Auction Update Review

Rare Book Hub: 52 Auctions Archived, another 12 Upcoming this Week

For the week ended Friday 20 December 2019 52 auctions were archived to the Rare Book Hub Transaction Database; 24 denominated in euros, 2 in British pounds, and 26 in US dollars.

 

Turnover was $35,902,670 as 14,354 lots were offered and 10,164 sold for a 71% success rate.  Whether bidders were more cautious, consignors more demanding, or the auction houses a trifle too optimistic, is unclear.  The sell-through percentage, that has been trending up about 6% this fall, fell to 71%.  This aside, the numbers were spectacular, Sotheby’s selling two multi-million dollar lots.  As Reggie Jackson is remembered as Mr. October so too Sotheby’s should be recognized as Mr. December in collectible paper for their many home runs at the holidays year after year.

 

For the shortened week ahead, as buyers, consignors, dealers and auction houses settle back for well-deserved holiday respites, a mere 12 sales are scheduled.  So at last, some blue sky.  We too will pull back a bit.  The pace has been a torrid and we’ll return in 2020, looking ahead to the many changes that are soon to come.

 

5 auctions saw their total proceeds reach a million dollars: 

Sothebys. Fine Books and Manuscripts on December 18th: $11,089,875 
Sothebys. The Birds of America from Original Drawings by John James Audubon on December 18th: $6,642,400 
Sothebys. La Collection Ribes II on December 13th: $4,886,539 
Bonhams. Prints and Multiples on December 11th: $1,834,910 
Binoche et Giquello. R. AND BL LIBRARY: AUTOGRAPHS AND MANUSCRIPTS XIXTH AND XXTH CENTURIES - WRITERS - MUSICIANS - PAINT on May 22nd: $1,378,199 
 

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

Sothebys. Fine Books and Manuscripts on December 18th: 249.98% 
Dirk Soulis Auctions. The McHugh Collection of HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT RAILROADIANA on December 14th: 155.51% 
Sothebys. La Collection Ribes II on December 13th: 138.13% 
Aspire Auctions. Fine Art - Prints - online bidstart 12/6 on December 14th: 125.16% 
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books (Pre-1700) - Internet bidstart 11/29 on December 9th: 121.91% 
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books (Pre-1600) - Internet bidstart 11/29 on December 10th: 107.63% 
Swann Galleries. Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books on December 17th: 107.23% 
Binoche et Giquello. R. AND BL LIBRARY: AUTOGRAPHS AND MANUSCRIPTS XIXTH AND XXTH CENTURIES - WRITERS - MUSICIANS - PAINT on May 22nd: 104.45% 


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

Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Sports Collectibles - Internet bidstart 11/17 on December 15th: 100.00% 
Heritage Auctions. World Currency Weekly - Internet bidstart 12/10 on December 17th: 100.00% 
Sothebys. The Birds of America from Original Drawings by John James Audubon on December 18th: 100.00% 
Heritage Auctions. U.S. Currency Weekly - Internet Bidstart 12/10 on December 17th: 99.61% 
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 12/8 on December 15th: 98.94% 
Dirk Soulis Auctions. The McHugh Collection of HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT RAILROADIANA on December 14th: 98.62% 
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 12/8 on December 15th: 97.90% 
Potter and Potter Auctions. Winter Magic on December 14th: 95.24% 
Sothebys. La Collection Ribes II on December 13th: 93.50% 
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books (Pre-1600) - Internet bidstart 11/29 on December 10th: 93.33% 
Swann Galleries. Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books on December 17th: 92.77% 
Winner's Auctions Ltd. Gold Coins, Chabad, Amulets and Belongings of Tzaddikim, Kabala & Chassidic books, Manuscripts and L on December 9th: 92.11% 
Sothebys. Prints and Multiples - Prints - Online bidstart 12/6 on December 16th: 91.67% 
Aspire Auctions. Fine Art - Prints - online bidstart 12/6 on December 14th: 89.47% 
University Archives. Stellar Manuscripts, Rare Books, and Apollo Related Items on December 4th: 88.59% 
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books (Pre-1700) - Internet bidstart 11/29 on December 9th: 87.76% 
Bruun Rasmussen. Books on December 10th: 87.32% 
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper on December 14th: 86.00% 
Robert Siegel Galleries. United States Postal History and Confederate States on December 18th: 85.32% 
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on December 10th: 84.52% 
Old World Auctions. Maps and Atlases - Internet bidstart 10/30 on November 13th: 82.98% 
 
