Auction Update Review

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Rare Book Hub: 37 Auctions Archived, another 35 Upcoming this Week
For the week ended Saturday 8 December 2018 37 auctions were archived to the Rare Book Hub Transaction Database; 1 in Australian dollars, 13 in euros, 4 in British pounds, and 19 in US dollars. Turnover was $21,596,621 as 10,627 lots were offered and 7,485 sold for a 70% success rate. Recent economic and political uncertainty seem to be factors in auction room enthusiasm.
Christies. Fine Printed Books & Manuscripts Including Americana on December 4th: $5,425,625
Christies. Albert Einstein: The God Letter on December 4th: $2,892,500
Sothebys. Lady Blue Eyes: Property of Barbara and Frank Sinatra on December 6th: $2,224,750
Galerie Bassenge. 15th -19th Century Prints on November 28th: $1,799,738
Sothebys. Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts and Continental and Russian Books on December 4th: $1,616,413
Bonhams. Fine Books and Manuscripts, Including the World of Hilary Knight on December 5th: $1,015,761
6 auctions saw total sales exceed 100% of the high estimates of all lots offered in the sale:
Christies. Albert Einstein: The God Letter on December 4th: 192.83%
Dorotheum . Books and Decorative Prints on December 5th: 178.16%
Sothebys. Lady Blue Eyes: Property of Barbara and Frank Sinatra on December 6th: 176.02%
Jacksons Auction. Modern & Vintage Masters - Day 1 on November 27th: 134.02%
Galerie Bassenge. 15th -19th Century Prints on November 28th: 124.47%
Australian Book Auctions. December Gallery Auction on December 3rd: 101.82%
13 sales saw at least 80% of their lots sell:
Christies. Albert Einstein: The God Letter on December 4th: 100.00%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 11/25 on December 2nd: 99.22%
Heritage Auctions. Tuesday Internet Currency Auction - Internet bidstart 11/27 on December 4th: 98.96%
Sothebys. Lady Blue Eyes: Property of Barbara and Frank Sinatra on December 6th: 98.28%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 11/25 on December 2nd: 96.27%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Sports Collectibles Auction - bidstart 11/4 on December 2nd: 96.20%
Alaska Auction. Books, Magazines, Prints on November 28th: 91.67%
Australian Book Auctions. December Gallery Auction on December 3rd: 91.32%
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper on December 1st: 90.68%
Alaska Auction. Prints, Advertising on November 29th: 90.38%
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on December 4th: 86.49%
Jacksons Auction. Modern & Vintage Masters - Day 1 on November 27th: 84.21%
Dorotheum . Books and Decorative Prints on December 5th: 82.56%
37 total sales reported this week:
Adams Amsterdam Auctions. Co Westerik: Paintings, drawings and prints. The collection of Frank Verhallen on October 29th: 77.66%
Swann Galleries. Illustration Art on December 6th: 68.44%
Robert Siegel Galleries. The Alfredo Frohlich Collection: The Evolution of Postal Systems in Panama 1777-1881 on December 4th: 52.70%
Dorotheum . Books and Decorative Prints on December 5th: 82.56%
Galerie Bassenge. Photography on December 5th: 46.65%
Galerie Bassenge. 15th -19th Century Prints on November 28th: 69.57%
Bonhams. Fine Books and Manuscripts, Including the World of Hilary Knight on December 5th: 67.58%
Adams Amsterdam Auctions. Fine Art, Photographs, Modern and Contemporary Art - Prints on December 4th: 77.72%
Sothebys. Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts and Continental and Russian Books on December 4th: 54.40%
Potter and Potter Auctions. Vintage Travel Posters on December 1st: 72.74%
Bonhams. Prints and Multiples on December 5th: 60.23%
Bonhams. The History of Science and Technology on December 5th: 44.78%
Sothebys. Lady Blue Eyes: Property of Barbara and Frank Sinatra on December 6th: 98.28%
Forum Auctions in Italy. Online Sale: The Library of Marquis Giulio Carlo Stanga Trecco (1794-1852) - Part I on December 4th: 51.85%
Christies. Fine Printed Books & Manuscripts Including Americana on December 4th: 74.32%
Christies. Albert Einstein: The God Letter on December 4th: 100.00%
ALDE. Modern Illustrated Books and Original Bindings on November 30th: 64.37%
Rossini. Photographs on November 20th: 54.72%
Rossini. CATALOG SALE: DISPERSION OF THE LIBRARY OF THE ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PHILOSOPHY AT THE SORBONNE JEA on November 28th: 42.38%
