Auction Update Review

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Rare Book Hub: 35 Auctions Archived, another 40 Upcoming this Week

For the week ended Friday, 19th February 2021, 35 auctions were archived to Rare Book Hub’s Transactions+ Database; 1 denominated in Australian dollars, 1 in Danish krone, 9 in euros, 3 in British pounds, and 21 in US dollars.

 

Turnover was $6,027,019 as 87% of all lots offered sold.  Ten thousand one-hundred-eighty-eight lots were offered and 8,903 changed hands.  The market continues to be strong.

 

1 auction saw their total proceeds reach a million dollars:

Rago Arts and Auctions. Prints and Multiples on February 17th: $1,192,757

 


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

Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books (Pre-1700) - bidstart 1/29 on February 8th: 782.23%
Sothebys. Unwrapped, Part II: The Hidden World of Christo and Jeanne-Claude - bidstart 2/8 on February 18th: 251.44%
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books (Pre-1800) - bidstart 1/29 on February 10th: 198.02%
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Printed Books, Maps, Prints & Ephemera, Military Books, General Stock on February 17th: 170.61%
Keys Fine Arts Auctioneers. Pictures and Prints on February 19th: 168.36%
Forum Auctions. Online Sale: Modern Literature, Private Press and Illustrated Books on February 18th: 156.60%
Freemans. Books and Manuscripts on February 18th: 152.09%
Garth's Auctioneers and Appraisers. Eclectic Variety Eclectic Auction TIMED, ONLINE ONLY - bidstart 2/4 on February 14th: 113.90%
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on February 16th: 105.76%
Il Ponte. Interior Decoration|...| Books on February 16th: 102.44%
Cowans Auctions. African Americana on February 18th: 100.52%


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

Heritage Auctions. Sports Collectibles Weekly - Bidstart 1/31 on February 14th: 100.00%
Leland Little Auctions. The Presidents' Week Auction on February 19th: 100.00%
Heritage Auctions. World Currency Weekly - Internet bidstart 2/9 on February 16th: 100.00%
Sothebys. Unwrapped, Part II: The Hidden World of Christo and Jeanne-Claude - bidstart 2/8 on February 18th: 100.00%
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books (Pre-1700) - bidstart 1/29 on February 8th: 100.00%
William H. Bunch Auctions and Appraisals. Online Only: Eclectic Variety on February 16th: 100.00%
Garth's Auctioneers and Appraisers. Eclectic Variety Eclectic Auction TIMED, ONLINE ONLY - bidstart 2/4 on February 14th: 100.00%
Heritage Auctions. Movie Posters Weekly - Bidstart 2/7 on February 14th: 99.81%
Heritage Auctions. US Currency Weekly Online - Bidstart 2/9 on February 16th: 99.42%
Heritage Auctions. Comics, Animation, & Art Weekly Online - bidstart 2/7 on February 15th: 99.39%
Old World Auctions. Maps and Atlases - Internet bidstart 1/27 on February 10th: 99.22%
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper on February 13th: 98.00%
Il Ponte. Interior Decoration|...| Books on February 16th: 95.65%
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books (Pre-1800) - bidstart 1/29 on February 10th: 95.62%
Forum Auctions. Online Sale: Modern Literature, Private Press and Illustrated Books on February 18th: 94.12%
Brunk Auctions. Premier and Emporium Auctions on February 13th: 92.86%
Purcell Auctioneers. Irish Interest Books and Ephemera on February 17th: 92.62%
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Printed Books, Maps, Prints & Ephemera, Military Books, General Stock on February 17th: 91.71%
Rago Arts and Auctions. Prints and Multiples on February 17th: 90.91%
Keys Fine Arts Auctioneers. Pictures and Prints on February 19th: 90.00%
Holabird Kagin Americana. The Sweetheart Express Auction - Day 5 on February 15th: 89.08%
Freemans. Books and Manuscripts on February 18th: 88.55%
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on February 16th: 86.67%
Holabird Kagin Americana. The Sweetheart Express Auction - Day 4 on February 14th: 86.29%
Catawiki B. V.. Autographs and Manuscripts - bidstart 1/29 on February 7th: 84.62%
Cowans Auctions. African Americana on February 18th: 83.70%
RR Auction. Presidential Auction on February 18th: 83.22%
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books (Pre-1800) - bidstart 2/5 on February 12th: 82.30%

