• Sotheby’s
    Fine Books & Manuscripts
    June 24-25
    Sotheby’s, June 25: Keats, John. The most significant collection of Keats’s love letters to come to market since 1885. $1,500,000 to $2,500,000.
    Sotheby’s, June 25: Chassériau, Benoît. The “Expedicion secreta” of the Free State of Cartagena de Indias against the forts of Portobelo (Panama). $50,000 to $70,000.
    Sotheby’s, June 25: (Hamilton, Alexander, James Madison, and John Jay). "One of the new nation's most important contributions to the theory of government”. $150,000 to $180,000.
    Sotheby’s, June 24: Benjamin Franklin. "the Day of the Declaration of Independence is everywhere annually celebrated". $80,000 to $120,000.
    Sotheby’s, June 24: (Johann Conrad Beissel). A Sammelband of two of Benjamin Franklin's rarest imprints. $70,000 to $100,000.
    Sotheby’s, June 25: [Pernambuco]. First printed work in favor of Brazilian Independence. $150,000 to $200,000.
  • June 23rd, 24th & 25th 2026
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Medical Incunabula: Petit (Jean)publisher & Kerver (Thielman)printer. Regimen Sanitatis Salernitanum, sm. 8vo, Paris [1498]
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Hugo (Victor) [Wraxall (Lascelles)]. Les Miserable, 3 vols., 8vo, L. (Hurst & Blackett) 1862, First Authorized English Translation (copyright).
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Shelley (Mary Wollstonecraft). Frankenstein: or The Modern Prometheus, 8vo, 2 vols. in one, L. (G. & W.B. Whittaker, Ave-Maria-Lane) 1823.
    June 23rd, 24th & 25th 2026
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Cuisine: Anon. Cookery, Pastry, and Sweet Meats in three Books, Alphabetically Digested, 8vo 1710.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Lambert (Aylmer Bourke). A Description of the Genus Pinus, with Directions Relative to the Cultivation…, 2 vols. Sm. folio L. (Messrs. Weddell) 1832.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Botany: Curtis (William). Flora Londinensis: or Plates and Descriptions of such Plants as Grow Wild in the Environs of London, 2 vols. folio, London (B. White) 1777 – 1798.
    June 23rd, 24th & 25th 2026
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Le Moire (J.M.) Maple Leaves, Canadian History and Quebec Scenery (Third Series) 8vo Quebec (Hunter, Rose & Co.) 1865. First Edn.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: The Earliest Extant Printed House Contents Sale Catalogue in Ireland: Baillie, Auctioneer, Abby Street. A Catalogue of the Goods and Stock of the late Edward Wingfield…
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: William III King of England. Autograph Letter Signed ("William R") to an unnamed correspondent [possibly Charles-Henri de Lorraine] discussing his strategy against the French forces during the siege of Namur.
    June 23rd, 24th & 25th 2026
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: [Austen (Jane) (1785-1817]. Pride and Prejudice, 3 vols. sm. 8vo, L. (T. Egerton) 1813.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Heaney (Seamus). Ugolino, sm. folio D. (Dolmen) 1979, Limited Edn. No. 78/125 Copies, Signed by Seamus Heaney, Louis le Brocquy, Liam Miller and Andrew Carpenter.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Voltaire (F.M. Avouet de). Petits Ouvrages, attribues a M. de Voltaire, sm. folio manuscript, dated 1776, containing 9 works.
  • Bonhams, June 14-23: Franklin D. Roosevelt Presentation Gold Pocket Watch. Estimate: $20,000 - 30,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Presentation Copy of the First Issue of the Lincoln Douglas Debates Signed by Abraham Lincoln in Pencil to a Sangamon County Illinois Republican. Estimate: $150,000 - 250,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: A Senate Resolution Signed in the Tense Days After the Union's Humiliating Defeat at the First Battle of Bull Run. Estimate: $80,000 - $120,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Seven Passages to a Flight, an Artists Book with a Story Quilt by Faith Ringgold, the Publisher's Own Copy. Estimate: $80,000 - 120,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: A New Charter for Virginia, A Response to the First Armed Rebellion in the American Colonies. Estimate: $15,000 - 25,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Earliest obtainable printing of the Bill of Rights. Estimate: $8,000 - 12,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Edward Curtis Orotone. Estimate: $7,000 - 9,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Owned by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis: A Butter or Dessert Plate from FDR's State Dinner Service. Estimate: $3,000 - 5,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: An Early Large-Format Plan of the City of Washington. Estimate: $1,500 - 2,500
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Containing the First Map to Name the Hudson River. Estimate: $20,000 - 30,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: America's First Major Novelist, a Complete Chapter in Autograph Manuscript by James Fenimore Cooper. Estimate: $15,000 - 20,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: The Only Full-Length Book by Jefferson, with the Justly Famous Map. Estimate: $12,000 - 18,000
  • June 25, 2026
    Doyle, June 25: Houdini's biography, boldly signed. $3,000 to $5,000.
    Doyle, June 25: A volume from Abraham Lincoln's library, signed just before heading to Washington for his inauguration. $20,000 to $30,000.
    Doyle, June 25: A very early Confederate recruiting manual belonging to the chief commissary in Lee's Army. $600 to $800.
    Doyle, June 25: Rare hand-colored lithographs of the life of Napoleon. $20,000 to $30,000.
    Doyle, June 25: The "Holster Atlas" of the American Revolution. $5,000 to $8,000.
    Doyle, June 25: Jewish ceremonies in fine hand-colored engravings. $7,000 to $10,000.
    Doyle, June 25: A very rare work on Turkish military costume. $1,000 to $1,500.
    June 25, 2026
    Doyle, June 25: The most important illustrated work on the Mexican-American War. $10,000 to $15,000.
    Doyle, June 25: The finest illustrated book on Afghanistan. $10,000 to $15,000.
    Doyle, June 25: Henry Justice Ford St. George rescues the Princess from the horrible Dragon. $2,000 to $3,000.
    Doyle, June 25: A rare work of Prussian Army uniforms under Frederick William II, with exquisite hand-colored engravings. $800 to $1,200.
    Doyle, June 25: Lenny Bruce typed letter signed to a Village bohemian during his obscenity trials, with a manuscript note and drawing. $300 to $500.
    Doyle, June 25: Schiff's scarce Shanghai Sketchbook. $300 to $500.
    Doyle, June 25: The first accurate published representation of the American flag. $2,000 to $4,000.
PreviousNext

