• 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.
  • Sotheby's Book Week
    2 June - 9 July
    Sotheby’s, June 25: Smith, Adam. The Wealth of Nations, on its 250th anniversary. $180,000 to $250,000.
    Sotheby’s, June 17: Fontana, Lucio. Concetto Spaziale. 1967. Leporello en papier doré. Bel exemplaire signé. €4,000 to $€,000.
    Sotheby’s, June 25: Fitzgerald, F. Scott. "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past”. $150,000 to $200,000.
    Sotheby’s, June 25: Washington, George (as First President). Washington decries “an ostentatious imitation, or mimickry of Royalty” in his Presidency. $250,000 to $500,000.
    Sotheby’s, June 17: Lope de Vega. Rare manuscrit autographe signé de la préface dédicatoire de "El Cardenal de Belen" (le cardinal de Bethléem), pièce composée en 1610. €40,000 to €60,000.
  • 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

Rare Book Monthly

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Articles - November - 2012 Issue

Auctions in November

- by Bruce E. McKinney

Buyers and sellers in the rooms in November

Buyers and sellers in the rooms in November

Heading into November 115 auction events are scheduled.  This compares with 91 in November 2011.  Through August this year 179,000 lots have been archived, a 29.7% increase from the 138,000 offered in the January-August period in 2011.  If this percentage of increase holds the full year will see 317,558 lots pass through the rooms, an increase of 72,718.  There is much talk of a generally weakening market but no evidence of it in the rooms.

Within the day-to-day numbers there is also significant change.  Not so long ago bidders attended auctions personally to bid on many lots.  To accommodate this practice houses choose open days to avoid scheduling conflicts.  This year on two November days 11 or more sales are scheduled and on average 3.6 sales scheduled every day.  This suggests a strong and continuing shift of focus to the material wherever it is offered.  Where it is offered is becoming somewhat less important.  To accommodate broader participation auctions are increasingly attended electronically and by phone.  The physical events, with the exception of stellar sales, are becoming less important.

As to what’s apparent from the comparative data – a look back suggests lot values are holding steady but continue to be at the low end of the 5-year range, a good performance given that the number of opportunities to buy is way up.  That more bidders are competing seems logical but is only circumstantially confirmed.

Taken together the shift to the bid-ask model seems well underway.  It’s not inevitable but at this point is logical.

On the calendar linked at the bottom of this page sales in green are fully searchable both through the keyword and advanced searches.  Other sales are loaded daily.  Further sales, as identified, will be added to the calendar as the month progresses.

Questions about lots should be directed to the auction house.

The schedule as of October 27th:

Thurs. Nov. 1st Bloomsbury Auctions.  Bibliophile Sale [35991].  417 lots

                              Christie’s.  Vintage Posters in London [7303].  261 lots

                              Heritage Auctions.  Rare Book online bidding ending Nov.1st [201244].

                              Sotheby’s.  Prints [NO8896].

Fri. Nov. 2nd  Aspire Auctions.  Prints ending Nov. 2nd.

                              Bloomsbury Auctions.  Old Master to 20th Century Prints & Drawings and Vintage Posters [35990].

                          Heritage Auctions.  Space Exploration [6082].

                              Sotheby’s.  Prints [NO8896].

Sat. Nov. 3rd      Heritage Auctions.  Americana and Political Memorabilia [6092].

Mon. Nov. 5th  Doyle New York.  Books, Photographs and Prints [110512].

Tues. Nov. 6th  Amsterdam Book Auctions.  Books, prints, comics, posters [18].

                              Rupert Toovey & Co.  Photographs, Ephemera [1083].

Wed. Nov. 7th   Audap & Mirabaud.  Books [19716].

                              Bonhams.  Photographs [20022].

                              Bonhams.  Sporting Sale [19873].

                            Leslie Hindman.  Fine Books and Manuscripts [216].

                            Zisska & Schauer.  Books, Manuscripts, Incunabula [60].

Thurs. Nov. 8th  Aguttes.  Books, Posters, Photos [20050].

                              Bloomsbury Auctions.  Sporting Goods [35993].

                            De Baecque & Associes.  Books, Comic Books and Autographs [20158].