 

Top 25 Lots Reported This Past Week.
  1. Freemans Les voyages du sieur de Champlain xaintongeois, capitaine ordinaire pour le Roy, en la marine. Divisez en deux livres. ou, journal tres-fidele des observations faites es descouuertures de la nouuelle France... on February 18th Actual price: USD $201,600.
  2. RR Auction Abraham Lincoln Signed Photograph on February 18th Actual price: USD $135,473.
  3. RR Auction John F. Kennedy's Harvard Sweater on February 18th Actual price: USD $85,266.
  4. Cowans Auctions An archive of materials mostly related to abolitionist George H. Hoyt's work as an attorney for John Brown, on February 18th Actual price: USD $43,750.
  5. Rago Arts and Auctions Dutch Iris on February 17th Actual price: USD $40,000.
  6. Rago Arts and Auctions Sunflower V on February 17th Actual price: USD $37,500.
  7. Kestenbaum and Company (Admor of Ratzfert, 1862-1944). Autograph Letter Signed, written in Hebrew on letterhead, to Chaim Fleischman. on February 18th Actual price: USD $37,500.
  8. Swann Galleries LA MAISON MODERNE. 1900. on February 18th Actual price: USD $37,500.
  9. RR Auction George Washington Autograph Letter Signed on February 18th Actual price: USD $34,031.
  10. RR Auction Thomas Jefferson Autograph Letter Signed on February 18th Actual price: USD $30,626.
  11. PBA Galleries Nicholas Machiavel's Prince. Also, The life of Castruccio Castracani of Lucca. And the meanes Duke Valentine us'd to put to death Vitellozzo Vitelli, Oliverotto of Fermo Paul, and the Duke of Gravina. Translated out of Italian into English; by E[dward] D[ on February 18th Actual price: USD $30,000.
  12. RR Auction Andrew Johnson Document Signed on February 18th Actual price: USD $28,539.
  13. Rago Arts and Auctions Lost Time on February 17th Actual price: USD $27,500.
  14. Rago Arts and Auctions Monica Nude with Cezanne from Portfolio 90 on February 17th Actual price: USD $26,000.
  15. RR Auction George Washington Signed Lottery Ticket on February 18th Actual price: USD $25,713.
  16. RR Auction Abraham Lincoln Large Lock of Hair on February 18th Actual price: USD $25,000.
  17. PBA Galleries Fourteen Hundred and 91 Days in the Confederate Army: A Journal Kept by W. W. Heartsill. For Four Years, One Month, and One Day, or Camp Life; Day-by-Day, of the W. P. Lane Rangers. From April 19th, 1861, to May 20th, 1865 on February 18th Actual price: USD $24,000.
  18. Kestenbaum and Company (Foremost Posek, 1761-1837). Autograph Manuscript Signed, written in Hebrew. on February 18th Actual price: USD $23,750.
  19. RR Auction Ronald Reagan Autograph Letter Signed on February 18th Actual price: USD $23,716.
  20. Old World Auctions A Plan of Boston, and Its Environs. Shewing the True Situation of His Majesty's Army. And Also Those of the Rebels. Drawn by an Engineer at Boston. Octr. 1775, 1776 on February 10th Actual price: USD $23,575.
  21. PBA Galleries The Lord of the Rings trilogy on February 18th Actual price: USD $22,800.
  22. PBA Galleries The Wonders of the Invisible World: Being an account of the tryals of several vvitches, lately excuted [sic] in New-England: and of several remarkable curiosities therein occurring... on February 18th Actual price: USD $21,600.
  23. Brunk Auctions Titanic Plan of First Class Accommodation deck plans for White Star Line's New Triple Screw, R.M.S. "TITANIC", flanked by photographs of interior quarters on February 13th Actual price: USD $21,420.
  24. Rago Arts and Auctions Blonde Vivienne on February 17th Actual price: USD $21,250.
  25. Heritage Auctions Amazing Fantasy #15 (Marvel, 1962) CGC Apparent VG 4.0 Slight/Moderate (C-2) Off-white to white pages. on February 15th Actual price: USD $19,200.


