Auction Update Review
Rare Book Hub: 62 Auctions Archived, another 19 Upcoming this Week
For the week ended Friday, 18 December 2020, 62 auctions were archived to Rare Book Hub’s Transactions+ Database; 1 denominated in Canadian dollars, 2 in Swiss francs, 1 in Danish kroner, 21 in euros, 10 in British pounds, 1 in Mexican pesos and 26 in US dollars.
Turnover was a stellar $67,288,721 as 83% of all lots offered sold. Twenty-six thousand one hundred and thirty-four lots were offered and 21,705 changed hands. The pace of sales continued to surge into the holidays. Even as we are taking a deep breath the spring is looking to be robust. Collectible paper is on fire.
15 auctions saw total proceeds reach a million dollars:
Heritage Auctions. Fall Sports Collectible Catalogue Auction on December 13th: $22,056,405
Sothebys. A Grand Vision: The David H. Arrington Collection of Ansel Adams Masterworks on December 14th: $6,433,714
Heritage Auctions. Animation Art on December 13th: $4,277,278
Forum Auctions. Only Banksy on December 7th: $3,094,473
Pierre Berge and Associes. Pierre Bergé's Library - 5th sale on December 16th: $3,091,548
Bonhams. Prints and Multiples on December 15th: $3,072,999
Sothebys. Fine Books and Manuscripts, Including Selections from the Collection of Barbara and Ira Lipman - bid on December 16th: $3,054,122
Sothebys. Books and Manuscripts - bidstart 12/7 on December 15th: $2,644,461
Bonhams. Fine Books, Atlases, Manuscripts and Historical Photographs on December 17th: $2,001,865
Sothebys. Prints and Multiples - Online, bidstart 12/4 on December 16th: $1,943,676
Arenberg Auctions. Prints and Drawings on December 12th: $1,880,905
OSENAT. Books and Manuscripts on December 9th: $1,801,714
Robert Siegel Galleries. U.S. and Hawaii Stamps and Postal History on December 18th: $1,694,769
RR Auction. Steve Jobs + Apple - bidstart 12/10 on December 17th: $1,584,166
Heritage Auctions. Once Upon a Time - Rare Children's Literature from Justin G. Schiller, Ltd. on December 16th: $1,444,753
23 auctions saw total sales exceed 100% of the high estimates of all lots offered:
Tooveys. Paper Collectables on December 11th: 335.28%
Litchfield County Auctions. The Estate of Richard I. Johnson on December 8th: 252.53%
RR Auction. Steve Jobs + Apple - bidstart 12/10 on December 17th: 213.21%
Pierre Berge and Associes. Pierre Bergé's Library - 5th sale on December 16th: 204.43%
Bonhams. Fine Books, Atlases, Manuscripts and Historical Photographs on December 17th: 185.77%
OSENAT. Books and Manuscripts on December 9th: 166.46%
Sothebys. Books and Manuscripts - bidstart 12/7 on December 15th: 152.68%
OSENAT. THE INCREDIBLE COLLECTION - 65 POSTERS BY JACQUES FARIA 1898-1956 AND VARIOUS on December 13th: 142.16%
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Military & Aviation History, Medals & Militaria, Barnes Wallis & Winston Churchill on December 17th: 140.95%
Forum Auctions. Only Banksy on December 7th: 140.15%
Forum Auctions. Online Sale: Books and Works on Paper on December 16th: 138.39%
Robert Siegel Galleries. U.S. and Hawaii Stamps and Postal History on December 18th: 132.83%
Arenberg Auctions. Prints and Drawings on December 12th: 132.65%
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. 19th & 20th Photography, China, Formosa & Japan, Military Cased Images on December 16th: 127.00%
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books (Pre-1800) - bidstart 11/27 on December 9th: 126.43%
Heritage Auctions. Once Upon a Time - Rare Children's Literature from Justin G. Schiller, Ltd. on December 16th: 123.31%
Aspire Auctions. Fine Art Prints, Books - online bidstart 12/4 on December 12th: 112.52%
Bonhams. Prints and Multiples on December 15th: 112.09%
Bruun Rasmussen. Book, Prints and Photographs on December 15th: 110.74%
Catawiki B. V.. Autographs and Manuscripts - bidstart 11/27 on December 6th: 106.80%
Sothebys. A Grand Vision: The David H. Arrington Collection of Ansel Adams Masterworks on December 14th: 104.94%