Auction Update Review

Rare Book Hub: 28 Auctions Archived, another 21 Upcoming this Week

 For the week ended 27 December, 28 auctions have been archived to Rare Book Hub’s Transactions+ database; 16 denominated in euros, 1 in Mexican pesos, and 11 in US dollars.

 

Four thousand and fifty-nine lots were offered and 3,492 sold for an 86.03% win rate.

 

Turnover was a slim $1,445,884.55. The average lot sold for $414.06

 

A fresh 21 auctions are posted that will complete this week.

 

 

1 auction saw its total sales exceed 100% of the high estimates of all lots offered:

Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books Auction (pre-1700) on December 17th: 102.31%


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

Heritage Auctions. Wednesday Trading Card Games Select Auction on December 25th: 100.00%
Heritage Auctions. Tuesday World Paper Money Select Auction on December 24th: 100.00%
Heritage Auctions. Tuesday US Currency Select Auction on December 24th: 100.00%
Heritage Auctions. Pulp Magazine Select Auction on December 22nd: 100.00%
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books Auction (pre-1700) on December 17th: 100.00%
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books Auction (pre-1700) on December 16th: 100.00%
Catawiki B. V.. Exclusive Books Auction on December 16th: 100.00%
Catawiki B. V.. Autographs and Manuscripts on December 16th: 100.00%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday, Monday & Tuesday Comic Books Select Auction on December 24th: 99.60%
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper on December 21st: 99.33%
Catawiki B. V.. Autographs and Manuscripts on December 17th: 97.83%
Heritage Auctions. Wednesday Comic Art and Animation Select Auction on December 25th: 96.15%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Sports Collectibles Select Auction on December 22nd: 94.53%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Movie Posters Select Auction on December 22nd: 90.96%