Top 25 Lots Reported This Past Week.
  1. Sothebys The Olympic Manifesto on December 18th Actual price: USD $8,806,500.
  2. Sothebys The Birds of America; from Original Drawings by John James Audubon. on December 18th Actual price: USD $6,642,400.
  3. Sothebys ESSAIS. LIVRE PREMIER ET SECOND. on December 13th Actual price: USD $468,662.
  4. Sothebys ATLAS MINOR SIVE GEOGRAPHIA COMPENDIOS QUA ORBIS TERRARIUM PER PAUCAS ATTAMEN NOVISSIMAS TABULAS OSTENTDITUR. on December 13th Actual price: USD $428,539.
  5. Sothebys The Raven. on December 18th Actual price: USD $312,500.
  6. Sothebys CIVITATES ORBIS TERRARUM. on December 13th Actual price: USD $250,770.
  7. Binoche et Giquello LA PROSE DU TRANSSIBERIEN ET DE LA PETITE JEHANNE DE FRANCE. on October 7th Actual price: USD $233,962.
  8. Bonhams Le Repas Frugal, from La Suite des Saltimbanques on December 11th Actual price: USD $197,791.
  9. Binoche et Giquello LETTRE AUTOGRAPHE À GEORGE SAND, signée Ch on May 22nd Actual price: USD $179,594.
  10. Sothebys ON THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES.... on December 17th Actual price: USD $175,000.
  11. Sothebys PROMENADES DANS ROME. on December 13th Actual price: USD $153,249.
  12. Sothebys The Federalist: A Collection of Essays. Written in Favour of the New Constitution, as Agreed Upon by the Federal Convention, September 17, 1787. on December 18th Actual price: USD $150,000.
  13. Sothebys À L’OMBRE DES JEUNES FILLES EN FLEURS. on December 13th Actual price: USD $146,283.
  14. Binoche et Giquello LE PANAMA OU LES AVENTURES DE MES SEPT ONCLES. LES QUATRE MANUSCRITS DU PANAMA.MANUSCRITS AUTOGRAPHES on May 22nd Actual price: USD $133,247.
  15. Sothebys FÊTES PUBLIQUES DONNÉES PAR LA VILLE DE PARIS À L’OCCASION DU MARIAGE DE MONSEIGNEUR LE DAUPHIN AVEC MARIE-THÉRÈSE D’ESPAGNE, LES 23 ET 26 FÉVRIER MDCCXLV. on December 13th Actual price: USD $132,351.
  16. Sothebys LES ESSAIS DE MICHEL SEIGNEUR DE MONTAIGNE. EDITION NOUVELLE, TROUVEE APRES LE DECEDS DE L’AUTHEUR, REVEÜE & AUGMENTEE PAR LUY D’UN TIERS PLUS QU’AUX PRECEDENTES IMPRESSIONS. on December 13th Actual price: USD $125,385.
  17. Sothebys FABLES CHOISIES. on December 13th Actual price: USD $114,240.
  18. Sothebys DU CÔTÉ DE CHEZ SWANN. on December 13th Actual price: USD $104,488.
  19. PIASA Cabeza, from Portfolio II - 1982 / 2005 on December 11th Actual price: USD $101,304.
  20. Sothebys Handmade pamphlet belonging to Major Wilbur A. Dexheimer, signed by his Christmas Eve dinner guests at the American Base in Yan'an, China on December 18th Actual price: USD $100,000.
  21. Sothebys ODE À MA MÈRE. on December 13th Actual price: USD $91,949.
  22. Sothebys Poems. on December 18th Actual price: USD $81,250.
  23. Sothebys Typed letter signed "Mao Tse-tung" as leader of the Chinese Communist Party, requesting that Major Dexheimer send Christmas greetings on his behalf to General Hurley and on behalf of Zhou Enlai to General Wedemeyer on December 18th Actual price: USD $81,250.
  24. Sothebys ORIGINAL NEON RAINBOW APPLE LOGO SIGN on December 17th Actual price: USD $81,250.
  25. Binoche et Giquello CORRESPONDANCE AUTOGRAPHE À MARIE D'AGOULT, on May 22nd Actual price: USD $78,210.



52 total sales reported this week:

Adams Amsterdam Auctions. Fine Art; Modern and Contemporary Works of Art - Prints on December 3rd: 68.14%
Robert Siegel Galleries. United States Postal History and Confederate States on December 18th: 85.32%
Il Ponte. Photographs on December 12th: 50.00%
Mirabaud-Mercier Auctioneers. Old and Modern Books on December 17th: 45.45%
PIASA. Editions, featuring Sam Francis Gravures on December 11th: 55.22%
Pierre Berge and Associes. Ancient and Modern Books on December 13th: 66.00%
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on December 17th: 75.90%
Robert Siegel Galleries. The Santiago Cruz Large Gold Medal Collection of Colombia SCADTA Air Post Issues on December 10th: 31.11%
Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers. Rare Books, Literature, Collectibles, & Ephmera on December 10th: 66.94%
Winner's Auctions Ltd. Gold Coins, Chabad, Amulets and Belongings of Tzaddikim, Kabala & Chassidic books, Manuscripts and L on December 17th: 63.24%
Winner's Auctions Ltd. Seforim, Glosses & Signatures, Chabad, Eretz Yisrael and Zionism, Letters from Rabbis and Rebbes, Ho on September 19th: 53.64%
Winner's Auctions Ltd. Gold Coins, Chabad, Amulets and Belongings of Tzaddikim, Kabala & Chassidic books, Manuscripts and L on December 9th: 92.11%
Artcurial. Books and Manuscripts on December 10th: 30.86%
Aste Bolaffi. Christmas Sale - Live Internet on December 16th: 26.58%
Swann Galleries. Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books on December 17th: 92.77%
Sothebys. Fine Books and Manuscripts on December 18th: 68.14%
Sothebys. The Birds of America from Original Drawings by John James Audubon on December 18th: 100.00%
Sothebys. The History of Science and Technology on December 17th: 70.73%
Sothebys. Prints and Multiples - Prints - Online bidstart 12/6 on December 16th: 91.67%
Doyle New York. Photographs on December 11th: 77.88%
Old World Auctions. Maps and Atlases - Internet bidstart 10/30 on November 13th: 82.98%
Sothebys. La Collection Ribes II on December 13th: 93.50%
Sothebys. The Art of Travel - Online bidstart 12/2 on December 12th: 50.00%
Heritage Auctions. World Currency Weekly - Internet bidstart 12/10 on December 17th: 100.00%
Heritage Auctions. U.S. Currency Weekly - Internet Bidstart 12/10 on December 17th: 99.61%
Bonhams. Prints and Multiples on December 11th: 79.26%
Nye & Company Auctioneers. Estate Treasures - Fine Art Prints, Books on December 11th: 50.00%
Arenberg Auctions. Books and Prints on December 14th: 71.65%
Binoche et Giquello. Library of R. AND BL - Autographs, manuscripts and photographs of the twentieth century on October 7th: 0.45%
Binoche et Giquello. Library of Jean-Claude Carriere - Books on November 21st: 63.52%
Binoche et Giquello. R. AND BL LIBRARY: AUTOGRAPHS AND MANUSCRIPTS XIXTH AND XXTH CENTURIES - WRITERS - MUSICIANS - PAINT on May 22nd: 71.33%
Binoche et Giquello. Books and Manuscripts on December 11th: 39.45%
Dirk Soulis Auctions. The McHugh Collection of HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT RAILROADIANA on December 14th: 98.62%
Clars Auction Gallery. Books, Prints on December 15th: 70.13%
Clars Auction Gallery. Books, Prints on December 14th: 74.63%
Aspire Auctions. Fine Art - Prints - online bidstart 12/6 on December 14th: 89.47%
Charlton Hall. Holiday Sale on December 13th: 78.57%
University Archives. Stellar Manuscripts, Rare Books, and Apollo Related Items on December 4th: 88.59%
Potter and Potter Auctions. Winter Magic on December 14th: 95.24%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 12/8 on December 15th: 98.94%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 12/8 on December 15th: 97.90%
Aste Bolaffi. PostersRare Books and Autographs on December 11th: 68.76%
Bruun Rasmussen. Books on December 10th: 87.32%
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on December 10th: 84.52%
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books (Pre-1600) - Internet bidstart 11/29 on December 10th: 93.33%
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books (Pre-1700) - Internet bidstart 11/29 on December 9th: 87.76%
Catawiki B. V.. Autographs and Manuscripts - Internet bidstart 11/29 on December 8th: 72.92%
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper on December 14th: 86.00%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Sports Collectibles - Internet bidstart 11/17 on December 15th: 100.00%
Zwiggelaar Auctions. Books and Prints - Session 3 on December 4th: 35.23%
Zwiggelaar Auctions. Books and Prints - Session 2 on December 3rd: 34.70%
Zwiggelaar Auctions. Books and Prints - Session 1 on December 2nd: 33.45%

 


For the week ahead 12 sales are scheduled:

Mon. Dec. 23rd
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Old and Rare Books (Pre-1700) - Internet bidstart 12/13. 67 lots

Tue. Dec. 24th
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. U.S. Currency Weekly - Internet Bidstart 12/17. 455 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. World Currency Weekly - Internet bidstart 12/17. 142 lots
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Old and Rare Books (Pre-1600) - Internet bidstart 12/13. 25 lots

Thu. Dec. 26th
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Old and Rare Books (Pre-1800) - Internet bidstart 12/20. 50 lots

Fri. Dec. 27th
Dirk Soulis Auctions. Lee's Summit . Monstrous Two-Ring Antique Auction. 50 lots
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Old and Rare Books (Pre-1800) - Internet bidstart 12/20. 170 lots

Sat. Dec. 28th
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Franklin. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper.

Sun. Dec. 29th
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 12/22.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 12/22.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Sports Collectibles - Internet bidstart 12/1. 147 lots
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Autographs and Manuscripts - Internet bidstart 12/20. 37 lots

Bruce McKinney

RBH and AE

  • 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
  • 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