Auction Update Review

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Rare Book Hub: 25 Auctions Archived, Another 26 Upcoming this Week

For the week ended Saturday 16 March 2019 25 auctions were archived to the Rare Book Hub Transaction Database; 6 denominated in euros and 19 in US dollars.  Turnover was $5,553,139 as 13,605 lots were offered and 8,720 sold for a slim 64% success rate.  It was better to be a buyer than seller this past week.

  

2 auctions saw their total proceeds reach a million dollars: 

Bonhams. The Medical and Scientific Library of W. Bruce Fye on March 11th: $1,470,647 
Kiefer Buch und Kunstauktionen. Books, Graphics modern and ancient Arts, Antiques on February 14th: $1,193,704 
 

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

Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers. Milford House Sale - Books and Prints on November 20th: 172.66% 
Doyle New York. Travel & Sport in India & Asia from the Library of Arnold 'Jake' Johnson - bidstart 2/28 on March 14th: 172.16% 
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on March 12th: 100.30% 


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

Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers. House Contents Sale - Books, Prints on March 5th: 100.00% 
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 3/3 on March 10th: 99.70% 
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper on March 9th: 99.37% 
Stair Auctioneers and Appraisers. Modern, Modern, Modern! - Prints and Photographs on March 8th: 98.88% 
Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers. Milford House Sale - Books and Prints on November 20th: 98.44% 
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Sports Collectibles - Internet bidstart 3/3 on March 10th: 98.13% 
Heritage Auctions. Weekly World Currency Internet Auction - Online bidstart 3/5 on March 12th: 98.05% 
Heritage Auctions. Tuesday Internet Currency Auction - bidstart 3/5 on March 12th: 98.03% 
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Sports Collectibles - Internet bidstart 2/10 on March 10th: 96.94% 
Doyle New York. Travel & Sport in India & Asia from the Library of Arnold 'Jake' Johnson - bidstart 2/28 on March 14th: 96.13% 
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on March 12th: 90.91% 
Kedem Auction. Judaica, Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinic Letters on March 12th: 85.22% 
Michaans Auctions. Gallery Auction - Books, Prints, Photographs on March 9th: 80.56% 
 
 
Top 25 Lots Reported This Past Week.
  1. Bonhams De humani corporis fabrica libri septem. on March 11th Actual price: USD $325,075.
  2. Bonhams APPLE-1 MICROCOMPUTER. on March 12th Actual price: USD $112,575.
  3. Bonhams The Book of Mormon: An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon, upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi. on March 14th Actual price: USD $75,075.
  4. Bonhams The Holy Bible, Conteyning the Old Testament, and the New. on March 12th Actual price: USD $60,075.
  5. Bonhams The Theory of Moral Sentiments. on March 12th Actual price: USD $56,325.
  6. Bonhams De humani corporis fabrica libri septem. on March 11th Actual price: USD $52,575.
  7. Bonhams Autograph Manuscript of Rhodes C. Allen, being his diary of the Powell Expedition of 1868, on March 14th Actual price: USD $43,825.
  8. Bonhams Micrographia: or some Physiological Descriptions of Minute Bodies made by Magnifying Glasses. on March 11th Actual price: USD $43,825.
  9. Kiefer Buch und Kunstauktionen Dix recettes d'immortalité. on February 14th Actual price: USD $38,646.
  10. Kedem Auction Two Large Leaves Handwritten by the Chatam Sofer on March 12th Actual price: USD $34,440.
  11. Heritage Auctions Amazing Fantasy #15 (Marvel, 1962) CGC VG+ 4.5 Off-white to white pages. on March 10th Actual price: USD $32,400.
  12. Bonhams Vischer's Pictorial of California Landscape, Trees and Forest Scenes. Grand Features of California Scenery, Life, Traffic and Customs. on March 12th Actual price: USD $31,325.
  13. Bonhams Letter signed ("Will: Harvey") in English, 1 p, 4to (243 x 141 mm), on March 11th Actual price: USD $31,325.
  14. Bonhams Photographic Review of Medicine and Surgery: a bi-monthly Illustration of interesting Cases, accompanied by Notes. on March 11th Actual price: USD $30,075.
  15. Bonhams Experiments and Observations on Electricity, made at Philadelphia in America ... to which are added, Letters and Papers on Philosophical Subjects. on March 11th Actual price: USD $27,575.
  16. Bonhams BARTHOLOMAEUS FONTIUS, Editor. 1445-1513. on March 11th Actual price: USD $27,575.
  17. Bonhams Archive of drawings and letters from Harper Lee to Charles Weldon Carruth, with an inscribed first edition of To Kill a Mockingbird on March 12th Actual price: USD $25,075.
  18. Bonhams Exploration du territoire de L'Oregon, des Californies et de la Mer Vermeille executee pendant les annees 1840, 1841 et 1842. on March 12th Actual price: USD $23,825.
  19. Bonhams The Principles and Practice of Medicine. on March 11th Actual price: USD $23,825.
  20. Kedem Auction Midrash Rabba on March 12th Actual price: USD $22,140.
  21. Kiefer Buch und Kunstauktionen Raccolta di varie decorazioni sceniche inventate e dipinte. per L'I. R. Teatro alla Scala. on February 14th Actual price: USD $21,696.
  22. Kiefer Buch und Kunstauktionen Mittelalterliche Handschrift. Sermones dominicales fratris Anthony (Anthonij) Permensis ordine predicatorum. Item sermones quadragesimales per ferias. on February 14th Actual price: USD $21,696.
  23. Heritage Auctions Amazing Fantasy #15 Jack Kirby and Stan Lee Verified Signature (Marvel, 1962) CBCS VG- 3.5 Off-white to white pages. on March 10th Actual price: USD $21,600.
  24. Bonhams De motu cordis et sanguinis in animalibus anatomica exercitatio, cui postremam hac editione accesserunt Johannis Walaei epistolae duae. on March 11th Actual price: USD $21,325.
  25. Bonhams Surgery of the Head. Extracted from Surgery: Its Principles and Practice. on March 11th Actual price: USD $21,325


