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Auction Update Review

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Rare Book Hub: 26 Auctions Archived, another 32 Upcoming this Week

For the week ended Saturday 13 July 2019 26 auctions were archived to the Rare Book Hub Transaction Database; 2 in Swiss francs, 2 in euros, 7 in British pounds, 1 in Mexican pesos, 1 in New Zealand dollars, 1 in Swedish krona, and 12 in US dollars.  Turnover was $16,331,401 as 6,499 lots were offered and 5,171 sold for an 80% success rate.  When the number of lots offered declines the success rate usually rises because the audience following the auctions remains committed to bidding week in and week out.

 

5 auctions saw total proceeds reach a million dollars: 

Christies. Important Scientific Books from the Collection of Peter and Margarethe Braune on July 9th: $3,241,719 
Christies. Valuable Books and Manuscripts on July 10th: $2,977,344 
Christies. The Golden Age of Russian Literature: A Private European Collection on July 9th: $2,839,063 
Sothebys. English Literature, History, Children's Books & Illustrations - Online bidstart 6/30 on July 9th: $1,711,094 
Christies. The History of Western Script: Important Antiquities and Manuscripts from the Schøyen Collection on July 10th: $1,609,219 

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

Art + Object. Rare Books on June 26th: 129.48% 
Christies. The Golden Age of Russian Literature: A Private European Collection on July 9th: 123.39% 
Koller Auctions. Prints and Multiples on June 29th: 123.28% 
Stockholms Auktionsverk. Books, Maps and Manuscripts on June 14th: 104.10% 
Christies. Important Scientific Books from the Collection of Peter and Margarethe Braune on July 9th: 100.60% 


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

Leland Little Auctions. June Gallery Auction - Books,Prints on June 29th: 100.00% 
Heritage Auctions. Weekly World Currency Internet Auction - Online bidstart 7/2 on July 9th: 100.00% 
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Sports Collectibles - Internet bidstart 6/9 on July 7th: 100.00% 
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 6/30 on July 7th: 99.66% 
Heritage Auctions. Tuesday Internet Currency Auction - bidstart 7/2 on July 9th: 99.59% 
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 6/30 on July 7th: 96.47% 
William H. Bunch Auctions and Appraisals. Eclectic Variety - Books, Prints on July 9th: 96.43% 
Thomson Roddick Auctioneers & Valuers. Antiquarian and Collectible Books Auction on June 26th: 94.30% 
Art + Object. Rare Books on June 26th: 89.05% 
Christies. The History of Western Script: Important Antiquities and Manuscripts from the Schøyen Collection on July 10th: 85.25% 
Waverly Auctions. Science-fiction and Fantasy on June 6th: 83.92% 
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper on July 6th: 80.43% 
Koller Auctions. Prints and Multiples on June 29th: 80.00% 
  

