Rare Book Monthly

Articles - March - 2013 Issue

Auctions In March

Auctions in March

Auctions in March

Heading into March 66 sales are on the calendar.  This is down from 82 in 2012 and the first down month comparison since May 2012.  It’s too early to know how many lots will be posted and sold but we know that last year’s high volume lowered the median price by 3 to 4% even after allowing for a large increase in less expensive books that further lowered prices.  Every month every year does not beat the prior year.  In 2012 May was down 15 sales from 2011.  The 2010 to 2009 comparison may be more appropriate.  2010 was higher only in 6 months.

In any event this March there is a sale every 11 hours and 15 minutes.

This year, as we head into March, 66 events are scheduled:

Fri. Mar 1st            Heritage Auctions..  Texana [6097].  204 lots

Sat. Mar. 2nd          Dorotheum.  Gun Books [9932].  8 lots

Mon. Mar. 4th          Bruun Rasmussen.  Prints [1310].

Tues. Mar. 5th          Christie’s.  Andy Wharhol.  Internet sale ending today [24389].  125 items

                              ERA Encheres.  Maps [21203].  1 item

Wed. Mar 6th            Ader.  Comics [208280.  140 lots

                              Bruun Rasmussen.  Prints [838].  58 items

                              Dominic Winter.  Printed Books and Maps [30613].   624 lots

                            Gray’s Auctioneers.  Prints [65]

Thurs. Mar 7th      Ader.  Theatre and Performing Arts – Collection Jacques Lorcey [20827]

                              Dominic Winter Book Auctions.  Natural History and Sporting Books and Prints [30713].

                              Heritage Auctions.  Rare Books – online bidding ending today [201310]

                              Pierre Berge & Associes.  Ancient and Modern Books [15126].

                              Swann Galleries.  19th and 20th Century Prints [2306].  663 lots

Fri. Mar. 8th            Alde.  The Claude L. Library [20982].  344 lots

Sat. Mar. 9th            Cowan’s Auctions, Inc.  Fine and Decorative Art:  Prints and Books [310].  74 lots

                                Dorotheum.  Fine Prints [9930].  31 lots

                                Marc van de Wiele Auctions.  Rare books, manuscripts and Ensor [48].  778 lots

Mon. Mar. 11th      Alde.  Library of the Castle of La Plagne [21115].  331 lots

                                Bruun Rasmussen.  Prints [1311].

Tues. Mar. 12th    Dorotheum.  Books and Decorative Prints [9939].  305 lots

Wed. Mar. 13th      Ader.  Ancient and Modern Books [20829].  289 lots

                              Bloomsbury Auctions.  Modern and Contemporary Prints [31313].

Thurs. Mar. 14th        Addison and Sarova.  Rare Books:  “God, Guts and Glory” the Library of a Southern Collector [1003a]

                              AntiquarianAuctions.com.  Rare Books online sale ending today [25].

                              Bloomsbury Auctions.  Bibliophile Books [31413].

                              Heritage Auctions [HA.com].  Rare Books online bidding ending today [201311].

                              PBA Galleries.  Fine Literature; Children’s and Illustrated Books [502].

Fri. Mar. 15th          The Romantic Agony Book and Print Auctions.  Books and Prints [50].  1,345 lots

Sat.  Mar. 16th        Addison and Sarova.   Rare Books:  “God, Guts and Glory” the Library of a Southern Collector [1003b]

                              The Romantic Agony Book and Print Auctions.  Books and Prints [50] ending today.  1,345 lots

Sun. Mar. 17th      Bonhams.  Books, Prints, Photographs [20900]

Mon. Mar. 18th      Bruun Rasmussen.  Prints [1312].

                                Cowan’s Auctions, Inc.  American History [347]

Tues. Mar. 19th      Bloomsbury Auctions.  Vintage Posters [31913].

                              Bonhams.  Books, Maps, Manuscripts, and Historical Photographs [20751].

                            Henri Godts Books and Prints Auctions.  Books, Manuscripts, Maps and Prints [31913].

                              Sothebys.  Modern and Contemporary Prints [L13162]

                              Sothebys.  Old Master, Modern and Contemporary Prints [L13160].

Wed.  Mar. 20th      Bonhams.  The Xi’an Incident:  The Papers of Hyland “Bud” Lyon [21070].  7 Lots

                              Christies.  Old Master, Modern and Contemporary Prints [1114].

                              Christies.  Library of a Spanish Bibliophile [4897].

                              Rupert Toovey and Co.  Prints [1111].

