Auction Update Review

22 Sales archived, 20 upcoming

For the week ended Saturday February 14th 22 auctions were archived to the Rare Book Transaction History database; 4 in euros, 1 in British pounds, and 17 in US dollars.  Turnover was $6,310,815 as 3,708 lots were offered and 3,110 sold for an 84% success rate.  Bonhams’ Important Western Americana sale was the runaway best realizing $1,837,498, 17% above the aggregate high estimate.  When the material is very good the outcomes usually are as well.

2 auctions saw their total proceeds reach a million dollars: 


Bonhams. Important Western Americana on February 9th: $1,837,498
Heritage Auctions. Art of Laika Studios on February 12th: $1,030,008

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

Michaans Auctions. Estate Auction on February 7th: 250.75%
Sothebys. Collections of the Dukes of Mortemart Castle's Eve on February 11th: 248.25%
Winter Associates. February Auction - Prints on February 10th: 121.03%
Bonhams. Important Western Americana on February 9th: 117.35%


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

Alaska Auction. February 7th Auction - Prints on February 7th: 100.00%
James D Julia Auctioneers. Fine Art, Asian and Antiques - Decorative Prints - Day 3 on February 6th: 100.00%
Heritage Auctions. Comics - Internet bidstart 2/1 on February 8th: 99.54%
Heritage Auctions. Art of Laika Studios on February 12th: 95.67%
Heritage Auctions. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 2/1 on February 8th: 94.98%
Doyle New York. Doyle at Home: Decorative Prints on February 10th: 92.31%
Heritage Auctions. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 2/5 on February 12th: 89.98%
Christies. Prints and Multiples on February 12th: 89.83%
Bonhams. Important Western Americana on February 9th: 89.40%
Winter Associates. February Auction - Prints on February 10th: 88.00%
Bruun Rasmussen. Modern and Contemporary Prints on February 10th: 82.89%
Sothebys. Collections of the Dukes of Mortemart Castle's Eve on February 11th: 81.48%


22 total sales reported this week:

Swann Galleries. Vintage Posters on February 12th: 67.95%
Christies. Prints and Multiples on February 12th: 89.83%
Heritage Auctions. Art of Laika Studios on February 12th: 95.67%
Heritage Auctions. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 2/5 on February 12th: 89.98%
Bloomsbury Auctions. Bibliophile on February 12th: 74.16%
Sothebys. Collections of the Dukes of Mortemart Castle's Eve on February 11th: 81.48%
Doyle New York. Doyle at Home: Decorative Prints on February 10th: 92.31%
Winter Associates. February Auction - Prints on February 10th: 88.00%
Bruun Rasmussen. Modern and Contemporary Prints on February 10th: 82.89%
Bruun Rasmussen. Old Master Prints on February 9th: 40.00%
Bonhams. Important Western Americana on February 9th: 89.40%
Alaska Auction. February 7th Auction - Prints on February 7th: 100.00%
Artcurial. Automobilia on February 6th: 68.52%
James D Julia Auctioneers. Fine Art, Asian and Antiques - Decorative Prints - Day 3 on February 6th: 100.00%
James D Julia Auctioneers. Fine Art, Asian and Antiques - Decorative Prints - Day 2 on February 5th: 77.91%
James D Julia Auctioneers. Fine Art, Asian and Antiques - Decorative Prints - Day 1 on February 4th: 65.96%
Michaans Auctions. Estate Auction on February 7th: 66.67%
Grays Auctioneers. Post War and Contemporary - Prints on November 5th: 63.77%
Grays Auctioneers. Modern Prints on January 28th: 67.44%
PBA Galleries. Rare Books and Manuscripts on February 8th: 72.45%
Heritage Auctions. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 2/1 on February 8th: 94.98%
Heritage Auctions. Comics - Internet bidstart 2/1 on February 8th: 99.54%

For the week ahead 20 sales are scheduled:

Mon. Feb. 16th
Bruun Rasmussen. Copenhagen. Old Master Prints. 3 lots

Tue. Feb. 17th
Bruun Rasmussen. Copenhagen. Modern and Contemporary Prints. 20 lots

Wed. Feb. 18th
Grays Auctioneers. Cleveland, . Books and Prints. 43 lots
Old World Auctions. Glen Allen. Maps. 804 lots
Ader. PARIS. Lilique - Graphic Arts - 20th Side. 38 lots

