It didn't look like a $35,000 item at the flea market.
Amazing finds can still be made at yard sales and flea markets. Professional sellers with a trained eye tend to scour these venues more today than used to be the case, and the amateur may have a more difficult time stumbling across the hidden treasure. Nevertheless, it still happens, as a story out of Germany attests. A flea market buyer recently turned a purchase into a 540,000 percent return. Try getting that on a CD these days.
An unnamed individual, likely a German attending a German flea market, came across an old book. It was actually a catalogue for an art exhibition in Berlin in 1912. The individual was probably not a total amateur as he recognized it might be of some value, but clearly had no idea just how much. Based on what was described as “a gut feeling,” he put his €5 (euros, or approximately $6.50) on the table and took a gamble. He hit the jackpot.
The exhibition catalogue simply had the title Brücke on the cover. It was a traveling exhibition that appeared in Berlin and Hamburg. The exhibitors were what is known as the “Brücke artists” (Bridge artists). They were members of what is called the German Expressionist movement in art. I will not embarrass myself by trying to describe the nature of German Expressionism. To be honest, I'm not as up on German Expressionism as I ought to be.
The flea market collector was correct. This is a very valuable catalogue. However, it is even more valuable than he could have imagined, even if he was completely familiar with the Brücke exhibition. It turns out that among the original exhibitors was Max Pechstein. He was the only one of the group with formal art training. His art would go on to gather major recognition in Germany. However, after the Nazis took over, his works were labeled decadent. They were removed from German museums, and several were put on display by the Nazis in a 1937 exhibition of “degenerate art.” Pechstein, who was fired from his professorship at the Berlin Academy by the Nazis in 1933, essentially went underground, hiding out in the countryside during the war. He was reinstated to his position in 1945.
The original Berlin catalogue included two woodcuts by Pechstein, which apparently have not been published elsewhere. However, there was a dispute over Pechstein's participation in the exhibition. He had exhibited elsewhere, which upset some of the other artists. He was booted out. The result is that this extremely rare Berlin catalogue is the only one with the Pechstein woodcuts. It makes this edition particularly valuable.
The lucky buyer brought his catalogue to the German auction house Ketterer Kunst. It was put up for sale on November 20. When the hammer came down, the high bid, all in, was €27,000 ($35,000). Not bad for a €5 investment. Yes, there are still killings to be made out there, with a sharp eye and a lot of luck. We hope Santa was as good to you this year.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("Martinus Luther") to His Friend the Theologian Gerhard Wiskamp ("Gerardo Xantho Lampadario"). $100,000 - $150,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: An Exceptionally Fine Copy of Austenís Emma: A Novel in Three Volumes. $40,000 - $60,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Presentation Copy of Ernest Hemmingwayís A Farewell to Arms for Edward Titus of the Black Mankin Press. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Manuscript Signed Integrally for "The Songs of Pooh," by Alan Alexander. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Manuscript of "Three Fragments from Gˆtterd‰mmerung" by Richard Wagner. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Original Preliminary Artwork, for the First Edition of Snow Crash. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("T.R. Malthus") to Economist Nassau Senior on Wealth, Labor and Adam Smith. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides Finely Bound by Michael Wilcox. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: First Edition of Lewis and Clark: Travels to the Source of the Missouri River and Across the American Continent to the Pacific Ocean. $8,000 - $12,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Original Artwork for the First Edition of Neal Stephenson's Groundbreaking Novel Snow Crash. $100,000 - $150,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: A Complete Set Signed Deluxe Editions of King's The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King. $8,000 - $12,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("John Adams") to James Le Ray de Chaumont During the Crucial Years of the Revolutionary War. $8,000 - $12,000.
Sotheby’s Book Week December 9-17, 2025
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Francesco Colonna. Hypnerotomachie, Paris, 1546, Parisian calf by Wotton Binder C for Marcus Fugger. €200,000 to €300,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Nausea. De principiis dialectices Gorgias, and other works, Venice, 1523, morocco gilt for Cardinal Campeggio. €3,000 to €4,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Billon. Le fort inexpugnable de l'honneur, Paris, 1555, Parisian calf gilt for Peter Ernst, Graf von Mansfeld. €120,000 to €180,000.
Sotheby’s Book Week December 9-17, 2025
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: Salinger, J.D. The Graham Family archive, including autographed letters, an inscribed Catcher, a rare studio photograph of the author, and more. $120,000 to $180,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of Sense and Sensibility, the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: Massachusetts General Court. A powerful precursor to the Declaration of Independence: "every Act of Government … without the Consent of the People, is … Tyranny." $40,000 to $60,000.
Heritage Auctions Rare Books Signature Auction December 15, 2025
Heritage, Dec. 15: John Donne. Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death. London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.
Heritage, Dec. 15: Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
Heritage, Dec. 15: F. Scott Fitzgerald. Tender is the Night. A Romance.
Heritage, Dec. 15: Jerry Thomas. How to Mix Drinks, or the Bon-Vivant's Companion, Containing Clear and Reliable Directions for Mixing All the Beverages Used in the United States…
![<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 16:</b> [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of <i>Sense and Sensibility,</i> the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/9a74d9ff-42dd-46a1-8bb2-b636c4cec796.png "<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 16:</b> [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of <i>Sense and Sensibility,</i> the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.")
![<b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> John Donne. <i>Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death.</i> London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/8caddaea-4c1f-47a7-9455-62f53af36e3f.jpg "<b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> John Donne. <i>Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death.</i> London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.")
