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Sothebys: Books, Manuscripts and Music

Auction Reports

Auction Name Books, Manuscripts and Music Total Sales (GBP) 2,310,553.00
Auction Date December 11, 2025 - December 11, 2025 Low Estimate of Lots Sold (GBP) 1,355,500.00
Sale Number #L25401 High Estimate of Lots Sold (GBP) 1,950,000.00
Total Lots 162
Sold Lots 127.0 Low Estimate of All Lots (GBP) 1,741,500.00
% of Lots Sold 78.40% High Estimate of All Lots (GBP) 2,489,000.00
Unsold Lots 35 Total Sales as a % of High Est. 92.83%

Top twenty-five by sale price

Lot Number Author Name Book Title Year Published Estimate Actual Price
95 J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. London

 1997 GBP 100,000.00 - 150,000.00 GBP 253,999.00
76 Darwin, Charles and Alfred Russel Wallace

On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties; and on the Perpetuation of Varieties and Species by Natural Means of Selection [1858-59]

 1859 GBP 100,000.00 - 150,000.00 GBP 228,600.00
5 Bible, Latin

Biblia Latina, a bifolium printed on vellum from the Gutenberg or 42-line Bible.

c.1454-1455 GBP 70,000.00 - 90,000.00 GBP 215,899.00
147 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Autograph sketchleaf including a probable draft for the finale of the Piano Quartet in E flat, K.493, FORMERLY IN THE COLLECTION OF PAUL HIRSCH

 1786 GBP 150,000.00 - 200,000.00 GBP 177,799.00
66 Tsar Alexander II and Catherine Dolgorukova

Correspondence between Tsar Alexander II and his lover Catherine Dolgorukova,

1866-1879 GBP 100,000.00 - 150,000.00 GBP 120,649.00
77 Charles Darwin

On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life

 1859 GBP 40,000.00 - 60,000.00 GBP 76,200.00
141 Franz Liszt

Remarkable collection of 28 autograph letters and notes, signed ("F. Liszt"; "FL"), in French, to the composer's close friend and confidante Baroness Olga von Meyendorff

 1863-1886 GBP 10,000.00 - 15,000.00 GBP 53,340.00
134 Johannes Brahms

Autograph manuscript signed of the songs 'Sehnsucht', op.14 no.8, and 'Trost in Tranen', op.48 no.5, for voice and piano, FORMERLY IN THE CELEBRATED COLLECTION OF LOUIS KOCH

 1858 GBP 40,000.00 - 60,000.00 GBP 44,449.00
130 Ludwig van Beethoven

Fine characteristic autograph letter signed ("Beethoven"), to his friend Nikolaus von Zmeskall, dated by the recipient '28 8br.

1810 GBP 20,000.00 - 30,000.00 GBP 38,100.00
88

A silver teaspoon owned by Captain F.R.M. Crozier

 GBP 8,000.00 - 12,000.00 GBP 35,559.00
108 Ian Fleming

Live and Let Die

 1954 GBP 20,000.00 - 30,000.00 GBP 35,559.00
107 Ian Fleming

Casino Royale.

 1953 GBP 20,000.00 - 30,000.00 GBP 33,019.00
79 Albert Einstein

Autograph letter signed, to Alfred Bucherer, ON HIS CONFIRMATION OF EINSTEIN'S THEORY OF SPECIAL RELATIVITY

 12 September 1908, former folds and slight creasing, remains of mount GBP 20,000.00 - 30,000.00 GBP 27,939.00
80 Albert Einstein

Autograph letter signed ("A. Einstein"), to Alfred Bucherer

 25 November 1908, slight splitting at folds, fraying at outer edge, light creasing, remains of mount GBP 18,000.00 - 26,000.00 GBP 27,939.00
143 Jules Massenet

Autograph manuscript full score, signed, of the incidental music to Georges Rivollet's play Jerusalem, UNPUBLISHED

 1911 GBP 15,000.00 - 20,000.00 GBP 27,939.00
62 Virgil---Gavin Douglas (translator)

The xiii bukes of Eneados of the famose poete Virgill translatet out of Latyne verses into Scottish metir, bi the Reuerend Father in God, Mayster Gawin Douglas Bishop of Dunkel

 1553 GBP 15,000.00 - 20,000.00 GBP 25,399.00
111 Ian Fleming

Diamonds Are Forever.

1956 GBP 12,000.00 - 18,000.00 GBP 24,129.00
148 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart--Paul Hirsch (collector, bibliophile and Mozartian, 1881-1951)

The Frankfurt and Cambridge autograph guest books and chamber-music notebooks of Paul Hirsch

 1897-1967 GBP 6,000.00 - 8,000.00 GBP 24,129.00
100 E.H. Shepard

Suite of three original illustrations for Now We Are Six, pen and ink drawings on paper, comprising:

 1927 GBP 15,000.00 - 20,000.00 GBP 22,860.00
20 Gabriel Doppelmayr

Atlas novus coelestis in quo mundus spectabilis, et in eodem tam errantium quam inerrantium stellarum phoenomena notabilia, crica ipsarum lumen.

1742 GBP 12,000.00 - 18,000.00 GBP 21,589.00
97 J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

 1997 GBP 3,000.00 - 5,000.00 GBP 21,589.00
118 Ian Fleming

Thunderball.