                            Dorotheum.  Prints [9737].

                              Heritage Auctions.  Rare Books internet bidding ending today

                              PBA Galleries.  Rare Books and Manuscripts [492].

                              Swann Galleries.  Rare & Important Travel Posters [2293].

                              Zisska & Schauer.  Books, Manuscripts, Incunabula [60].

Fri. Nov. 9th    Librairie Loeb-Larocque.  Antique Maps – Old Books [110912].

                              Zisska & Schauer.  Books, Manuscripts, Incunabula [60].

Sat. Nov. 10th    Clars Auction Gallery.  Photographs, Prints, Special Collection [111012].

                            Cottone.  Prints [67].

                              Dirk Soulis Auctions.  Prints [33820].

Sun. Nov. 11th  Bonhams.  Prints [20069].

                              Bruun Rasmussen.  Books [1245].

Mon. Nov. 12th  Artcurial Bries-Le Fur-Poulain. Tajan.  Historic Memories and Antiques Arms [19575].

                              Bonhams.  Prints [20069].

                              Christie’s.  Andy Warhol Benefit [2766].

                            Neret – Minet & Tessier.  Comic Strips [14093].

Tues. Nov. 13th  Bonhams.  Books, Maps and Manuscripts [20139].

                            Burgersdijk & Niermans.  Books [336].

                            Galerie Koller.  Books [651].

Wed. Nov. 14th  Bloomsbury Auctions.  Old Master to 20th Century Prints & Drawings and Vintage Posters [35990].

                              Burgersdijk & Niermans.  Books [336].

                              Dominic Winter Book Auctions.  Printed Books, Maps and Documents [111412].

                              Freeman’s.  Pennsylvania Sale [1446].

                                Freeman’s.  Historic Muhlenberg Property from a Private Collection [1446A].

Thurs. Nov. 15th  Bloomsbury Auctions.  Old Master to 20th Prints & Drawings and Vintage Posters [35990].

                              Dominic Winter Book Auctions.  The Collectors Sale:  Aviation, Motoring and other Transport [111512].

                              Heritage Auctions.  Comics and Comic Art [7066].

                              Heritage Auctions.  Rare Books Internet bidding ends today

                              Neret – Minet & Tessier.  Photographs and Books [14094].

                              PBA Galleries.  Rare Manuscripts and Archives [493].

                              Piasa.  Ancient and Modern Prints [19944].

                              Profiles in History.  Historical Documents [111512].

                              Skinner, Inc.  Fine Books and Manuscripts [2620M].

                              Sotheby’s.  Travel, Atlases, Maps and Natural History [L12405].

                              Swann Galleries.  American Art * Contemporary Art [2294].

Fri. Nov. 16th  Christie’s.  Photographs [3514].

                              Dominic Winter Book Auctions.  The Collector’s Sale:  Militaria, Railway Part V [111612].

                              Heritage Auctions.  Comics and Comic Art [7066].

                              Sotheby’s.  Photographs [PF1222].

                              Romantic Agony.  Books and Prints [49].

Sat Nov. 17th    Addison and Sarova.  Rare and Fine Books [1002].

                            Christie’s.  Photographs [3514].

                              Heritage Auctions.  Photographs [5119].

                              Romantic Agony.  Books and Prints [49].

Sun. Nov. 18th  Bonhams.  Prints [20070].

                              ERA Encheres.  Rare and Ancient Books about Regionalism [18804].

                            National Book Auctions.  Books, Art, Ephemera, and Collectibles [111812].

                              Piasa.  Herge:  Comic Strips [20011].

                              Skinner, Inc.  Fine Books and Manuscripts [2621B].

Mon. Nov. 19th  Alde.  Modern Illustrated Books; Children’s Books [19725].

                              Ketterer Kunst / F. Doerling.  Rare Books [397].

                              Sotheby’s.  Books and Manuscripts [PF1213].

Tues. Nov. 20th  Ketterer Kunst / F. Doerling.  Rare Books [397].

                              Swann Galleries.  19th & 20th Century Literature [2295].

Wed. Nov. 21st  Bloomsbury Auctions.  Antiquarian Books:  The Property of a Collector, Part II [35999].

                            Christie’s.  Valuable Books and Manuscripts [5960].