Thu. Feb. 19th
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 2/12. 428 lots
Heritage Auctions. New York. Comics and Comic Art. 1134 lots
PBA Galleries. San Francisco. The Pamela Harer Collection of Rare & Antiquarian Children's Books, Part II. 600 lots
Swann Galleries. New York. Fine Photographs. 172 lots
RR Auction. Amherst. Remarkable Rarities - bidstart 2/12. 127 lots

Fri. Feb. 20th
Cowans Auctions. Cincinnati. Fine Arts: Prints. 22 lots
ALDE. Paris. Antiquarian and Travel Books. 318 lots

Sat. Feb. 21st
Aspire Auctions. Cleveland. Printed Art - Internet bidstart 2/13. 115 lots
Clars Auction Gallery. Oakland. Prints and Photographs. 67 lots
Stair Auctioneers and Appraisers. Hudson. Prints, Works on Paper. 29 lots

Sun. Feb. 22nd
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Comics - Internet bidstart 2/15.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 2/15.
Bonhams. Los Angeles. Art and Decor - Prints. 62 lots
National Book Auctions. Ithaca. Books.
Clars Auction Gallery. Oakland. Prints and Photographs, Day 2.

It's shaping up as a strong season.

Bruce McKinney

  • Potter & Potter Auctions
    How History Unfolds on Paper:
    Choice Selections from the Eric C. Caren Collection
    Part IX
    April 18, 2024
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: [RUTH, George Herman “Babe” (1895-1948)]. Signed photograph. Circa 1930s. 191 x 248 mm. $1,500 to $2,500.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: HARRISON, Benjamin. Document signed (“Benj Harrison”) as governor of Virginia, certifying the service of Daniel Cumbo, a Black Revolutionary soldier. $6,000 to $9,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: ONE OF THE FIRST PRINTED ANNOUNCEMENTS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. $4,000 to $6,000.
    Potter & Potter Auctions
    How History Unfolds on Paper:
    Choice Selections from the Eric C. Caren Collection
    Part IX
    April 18, 2024
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: FIRST PRINTING OF LINCOLN’S IMMORTAL GETTYSBURG ADDRESS. $4,000 to $6,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: HIGHLY IMPORTANT MORMON ARCHIVE. ALLEY, George. Archive of 23 Autograph Letters Signed by Mormon Convert George Alley to His Brother Joseph Alley. $10,000 to $20,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: [AVIATION]. [ARMSTRONG, Neil A.] Aviation Hall of Fame Gold Medal MS64 NGC, Awarded to Neil Armstrong in 1979. $2,000 to $3,000.
    Potter & Potter Auctions
    How History Unfolds on Paper:
    Choice Selections from the Eric C. Caren Collection
    Part IX
    April 18, 2024
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: NEWLY DISCOVERED FIRST PRINTING OF "WITH MALICE TOWARDS NONE... " FROM THE ONLY NEWSPAPER ACTUALLY ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN LINCOLN’S SECOND INAUGURAL PROCESSION. $4,000 to $8,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: THE MOST IMPORTANT GEORGE WASHINGTON DOCUMENT IN PRIVATE HANDS; GEORGE WASHINGTON’S COMMISSION AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF, 1775, ONE OF ONLY TWO ORIGINALS. $150,000 to $250,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: A VERY RARE ACCOUNT OF BLACKBEARD’S DEATH AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PIRATE ITEMS EXTANT. $3,000 to $5,000.
    Potter & Potter Auctions
    How History Unfolds on Paper:
    Choice Selections from the Eric C. Caren Collection
    Part IX
    April 18, 2024
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: EDISON, Thomas. Patent for Edison’s Improvements on the Electric-Light, No. 219,628. [Washington, D.C.: U.S. Patent Office], 16 September 1879. $2,000 to $3,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: [VIETNAM WAR]. The original pen used by Secretary of State William P. Rogers to sign the Vietnam Peace Agreement, Paris, 27 January 1973. $10,000 to $15,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: SONS OF LIBERTY FOUNDER COLONEL BARRÉ ANNOTATED TITLE-PAGE, “WHICH OUGHT TO ROUSE UP BRITISH ATTENTION”. $4,000 to $6,000.
  • Forum Auctions
    Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    28th March 2024
    Forum Mar. 28: [Langland (William)]. The vision of Pierce Plowman, nowe the seconde time imprinted..., Roberte Crowley, 1550. £8,000 to £10,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: [Shakespeare (William)]. [Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies], second folio edition, [by Tho.Cotes, for Robert Allot], [1632]. £30,000 to £40,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Bible, Czech Biblia Bohemica, first complete Bible printed in the Czech vernacular, Prague, August 1488. £30,000 to £40,000.
    Forum Auctions
    Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    28th March 2024