Heritage Auctions. World Currency Weekly - Internet bidstart 12/8 on December 15th: 104.41%
Carlsen Gallery. F. D. Cawley Estate on December 13th: 103.42%
38 sales saw at least 80% of their lots sell:
Forum Auctions. Only Banksy on December 7th: 100.00%
Heritage Auctions. Animation Art on December 13th: 99.80%
Heritage Auctions. Comics, Animation, & Art Weekly Online - bidstart 12/6 on December 14th: 99.69%
Heritage Auctions. World Currency Weekly - Internet bidstart 12/8 on December 15th: 99.48%
Heritage Auctions. Once Upon a Time - Rare Children's Literature from Justin G. Schiller, Ltd. on December 16th: 99.43%
Heritage Auctions. US Currency Weekly Online - Bidstart 12/8 on December 15th: 99.35%
Potter and Potter Auctions. Winter Magic Auction on December 12th: 99.09%
Litchfield County Auctions. The Estate of Richard I. Johnson on December 8th: 97.85%
Heritage Auctions. Movie Posters Weekly - Bidstart 12/6 on December 13th: 96.58%
Forum Auctions. Online Sale: Books and Works on Paper on December 16th: 96.25%
Heritage Auctions. Fall Sports Collectible Catalogue Auction on December 13th: 96.13%
RR Auction. Steve Jobs + Apple - bidstart 12/10 on December 17th: 96.00%
Robert Siegel Galleries. U.S. and Hawaii Stamps and Postal History on December 18th: 95.58%
Pierre Berge and Associes. Pierre Bergé's Library - 5th sale on December 16th: 95.48%
Aspire Auctions. Fine Art Prints, Books - online bidstart 12/4 on December 12th: 95.12%
Carlsen Gallery. F. D. Cawley Estate on December 13th: 95.00%
Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society. Rare and Used Book Auction on November 30th: 94.75%
Leland Little Auctions. Holiday Estate Auction on December 17th: 94.12%
Sothebys. A Grand Vision: The David H. Arrington Collection of Ansel Adams Masterworks on December 14th: 93.50%
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books (Pre-1800) - bidstart 11/27 on December 9th: 93.33%
Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers. Rare Books, Literature and Collectors' Sale on December 9th: 92.40%
Dorotheum . Books and Decorative Graphics on December 14th: 91.56%
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Military & Aviation History, Medals & Militaria, Barnes Wallis & Winston Churchill on December 17th: 90.77%
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper on December 12th: 90.50%
Bonhams. Fine Books, Atlases, Manuscripts and Historical Photographs on December 17th: 89.29%
Sothebys. Prints and Multiples - Online, bidstart 12/4 on December 16th: 87.85%
Tooveys. Paper Collectables on December 11th: 87.29%
Bruun Rasmussen. Book, Prints and Photographs on December 15th: 86.58%
OSENAT. Books and Manuscripts on December 9th: 86.48%
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. 19th & 20th Photography, China, Formosa & Japan, Military Cased Images on December 16th: 84.67%
Rachel Davis Fine Arts. Prints & Drawings, Fine and Decorative Arts on December 12th: 83.47%
Adams Amsterdam Auctions. Modern and Contemporary Art - Prints, Photographs on December 15th: 83.15%
Trafford Books. Ephemera, Cigarette Cards, Photographs, Postcards, Postage Stamps and Postal History. on December 16th: 81.01%
Sothebys. Books and Manuscripts - bidstart 12/7 on December 15th: 80.57%
Koller Auctions. Prints and Multiples - Online, bidstart 11/30 on December 10th: 80.49%
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books (Pre-1800) - bidstart 12/4 on December 11th: 80.41%
Catawiki B. V.. Autographs and Manuscripts - bidstart 11/27 on December 6th: 80.33%
Kedem Auctions Ltd.. Judaica Books, Manuscripts, Letters, Objects on December 9th: 80.00%
62 total sales reported this week:
Koller Auctions. Photography on December 9th: 64.23%
Koller Auctions. Prints and Multiples - Online, bidstart 11/30 on December 10th: 80.49%
Robert Siegel Galleries. U.S. and Hawaii Stamps and Postal History on December 18th: 95.58%
