Auction Update Review

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Rare Book Hub: 31 Auctions Archived, another 29 Upcoming this Week

For the week ended Saturday 2 March 2019 31 auctions were archived to the Rare Book Hub Transaction Database; 7 denominated in euros, 4 in British pounds, and 20 in US dollars. Turnover was $25,380,796 as 9,649 lots were offered and 8,446 sold for an exceptional 88% success rate.  It was another strong week.  It's not the traditional paper that is winning.  Rather, this week, it's comics and sports related material.

 

3 auctions saw their total proceeds reach a million dollars: 

Heritage Auctions. Comics on February 22nd: $9,429,830 
Heritage Auctions. Platinum Sports Auction on February 24th: $9,353,800 
Christies. Contemporary Editions on February 27th: $1,742,439 


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


Christies. Matisse on Paper: Prints and Drawings from the Estate of Jacquelyn Miller Matisse - Online bidstart on March 1st: 196.01% 
Ader. Russian Art - Prints, Books on February 22nd: 170.00% 
Gonnelli Casa DAste. Books and Graphics on February 6th: 141.55% 
Ferraton. Public Sale of Books and Prints on February 22nd: 135.15% 
Forum Auctions. Banksy X Editions on February 27th: 109.95% 
Potter and Potter Auctions. The Rawlins Magic Collection on February 23rd: 108.96% 
Aguttes. ANCIENT AND MODERN BOOKS, MANUSCRIPTS, ILLUSTRATED BOOKS on February 22nd: 108.94% 


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

Rago Arts and Auctions. Prints on February 24th: 100.00% 
Christies. Matisse on Paper: Prints and Drawings from the Estate of Jacquelyn Miller Matisse - Online bidstart on March 1st: 100.00% 
Rago Arts and Auctions. Prints and Books on February 23rd: 100.00% 
Forum Auctions. Banksy X Editions on February 27th: 100.00% 
National Book Auctions. Oz, Books-on-Books, Americana, Antique, etc. on February 24th: 100.00% 
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 2/17 on February 24th: 99.59% 
Heritage Auctions. Tuesday Internet Currency Auction - bidstart 2/19 on February 26th: 99.42% 
Heritage Auctions. Weekly World Currency Internet Auction - Online bidstart 2/19 on February 26th: 98.81% 
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 2/17 on February 24th: 98.45% 
Heritage Auctions. Comics on February 22nd: 98.38% 
Copley Fine Art Auctions. Winter Sale on February 16th: 97.30% 
Alaska Auction. Fur Rondy - Books, Prints on February 21st: 96.97% 
Heritage Auctions. Platinum Sports Auction on February 24th: 95.96% 
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper on February 23rd: 95.83% 
Potter and Potter Auctions. The Rawlins Magic Collection on February 23rd: 94.05% 
Cowans Auctions. Treasures of the Civil War - Timed auction bidstart 2/14 on February 25th: 89.47% 
Christies. Contemporary Editions on February 27th: 89.27% 
Trafford Books. Books on February 20th: 85.71% 
Chiswick Auctions. Rare Books and Works on Paper on February 27th: 85.51% 
Ferraton. Public Sale of Books and Prints on February 22nd: 84.48% 
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on February 26th: 82.11% 
Winter Associates. Books, Prints on February 25th: 80.85% 
University Archives. Rare Autographs, Books on February 27th: 80.83% 

 

