Auction Update Review

Rare Book Hub: 41 Auctions Archived, another 44 Upcoming this Week

For the week ended Friday 18 October 2019 41 auctions were archived to the Rare Book Hub Transaction Database; 1 denominated in Australian Dollars, 1 in Mexican pesos, 14 in euros, and 25 in US dollars.  Turnover was $10,904,600 as 17,897 lots were offered and 11,679 sold for a slim 65% success rate.  Eleven sales struggled to reach a 60% sell-through.  It is becoming imperative for auctions to post all lot details 25 days in advance of sale to ensure the interested have time to find and evaluate material.

 

4 auctions saw total proceeds reach a million dollars: 


Heritage Auctions. Illustration Art on October 15th: $2,712,698 
Swann Galleries. Classic and Contemporary Photographs on October 17th: $1,519,936 
RR Auction. Space and Aviation - Internet bidstart 10/10 on October 17th: $1,428,809 
Kiefer Buch und Kunstauktionen. Graphics modern and ancient Arts, Antiques on October 12th: $1,008,944 


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

Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books (Pre-1700) - Internet bidstart 9/27 on October 7th: 201.77% 
Marc van de Wiele Auctions. Rare Books on October 5th: 110.86% 
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on October 15th: 108.34% 
Case Antiques, Inc.. Fall Discovery Auction - Books and Prints on October 5th: 102.30% 
Heritage Auctions. Illustration Art on October 15th: 100.34% 


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

Leland Little Auctions. October Gallery Sale - Books, Prints on October 12th: 100.00% 
Heritage Auctions. The MAD Collection of Annie Gaines Ashton Online Auction on October 17th: 100.00% 
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Sports Collectibles - Internet bidstart 9/15 on October 13th: 100.00% 
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 10/6 on October 13th: 99.90% 
Heritage Auctions. World Currency Weekly - Internet bidstart 10/8 on October 15th: 99.48% 
Heritage Auctions. U.S. Currency Weekly - Internet Bidstart 10/8 on October 15th: 99.43% 
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 10/6 on October 13th: 98.73% 
Alaska Auction. Books, Prints on October 17th: 97.30% 
Alaska Auction. Prints, Books on October 16th: 94.03% 
Heritage Auctions. Illustration Art on October 15th: 93.10% 
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on October 15th: 91.38% 
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books (Pre-1600) - Internet bidstart 9/27 on October 8th: 90.00% 
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper on October 12th: 88.00% 
John McInnis Auctioneers. Kennedy Relations on October 13th: 86.81% 
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books (Pre-1800) - Internet bidstart 10/4 on October 11th: 83.97% 
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books (Pre-1700) - Internet bidstart 9/27 on October 7th: 83.02% 
Winter Associates. Black Americana, Nautical, etc. on October 14th: 82.98% 
Case Antiques, Inc.. Fall Discovery Auction - Books and Prints on October 5th: 81.97% 
Cowans Auctions. American History Timed Online Auction - bidstart 9/26 on October 7th: 80.77% 

 