Holabird Kagin Americana. Holiday 2020: Railroad, Mining, Americana, Numismatic on December 18th: 59.34%
Litchfield County Auctions. The Estate of Richard I. Johnson on December 8th: 97.85%
Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society. Rare and Used Book Auction on November 30th: 94.75%
Kiefer Buch und Kunstauktionen. Books, Graphics modern and ancient Arts, Antiques on December 12th: 50.19%
RR Auction. Steve Jobs + Apple - bidstart 12/10 on December 17th: 96.00%
PBA Galleries. Americana - Travel and Exploration - World History - Cartography on December 17th: 66.32%
Leland Little Auctions. Holiday Estate Auction on December 17th: 94.12%
Holabird Kagin Americana. Holiday 2020: Stocks and Bonds (Mining, Railroad, Other) on December 17th: 69.38%
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Military & Aviation History, Medals & Militaria, Barnes Wallis & Winston Churchill on December 17th: 90.77%
Bonhams. Fine Books, Atlases, Manuscripts and Historical Photographs on December 17th: 89.29%
ALDE. Old Books from the 15th-19th Centuries on December 17th: 59.57%
Pierre Berge and Associes. Pierre Bergé's Library - 5th sale on December 16th: 95.48%
Bruun Rasmussen. Book, Prints and Photographs on December 15th: 86.58%
Trafford Books. Ephemera, Cigarette Cards, Photographs, Postcards, Postage Stamps and Postal History. on December 16th: 81.01%
Sothebys. Prints and Multiples - Online, bidstart 12/4 on December 16th: 87.85%
Sothebys. Fine Books and Manuscripts, Including Selections from the Collection of Barbara and Ira Lipman - bid on December 16th: 66.91%
Forum Auctions. Online Sale: Books and Works on Paper on December 16th: 96.25%
Forum Auctions. Forum Auctions @ Artsy on December 16th: 40.00%
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. 19th & 20th Photography, China, Formosa & Japan, Military Cased Images on December 16th: 84.67%
A.H. Wilkens Auctions & Appraisals. Antique Books, Maps, Prints and Documents on December 16th: 67.38%
Heritage Auctions. Once Upon a Time - Rare Children's Literature from Justin G. Schiller, Ltd. on December 16th: 99.43%
Sothebys. Books and Manuscripts - bidstart 12/7 on December 15th: 80.57%
Doyle New York. Photographs on December 15th: 70.29%
Bonhams. Prints and Multiples on December 15th: 77.12%
Bearnes Hampton and Littlewood. Specialist Sporting and Collectors Sale on December 15th: 62.71%
Aste Bolaffi. Rare Books and Autographs on December 15th: 67.51%
ALDE. Modern Illustrated Books and Original Bindings on December 15th: 79.50%
ALDE. First Editions of the 19th and 20th Centuries on December 15th: 63.96%
Tessier & Sarrou and Associates. Comic Strips on December 12th: 76.38%
Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers. Rare Books, Literature and Collectors' Sale on December 9th: 92.40%
Heritage Auctions. US Currency Weekly Online - Bidstart 12/8 on December 15th: 99.35%
Heritage Auctions. World Currency Weekly - Internet bidstart 12/8 on December 15th: 99.48%
Sothebys. A Grand Vision: The David H. Arrington Collection of Ansel Adams Masterworks on December 14th: 93.50%
Dorotheum . Books and Decorative Graphics on December 14th: 91.56%
Bonhams. The Gift of Photographs - bidstart 12/4 on December 14th: 53.29%
Adams Amsterdam Auctions. Modern and Contemporary Art - Prints, Photographs on December 15th: 83.15%
Adams Amsterdam Auctions. Fine Art and Aboriginal Art on December 14th: 78.13%
Heritage Auctions. Comics, Animation, & Art Weekly Online - bidstart 12/6 on December 14th: 99.69%
Heritage Auctions. Animation Art on December 13th: 99.80%
Heritage Auctions. Fall Sports Collectible Catalogue Auction on December 13th: 96.13%
Carlsen Gallery. F. D. Cawley Estate on December 13th: 95.00%
Rachel Davis Fine Arts. Prints & Drawings, Fine and Decorative Arts on December 12th: 83.47%
Potter and Potter Auctions. Winter Magic Auction on December 12th: 99.09%
Morton Subastas. Opportunity - Books, Prints - bidstart 12/2 on December 12th: 33.90%