Top 25 Lots Reported This Past Week.
  1. Heritage Auctions 1910 Old Mill Series 8 Joe Jackson PSA VG+ 3.5. on February 24th Actual price: USD $600,000.
  2. Heritage Auctions Frank Frazetta Famous Funnies #209 Cover Original Art (Eastern Color, 1953). on February 22nd Actual price: USD $552,000.
  3. Heritage Auctions 1914 Boston Garter Joe Jackson SGC 70 EX+ 5.5. on February 24th Actual price: USD $480,000.
  4. Heritage Auctions 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 PSA NM-MT 8. on February 24th Actual price: USD $456,000.
  5. Heritage Auctions Superman #1 (DC, 1939) CGC VG+ 4.5 Cream to off-white pages. on February 22nd Actual price: USD $336,000.
  6. Heritage Auctions 1929-32 Lou Gehrig Game Worn New York Yankees Cap from The Lou Gehrig Collection, MEARS Authentic. on February 24th Actual price: USD $312,000.
  7. Heritage Auctions Dave Gibbons Watchmen #1 Cover Original Art (DC, 1986). on February 22nd Actual price: USD $228,000.
  8. Heritage Auctions Steve Ditko Strange Tales #117 Splash Page 1 Doctor Strange Original Art (Marvel, 1964). on February 22nd Actual price: USD $228,000.
  9. Heritage Auctions The Incredible Hulk #1 (Marvel, 1962) CGC VF/NM 9.0 Off-white to white pages. on February 22nd Actual price: USD $216,000.
  10. Heritage Auctions 1903 Breisch-Williams E107 Christy Mathewson Rookie SGC 50 VG/EX 4. on February 24th Actual price: USD $192,000.
  11. Heritage Auctions 1927 New York Yankees Team Signed Photograph. on February 24th Actual price: USD $180,000.
  12. Heritage Auctions Journey Into Mystery #83 (Marvel, 1962) CGC NM 9.4 Off-white to white pages. on February 22nd Actual price: USD $144,000.
  13. Heritage Auctions Amazing Fantasy #15 (Marvel, 1962) CGC VF- 7.5 Off-white pages. on February 22nd Actual price: USD $120,000.
  14. Heritage Auctions Robert Crumb Help! #24 "Fred the Teen-Age Girl Pigeon" Complete 2-Page Story Original Art (Warren Publishing, 1965). on February 22nd Actual price: USD $120,000.
  15. Heritage Auctions 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 PSA EX-MT+ 6.5. on February 24th Actual price: USD $120,000.
  16. Heritage Auctions 1980 Topps Larry Bird/Julius Erving/Magic Johnson PSA Gem Mint 10. on February 24th Actual price: USD $114,000.
  17. Heritage Auctions 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 SGC 86 NM+ 7.5. on February 24th Actual price: USD $108,000.
  18. Heritage Auctions 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle #253 SGC NM/MT 8. on February 24th Actual price: USD $108,000.
  19. Heritage Auctions 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #149 PSA NM-MT 8. on February 24th Actual price: USD $102,000.
  20. Heritage Auctions 1911 D304 Brunners Bread Ty Cobb PSA NM-MT 8. on February 24th Actual price: USD $102,000.
  21. Heritage Auctions 1955-56 Parkhurst Hockey Complete Set (79) - #5 on the PSA Set Registry. on February 24th Actual price: USD $96,000.
  22. Heritage Auctions 1889 Cap Anson and Buck Ewing "Burke Ale" Beer Advertising Poster. on February 24th Actual price: USD $96,000.
  23. Gonnelli Casa DAste Iniziale 'E', Adorazione dei Magi. on February 6th Actual price: USD $91,813.
  24. Heritage Auctions 1958 Ted Williams Game Worn Boston Red Sox Jersey, MEARS A7.5. on February 24th Actual price: USD $90,000.
  25. Christies Entropia (review) on February 27th Actual price: USD $87,500.



31 total sales reported this week:

Rago Arts and Auctions. Prints on February 24th: 100.00%
Christies. Matisse on Paper: Prints and Drawings from the Estate of Jacquelyn Miller Matisse - Online bidstart on March 1st: 100.00%
Chiswick Auctions. Autographs and Memorabilia on February 28th: 69.10%
Chiswick Auctions. Rare Books and Works on Paper on February 27th: 85.51%
Copley Fine Art Auctions. Winter Sale on February 16th: 97.30%
Winter Associates. Books, Prints on February 25th: 80.85%
Tajan. Rare and Precious Books on January 29th: 65.82%
Ferraton. Public Sale of Books and Prints on February 22nd: 84.48%
University Archives. Rare Autographs, Books on February 27th: 80.83%
Christies. Contemporary Editions on February 27th: 89.27%
Forum Auctions. Banksy X Editions on February 27th: 100.00%
Rago Arts and Auctions. Prints and Books on February 23rd: 100.00%
Old World Auctions. Maps and Atlases - Internet bidstart 2/6 on February 6th: 74.47%
Heritage Auctions. Tuesday Internet Currency Auction - bidstart 2/19 on February 26th: 99.42%
Heritage Auctions. Weekly World Currency Internet Auction - Online bidstart 2/19 on February 26th: 98.81%
Aguttes. ANCIENT AND MODERN BOOKS, MANUSCRIPTS, ILLUSTRATED BOOKS on February 22nd: 66.56%
Cowans Auctions. Treasures of the Civil War - Timed auction bidstart 2/14 on February 25th: 89.47%
Bruun Rasmussen. Books on February 26th: 68.18%
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on February 26th: 82.11%
PosterConnection Inc.. Affordable Posters on January 29th: 54.83%
National Book Auctions. Oz, Books-on-Books, Americana, Antique, etc. on February 24th: 100.00%
Potter and Potter Auctions. The Rawlins Magic Collection on February 23rd: 94.05%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 2/17 on February 24th: 99.59%
Heritage Auctions. Platinum Sports Auction on February 24th: 95.96%
Ader. Russian Art - Prints, Books on February 22nd: 72.86%
Alaska Auction. Fur Rondy - Books, Prints on February 21st: 96.97%
Trafford Books. Books on February 20th: 85.71%
Gonnelli Casa DAste. Books and Graphics on February 6th: 66.87%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 2/17 on February 24th: 98.45%
Heritage Auctions. Comics on February 22nd: 98.38%
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper on February 23rd: 95.83%

 

For the week ahead 29 sales are scheduled:

Mon. Mar. 4th
Bruun Rasmussen. Copenhagen. Prints. 83 lots

Tue. Mar. 5th
Swann Galleries. New York. 19th Century Prints and Drawings. 644 lots
Heritage Auctions. New York. Books. 548 lots
Forum Auctions. London. Online Sale: Select Modern and Contemporary Editions and Artists' Books. 184 lots
Rossini. Paris. DISPERSION OF M. GAULARD'S COLLECTION, FIRST PART,. 230 lots
Bruun Rasmussen. Copenhagen. Prints. 37 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Tuesday Internet Currency Auction - bidstart 2/26. 555 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Weekly World Currency Internet Auction - Online bidstart 3/29. 240 lots
Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers. Kilkenny. House Contents Sale - Books, Prints. 70 lots

Wed. Mar. 6th
Bearnes Hampton and Littlewood. Exeter. Books, Maps and Prints. 236 lots
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Gloucestershire. Printed Books, Maps and Documents. 491 lots
Christies. London - King Street. Masterpieces of Design and Photography - Photographs. 14 lots
RR Auction. Amherst. Fine Autographs & Artifacts - Internet bidstart 2/22. 761 lots

Thu. Mar. 7th
Forum Auctions. London. Online Sale: Books and Works on Paper. 202 lots
Swann Galleries. New York. Early Printed, Medical, Scientific & Travel Books. 275 lots
PBA Galleries. San Francisco. Mystery and Detective Fiction. 515 lots
Holabird Kagin Americana. Reno. Wigwam Auction - session 1. 63 lots
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Gloucestershire. Fine Art - Prints. 101 lots

Fri. Mar. 8th
Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society. Lancaster. Book Auction. 461 lots
Stair Auctioneers and Appraisers. Hudson. Modern, Modern, Modern! - Prints and Photographs. 89 lots
Holabird Kagin Americana. Reno. Wigwam Auction - session 2. 566 lots

Sat. Mar. 9th
Michaans Auctions. Alameda, CA . Gallery Auction - Books, Prints, Photographs. 36 lots
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Franklin. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper. 159 lots
Holabird Kagin Americana. Reno. Wigwam Auction - session 3. 105 lots

Sun. Mar. 10th
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Sports Collectibles - Internet bidstart 2/10. 196 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 3/3.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Sports Collectibles - Internet bidstart 3/3.
Holabird Kagin Americana. Reno. Wigwam Auction - session 4. 557 lots
National Book Auctions. Ithaca. Books.

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.