Tessier & Sarrou and Associates. Books and Manuscripts on December 19th: 84.94% 

 

Top 25 Lots Reported This Past Week.
  1. Heritage Auctions Amazing Fantasy #15 (Marvel, 1962) CGC VG+ 4.5 Off-white pages. on December 24th Actual price: USD $33,600.
  2. Catawiki B. V. La Divine Comedie [One of 10 'ad personam' Deluxe Editions, with double drawing and dedication] on December 15th Actual price: USD $17,061.
  3. Heritage Auctions Pokemon Unlimited Edition Base Set Sealed Booster Box (Wizards of the Coast, 1999). on December 25th Actual price: USD $16,250.
  4. Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books Foujita's A Book of Cats - 20 Cat Illustrations and Poems on December 21st Actual price: USD $15,895.
  5. Heritage Auctions Fantastic Four #48 (Marvel, 1966) CGC NM 9.4 White pages. on December 24th Actual price: USD $14,400.
  6. Catawiki B. V. Histoire universelle des Indes occidentales et orientales on December 18th Actual price: USD $14,217.
  7. Catawiki B. V. Zelfbiografie [Origineel handschrift] on December 15th Actual price: USD $12,511.
  8. Heritage Auctions Steve Rude Nexus #2 Story Page 12 Original Art (Capital Comics, 1982). on December 25th Actual price: USD $11,400.
  9. Heritage Auctions Fantastic Four #1 (Marvel, 1961) CGC GD/VG 3.0 Light tan to off-white pages. on December 24th Actual price: USD $9,600.
  10. Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books Arrowsmith - Important Map of Texas compiled from Surveys recorded in the Law Office of Texas, and other Official Surveys on December 21st Actual price: USD $9,460.
  11. Heritage Auctions The Avengers #1 (Marvel, 1963) CGC FN/VF 7.0 Off-white pages. on December 24th Actual price: USD $9,000.
  12. Heritage Auctions John Romita Sr. - Spider-Man Sketch Original Art (undated). on December 25th Actual price: USD $8,400.
  13. Heritage Auctions Pokemon Unlimited Fossil Set Sealed Booster Box (Wizards of the Coast, 1999). on December 25th Actual price: USD $7,500.
  14. Heritage Auctions The Amazing Spider-Man #1 (Marvel, 1963) CGC GD/VG 3.0 Off-white pages. on December 24th Actual price: USD $7,200.
  15. Clars Auction Gallery Two Blues, on December 20th Actual price: USD $6,550.
  16. Heritage Auctions Sara Richard Rick and Morty vs. Dungeons & Dragons #1 Cover Original Art (IDW, 2018). on December 25th Actual price: USD $5,760.
  17. Heritage Auctions Josie #1-104 Near Complete Run File Copies Bound Volume Group of 16 (Archie, 1963-81). on December 24th Actual price: USD $5,280.
  18. Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books Karl Bodmer - The Interior of the Hut of a Mandan Chief on December 21st Actual price: USD $4,730.
  19. Catawiki B. V. Nouvelles fleurs du mal [tire a part de la 5e livraison du Parnasse ; poesies inedites] on December 15th Actual price: USD $4,720.
  20. Heritage Auctions Troy Little Rick and Morty vs. Dungeons & Dragons #2 Cover Original Art (IDW, 2018). on December 25th Actual price: USD $4,560.
  21. Heritage Auctions Strange Tales #167 Rocky Mountain Pedigree (Marvel, 1968) CGC NM/MT 9.8 White pages. on December 24th Actual price: USD $4,440.
  22. Heritage Auctions Bernie Wrightson House of Mystery #213 Cover Preliminary Original Art (DC, 1973). on December 25th Actual price: USD $4,320.
  23. Heritage Auctions Jackson "Butch" Guice AAFES 12th Edition [Captain America The First Avenger] #12 Cover Original Art (Marvel, 2011). on December 25th Actual price: USD $4,320.
  24. Catawiki B. V. A new and accurat map of the world. on December 14th Actual price: USD $4,265.
  25. Heritage Auctions Andrew Loomis and Tim Brough - Illustration Original Art Group of 3 (c. 1940s/2006). on December 25th Actual price: USD $4,080.