35 total sales reported this week:

Keys Fine Arts Auctioneers. Pictures and Prints on February 19th: 90.00%
Leland Little Auctions. The Presidents' Week Auction on February 19th: 100.00%
Swann Galleries. Vintage Posters on February 18th: 75.29%
RR Auction. Presidential Auction on February 18th: 83.22%
Sothebys. Unwrapped, Part II: The Hidden World of Christo and Jeanne-Claude - bidstart 2/8 on February 18th: 100.00%
PBA Galleries. PBA Platinum - Rare Books, Manuscripts & Art on February 18th: 77.48%
Kestenbaum and Company. FINE JUDAICA: RARE PRINTED BOOKS, MANUSCRIPTS, AUTOGRAPH LETTERS & GRAPHIC ARTS on February 18th: 69.32%
Freemans. Books and Manuscripts on February 18th: 88.55%
Forum Auctions. Online Sale: Modern Literature, Private Press and Illustrated Books on February 18th: 94.12%
Cowans Auctions. African Americana on February 18th: 83.70%
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Printed Books, Maps, Prints & Ephemera, Military Books, General Stock on February 17th: 91.71%
Heritage Auctions. US Currency Weekly Online - Bidstart 2/9 on February 16th: 99.42%
Old World Auctions. Maps and Atlases - Internet bidstart 1/27 on February 10th: 99.22%
Rago Arts and Auctions. Prints and Multiples on February 17th: 90.91%
Purcell Auctioneers. Irish Interest Books and Ephemera on February 17th: 92.62%
William H. Bunch Auctions and Appraisals. Online Only: Eclectic Variety on February 16th: 100.00%
Il Ponte. Interior Decoration|...| Books on February 16th: 95.65%
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on February 16th: 86.67%
Heritage Auctions. World Currency Weekly - Internet bidstart 2/9 on February 16th: 100.00%
Vermot de Pas. History and Regions of France: Manuscripts, Placards, Archives on February 15th: 31.69%
Holabird Kagin Americana. The Sweetheart Express Auction - Day 5 on February 15th: 89.08%
Heritage Auctions. Comics, Animation, & Art Weekly Online - bidstart 2/7 on February 15th: 99.39%
Heritage Auctions. Movie Posters Weekly - Bidstart 2/7 on February 14th: 99.81%
Garth's Auctioneers and Appraisers. Eclectic Variety Eclectic Auction TIMED, ONLINE ONLY - bidstart 2/4 on February 14th: 100.00%
Sydney Rare Book Auctions. More Idriess, Australiana, manuscripts, historic documents, maps, photography and art on February 13th: 72.97%
Holabird Kagin Americana. The Sweetheart Express Auction - Day 4 on February 14th: 86.29%
Holabird Kagin Americana. The Sweetheart Express Auction - Day 3 on February 13th: 78.33%
Brunk Auctions. Premier and Emporium Auctions on February 13th: 92.86%
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books (Pre-1800) - bidstart 2/5 on February 12th: 82.30%
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books (Pre-1800) - bidstart 1/29 on February 10th: 95.62%
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books (Pre-1700) - bidstart 1/29 on February 9th: 74.55%
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books (Pre-1700) - bidstart 1/29 on February 8th: 100.00%
Catawiki B. V.. Autographs and Manuscripts - bidstart 1/29 on February 7th: 84.62%
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper on February 13th: 98.00%
Heritage Auctions. Sports Collectibles Weekly - Bidstart 1/31 on February 14th: 100.00%