Top 25 Lots Reported This Past Week.
  1. Heritage Auctions Child of the Sun paperback cover, 1972 on October 15th Actual price: USD $495,000.
  2. Heritage Auctions The Chessmen of Mars book dust jacket, 1922 on October 15th Actual price: USD $150,000.
  3. Galerie Bassenge Die Eclogen on October 17th Actual price: USD $109,224.
  4. Heritage Auctions MAD #1 Gaines File Pedigree (EC, 1952) CGC NM/MT 9.8 White pages. on October 17th Actual price: USD $96,000.
  5. Swann Galleries Cuzco Children, Peru, December. on October 17th Actual price: USD $93,750.
  6. Heritage Auctions Pin-Up in Turquoise Bikini, Simoniz car polish advertisement, circa 1960 on October 15th Actual price: USD $81,250.
  7. Heritage Auctions Hero of Coffin Creek, Spicy Western Stories cover, June 1937 on October 15th Actual price: USD $75,000.
  8. Kiefer Buch und Kunstauktionen Handbibliothek eines Kunsthändlers, ca. 130 lfd. Meter mit ca. 3500 bis 4000 Bänden nicht gezählt, überw. im 20. Jhdt. erschienen. Schwerpunkt Werkverzeichnisse, Kunst und Künstler. on October 12th Actual price: USD $54,612.
  9. Heritage Auctions The Ark of the Covenant, Air Wonder Stories cover, August 1929 on October 15th Actual price: USD $53,750.
  10. Heritage Auctions The Haunted Wood, Arthur Rackham's Book of Pictures interior illustration, 1913 on October 15th Actual price: USD $51,250.
  11. Heritage Auctions Martini Time, 1935 on October 15th Actual price: USD $50,000.
  12. Heritage Auctions Game of Thrones book dust jacket, 2000 on October 15th Actual price: USD $48,750.
  13. Heritage Auctions Check and Double Check (Now Don't Get Me in a Corner), 1946 on October 15th Actual price: USD $47,500.
  14. Heritage Auctions Kelly Freas MAD #67 Cover Original Art (EC, 1961). on October 17th Actual price: USD $45,600.
  15. Heritage Auctions I've Been Spotted (Lasting Impression), 1956 on October 15th Actual price: USD $45,000.
  16. RR Auction Gemini Attitude and Rotational Hand Controller on October 17th Actual price: USD $43,751.
  17. Swann Galleries Gestapo informer recognized by a woman she had denounced, Dessau, Germany. on October 17th Actual price: USD $42,500.
  18. Heritage Auctions There's No Stopping Her! Film Fun cover, May 1936 on October 15th Actual price: USD $42,500.
  19. Heritage Auctions The Great God Harris, Spicy-Adventure Stories cover, December 1940 on October 15th Actual price: USD $40,000.
  20. Kiefer Buch und Kunstauktionen Für Joseph Beuys. Dreissig internationale Künstler unserer Zeit ehren Joseph Beuys. on October 12th Actual price: USD $38,228.
  21. RR Auction Dave Scott's Lunar Orbit-Flown Apollo 15 CSM Launch Checklist on October 17th Actual price: USD $37,500.
  22. RR Auction Gene Cernan's Apollo 17 Flown CSM Updates on October 17th Actual price: USD $34,371.
  23. Galerie Bassenge Brief 1918 mit 2 Holzschnitten on October 16th Actual price: USD $30,037.
  24. Marc van de Wiele Auctions Allégorie de la Rhétorique on October 5th Actual price: USD $29,138.
  25. Swann Galleries The North American Indian, Portfolio II [Apache, Pima, Pagago, and Mohave]. on October 17th Actual price: USD $27,500.



41 total sales reported this week:

Alaska Auction. Books, Prints on October 17th: 97.30%
Alaska Auction. Prints, Books on October 16th: 94.03%
John McInnis Auctioneers. Kennedy Relations on October 13th: 86.81%
Case Antiques, Inc.. Fall Discovery Auction - Books and Prints on October 5th: 81.97%
Michael Treloar. Travel and exploration, militaria, history of medicine, photographs and autographs. on October 12th: 72.41%
Winter Associates. Black Americana, Nautical, etc. on October 14th: 82.98%
RR Auction. Space and Aviation - Internet bidstart 10/10 on October 17th: 67.54%
Swann Galleries. Classic and Contemporary Photographs on October 17th: 67.60%
Morton Subastas. Morton Weekly:- Posters, Prints, Books on October 12th: 19.05%
Clars Auction Gallery. Prints and Photographs on October 13th: 78.69%
Clars Auction Gallery. Prints and Photographs on October 12th: 76.60%
One Of Kind Collectibles. Rare Autographs,Manuscripts, Sports, Books and Photography on October 10th: 78.26%
Cowans Auctions. American History Timed Online Auction - bidstart 9/26 on October 7th: 80.77%
Holabird Kagin Americana. October Auction - Day 4 on October 7th: 49.22%
Holabird Kagin Americana. October Auction - Day 3 on October 6th: 52.66%
Holabird Kagin Americana. October Auction - Day 2 on October 5th: 42.70%
Holabird Kagin Americana. October Auction - Day 1 on October 4th: 40.28%
Binoche et Giquello. ALEXANDRE TRAUNER (1906-1993) AND HIS ENTOURAGE: PHOTOGRAPHS, DECORATIONS, DOCUMENTS on October 16th: 71.38%
Marc van de Wiele Auctions. Rare Books on October 5th: 79.81%
Galerie Bassenge. Modern Literature and Art Documentation on October 17th: 44.48%
Galerie Bassenge. Autographs on October 16th: 52.46%
Galerie Bassenge. Literature and Book Illustrations on October 15th: 47.90%
Galerie Bassenge. Manuscripts and Old Prints on October 15th: 64.53%
Galerie Bassenge. Valuable Books (Varia) on October 15th: 44.92%
Galerie Bassenge. History, Geography and Travel Books on October 15th: 57.70%
Heritage Auctions. The MAD Collection of Annie Gaines Ashton Online Auction on October 17th: 100.00%
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on October 15th: 91.38%
Kiefer Buch und Kunstauktionen. Graphics modern and ancient Arts, Antiques on October 12th: 47.33%
Heritage Auctions. Monthly Photographs Online - bidstart 9/26 on October 16th: 66.13%
Heritage Auctions. U.S. Currency Weekly - Internet Bidstart 10/8 on October 15th: 99.43%
Leland Little Auctions. October Gallery Sale - Books, Prints on October 12th: 100.00%
Heritage Auctions. Illustration Art on October 15th: 93.10%
Heritage Auctions. World Currency Weekly - Internet bidstart 10/8 on October 15th: 99.48%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Sports Collectibles - Internet bidstart 9/15 on October 13th: 100.00%
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books (Pre-1800) - Internet bidstart 10/4 on October 11th: 83.97%
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books (Pre-1600) - Internet bidstart 9/27 on October 8th: 90.00%
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books (Pre-1700) - Internet bidstart 9/27 on October 7th: 83.02%
Catawiki B. V.. Autographs and Manuscripts - Internet bidstart 9/27 on October 6th: 76.32%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 10/6 on October 13th: 99.90%
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper on October 12th: 88.00%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 10/6 on October 13th: 98.73%

