/11 on October 18th: 101.74% 
James D Julia Auctioneers. O'Connor's Americana Collection on September 26th: 101.44% 

 

Top 25 Lots Reported This Past Week.
  1. Sothebys NOTES ON THE STATE OF VIRGINIA; WRITTEN IN THE YEAR 1781, SOMEWHAT CORRECTED AND ENLARGED IN THE WINTER OF 1782, FOR THE USE OF A FOREIGNER OF DISTINCTION, IN ANSWER TO CERTAIN QUERIES PROPOSED BY HIM. [PARIS: FOR THE AUTHOR BY PHILIPPE-DENIS PIERRES,] 17 on October 15th Actual price: USD $300,000.
  2. Kiefer Buch und Kunstauktionen Opisanie Sviashchenneishago Koronovaniia ikh Imperatorskikh ... (kyrill., = Beschreibung der Krönung Ihrer Kaiserlichen Majestäten, ….). on October 6th Actual price: USD $222,720.
  3. Heritage Auctions Untitled Acrylic on canvas 48 x 40 in. Signed lower left , on October 12th Actual price: USD $162,500.
  4. Arenberg Auctions French songbook titled “Recueil des plus beaux airs de ce temps. 1620”, illuminated on vellum and silk. on October 13th Actual price: USD $137,750.
  5. Heritage Auctions Untitled, on October 12th Actual price: USD $137,500.
  6. Galerie Bassenge Geographicae Ennarationis, Libri Octo. on October 16th Actual price: USD $127,305.
  7. Swann Galleries Vu d'atelier [The artist's studio]. on October 18th Actual price: USD $125,000.
  8. Sothebys Christ Returning from the Temple with His Parents (B., Holl. 60; New Holl. 276; H. 278) on October 18th Actual price: USD $115,000.
  9. Swann Galleries Reysen und Wanderschafften durch das Gelobte Land. on October 16th Actual price: USD $106,250.
  10. Swann Galleries Portfolio entitled Roy DeCarava. on October 18th Actual price: USD $100,000.
  11. Heritage Auctions Trick or Treat, Playboy interior illustration on October 12th Actual price: USD $100,000.
  12. James D Julia Auctioneers Francis Pfister's Folding Map From of the Hudon River Corridor, Complete with Map Case, Circa 1758. on September 26th Actual price: USD $84,000.
  13. Heritage Auctions Broadway Showgirl, 1928 Watercolor and pencil on board 24.25 x 18.5 in. (sight) on October 12th Actual price: USD $81,250.
  14. Arenberg Auctions Theatrum orbis terrarum. on October 13th Actual price: USD $75,400.
  15. Sothebys HISTORY OF THE EXPEDITION UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAINS LEWIS AND CLARK, TO THE SOURCES OF THE MISSOURI, THENCE ACROSS THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS AND DOWN TO RIVER COLUMBIA AND THE PACIFIC OCEAN, PERFORMED IN THE YEARS 1804–5–6. BY ORDER OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE on October 15th Actual price: USD $75,000.
  16. RR Auction Dave Scott's Flown Apollo 15 CSM Lunar Landmark Maps Book on October 18th Actual price: USD $74,182.
  17. Heritage Auctions I Never Go Out with Married Men, So Won't You Please Come In on October 12th Actual price: USD $68,750.
  18. James D Julia Auctioneers Outstanding Red Hat Royal 400 Gasoline Porcelain Sign with Red Hat Graphic. on October 8th Actual price: USD $66,000.
  19. James D Julia Auctioneers Roger?s Rangers 1757 Commission and Two Powder Horns of Ranger Charles Bulkeley, Purchased Directly From His Descendants. on September 26th Actual price: USD $58,425.
  20. Swann Galleries Suite of 25 lively photographs depicting intimate studies of women; handsome couples and families; gorgeous dancers; revealing snapshots of kids; … on October 18th Actual price: USD $55,000.
  21. Swann Galleries Navegación Especulativa, y Práctica, con la Explicación de algunos Instrumentos, que están mas en Uso en los Navegantes [etc.]. on October 16th Actual price: USD $55,000.
  22. Arenberg Auctions Itinerario, Voyage ofte Schipvaert [...] naer Oost ofte Portugaels Indien, inhoudende een corte beschrijvinghe der selver Landen ende Zee-custen [...]. [And] Beschrijvinghe van de gantsche custe van Guinea, Manicongo, Angola, Monomotapa, ende tegenover de on October 13th Actual price: USD $52,200.
  23. Kiefer Buch und Kunstauktionen Los desastres de la guerra. Coleccion de ochenta láminas inventadas y grabadas al agua fuerte. Lfg. 1-5 u.7 (v. 8). on October 6th Actual price: USD $50,112.
  24. Swann Galleries The Walk to Paradise Garden. on October 18th Actual price: USD $47,500.
  25. Swann Galleries Fables Choisies, mises en Vers. on October 16th Actual price: USD $45,000.