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on December 4th: 86.49%
Heritage Auctions. Tuesday Internet Currency Auction - Internet bidstart 11/27 on December 4th: 98.96%
Forum Auctions. Fine Books and Works on Paper on November 29th: 75.36%
Forum Auctions. Artsy: Select Editions on December 4th: 35.48%
Australian Book Auctions. December Gallery Auction on December 3rd: 91.32%
Alaska Auction. Prints, Advertising on November 29th: 90.38%
Alaska Auction. Books, Magazines, Prints on November 28th: 91.67%
Jacksons Auction. Modern & Vintage Masters - Day 1 on November 27th: 84.21%
Eldreds. Asian Art - Prints on November 30th: 73.44%
Binoche et Giquello. COLLECTION A.J. ANCIENT BOOKS & MANUSCRIPTS, ETIENNE DOLET (1509-1546) FRENCH AUTHOR AND PRINTER on November 28th: 77.36%
Ketterer Kunst Doerling. Rare Books on November 26th: 61.65%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 11/25 on December 2nd: 99.22%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 11/25 on December 2nd: 96.27%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Sports Collectibles Auction - bidstart 11/4 on December 2nd: 96.20%
Soler Y Llach. Books, Prints, Manuscripts on November 29th: 39.28%
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper on December 1st: 90.68%
AntiquarianAuctions.com. Books - Internet Bidstart 11/22 on November 29th: 38.51%
Old World Auctions. Antique Maps, Globes, Charts, Atlases & Vintage Graphics - online bidstart 10/31 on November 14th: 75.37%
For the week ahead 35 sales are scheduled:
Mon. Dec. 10th
Minerva Auctions Roma. Roma. Books, Autographs and Prints. 625 lots
Ader. PARIS. Letters and Autograph Manuscripts. 401 lots
Winter Associates. Plainville, CT . Prints; French Travel Posters. 28 lots
Bruun Rasmussen. Copenhagen. Prints. 104 lots
Tue. Dec. 11th
Bonhams. London. Entertainment Memorabilia. 161 lots
Artcurial. Paris. Books and Manuscripts. 292 lots
Forum Auctions. London. Online Sale: Books and Works on Paper. 131 lots
Profiles in History. Calabasas Hills. Essentially Marylin - The Auction. 1235 lots
Winner's Auctions Ltd. Jerusalem. Judaica - Books, Manuscripts. 264 lots
Bruun Rasmussen. Copenhagen. Books. 241 lots
Minerva Auctions Roma. Roma. Books, Autographs and Prints. 296 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Tuesday Internet Currency Auction - Internet bidstart 12/4. 731 lots
Profiles in History. Calabasas Hills. Essentially Marylin - The Auction. 142 lots
Wed. Dec. 12th
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Gloucestershire. Printed Books, Maps and Documents. 536 lots
Aste Bolaffi. Turin. Rare Books and Autographs. 674 lots
Christies. London - King Street. Valuable Books and Manuscripts. 279 lots
Purcell Auctioneers. Birr. The Christmas Book Sale. 651 lots
Forum Auctions. London. Online Sale: Playing Cards, Manuscripts and Works on Paper. 117 lots
Thu. Dec. 13th
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Gloucestershire. Modern Literature and First Editions. 399 lots
Swann Galleries. New York. Maps and Atlases, Natural History and Color Plate Books. 385 lots
Doyle New York. New York. Photographs. 148 lots
Minerva Auctions Roma. Roma. Prints and Multiples. 300 lots
De Baecque and Associes. Lyon. Old and Modern Books. 347 lots
PBA Galleries. San Francisco. Fine Americana - Travel & Exploration - Cartography. 573 lots
Sothebys. New York. Fine Autograph Letters and Manuscripts from a Distinguished Private Collection: Part II | Music, Ame. 152 lots
RR Auction. Amherst. Science and Technology - Online bidstart 12/6. 319 lots
Fri. Dec. 14th
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. Chicago. Fine Prints.
Pierre Berge and Associes. Paris. The Library of Pierre Berge. 130 lots
Arenberg Auctions. BRUSSEL. Books. 1201 lots
Sat. Dec. 15th
Aspire Auctions. Cleveland. December Sale - Internet bidstart 12/7. 18 lots
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Franklin. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper.
The Written Word Autographs. Tamworth, NH . Sports and Entertainers Autographs.
Sun. Dec. 16th
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 12/9.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Sports Collectibles Auction - online bidstart 11/18. 163 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 12/9.