 


For the week ahead 44 sales are scheduled:

Mon. Oct. 21st
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Old and Rare Books (Pre-1700) - Internet bidstart 10/11. 53 lots
Bruun Rasmussen. Copenhagen. Prints. 58 lots
Ader. PARIS. Post-War Prints.

Tue. Oct. 22nd
Christies. New York. Prints and Multiples. 215 lots
Morton Subastas. México DF CP 11000. Books and Documents, Photographs and Prints. 256 lots
Doyle New York. New York. Prints and Multiples. 168 lots
Doyle New York. New York. Bank Notes. 32 lots
Rossini. Paris. Books, Autographs, Postcards. 335 lots
Artcurial. Paris. Outsider(s) - A History of Beautiful Losers. 103 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. U.S. Currency Weekly - Internet Bidstart 10/15. 638 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. World Currency Weekly - Internet bidstart 10/15. 225 lots
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Old and Rare Books (Pre-1600) - Internet bidstart 10/11. 22 lots

Wed. Oct. 23rd
Chiswick Auctions. London. Books and Works on Paper. 423 lots
Bonhams. London. Natural History, Travel and Americana featuring the Dodge Family Autograph Collection. 321 lots
PIASA. Paris. Daniel Varenne Collections - Illustrated Books, Books, and Documentation. 337 lots
Beaussant Lefevre. Paris. JEAN-CLAUDE DELAUNEY COLLECTION - ANCIENT AND MODERN BOOKS. 127 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Historical Manuscripts Featuring the Bret J. Formichi American Civil War Rarities Collection. 493 lots
Lion Heart Autographs. New York, NY . 150 MAGNIFICENT AUTOGRAPHS – INCLUDING HISTORY OF ISRAEL COLLECTION – NO BUYERS’ PREMIUM. 149 lots
Sothebys. London. THE SHAKERINE COLLECTION: Calligraphy in Qur’ans and other Manuscripts. 93 lots

Thu. Oct. 24th
Aste Bolaffi. Turin. Posters - Online. 310 lots
PBA Galleries. San Francisco. Americana - Yosemite - Travel & Exploration - World History - Cartography. 381 lots
Swann Galleries. New York. Early Printed, Travel, Scientific & Medical Books. 254 lots
ALDE. Paris. Modern Illustrated Books and Original Bindings. 313 lots
Forum Auctions. London. Forum @ Artsy: Colour Theory. 72 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Estate of John and Elaine Steinbeck Manuscripts. 36 lots
Sothebys. New York. Prints and Multiples - Prints. 66 lots
Bogota Auction. Bogota. Rare Books. 208 lots

Fri. Oct. 25th
Nosbüsch & Stucke. Berlin. Books - Part 1: Modern Literature, Erotica and Posters. 589 lots
De Baecque and Associes. Lyon. Prints. 114 lots
Jeschke van Vliet Auctions Berlin GmbH. Berlin-Schoneberg. Modern and Contemporary Art - Modern Photography. 342 lots
Nosbüsch & Stucke. Berlin. Books - Part 2: Modern Art, Graphics and Photography. 284 lots
Christies. New York. Fine Printed Books & Manuscripts including Americana. 152 lots
Mirabaud-Mercier Auctioneers. PARIS . Portraits of Stars: Photographs and Souvenirs. 389 lots
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Old and Rare Books (Pre-1800) - Internet bidstart 10/18. 128 lots

Sat. Oct. 26th
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Franklin. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper. 200 lots
Kolbe and Fanning Numismatic Booksellers. Gahanna. George F. Kolbe Library Sale. 430 lots
Nosbüsch & Stucke. Berlin. Books - Part 3: Valuable Books, Autographs and Prints. 500 lots
Nosbüsch & Stucke. Berlin. Books - Part 4: Science, Natural History and Curiosities. 46 lots
North American Auction Company. Bozeman. Montana Antiques. 121 lots
Sothebys. New York. Important Prints and Multiples. 233 lots

Sun. Oct. 27th
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Sports Collectibles - Internet bidstart 9/29. 200 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 10/20.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 10/20.
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Autographs and Manuscripts - Internet bidstart 10/18. 27 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