28 total sales reported this week:

Heritage Auctions. Wednesday Trading Card Games Select Auction on December 25th: 100.00%
Heritage Auctions. Wednesday Comic Art and Animation Select Auction on December 25th: 96.15%
Heritage Auctions. Tuesday World Paper Money Select Auction on December 24th: 100.00%
Heritage Auctions. Tuesday US Currency Select Auction on December 24th: 100.00%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday, Monday & Tuesday Comic Books Select Auction on December 24th: 99.60%
Morton Subastas. Saturday Sale on December 21st: 48.00%
Clars Auction Gallery. The Warehouse | December on December 21st: 47.32%
Clars Auction Gallery. Furniture, Art, Jewelry & Fine Asian Auction | December on December 20th: 63.33%
Tessier & Sarrou and Associates. Books and Manuscripts on December 20th: 45.38%
Tessier & Sarrou and Associates. Books and Manuscripts on December 19th: 84.94%
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper on December 21st: 99.33%
Heritage Auctions. Pulp Magazine Select Auction on December 22nd: 100.00%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Sports Collectibles Select Auction on December 22nd: 94.53%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Movie Posters Select Auction on December 22nd: 90.96%
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books Auction (pre-1700) on December 18th: 40.00%
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books Auction (pre-1700) on December 17th: 100.00%
Catawiki B. V.. Autographs and Manuscripts on December 17th: 97.83%
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books Auction (pre-1700) on December 16th: 100.00%
Catawiki B. V.. Exclusive Books Auction on December 16th: 100.00%
Catawiki B. V.. Autographs and Manuscripts on December 16th: 100.00%
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books Auction (pre-1700) on December 15th: 50.00%
Catawiki B. V.. French Literature and Illustrated on December 15th: 46.67%
Catawiki B. V.. Exclusive Historical Memorabilia on December 15th: 37.50%
Catawiki B. V.. Dutch Literature and Illustrated on December 15th: 77.27%
Catawiki B. V.. Autographs and Manuscripts on December 15th: 69.23%
Catawiki B. V.. Art and Photography Books on December 15th: 25.53%
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books on December 14th: 72.94%
Catawiki B. V.. Exclusive Maps Auction on December 14th: 50.00%


For the week ahead 21 sales are scheduled:

Mon. Dec. 30th
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Autographs and Manuscripts. 54 lots
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Exclusive Books Auction. 23 lots
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Old and Rare Books Auction (pre-1700). 101 lots

Tue. Dec. 31st
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Tuesday US Currency Select Auction. 407 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Tuesday World Paper Money Select Auction. 118 lots

Wed. Jan. 1st
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Wednesday Comic Art and Animation Select Auction. 310 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Wednesday Trading Card Games Select Auction. 60 lots
Vogt Auction. San Antonio. The New Year's Day Auction. 34 lots
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Old and Rare Books Auction (pre-1700). 41 lots
Nadeau's Auction Gallery. Windsor. January 2025 Annual New Year's Day Auction. 17 lots

Sat. Jan. 4th
EV Stamps. Richmond. Sports Auction. 136 lots
John McInnis Auctioneers. Amesbury. Important Estates Collections. 46 lots
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Franklin. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper.
Morton Subastas. México DF CP 11000. Saturday Sale. 152 lots

Sun. Jan. 5th
Tabula Auctions Ltd. London. Antique Maps and Prints -- online 12/19. 135 lots
Schilb Antiquarian. Columbia. Rare Books with NO Reserve, NO Buyer's Premium. 104 lots
Antikvariat Bryggen AS. Skjeberg. New Years Auction. 135 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday, Monday & Tuesday Comic Books Select Auction.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Movie Posters Select Auction.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Sports Collectibles Select Auction. 132 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Pulp Magazine Select Auction.

