Auction Update Review

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All is well that ends well

For the week ended Saturday 29 December 21 auctions were archived to the Rare Book Hub Transaction Database; 6 denominated euros, 1 in British pounds, and 14 in US dollars.  Turnover was $6,593,158 as 4,813 lots were offered and 3,940 sold for a 82% success rate.  It’s been a busy year with many outstanding results.

On January 1st a review of the top lots sold in 2018 will be published in Rare Book Monthly.  Look for it!

 

2 auctions saw their total proceeds reach a million dollars: 

Sothebys. Fine Books & Manuscripts Online - Online bidstart 12/3 on December 17th: $2,289,125 
Ader. Autographed Letters & Manuscripts on December 11th: $2,102,310
 

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

Ader. Autographed Letters & Manuscripts on December 11th: 327.09% 
Skinner. The Gentleman's Auction online on December 20th: 155.59% 
Il Ponte. Photographs on December 19th: 117.32% 
Sothebys. Fine Books & Manuscripts Online - Online bidstart 12/3 on December 17th: 112.70% 


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

Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 12/16 on December 23rd: 99.62% 
Heritage Auctions. Tuesday Internet Currency Auction - Internet bidstart 12/18 on December 25th: 98.65% 
Winter Associates. Prints; French Travel Posters on December 10th: 96.43% 
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper on December 22nd: 96.20% 
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 12/16 on December 23rd: 95.55% 
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Sports Collectibles Auction - online bidstart 11/25 on December 23rd: 93.94% 
William H. Bunch Auctions and Appraisals. December 18th Eclectic Variety Auction on December 18th: 91.18% 
Il Ponte. Photographs on December 19th: 88.89% 
Skinner. The Gentleman's Auction online on December 20th: 88.24% 
Rachel Davis Fine Arts. Fine Art Prints on December 8th: 85.56% 
Doyle New York. Angling Books from the Collection of Arnold "Jake" Johnson on December 18th: 84.92% 
Neret Minet and Tessier. Comics on December 3rd: 84.42% 
 

Top 25 Lots Reported This Past Week.
  1. Sothebys Confusion de Confusiones. Dialogos curiosos entre un Philosopho agudo, un Mercader discreto, y un Accionista erudito descriviendo el negocio de las Acciones, su origen, su ethimologia, su realidad, su juego, y su enredo. on December 17th Actual price: USD $375,000.
  2. Sothebys A remarkable letter, in German, from Mendel to his parents, in which he mentions Friedrich Franz on December 17th Actual price: USD $300,000.
  3. Sothebys Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies. Published according to the true Originall Copies. The Second Impression on December 17th Actual price: USD $300,000.
  4. Ader Karl MARX. L.A.S., Londres 11 février 1873, au « Cher citoyen » [Maurice Lachâtre]  on December 11th Actual price: USD $182,400.
  5. Ader Karl MARX. 4 L.A.S., [Londres] 5-28 novembre 1872, au « Cher citoyen » [Maurice Lachâtre]  on December 11th Actual price: USD $175,104.
  6. Arader Galleries Map of Texas with Parts of Adjoining States Compiled by Stephen F. Austin. on January 27th Actual price: USD $164,700.
  7. Ader Karl MARX. P.S. « Karl Marx », écrite et signée par Maurice La Châtre, 13 février 1872  on December 11th Actual price: USD $138,624.
  8. Sothebys 'LE ROSE' on October 3rd Actual price: USD $137,500.
  9. Ader Karl MARX. L.A.S., 1 Maitland Park Road, Haverstock Hill, Londres 7 mars 1872, [à Maurice Lachâtre]  on December 11th Actual price: USD $134,246.
  10. Sothebys APPLE CORPS LIMITED DISSOLUTION OF CONTRACT, SIGNED BY ALL FOUR BEATLES on December 17th Actual price: USD $118,750.
  11. Ader Karl MARX. L.A.S., Londres 19 octobre 1872, à « Cher citoyen » [Maurice Lachâtre]  on December 11th Actual price: USD $105,062.
  12. Ader Karl MARX (1818-1883). L.A.S., [Londres] 9 janvier 1872, au « Cher citoyen » [Maurice Lachâtre à San Sebastian]  on December 11th Actual price: USD $103,603.
  13. Ader Karl MARX. L.A.S., Londres 4 août 1873, au « Cher citoyen » [Maurice Lachâtre]  on December 11th Actual price: USD $87,552.
  14. Ader Karl MARX. L.A.S., Londres 29 mars 1873, au « Cher citoyen » [Maurice Lachâtre]  on December 11th Actual price: USD $87,552.
  15. Ader Karl MARX. L.A.S., [Londres] 17 mars 1873, [à Paulin Franques (collaborateur parisien de Lachâtre) ?]  on December 11th Actual price: USD $87,552.
  16. Ader Karl MARX. L.A.S., Londres 1er mai 1872, au « Cher citoyen » [Maurice Lachâtre]  on December 11th Actual price: USD $87,552.
  17. Ader Karl MARX. L.A.S., [Londres] 1er novembre 1872, au « Cher citoyen » [Maurice Lachâtre]  on December 11th Actual price: USD $80,256.
  18. Ader Karl MARX. L.A.S., Karlsbad 18 septembre 1874, au « Cher citoyen » [Maurice Lachâtre]  on December 11th Actual price: USD $75,878.
  19. Ader Karl MARX. L.A.S., Londres 20 mars 1872, au « Cher citoyen » [Maurice Lachâtre]  on December 11th Actual price: USD $75,878.
  20. Ader Friedrich ENGELS. L.A.S. « F. Engels », Londres 31 mars 1873, au « Citoyen » Maurice Lachâtre  on December 11th Actual price: USD $75,878.
  21. Ader Karl MARX. L.A.S. « K. M. », [Londres] 13 octobre 1873, au « Cher citoyen » [Maurice Lachâtre]  on December 11th Actual price: USD $72,960.
  22. Ader Karl MARX. L.A.S., [Londres] 28 avril 1873, au « Cher citoyen » [Maurice Lachâtre ?]  on December 11th Actual price: USD $70,042.
  23. Ader Karl MARX. L.A.S., [Londres] 28 octobre 1873, au « Cher citoyen » [Juste Vernouillet ?]  on December 11th Actual price: USD $65,664.
  24. Ader Karl MARX. L.A.S., Londres 29 mars 1873, au « Cher citoyen » [Juste Vernouillet]  on December 11th Actual price: USD $65,664.
  25. Artcurial Paris, P. Le Noir, 1527 on December 11th Actual price: USD $60,509.