 


For the week ahead 40 sales are scheduled:

Mon. Feb. 22nd
Bonhams. New York. Geometric Abstractions / Prints and Multiples. 141 lots
Ader. PARIS. Online Photography and Art Catalogs Books - bidstart 2/15. 277 lots
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Old and Rare Books (Pre-1700) - bidstart 2/12. 62 lots
Bruun Rasmussen. Copenhagen. Prints. 154 lots

Tue. Feb. 23rd
Bonhams. London. The Gentleman's Library Sale. 13 lots
Stephan Welz & Co.. Constantia. CAPE TOWN | FINE & DECORATIVE ART, BOOKS & MAPS, CARPETS, FURNITURE, SILVERWARE, JEWELLERY, WATCHES. 75 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. US Currency Weekly Online - Bidstart 2/16. 544 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. World Currency Weekly - Internet bidstart 2/16. 163 lots
Morton Subastas. México DF CP 11000. Antiquarian and Contemporary Books. 250 lots
Litchfield County Auctions. Litchfield. Winter Antiques Sale. 10 lots
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Old and Rare Books (Pre-1600) - bidstart 2/12. 33 lots
Vermot de Pas. Paris. NASA Photographs. 207 lots

Wed. Feb. 24th
Lyon and Turnbull. Edinburgh. Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps and Photographs. 443 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Photographs Monthly Online. 116 lots
Bonhams. New York. Highlights from the Medical Library of the late James Tait Goodrich, Part II - bidstart 2/16. 215 lots
Hake's Auctions. York. Americana and Collectibles. 1522 lots
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Old and Rare Books (Pre-1800) - bidstart 2/12. 149 lots
Potomack Company. Alexandria. February Cornucopia. 26 lots

Thu. Feb. 25th
PBA Galleries. San Francisco. Comics - Timed, Online - bidstart 2/15. 417 lots
Swann Galleries. New York. Fine Books and Autographs. 269 lots
Bonhams. London. British. Cool.. 212 lots
Bruneau & Co. . Cranston. February Fine Arts and Antiques - Online Only. 37 lots
Chiswick Auctions. London. The Delighted Eye Part II: Works from the Collection of Allen and Beryl Freer. 142 lots
Skinner. Marlborough. Irresistible. Unreserved. Bidstart 2/16. 43 lots
Stair Auctioneers and Appraisers. Hudson. Thursday Morning @ Stair. 21 lots

Fri. Feb. 26th
Cowans Auctions. Cincinnati. American Historical Ephemera & Photography, Including African Americana: Online Only. 320 lots
Thomaston Place Auction Galleries. Thomaston. Temptations. 79 lots
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Cartography - Bidstart 2/19. 65 lots
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Old and Rare Books (Pre-1800) - bidstart 2/19. 89 lots

Sat. Feb. 27th
Potter and Potter Auctions. Chicago. Select Secrets - Rare and Important Magicana. 83 lots
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Franklin. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper. 200 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Winter Platinum Night Sports Auction. 1066 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Americana & Political Signature Auction. 179 lots
Dirk Soulis Auctions. Lee's Summit . Railroad Ephemera - Day 1. 57 lots

Sun. Feb. 28th
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Comics, Animation, & Art Weekly Online - bidstart 2/21.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Movie Posters Weekly - Bidstart 2/21.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sports Collectibles Weekly - Bidstart 2/14. 208 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. A Western Gentleman's Stocks and Bonds Special Online Auction. 267 lots
Dirk Soulis Auctions. Lee's Summit . Railroad Ephemera - Day 2. 195 lots
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Autographs and Manuscripts - bidstart 2/19. 39 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