Bruce McKinney
RBH and AE
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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.
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Sotheby’s
Nelson, His Life and His Navy:
The Clive Richards Collection of Letters and Manuscripts
November 18, 2026Sotheby’s
Nelson, His Life and His Navy:
The Clive Richards Collection of Letters and Manuscripts
November 18, 2026Sotheby’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 NovemberForum, 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 - £50,000Forum, Nov. 19: Crescenzi (Bartolomeo). Nautica mediterranea, 2 parts in 1, second edition, with rare engraved folding map, Rome, Bartolomeo Bonfadino, 1607. £15,000 - £20,000Forum, Nov. 19: Aristotle. [The Works], 10 vol.,, translated by Thomas Taylor, Printed for the Translator... by Robert Wilks, 1807-12. £6,000-8,000Forum
Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
Thursday 19th NovemberForum, 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]. £6,000-8,000Forum, Nov. 19: Vitruvius Pollio (Marcus). I Dieci Libri dell'Architettura, translated by Daniele Barbaro, Venice, Francesco Marcolini, 1556. £7,000-10,000Forum, Nov. 19: Rowling (J.K.) Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, first edition, hardback issue, first printing, Bloomsbury, 1997. £50,000-70,000Forum
Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
Thursday 19th NovemberForum, 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. £15,000-20,000Forum, 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). £35,000-45,000Forum, 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. £15,000-20,000Forum
Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
Thursday 19th NovemberForum, Nov. 19: Gersdorff (Hans von). Feldtbuch der Wund-Arzney, enlarged edition, Strassburg, Hans Schotten, 1540. £20,000-30,000Forum, 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. £8,000-12,000Forum, 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 - $17,000Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 63. The Largest of the Strada "Leo Belgicus" Editions (1632) Est. $3,250 - $4,000Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 71. Blaeu's Stunning Carte-a-Figures Map of the Americas (1640) Est. $4,000 - $4,750Old 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 - $6,000Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 172. 1775 Edition of the Landmark Fry-Jefferson Map of Virginia and Maryland (1775) Est. $12,000 - $15,000Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 46. Doppelmayr's Fine Celestial Chart (1742) Est. $800 - $950Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 212. First Edition Ski Country Map by Pioneer Hal Shelton (1965) Est. $500 - $700Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 732. Ruscelli's Complete Atlas with 69 Maps and Updated Maps of the Continents (1599) Est. $8,000 - $9,500Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 329. Ortelius' Map of Iceland Surrounded by Sea Monsters (1585) Est. $11,000 - $13,000Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 600. Heinrich Bunting's Rare Map of Asia in the Form of a Pegasus (1581) Est. $3,000 - $3,750Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 716. Bible Leaf with Hand-Colored Image of the Adoration of the Magi (1490) Est. $2,000 - $2,300
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Ketterer Rare Books
Auction November 23Ketterer, Nov. 23: L. Feininger, Collection of autograph letters to Alois J. Schardt, 1920-1955. Est: € 150,000-250,000Ketterer, Nov. 23: Flemish book of hours, Ghent-Bruges School around 1480-1500. Est: € 40,000Ketterer, Nov. 23: F. de Wit, Atlas maior, um 1700. Est: € 50,000Ketterer Rare Books
Auction November 23Ketterer, Nov. 23: A. Stieglitz, Camera Work, 48 volumes, 1903-1914. Est: € 60,000Ketterer, Nov. 23: M. Merian & M. Zeiller, Sämtliche Topographien, 21 volumes, 1642-1736. Est: € 50,000Ketterer, Nov. 23: R. Indiana and R. Creely, Numbers, 1968. Est: € 4,000Ketterer Rare Books
Auction November 23Ketterer, Nov. 23: Salerno Breviarium, Latin manuscript on vellum, North Italy around 1470-1476. Est: € 40,000Ketterer, Nov. 23: M. S. Merian, Surinaamsche (&) europische Insecten, 1730. Est: € 30,000Ketterer, Nov. 23: M. Beckmann, Jahrmarkt, Portfolio of 10 signed etchings, 1922. Est: € 25,000Ketterer Rare Books
Auction November 23Ketterer, Nov. 23: Justinianus, Infortiatum, 1475. Est: € 10,000Ketterer, Nov. 23: B. Besler, Hortus Eystettensis, um 1750. Est: € 28,000Ketterer, Nov. 23: J. Gris and P. Reverdy, Au soleil du plafond, 1955. Est: € 3,000