21 total sales reported this week:

Tooveys. Decorative Pictures - Prints on December 28th: 48.89%
Il Ponte. Photographs on December 17th: 61.83%
Neret Minet and Tessier. Sale Posters of Exhibitions and Cabarets on December 26th: 58.07%
Neret Minet and Tessier. Comics on December 3rd: 84.42%
Skinner. The Gentleman's Auction online on December 20th: 88.24%
William H. Bunch Auctions and Appraisals. December 18th Eclectic Variety Auction on December 18th: 91.18%
Doyle New York. Angling Books from the Collection of Arnold "Jake" Johnson on December 18th: 84.92%
Il Ponte. Photographs on December 19th: 88.89%
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. Fine Prints Timed Online Only - bidstart 12/7 on December 14th: 62.73%
Doyle New York. Photographs on December 13th: 77.70%
Rachel Davis Fine Arts. Fine Art Prints on December 8th: 85.56%
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper on December 22nd: 96.20%
Heritage Auctions. Tuesday Internet Currency Auction - Internet bidstart 12/18 on December 25th: 98.65%
Skinner. Discovery - Interiors online on December 12th: 61.90%
Artcurial. Books and Manuscripts on December 11th: 45.55%
Ader. Autographed Letters & Manuscripts on December 11th: 60.58%
Winter Associates. Prints; French Travel Posters on December 10th: 96.43%
Sothebys. Fine Books & Manuscripts Online - Online bidstart 12/3 on December 17th: 68.63%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Sports Collectibles Auction - online bidstart 11/25 on December 23rd: 93.94%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 12/16 on December 23rd: 95.55%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 12/16 on December 23rd: 99.62%

 


For the week ahead 7 sales are scheduled:

Tue. Jan. 1st
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Tuesday Internet Currency Auction - Internet bidstart 12/25. 205 lots

Sat. Jan. 5th
William H. Bunch Auctions and Appraisals. Chadds Ford, PA . New Year's Classic Sale - Prints, Books.
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Franklin. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper.
Leland Little Auctions. Hillsborough, NC. New Year's Gallery Auction - Prints, Books. 34 lots

Sun. Jan. 6th
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Sports Collectibles Auction - online bidstart 12/9/18. 229 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 12/30.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 12/30.

 

Best wishes for the holidays!

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