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Articles - May - 2015 Issue

In May 90 Auctions are Scheduled

- by Bruce E. McKinney

Ninety Auctions in May

Ninety Auctions in May

The month's roll by and fresh auctions are announced, promoted and then sold.  This month there are initially 90.  By the end of the month there may be a dozen more.  As June then approaches some 25,000 lots will have been offered and the outcomes of each recorded.  The pace is extraordinary, the patterns of offers, pricing and sales both defining the world of collectible paper we are familiar with and the world that these forms of collecting are becoming.  It takes a close reading but the future is revealing itself.

Fri. May. 1st 
Sothebys. New York. Prints. 307 lots 
Eldreds. East Dennis,. Asian Arts at Auction. 24 lots 
Heritage Auctions. Beverly Hills. The Red Dot Auction Benefiting Chuck Jones Center for Creativity. 208 lots 

Sat. May. 2nd 
Nosbüsch & Stucke. Berlin. Books. 1231 lots 
Knotty Pine Auction Service. West Swanzey. Antique and Estate Book Sale - Session 2: Books. 309 lots 
Mid Hudson Auction Galleries. Cornwall-on-Hudson, . Seymour Stein Collection: Part 1. 14 lots 

Sun. May. 3rd 
Heritage Auctions. New York. Photographs. 217 lots 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Comics - Internet bidstart 4/26. 721 lots 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 4/26. 495 lots 

Mon. May. 4th 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Doodle for Hunger Illustration Art Auction Benefiting St. Francis Food Pantries and Shelter. 43 lots 
Bruun Rasmussen. Copenhagen. Old Master Prints. 13 lots 

Tue. May. 5th 
Tajan. Paris. Photographs. 170 lots 
Bruun Rasmussen. Copenhagen. Books. 
Bruun Rasmussen. Copenhagen. Modern and Contemporary Prints. 90 lots 

Wed. May. 6th 
Heritage Auctions. Beverly Hills. Illustration Art. 519 lots 
Aguttes. Neuilly-sur-Seine . Old Books and Paper. 
Tajan. Paris. Rive Gauche. 27 lots 
Lyon and Turnbull. Edinburgh. Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps and Photographs. 357 lots 

Thu. May. 7th 
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. Chicago. Fine Books and Manuscripts. 
Swann Galleries. New York. Modernist Posters. 309 lots 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 4/30. 

Fri. May. 8th 
Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society. Lancaster. Rare and Used Books. 502 lots 
Keys Fine Arts Auctioneers. Norwich. Pictures and Prints. 

Sat. May. 9th 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Americana, Political. 
Jeschke van vliet Buch und Kunstauktionen GmbH. Berlin-Schoneberg. Rare Books, Prints and Photographs. 
Mid Hudson Auction Galleries. Cornwall-on-Hudson, . Seymour Stein Antique Advertisements. 
Michaans Auctions. Alameda, CA . Estate Sale - Books and Prints. 

Sun. May. 10th 
Mid Hudson Auction Galleries. Cornwall-on-Hudson, . Seymour Stein Collection: Part 3. 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Comics - Internet bidstart 1/115/3. 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 5/3. 

Mon. May. 11th 
Bonhams. New York. Post War and Contemporary - Prints. 

Tue. May. 12th 
Burgersdijk and Niermans. Leiden. Books. 

Wed. May. 13th 
Aguttes. Neuilly-sur-Seine . Old Books and Paper. 
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Gloucestershire. Printed Books, Maps and Documents. 
ALDE. Paris. Antiquarian and 19th Century Books. 
Bonhams. Edinburgh. The Sporting Sale. 
RR Auction. Amherst. Fine Autographs & Artifacts. 968 lots 

Thu. May. 14th 
Bloomsbury Auctions. London. Bibliophile. 
Bolaffi Ambassador Auctions. Milan. Books on Food. 679 lots 
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Gloucestershire. Motoring, Aviation, Maritime & Railway History: Models, Toys, Books & Documents, Fine Art. 
PBA Galleries. San Francisco. Rare Americana with California & the P.P.P.I E. - Travel & Exploration - Maps & Views. 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 5/7. 

Fri. May. 15th 
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Gloucestershire. Battle of Waterloo Bicentenary Sale: Military History, Arms & Armour, Militaria. 

Sun. May. 17th 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Comics - Internet bidstart 5/10. 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 5/10. 

Mon. May. 18th 
Ketterer Kunst Doerling. Hamburg. Rare Books. 
Dorotheum . Vienna. Scientific Instruments - Globes. 

Tue. May. 19th 
Bubb Kuyper. 2011 KM Haarlem. Books, Manuscripts and Graphic Arts. 
Tooveys. West Sussex. Photographs, Autographs, Printed and Manuscript Ephemera. 
Swann Galleries. New York. Maps and Atlases, Natural History and Color Plate Books. 
Artcurial. Paris. Books and Manuscripts. 
Hauswedell and Nolte. Hamburg. Rare Books and Autographs. 779 lots 

Wed. May. 20th 
Tooveys. West Sussex. Prints. 
Tajan. Paris. Books. 
Old World Auctions. Glen Allen. Antique Maps, Globes, Charts, Atlases & Vintage Graphics. 

Thu. May. 21st 
Bloomsbury Auctions. London. Important Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper. 
Christies. London -South Kensington. Posters. 
PIASA. Paris. Russian and Soviet Photographs. 
Swann Galleries. New York. Fine Photographs. 
Tajan. Paris. Prints. 
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. Chicago. Fine Prints. 
Dorotheum . Vienna. Modern and Contemporary Prints. 
Auctionata. Berlin. Photography, Prints and Editions. 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 5/14. 