    Forum Mar. 28: Shabthai Tzvi.- Collection of four printed and illustrated broadsides detailing the appearance, rise and fall of the false messiah, Shabthai Tzvi, Augsburg, 1666-67. £40,000 to £60,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Leaf from the Beauvais Missal, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on parchment, [Northern France (perhaps Beauvais or Amiens)], [fourteenth century (c.1310)]. £4,000 to £6,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Aubrey (John). [Remaines of Gentilisme and Judaisme], manuscript in English, Latin and Greek, [c. 1693]. £30,000 to £50,000.
    Forum Auctions
    Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    28th March 2024
    Forum Mar. 28: Byron (George Gordon Noel, Lord). Poems on Various Occasions, first edition, Harriet Maltby's copy, Newark, Printed by S. & J. Ridge, 1807. £30,000 to £40,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Tolkien (J.R.R.) The Hobbit, first edition, second impression with dust-jacket, 1937 [but 1938]. £7,000 to £10,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Blake (William).- Thornton (Robert John). The Pastorals of Virgil, 2 vol., engraved plates by William Blake, 1821. £8,000 to £12,000.
    Forum Auctions
    Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    28th March 2024
    Forum Mar. 28: America.- Mount (William J.) & Thomas Page. The English Pilot…, [bound with] The Fourth Book, describing The West Indies Navigation from Hudson's-Bay to the River Amazones, 1721. £20,000 to £30,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Oldfield (Henry Ambrose), Rajman Singh Chitrakar & others. An album of 160 photographs and 13 original artworks, (1833-1919), [c. 1850s-1880s]. £20,000 to £30,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Audubon (John James) [and William MacGillivray]. Ornithological Biography…, 5 vol., first edition, presentation copy inscribed by Audubon, Edinburgh, 1831-49 [i.e. 1831-39]. £10,000 to £15,000.
  • Sotheby’s
    Modern First Editions
    Available for Immediate Purchase
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: Winston Churchill. The Second World War. Set of First-Edition Volumes. 6,000 USD
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: A.A. Milne, Ernest H. Shepard. A Collection of The Pooh Books. Set of First-Editions. 18,600 USD
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: Salvador Dalí, Lewis Carroll. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Finely Bound and Signed Limited Edition. 15,000 USD
    Sotheby’s
    Modern First Editions
    Available for Immediate Purchase
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: Ian Fleming. Live and Let Die. First Edition. 9,500 USD
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter Series. Finely Bound First Printing Set of Complete Series. 5,650 USD
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: Ernest Hemingway. A Farewell to Arms. First Edition, First Printing. 4,200 USD
  • Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: A RUTH BADER GINSBURG BEADED JUDICIAL COLLAR. $80,000 - $120,000
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: ONLY KNOWN COPY OF THE ONLY BOOK BY THE REMARKABLE EVE ADAMS. $8,000 - $12,000
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: A COMPLETE RUN OF VISIONAIRE MAGAZINE THROUGH 2010. $6,000 - $9,000
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: LAW REVIEW OFFPRINT SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BY RUTH BADER GINSBURG. $3,000 - $5,000
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: META REBNER'S WORKING SCRIPT OF THE LOVED ONE. $1,500 - $2,000
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: A KATHY GROVE PORTRAIT OF CYNDI LAUPER FOR THE FEBRUARY 1989 DETAILS COVER. $800 - $1,200
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: A PLASTIC COAT BY MILLIE DAVID FEATURED IN SOHO NEWS STYLE SECTION, FROM THE COLLECTION OF ANNIE FLANDERS. $500 - $700
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: A RUTH BADER GINSBURG JEWELRY BOX. $600 - $900
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: A SET OF JONI MITCHELL LYRICS FOR "IF I HAD A HEART." $2,000 - $3,000
  • 19th Century Shop
    Catalogue 198 just published
    19th Century Shop. Darwin and Wallace, first printing of the first paper on natural selection
    19th Century Shop. Shakespeare’s Poems, first collected edition
    19th Century Shop. Walt Whitman portrait inscribed with a Leaves of Grass poem
    19th Century Shop. Major Elizabeth Barrett Browning manuscript notebook
    19th Century Shop. Spock's Baby Book, original MS
    19th Century Shop. Cellarius, Harmonia Macrocosmica, the great celestial atlas