25 total sales reported this week:

Bonhams. Treasures from the Eric C. Caren Collection - Online bidstart 3/6 on March 14th: 59.55%
Doyle New York. Travel & Sport in India & Asia from the Library of Arnold 'Jake' Johnson - bidstart 2/28 on March 14th: 96.13%
Vermot de Pas. Library about Gastronomy - Part 1 on March 13th: 48.77%
Holabird Kagin Americana. Wigwam Auction - session 5 on March 11th: 73.13%
Holabird Kagin Americana. Wigwam Auction - session 4 on March 10th: 67.15%
Holabird Kagin Americana. Wigwam Auction - session 3 on March 9th: 23.81%
Holabird Kagin Americana. Wigwam Auction - session 2 on March 8th: 50.35%
Holabird Kagin Americana. Wigwam Auction - session 1 on March 7th: 53.97%
Binoche et Giquello. BIBLIOTHÈQUE JEAN-PAUL LAURENCHET GASTRONOMY WINE TASTING on March 12th: 65.25%
Heritage Auctions. Vintage Photographs of Norman Seeff - Online bidstart 2/26 on March 13th: 34.00%
Bonhams. Extraordinary Books and Manuscripts on March 12th: 38.60%
Heritage Auctions. Weekly World Currency Internet Auction - Online bidstart 3/5 on March 12th: 98.05%
Heritage Auctions. Tuesday Internet Currency Auction - bidstart 3/5 on March 12th: 98.03%
Kedem Auction. Judaica, Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinic Letters on March 12th: 85.22%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 3/3 on March 10th: 99.70%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Sports Collectibles - Internet bidstart 2/10 on March 10th: 96.94%
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on March 12th: 90.91%
Kiefer Buch und Kunstauktionen. Books, Graphics modern and ancient Arts, Antiques on February 14th: 47.60%
Bonhams. The Medical and Scientific Library of W. Bruce Fye on March 11th: 70.79%
Michaans Auctions. Gallery Auction - Books, Prints, Photographs on March 9th: 80.56%
Stair Auctioneers and Appraisers. Modern, Modern, Modern! - Prints and Photographs on March 8th: 98.88%
Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers. Milford House Sale - Books and Prints on November 20th: 98.44%
Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers. House Contents Sale - Books, Prints on March 5th: 100.00%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Sports Collectibles - Internet bidstart 3/3 on March 10th: 98.13%
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper on March 9th: 99.37%

 

For the week ahead 26 sales are scheduled:

Mon. Mar. 18th
Cowans Auctions. Cincinnati. American History: Timed Online Auction - Internet bidstart 3/7. 332 lots
Bruun Rasmussen. Copenhagen. Prints. 93 lots

Tue. Mar. 19th
Chiswick Auctions. London. Photographica. 180 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Tuesday Internet Currency Auction - bidstart 3/12. 489 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Weekly World Currency Internet Auction - Online bidstart 3/12. 161 lots

Wed. Mar. 20th
Sothebys. London. Made in Britain - Prints, Photographs. 109 lots
ALDE. Paris. Modern Bindings and Modern Illustrated Books. 298 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Monthly Photographs Online - bidstart 2/27. 62 lots
Bonhams. New York. FINE JAPANESE PRINTS, INCLUDING PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE LATE BERTRAM AND RUTH MALENKA. 184 lots

Thu. Mar. 21st
Christies. London - King Street. Prints and Multiples. 197 lots
Forum Auctions. London. Online Sale: Maps and Atlases. 155 lots
Swann Galleries. New York. Autographs. 259 lots
Brunk Auctions. Asheville, NC . Emporium and Premium Auctions. 47 lots
PBA Galleries. San Francisco. Rare Books and Manuscripts. 366 lots
Sothebys. London. Original Film Posters - Online bidstart 3/11. 175 lots
Bonhams. New York. The Medical and Scientific Library of W. Bruce Fye - Online, bistart 3/12. 340 lots

Fri. Mar. 22nd
Binoche et Giquello. rue La Boetie, Paris. Before Guards Surrealism Books. 56 lots
Brunk Auctions. Asheville, NC . Premium Auction. 9 lots

Sat. Mar. 23rd
Rachel Davis Fine Arts. Cleveland. Fine Art at Auction - Prints. 191 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Movie Posters. 766 lots
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Franklin. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper. 168 lots
Leland Little Auctions. Hillsborough, NC. March Gallery Auction - Prints, Books. 93 lots

Sun. Mar. 24th
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 3/17.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Sports Collectibles - Internet bidstart 3/17.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Sports Collectibles - Internet bidstart 2/24. 178 lots
National Book Auctions. Ithaca. Books.

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