Aspire Auctions. Fine Art Prints, Books - online bidstart 12/4 on December 12th: 95.12%
Tooveys. Paper Collectables on December 11th: 87.29%
Arenberg Auctions. Prints and Drawings on December 12th: 78.43%
OSENAT. THE INCREDIBLE COLLECTION - 65 POSTERS BY JACQUES FARIA 1898-1956 AND VARIOUS on December 13th: 60.00%
OSENAT. Books and Manuscripts on December 9th: 86.48%
Forum Auctions. Only Banksy on December 7th: 100.00%
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books (Pre-1800) - bidstart 12/4 on December 11th: 80.41%
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books (Pre-1800) - bidstart 11/27 on December 9th: 93.33%
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books (Pre-1600) - bidstart 11/27 on December 8th: 63.83%
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books (Pre-1800) - bidstart 11/27 on December 7th: 78.89%
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books (Pre-1700) - bidstart 11/27 on December 6th: 25.00%
Catawiki B. V.. Autographs and Manuscripts - bidstart 11/27 on December 6th: 80.33%
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper on December 12th: 90.50%
Kedem Auctions Ltd.. Judaica Books, Manuscripts, Letters, Objects on December 9th: 80.00%
Heritage Auctions. Movie Posters Weekly - Bidstart 12/6 on December 13th: 96.58%
For the week ahead 19 sales are scheduled:
Mon. Dec. 21st
Dorotheum . Vienna. Modern and Contemporary Art - Prints. 17 lots
Holabird Kagin Americana. Reno. Holiday 2020: Dealer Part 2. 450 lots
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Old and Rare Books (Pre-1700) - bidstart 12/11. 90 lots
Bruun Rasmussen. Copenhagen. Prints. 68 lots
Sothebys. New York. Four Decades: In Celebration of AIPAD. 88 lots
Tue. Dec. 22nd
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. US Currency Weekly Online - Bidstart 12/15. 456 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. World Currency Weekly - Internet bidstart 12/15. 217 lots
Soler Y Llach. Barcelona. Rare and Valuable Books. 173 lots
Kedem Auctions Ltd.. Jerusalem . Jewish and Israeli History, Art and Culture. 413 lots
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Old and Rare Books (Pre-1600) - bidstart 12/11. 48 lots
William H. Bunch Auctions and Appraisals. Chadds Ford, PA . Online Only - Timed Eclectic Variety Auction. 33 lots
Wed. Dec. 23rd
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Old and Rare Books (Pre-1800) - bidstart 12/11. 150 lots
Fri. Dec. 25th
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Old and Rare Books (Pre-1800) - bidstart 12/18. 92 lots
Sat. Dec. 26th
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Franklin. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper. 200 lots
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Art and Photography - bidstart 12/18. 43 lots
Sun. Dec. 27th
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Comics, Animation, & Art Weekly Online - bidstart 12/20.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Movie Posters Weekly - Bidstart 12/20.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sports Collectibles Weekly - Bidstart 12/13. 242 lots
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Autographs and Manuscripts - bidstart 12/18. 39 lots
Bruce McKinney
RBH and AE
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Forum
Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
Thursday 19th NovemberForum, 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 - £50,000Forum, Nov. 19: Crescenzi (Bartolomeo). Nautica mediterranea, 2 parts in 1, second edition, with rare engraved folding map, Rome, Bartolomeo Bonfadino, 1607. £15,000 - £20,000Forum, Nov. 19: Aristotle. [The Works], 10 vol.,, translated by Thomas Taylor, Printed for the Translator... by Robert Wilks, 1807-12. £6,000-8,000Forum
Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