Top 25 Lots Reported This Past Week.
  1. Christies De revolutionibus orbium coelestium, libri V. on July 10th Actual price: USD $734,063.
  2. Christies Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica. on July 9th Actual price: USD $614,063.
  3. Christies Evgenii Onegin. Roman v stikhakh. Gl. 1 [Eugene Onegin. A novel in verse. Chapter 1]. on July 9th Actual price: USD $584,063.
  4. Christies Sidereus Nuncius. on July 9th Actual price: USD $434,063.
  5. Christies ‘Versuche über Pflanzen-Hybriden’. Offprint from: Verhandlungen des naturforschenden Vereines in Brünn. Vol. pp. [3]-47. on July 9th Actual price: USD $359,063.
  6. Sothebys Typescript management contract between Brian Epstein "(hereinafter called 'the Manager')" on the one part, and John Winston Lennon, George Harrison, James Paul McCartney, and Peter Randolph Best "(hereinafter called 'the Artists')" on the other part, SIGN on July 9th Actual price: USD $343,750.
  7. Christies THE SCHØYEN COLLECTION OF MEDIEVAL SEAL MATRICES on July 10th Actual price: USD $281,250.
  8. Christies On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection. on July 9th Actual price: USD $281,250.
  9. Christies BIBLE, Ezechiel, in Latin, manuscript on vellum on July 10th Actual price: USD $265,625.
  10. Christies Tychonis Brahe, Dani De nova et nullius aevi memoria prius visa stella, iam pridem anno a' nato Christo 1572, mense Novembri primum conspecta, contemplatio mathematica: cui, praeter exactam Eclipsis lunaris, huius anni, pragmatian, et elegantem In Vraniam on July 9th Actual price: USD $218,750.
  11. Christies Vechera na khutore bliz dikan'ki. Kn. 1-2 [Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka. Books 1-2]. on July 9th Actual price: USD $218,750.
  12. Christies Ruslan i Liudmila. Poema v shesti pesniakh. [Ruslan and Liudmila. A Poem in Six Cantos]. on July 9th Actual price: USD $179,688.
  13. Christies Epitoma in Almagestum Ptolemaei. Edited by Caspar Grosch and Stephan Römer. on July 9th Actual price: USD $132,813.
  14. Christies Harmonices mundi libri V. on July 9th Actual price: USD $125,000.
  15. Christies Liricheskij panteon. [The Lyrical Pantheon]. on July 9th Actual price: USD $125,000.
  16. Christies BEDE, De tabernaculo, in Latin, decorated manuscript on vellum on July 10th Actual price: USD $117,188.
  17. Christies Tsygany (Pisano v 1824 godu). [Gypsies (Written in 1824)]. on July 9th Actual price: USD $117,188.
  18. Christies [PUSHKIN et al.]. Mnemozina. Chast’ I-IV. [Mnemozina. Parts I-IV]. on July 9th Actual price: USD $117,188.
  19. Koller Auctions Apple. 1985. on June 29th Actual price: USD $111,201.
  20. Christies THE PALAEOGRAPHICAL ALBUM OF PIERRE-CAMILLE LE MOINE, a compilation of fragments from medieval codices on vellum and paper, some decorated and illuminated, in French and Latin on July 10th Actual price: USD $109,375.
  21. Christies Lettera a Filaleti di Timauro Antiate della vera storia della cicloide, e della famosissima esperienza dell'argento vivo. on July 9th Actual price: USD $109,375.
  22. Sothebys Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Bloomsbury, 1997 on July 9th Actual price: USD $101,563.
  23. Christies SERMONS, in Latin, decorated manuscript on vellum on July 10th Actual price: USD $101,563.
  24. Christies Bakhchisaraiskii fontan. [The Fountain of Bakhchisarai]. on July 9th Actual price: USD $101,563.
  25. Christies Autograph letter signed ('Adam Smith') to [William Eden, later 1st Baron Auckland], on July 10th Actual price: USD $96,875.



26 total sales reported this week:

William H. Bunch Auctions and Appraisals. Eclectic Variety - Books, Prints on July 9th: 96.43%
PBA Galleries. Americana - Travel & Exploration - World History - Cartography on July 11th: 69.14%
Morton Subastas. Books and Documents on the History of Mexico on July 9th: 35.45%
Thomson Roddick Auctioneers & Valuers. Antiquarian and Collectible Books Auction on June 26th: 94.30%
Rago Arts and Auctions. Urban Living - Art Prints, Illustrations on June 26th: 65.15%
Aguttes. Manuscripts on June 28th: 50.82%
Koller Auctions. Prints and Multiples on June 29th: 80.00%
Koller Auctions. Photography on June 27th: 68.15%
Christies. From Artist to Woodblock: Japanese Prints - internet bidstart 7/4 on July 11th: 73.17%
Heritage Auctions. Weekly World Currency Internet Auction - Online bidstart 7/2 on July 9th: 100.00%
Heritage Auctions. Tuesday Internet Currency Auction - bidstart 7/2 on July 9th: 99.59%
Christies. Valuable Books and Manuscripts on July 10th: 54.73%
Christies. The History of Western Script: Important Antiquities and Manuscripts from the Schøyen Collection on July 10th: 85.25%
Sothebys. English Literature, History, Children's Books & Illustrations - Online bidstart 6/30 on July 9th: 66.78%
Christies. Important Scientific Books from the Collection of Peter and Margarethe Braune on July 9th: 73.10%
Christies. The Golden Age of Russian Literature: A Private European Collection on July 9th: 62.81%
Waverly Auctions. Science-fiction and Fantasy on June 6th: 83.92%
Trafford Books. Books, Autographs, Ephemera, Postal History on July 3rd: 64.06%
Leland Little Auctions. June Gallery Auction - Books,Prints on June 29th: 100.00%
Art + Object. Rare Books on June 26th: 89.05%
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books (Pre-1800) - internet bidstart 6/14 on June 21st: 79.05%
Stockholms Auktionsverk. Books, Maps and Manuscripts on June 14th: 78.54%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Sports Collectibles - Internet bidstart 6/9 on July 7th: 100.00%
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper on July 6th: 80.43%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 6/30 on July 7th: 96.47%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 6/30 on July 7th: 99.66%


