Jan Toorop's Delftsche Slaolie, 1895, the first important Dutch Art Nouveau poster and an advertisem
Groundbreaking typographical examples include three works by Kurt Schwitters; Plakat Ausstellung, 1928 [estimated $10,000 to $15,000]; Wir Zeigen Werbegraphik circa 1930 [estimated $15,000 to $20,000; and his collaboration with Theo van Doesburg, Kleine Dada Soiree, 1923 [estimated $20,000 to $30,000]. These are followed by a small run of Herbert Matter’s pioneering photomontage posters promoting Swiss tourism.
These are examples of Art Nouveau posters as well as Vienna Secession and Jugendstil images, such as Delftsche Slaolie by Jan Toorop the first significant Dutch Art Nouveau poster, The Hague, 1895 [estimated $8,000 to $12,000]; Richard Muller’s Kunsranstalt / Wilhelm Hoffmann, Dresden, 1896 [estimated $3,000 to $4,000]; Walter Schnackenberg’s Toulouse-Lautrec inspired Deutsches Theatre, Munich, 1910 [estimated $12,000 to $18,000]; Tony Garnier’s impressive architectural rendering of Ville de Lyoj ‘ Exposition Internationale / La Cite Moderne, 1914 [estimated $3,000 to $4,000]; and Ludgig Hohlwein’s posters for Nachtigallschlag, the German Gramophone company, 1910 [estimated $5,000 to $7,500]; and binocular maker Zeiss Feldstrecher, featuring a well-dressed couple on a cruise, 1912 [estimated $4,000 to $6,000].
American highlights that span the 20th century are Clarence Coles Phillips’s World War I conservation poster Light Consumes Coal, circa 1918 [estimated $4,000 to $6,000]; a group of three of Leo Lionni’s Keep ‘em Rolling! Posters from WWII [estimated $2,500 to $3,500 for the set]; Ben Shahn’s campaign poster for Franklin Roosevelt, Our Friend, New York, 1944 [estimated $4,000 to $6,000]; group lots of mid-century cocktail advertisements from a Dining Guide series by Think America Institute; psychedelic music posters; and Paul Rand’s famous poster for IBM, converting their logo into an image of a eye, a bumble bee and a stylized letter M, 1982 [estimated $3,000 to $4,000].
Also from the late 20th century are two posters by Japanese Pop artist Tadanori Yokoo, Having Reached a Climax at the Age 29, I was Dead, 1966 [estimated $6,000 to $9,000], and Yukio Michima, The Aesthetics of End, 1966 [estimated $5,000 to $7,500].
Swann Galleries achieves a high percentage of sold lots – suggesting that their estimates tend to be low enough to let the market determine the outcome. While the past is not prologue experience is useful and suggests an appealing, competitive event – one well worth a closer look.
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.
![<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 11:</b> Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] <i>Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society,</i> Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/00d5fd41-2542-4a80-b119-4886d4b9925f.png "<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 11:</b> Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] <i>Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society,</i> Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.")