Thursday 19th NovemberForum, 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]. £6,000-8,000Forum, Nov. 19: Vitruvius Pollio (Marcus). I Dieci Libri dell'Architettura, translated by Daniele Barbaro, Venice, Francesco Marcolini, 1556. £7,000-10,000Forum, Nov. 19: Rowling (J.K.) Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, first edition, hardback issue, first printing, Bloomsbury, 1997. £50,000-70,000Forum
Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
Thursday 19th NovemberForum, 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. £15,000-20,000Forum, 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). £35,000-45,000Forum, 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. £15,000-20,000Forum
Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
Thursday 19th NovemberForum, Nov. 19: Gersdorff (Hans von). Feldtbuch der Wund-Arzney, enlarged edition, Strassburg, Hans Schotten, 1540. £20,000-30,000Forum, 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. £8,000-12,000Forum, 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 - $17,000Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 63. The Largest of the Strada "Leo Belgicus" Editions (1632) Est. $3,250 - $4,000Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 71. Blaeu's Stunning Carte-a-Figures Map of the Americas (1640) Est. $4,000 - $4,750Old 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 - $6,000Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 172. 1775 Edition of the Landmark Fry-Jefferson Map of Virginia and Maryland (1775) Est. $12,000 - $15,000Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 46. Doppelmayr's Fine Celestial Chart (1742) Est. $800 - $950Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 212. First Edition Ski Country Map by Pioneer Hal Shelton (1965) Est. $500 - $700Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 732. Ruscelli's Complete Atlas with 69 Maps and Updated Maps of the Continents (1599) Est. $8,000 - $9,500Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 329. Ortelius' Map of Iceland Surrounded by Sea Monsters (1585) Est. $11,000 - $13,000Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 600. Heinrich Bunting's Rare Map of Asia in the Form of a Pegasus (1581) Est. $3,000 - $3,750Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 716. Bible Leaf with Hand-Colored Image of the Adoration of the Magi (1490) Est. $2,000 - $2,300
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Ketterer Rare Books
Auction November 23Ketterer, Nov. 23: L. Feininger, Collection of autograph letters to Alois J. Schardt, 1920-1955. Est: € 150,000-250,000Ketterer, Nov. 23: Flemish book of hours, Ghent-Bruges School around 1480-1500. Est: € 40,000Ketterer, Nov. 23: F. de Wit, Atlas maior, um 1700. Est: € 50,000Ketterer Rare Books
Auction November 23Ketterer, Nov. 23: A. Stieglitz, Camera Work, 48 volumes, 1903-1914. Est: € 60,000Ketterer, Nov. 23: M. Merian & M. Zeiller, Sämtliche Topographien, 21 volumes, 1642-1736. Est: € 50,000Ketterer, Nov. 23: R. Indiana and R. Creely, Numbers, 1968. Est: € 4,000Ketterer Rare Books
Auction November 23Ketterer, Nov. 23: Salerno Breviarium, Latin manuscript on vellum, North Italy around 1470-1476. Est: € 40,000Ketterer, Nov. 23: M. S. Merian, Surinaamsche (&) europische Insecten, 1730. Est: € 30,000Ketterer, Nov. 23: M. Beckmann, Jahrmarkt, Portfolio of 10 signed etchings, 1922. Est: € 25,000Ketterer Rare Books
Auction November 23Ketterer, Nov. 23: Justinianus, Infortiatum, 1475. Est: € 10,000Ketterer, Nov. 23: B. Besler, Hortus Eystettensis, um 1750. Est: € 28,000Ketterer, 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.
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Sotheby’s
Nelson, His Life and His Navy:
The Clive Richards Collection of Letters and Manuscripts
November 18, 2026Sotheby’s
Nelson, His Life and His Navy:
The Clive Richards Collection of Letters and Manuscripts
November 18, 2026Sotheby’s
Nelson, His Life and His Navy:
The Clive Richards Collection of Letters and Manuscripts
November 18, 2026