For the week ahead 32 sales are scheduled:

Mon. Jul. 15th
Winter Associates. Plainville, CT . Estate Items from Old Lyme and Massachusetts - Prints, Books. 32 lots
Holabird Kagin Americana. Reno. Summer Americana Auction - Session 5: Bargains and Dealer Specials. 1420 lots
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Old and Rare Books (Pre-1700) - Internet bidstart 7/5. 55 lots

Tue. Jul. 16th
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Tuesday Internet Currency Auction - bidstart 7/9. 286 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Weekly World Currency Internet Auction - Online bidstart 7/9. 153 lots
Tooveys. West Sussex. Postcards, Cigarette Cards; Photographs, Autographs, Printed & Manuscript Ephemera. 193 lots
Christies. New York. Contemporary Editions - online bidstart 7/9. 146 lots

Wed. Jul. 17th
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Photographs - Online bidstart 6/26. 77 lots
Freemans. Philadelphia. Collector's Sale.

Thu. Jul. 18th
Christies. New York. One Giant Leap: Celebrating Space Exploration 50 Years after Apollo 11. 147 lots
Forum Auctions. London. Online Sale: Books and Works on Paper.
RR Auction. Amherst. Olympics - online bidstart 7/11. 39 lots
AntiquarianAuctions.com. Cape Town. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 7/11. 509 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Summer Sports Card Catalogue Auction. 2248 lots
OSENAT. FONTAINEBLEAU. Automobilia Online Sale - bidstart 7/11. 38 lots
Stair Auctioneers and Appraisers. Hudson. Selections from the Collection of Elaine G. Weitzen.

Fri. Jul. 19th
Brunk Auctions. Asheville, NC . Emporium and Premium Auctions. 33 lots
Bonhams. New York. Stonewall@50 - Online bidstart 6/27. 127 lots
Guernseys. New York, NY. A Century at Sea - A Comprehensive Maritime Auction. 100 lots
Sothebys. New York. Contemporary Prints and Multiples - online bidstart 7/11. 63 lots

Sat. Jul. 20th
Skinner. Boston. The Mystic Collection: Early Books. 230 lots
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Franklin. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper. 190 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Entertainment & Music Memorabilia. 835 lots
Leland Little Auctions. Hillsborough, NC. Gallery Auction - Books, Prints, Photographs. 100 lots
Guernseys. New York, NY. A Century at Sea - A Comprehensive Maritime Auction - Day 2. 123 lots
Sothebys. New York. Space Exploration.
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Art and Photography - Online bidstart 7/12. 20 lots

Sun. Jul. 21st
Vermot de Pas. Paris. 50th Anniversary Sale of the First Man on the Moon.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 7/14.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 7/14.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Sports Collectibles - Internet bidstart 1/23. 330 lots
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Autographs and Manuscripts - Internet bidstart 7/12. 34 lots

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