Thurs. Mar. 21st    Ader.  Threatre and Performing Arts – Collection of Jacques Lorcey [20832].

                              Bloomsbury Auctions.  Travel and Natural History Books [32113].

                            Heritage Auctions [HA.com].  Rare Book internet auction ending today [201312].

                            Keys Fine Arts.  Books [32113].

                              Sothebys.  Mark Birley:  The Private Collection [L13313].

                              Swann Galleries.  Printed and Manuscript African-Americana [2308].

Fri.  Mar. 22nd        Gallerie Koller Auctions.  Prints [A164a].

                              Keys Fine  Arts Auctioneers.  Books [32113].

                              Venator and Hanstein [Buch und Graphikauktionen].  Books and Prints [126].

Sat. Mar. 23rd        Cottone.  Prints [76].

                              Galerie Koller Auctions.  Manuscripts and Books [A164b].

                              Heritage Auctions [HA.com].  Vintage Movie Posters [7072].

                            Venator and Hanstein [Buch und Graphikauktionen].  Books and Prints [126] continued.

Sun. Mar. 24th        Bonhams.  Prints [30906]

                              Osenat.  French Empire at Fontainbleau [21043].

Wed. Mar. 27th      Cornette de Saint Cyr.  Books and Autographs [20942].

                              Minerva Auctions Roma.  Books, Autographs and Prints [OMA-88].

Thurs.  Mar. 28th     Heritage Auctions [HA.com].  Rare Books internet bidding ending today [201313].

                              PBA Galleries.  Rare Americana – African American History – Travel – Cartography [503].

                              Piasa.  Ancient and Modern Prints [20618].

Fri. Mar. 29th          Piasa.  Photographs [20619].

                              Tajan.  Books [9804]

Sat. Mar. 30th          Heritage Auctions [HA.com].  Entertainment and Music memorabilia [7074].

On every AE page there is a search link to Upcoming Auctions.  As we prepare to publish the lots for 34 upcoming sales are posted:  8,319.  This number of course changes every day. 

Rare Book Monthly

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  • Swann
    Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books
    December 9, 2025
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 156: Cornelis de Jode, Americae pars Borealis, double-page engraved map of North America, Antwerp, 1593.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 206: John and Alexander Walker, Map of the United States, London and Liverpool, 1827.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 223: Abraham Ortelius, Typus Orbis Terrarum, hand-colored double-page engraved world map, Antwerp, 1575.
    Swann
    Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books
    December 9, 2025
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 233: Aaron Arrowsmith, Chart of the World, oversize engraved map on 8 sheets, London, 1790 (circa 1800).
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 239: Fielding Lucas, A General Atlas, 81 engraved maps and diagrams, Baltimore, 1823.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 240: Anthony Finley, A New American Atlas, 15 maps engraved by james hamilton young on 14 double-page sheets, Philadelphia, 1826.
    Swann
    Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books
    December 9, 2025
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 263: John Bachmann, Panorama of the Seat of War, portfolio of 4 double-page chromolithographed panoramic maps, New York, 1861.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 265: Sebastian Münster, Cosmographei, Basel: Sebastian Henricpetri, 1558.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 271: Abraham Ortelius, Epitome Theatri Orteliani, Antwerp: Johann Baptist Vrients, 1601.
    Swann
    Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books
    December 9, 2025
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 283: Joris van Spilbergen, Speculum Orientalis Occidentalisque Indiae, Leiden: Nicolaus van Geelkercken for Jodocus Hondius, 1619.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 285: Levinus Hulsius, Achtzehender Theil der Newen Welt, 14 engraved folding maps, Frankfurt: Johann Frederick Weiss, 1623.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 341: John James Audubon, Carolina Parrot, Plate 26, London, 1827.
  • Sotheby’s
    Book Week
    December 9-17, 2025
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society, Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 1997, first edition, hardback issue, inscribed by the author pre-publication. £100,000 to £150,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Autograph sketchleaf including a probable draft for the E flat Piano Quartet, K.493, 1786. £150,000 to £200,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Hooke, Robert. Micrographia: or some Physiological Descriptions of Minute Bodies made by Magnifying Glasses. London: James Allestry for the Royal Society, 1667. $12,000 to $15,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Chappuzeau, Samuel. The history of jewels, first edition in English. London: T.N. for Hobart Kemp, 1671. $12,000 to $18,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Sowerby, James. Exotic Mineralogy, containing his most realistic mineral depictions, London: Benjamin Meredith, 1811, Arding and Merrett, 1817. $5,000 to $7,000.

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