Best wishes for 2025!

 

Bruce McKinney

RBH and AE

  • Bonhams, June 14-23: Palm-reading, astrology, and more. Estimate: $2,000 - 3,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Benjamin Franklin. Sammelband of 45 papers on electricity. Estimate: $8,000 - 12,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: The basis for the whole modern electric-power industry. Estimate: $4,000 - 6,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Edgar Allen Poe. Poe on Mesmerism. Estimate: $2,500 - 3,500
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Reformation - The Architect of Lutheranism on Church Unity and Dissent. Estimate: $100,000 - 150,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: The Rare 3-Paper Offprint Identifying the Double Helix Structure of DNA, Signed by Crick, Wilkins, Wilson, Stokes and Gosling. Estimate: $40,000 - 60,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Autograph book and Report from the Thirtieth Indian National Congress, featuring the signatures of Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, and Dadabhai Naoroji. Estimate: $6,000 - 8,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: An Illustrated Miniature Hebrew Prayerbook Manuscript. Estimate: $30,000 - 50,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Autograph Working Draft of Arthur Conan Doyle's The Death Voyage. Estimate: $30,000 - 50,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: "Perhaps the most celebrated and most beautiful herbal ever published." Estimate: $15,000 - 20,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: Izaak Walton. The Compleat Angler or the Contemplative man's Recreation. Being a Discourse of Fish and Fishing. Estimate: $12,000 - 18,000
    Bonhams, June 14-23: A rare product of the Jaquard loom. Estimate: $8,000 - 12,000
  • Freeman’s, June 30. Thomas Jefferson’s “Birth of the New Nation” letter, carried to Paris with the Treaty of Peace, by a Jewish patriot. $100,000-200,000.
    Freeman’s, June 30. “The rockets’ red glare.” A British midshipman’s log recording the bombardment of Fort McHenry. $60,000-80,000.
    Freeman’s, June 30. The Critical Promotion of a Naval Hero, Oliver Hazard Perry Commission signed by James Madison, 1812. $40,000-60,000.
    Freeman’s, June 30. Born in the USA: First Day of Printing in the United States, July 4, 1776. $15,000-25,000.
    Freeman’s, June 30. One of the Earliest Printed Announcements of American Independence, in the Exceedingly Rare Original Wrappers, 1776. $10,000-15,000.
    Freeman’s, June 30. "The Two Big Guns of the N.Y. Yanks": A Striking Type 1 Press Photograph of Lou Gehrig's Hands. $8,000-12,000.
    Freeman’s, June 30. A Unique Contemporary Manuscript Account of Joseph Smith's Final Words to His Followers, the Day Before his Violent Death. $8,000-12,000.
    Freeman’s, June 30. The State of Minnesota Officially Certifies the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution Of the United States. $8,000-12,000.
    Freeman’s, June 30. Extraordinarily Large Manuscript Petition Signed by a Who's Who of Colonial New York to Queen Anne from the Colony of New York. $8,000-12,000.
    Freeman’s, June 30. Mickey Mantle's First Cover: The Earliest Front-Page Newspaper Image of Mickey Mantle, "Something Good from Joplin". $8,000-12,000.
    Freeman’s, June 30. A Call to Arms in the Months Following the Declaration of Independence: An Early Continental Army Recruitment Poster. $6,000-9,000.
    Freeman’s, June 30. Samuel Jones, the Statesman Behind the Newly Discovered "Jones Declaration": His Annotated Set Used in His Working Law Library. $6,000-9,000.