                              Pierre Berge & Associes.  Books [19689].

Thurs. Nov. 22nd Aguttes.  Books [14165].

                              Bloomsbury Auctions.  Photographs [Roma-83].

                              Heritage Auctions.  Rare Books Internet bidding ending today [201247].

Fri. Nov. 23rd    Bloomsbury Auctions.  Photographs [35995].

                            Ketterer Kunst / F. Doerling.  Old Master Prints [394].

                            Keys Fine Arts Auctioneers.  East Anglia [1011].

Sat. Nov. 24th    Artcurial Briest-Le Fur-Poulain-F. Tajan.  Comics [19577].

                            ERA Encheres.  Rare and Ancient Books about Regionalism [18804].

Tues. Nov. 27th  Bonhams.  Printed Books and Maps [19851].

                            Bonhams.  Prints [20274].

                            Bruun Rasmussen.  Books [1248].

                            Bubb Kuyper.  Books, Manuscripts and Graphic Arts [56].

                          Christie’s.  Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts [7558].

                            Sotheby’s.  Musical Manuscripts and Continental Books {l12406].

                          Tajan.  Modern and Contemporary Photographs [9746].

Wed. Nov. 28th  Alde.  Antiquarian Photographs, Historical Documents [19726].

                              Bubb Kuyper.  Books, Manuscripts and Graphic Arts [56].

                              Christie’s.  Fine Books and Manuscripts [7558].

                            Sotheby’s.  Musical Manuscripts and Continental Books [l12406].

Thurs. Nov. 29th  Alde.  Documents; Artistic and Literary Autographs [19727].

                            AntiquarianAuctions.com.  Rare Books – online bidding starts today [23].

                          Bloomsbury Auctions.  Important Books & Manuscripts [36002].

                            Bonhams.  Marcus, The Property of Lord Mowbray and Stourton & The Honorable James Stourton [20558].

                              Bubb Kuyper.  Books, Manuscripts and Graphic Arts [56].

                              Christie’s.  An Important Collection of Russian Books and Manuscripts with Imperial Provenance [6769].

                            De Baecque & Associes.  Photography [19677].

                              Galerie Bassenge.  Prints [100h].

                              Heritage Auctions.  Vintage Movie Posters [7067].

                          Heritage Auctions.  Rare Books online bidding ends today [201248].

                          Keys Fine Arts Auctioneers.  Books – Day 1 [1052].

                            PBA Galleries.  Fine Americana – African American History – Cartography [494]

                            Swann Galleries.  Autographs [2296].

Fri.  Nov. 27th    Bubb Kuyper.  Books, Manuscripts and Graphic Arts [56]

                              Heritage Auctions.  Vintage Movie Posters [7067]

                            Keys Fine Arts Auctioneers.  Books – Day 2 [1053]

                            Rossini.  Books [20030]

The AE Auction Calendar and Search Page

 

Rare Book Monthly

  • Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 123. Celebrate 250 Years of Independence with Original Stars and Stripes (1790) Est. $1,400 - $1,700
    Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 20. Keulen's Spectacular Chart of the World Featuring California as an Island (1728) Est. $12,000 - $15,000
    Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 42. Schedel's Ancient World Map with Fantastic Humanoid Creatures (1493) Est. $14,000 - $17,000
    Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 591. Matching Set of 3 Stunning Globe Gores of Eastern Asia from Coronelli's 3.5 Foot Globe (1688) Est. $5,500 - $7,000
    Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 9. Speed's Popular World Map with Allegorical Representations of the Elements (1651) Est. $14,000 - $17,000
    Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 168. First Separate Map of Kansas & Nebraska Territories (1854) Est. $5,500 - $7,000
    Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 43. Only Macrobius Map with Britain Attached to Europe (1515) Est. $800 - $950
    Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 250. Rare Map of Boston and One of the Earliest Maps of the Revolutionary War (1775) Est. $2,000 - $2,300
    Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 79. Schenk's Uncommon Map Featuring Two Figurative Title Cartouches (1696) Est. $1,200 - $1,500
    Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 681. Hand-Colored Image of the Annunciation to the Shepherds (1502) Est. $800 - $950
  • 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.
  • 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

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