1961 GBP 5,000.00 - 7,000.00 GBP 21,589.00
82 Albert Einstein

Autograph letter signed ("A. Einstein"), to Alfred Bucherer

 29 October 1917, splitting at folds, small tear in upper corner, some creasing, remains of mount GBP 8,000.00 - 12,000.00 GBP 20,319.00
106 Oscar Wilde

Intentions... The Decay of Lying, Pen Pencil and Poison, The Critic as Artist, The Truth of Masks

 1891 GBP 10,000.00 - 15,000.00 GBP 20,319.00
136 Fryderyk Chopin

Autograph letter signed ("F. Chopin"), to his publisher Maurice Schlesinger in Paris

 1844? GBP 5,000.00 - 8,000.00 GBP 20,319.00
  • <b><center>Sotheby’s<br>Year in Review</center></b> <b>Sotheby’s Year in Review:</b> A Rare Hebrew Bible with Micrographic Masorah. Sold: 1,514,000 USD <b>Sotheby’s Year in Review:</b> "The Freedman's Primer.” Sold: 241,300 USD <b>Sotheby’s Year in Review:</b> Smith, William. "The Map that Changed the World." Sold: 139,700 USD <b>Sotheby’s Year in Review:</b> Psalter, C13th. Illuminated Psalter. Sold: 330,200 GBP <b>Sotheby’s Year in Review:</b> Lincoln, Abraham. The abolition of slavery. Sold: 13,697,500 USD <b>Sotheby’s Year in Review:</b> Vergilius. Opera, Venice, Aldo Manuzio, 1501. Sold: 1,041,400 USD
    Sotheby’s
    Year in Review
    Sotheby’s Year in Review: A Rare Hebrew Bible with Micrographic Masorah. Sold: 1,514,000 USD
    Sotheby’s Year in Review: "The Freedman's Primer.” Sold: 241,300 USD
    Sotheby’s Year in Review: Smith, William. "The Map that Changed the World." Sold: 139,700 USD
    Sotheby’s Year in Review: Psalter, C13th. Illuminated Psalter. Sold: 330,200 GBP
    Sotheby’s Year in Review: Lincoln, Abraham. The abolition of slavery. Sold: 13,697,500 USD
    Sotheby’s Year in Review: Vergilius. Opera, Venice, Aldo Manuzio, 1501. Sold: 1,041,400 USD
  • <b><center>Case Antiques<br>2026 Winter Fine Art & Antiques<br>January 31 and February 1, 2026</center><b> <b>Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1:</b> 1775 Map of Virginia, Fry and Jefferson, ex-John Tyler. $6,000 to $8,000. <b>Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1:</b> Albrecht Durer Engraving, The Peasant Couple at Market. $3,400 to $3,800. <b>Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1:</b> 1777 Map: Wm. Faden, British Colonies in N. America, ex. John Tyler. $2,000 to $2,400. <b><center>Case Antiques<br>2026 Winter Fine Art & Antiques<br>January 31 and February 1, 2026</center><b> <b>Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1:</b> 30 Vols. George Eliot 1st Editions; Mill on the Floss, Silas Marner, Deronda, etc. $1,400 to $1,800. <b>Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1:</b> Celestial Floor Globe c. 1800. $1,400 to $1,800. <b>Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1:</b> Lewis Carroll: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, 1866 London MacMillan. $900 to $1,200. <b><center>Case Antiques<br>2026 Winter Fine Art & Antiques<br>January 31 and February 1, 2026</center><b> <b>Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1:</b> President Andrew Jackson Signed Patent, 1831. $1,000 to $1,200. <b>Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1:</b> Civil War Tintype of Calvin “Old Ballie” Walker, CSA 3rd TN Infantry, KIA, plus 3 Union Images. $800 to $1,000. <b>Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1:</b> 1855 Georgia Pocket Map, W. G. Bonner. $800 to $1,000. <b><center>Case Antiques<br>2026 Winter Fine Art & Antiques<br>January 31 and February 1, 2026</center><b> <b>Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1:</b> Audubon c. 1835 Birds of America Common Cormorant, Havell Edition. $800 to $900. <b>Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1:</b> George Eliot, Middlemarch, 1st Edition in 8 Volumes. $600 to $800. <b>Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1:</b> Four NASA Moon Survey Photos; 144M, 148M, 149M, 149H1. $400 to $600.
    Case Antiques
    2026 Winter Fine Art & Antiques
    January 31 and February 1, 2026
    Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1: 1775 Map of Virginia, Fry and Jefferson, ex-John Tyler. $6,000 to $8,000.
    Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1: Albrecht Durer Engraving, The Peasant Couple at Market. $3,400 to $3,800.
    Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1: 1777 Map: Wm. Faden, British Colonies in N. America, ex. John Tyler. $2,000 to $2,400.
    Case Antiques
    2026 Winter Fine Art & Antiques
    January 31 and February 1, 2026
    Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1: 30 Vols. George Eliot 1st Editions; Mill on the Floss, Silas Marner, Deronda, etc. $1,400 to $1,800.
    Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1: Celestial Floor Globe c. 1800. $1,400 to $1,800.
    Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1: Lewis Carroll: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, 1866 London MacMillan. $900 to $1,200.
    Case Antiques
    2026 Winter Fine Art & Antiques
    January 31 and February 1, 2026
    Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1: President Andrew Jackson Signed Patent, 1831. $1,000 to $1,200.
    Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1: Civil War Tintype of Calvin “Old Ballie” Walker, CSA 3rd TN Infantry, KIA, plus 3 Union Images. $800 to $1,000.
    Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1: 1855 Georgia Pocket Map, W. G. Bonner. $800 to $1,000.
    Case Antiques
    2026 Winter Fine Art & Antiques
    January 31 and February 1, 2026
    Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1: Audubon c. 1835 Birds of America Common Cormorant, Havell Edition. $800 to $900.
    Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1: George Eliot, Middlemarch, 1st Edition in 8 Volumes. $600 to $800.
    Case Antiques, Jan. 31-Feb. 1: Four NASA Moon Survey Photos; 144M, 148M, 149M, 149H1. $400 to $600.