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

Forum Auctions. Online Sale: Art and Architecture Around the World on October 17th: 100.00%
Sothebys. The Collection of Renand-Chapet on October 18th: 100.00%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 10/7 on October 14th: 99.86%
Heritage Auctions. Tuesday Internet Currency Auction - bidstart 10/9 on October 16th: 98.61%
Heritage Auctions. Ed Asner Family Center Fundraiser Internet Comic Art -Online bidstart 10/3 on October 17th: 98.53%
James D Julia Auctioneers. O'Connor's Americana Collection on September 26th: 98.46%
Sothebys. Gallison Hall: The James F. Scott Collection on October 15th: 96.97%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Sports Collectibles - Internet bidstart 9/16 on October 14th: 96.92%
Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers. Chatsworth Fine Art Sale - Prints on October 10th: 96.67%
James D Julia Auctioneers. Automobilia and Petroliana on October 8th: 96.54%
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper on October 13th: 95.91%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 10/7 on October 14th: 94.84%
Swann Galleries. Early Printed, Medical, Scientific and Travel Books on October 16th: 94.57%
Heritage Auctions. Illustration Art on October 12th: 88.44%
PBA Galleries. Fine Literature & Poetry on October 18th: 80.47%
Marc van de Wiele Auctions. Documents, Books and Manuscripts on October 6th: 80.02%


33 total sales reported this week:

Swann Galleries. Artists and Amateurs: Photographs and Photobooks on October 18th: 65.28%
RR Auction. Space and Aviation - Internet bidstart 10/11 on October 18th: 70.89%
Binoche et Giquello. Photographs by Josef Sudek on October 18th: 69.72%
PBA Galleries. Fine Literature & Poetry on October 18th: 80.47%
Sothebys. The Collection of Renand-Chapet on October 18th: 100.00%
Marc van de Wiele Auctions. Documents, Books and Manuscripts on October 6th: 80.02%
Galerie Bassenge. Manuscripts, Incunables, Theology, Paper Antiquities on October 16th: 57.24%
Galerie Bassenge. Literature, Children's Books on October 16th: 48.90%
Galerie Bassenge. Miscellanea on October 16th: 48.40%
Galerie Bassenge. Geography on October 16th: 51.81%
Heritage Auctions. Ed Asner Family Center Fundraiser Internet Comic Art -Online bidstart 10/3 on October 17th: 98.53%
Heritage Auctions. Tuesday Internet Currency Auction - bidstart 10/9 on October 16th: 98.61%
ALDE. Library of an Amateur - Modern Illustrated Books and Bindings on October 17th: 69.42%
Sothebys. The Midas Touch - John Keats Book on October 17th: 0.00%
Forum Auctions. Online Sale: Art and Architecture Around the World on October 17th: 100.00%
Michaans Auctions. Gallery Auction - Books, Prints, Photographs on October 13th: 55.56%
Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers. Chatsworth Fine Art Sale - Prints on October 10th: 96.67%
Purcell Auctioneers. Autumn Book Sale on October 17th: 78.73%
Swann Galleries. Early Printed, Medical, Scientific and Travel Books on October 16th: 94.57%
James D Julia Auctioneers. O'Connor's Americana Collection on September 26th: 98.46%
James D Julia Auctioneers. Automobilia and Petroliana on October 8th: 96.54%
Arenberg Auctions. Books on October 13th: 73.68%
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on October 16th: 78.41%
Sothebys. Gallison Hall: The James F. Scott Collection on October 15th: 96.97%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Sports Collectibles - Internet bidstart 9/16 on October 14th: 96.92%
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper on October 13th: 95.91%
Clars Auction Gallery. Fine Art - Prints on October 14th: 76.19%
Clars Auction Gallery. Fine Art - Prints on October 13th: 73.61%
Heritage Auctions. Photographs on October 12th: 67.21%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 10/7 on October 14th: 94.84%
Heritage Auctions. Illustration Art on October 12th: 88.44%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 10/7 on October 14th: 99.86%
Kiefer Buch und Kunstauktionen. Rare Books on October 6th: 50.06%


For the week ahead 28 sales are scheduled:

Mon. Oct. 22nd
Doyle New York. New York. Prints and Multiples. 254 lots
Bruun Rasmussen. Copenhagen. Prints. 67 lots
Holabird Kagin Americana. Reno. Cornucopia of Collectibles- 2018 October Auction - session 5. 677 lots
Bruun Rasmussen. Copenhagen. Jan Mogensen Illustrations. 28 lots

Tue. Oct. 23rd
Bonhams. Los Angeles. Prints and Multiples. 217 lots
Christies. New York. Prints. 361 lots
Morton Subastas. México DF CP 11000. Auction of Ancient and Contemporary Books from the Collection of a Bibliophile. 259 lots
Ader. PARIS. Letters and Manuscripts. 451 lots
Il Ponte. Milan. Old Master Drawings and Engravings. 42 lots
Robert Siegel Galleries. New York. The John Birkinbine II Collection of Arizona and New Mexico Postal History. 217 lots

Wed. Oct. 24th
Bonhams. Edinburgh. The Sporting Sale. 152 lots
James D Julia Auctioneers. Fairfield. Dolph Gotelli, Holiday Auction. 162 lots
Robert Siegel Galleries. New York. The Kilbourne Collection of CSA Stamps and Postal History, Part 2. 429 lots

Thu. Oct. 25th
Swann Galleries. New York. Rare and important Travel Posters. 232 lots
ALDE. Paris. Antiquarian and 19th Century Books. 369 lots
Forum Auctions. London. Online Sale: Books and Works on Paper. 200 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Historical Manuscripts. 303 lots

Fri. Oct. 26th
Keys Fine Arts Auctioneers. Norwich. East Anglian Sale, Part 2 - including Books and Maps. 102 lots
Skinner. Marlborough. Discovery - Interiors online - Bidstart 10/17.

Sat. Oct. 27th
North American Auction Company. Bozeman. Early American Indian and Western Auction. 102 lots
Leland Little Auctions. Hillsborough, NC. October Gallery Sale - Books, Prints.
Northeast Auctions. Portsmouth. The Dingman Collection - Prints and Books.
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Franklin. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper.

Sun. Oct. 28th
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 10/21.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 10/21.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Sports Collectibles - Internet bidstart 9/30. 305 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. The Feeling Good Collection, Part II Currency Auction - online bidstart 9/30. 303 lots
Dirk Soulis Auctions. Lee's Summit . Antique Railroadiana, The Collection of Phil and Beverly Birks.

Bruce McKinney

RBH and AE

  • 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.
  • 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