Fri. May. 22nd 
Pierre Berge and Associes. Paris. Jean Patou Collection - Books. 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Space Exploration. 
Ader. PARIS. Photographs. 
Aspire Auctions. Cleveland. Printed Art. 
ALDE. Paris. First Editions. 

Sat. May. 23rd 
Sothebys. London. Photographs. 
Artcurial. Paris. Comic Strips. 
Hauff and Auvermann. Berlin-Wilmersdorf. Modern and contemporary art. Paintings, prints, sculptures.. 371 lots 

Sun. May. 24th 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Comics - Internet bidstart 5/17. 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 5/17. 
Northeast Auctions. Portsmouth. Memorial Day Weekend Auction. 

Wed. May. 27th 
Neret Minet and Tessier. Paris. Books and Manuscripts. 
Christies. London - King Street. Sporting Books from the Collection of Joel Spitz. 
Gonnelli Casa DAste. Firenze. Manuscripts, Incunabula and Books. 

Thu. May. 28th 
Galerie Bassenge. Berlin-Grunewald . Art Sale - Prints. 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Comics. 
Sothebys. London. Music, Continental and Russian Books and Manuscripts. 
Ader. PARIS. Prints. 
PBA Galleries. San Francisco. Rare Books and Manuscripts. 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 5/21. 

Fri. May. 29th 
Binoche et Giquello. rue La Boetie, Paris. Books. 
Skinner. Boston. Americana and European Prints and Photography. 

Sat. May. 30th 
Clars Auction Gallery. Oakland. Prints and Photographs. 

Sun. May. 31st 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Comics - Internet bidstart 5/24. 
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 5/24. 

Use the upcoming auction search regularly to follow the auction activity.

 

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  • <center><b>Swann<br>Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books<br>December 9, 2025</b></center> <b>Swann, Dec. 9:</b> Lot 156: Cornelis de Jode, <i>Americae pars Borealis,</i> double-page engraved map of North America, Antwerp, 1593. <b>Swann, Dec. 9:</b> Lot 206: John and Alexander Walker, <i>Map of the United States,</i> London and Liverpool, 1827. <b>Swann, Dec. 9:</b> Lot 223: Abraham Ortelius, <i>Typus Orbis Terrarum,</i> hand-colored double-page engraved world map, Antwerp, 1575. <center><b>Swann<br>Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books<br>December 9, 2025</b></center> <b>Swann, Dec. 9:</b> Lot 233: Aaron Arrowsmith, <i>Chart of the World,</i> oversize engraved map on 8 sheets, London, 1790 (circa 1800). <b>Swann, Dec. 9:</b> Lot 239: Fielding Lucas, <i>A General Atlas,</i> 81 engraved maps and diagrams, Baltimore, 1823. <b>Swann, Dec. 9:</b> Lot 240: Anthony Finley, <i>A New American Atlas,</i> 15 maps engraved by james hamilton young on 14 double-page sheets, Philadelphia, 1826. <center><b>Swann<br>Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books<br>December 9, 2025</b></center> <b>Swann, Dec. 9:</b> Lot 263: John Bachmann, <i>Panorama of the Seat of War,</i> portfolio of 4 double-page chromolithographed panoramic maps, New York, 1861. <b>Swann, Dec. 9:</b> Lot 265: Sebastian Münster, <i>Cosmographei,</i> Basel: Sebastian Henricpetri, 1558. <b>Swann, Dec. 9:</b> Lot 271: Abraham Ortelius, <i>Epitome Theatri Orteliani,</i> Antwerp: Johann Baptist Vrients, 1601. <center><b>Swann<br>Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books<br>December 9, 2025</b></center> <b>Swann, Dec. 9:</b> Lot 283: Joris van Spilbergen, <i>Speculum Orientalis Occidentalisque Indiae,</i> Leiden: Nicolaus van Geelkercken for Jodocus Hondius, 1619. <b>Swann, Dec. 9:</b> Lot 285: Levinus Hulsius, <i>Achtzehender Theil der Newen Welt,</i> 14 engraved folding maps, Frankfurt: Johann Frederick Weiss, 1623. <b>Swann, Dec. 9:</b> Lot 341: John James Audubon, <i>Carolina Parrot, Plate 26,</i> London, 1827.
    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.
  • <b><center>SD Scandinavian Art & Rare Book Auctions<br>The Odfjell Collection<br>Polar – History – Ornithology – Colour Plate Books<br>Ending December 4th</center></b> <b>Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4:</b> ROALD AMUNDSEN: «Sydpolen» [ The South Pole] 1912. First edition in jackets and publisher's slip case. <b>Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4:</b> AMUNDSEN & NANSEN: «Fram over Polhavet» [Farthest North] 1897. AMUNDSEN's COPY! <b>Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4:</b> ERNEST SHACKLETON [ed.]: «Aurora Australis» 1908. First edition. The NORWAY COPY. <b>Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4:</b> ERNEST SHACKLETON: «The heart of the Antarctic» + SUPPLEMENT «The Antarctic Book», 1909. <b>Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4:</b> SHACKLETON, BERNACCHI, CHERRY-GARRARD [ed.]: «The South Polar Times» I-III, 1902-1911. <b><center>SD Scandinavian Art & Rare Book Auctions<br>The Odfjell Collection<br>Polar – History – Ornithology – Colour Plate Books<br>Ending December 4th</center></b> <b>Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4:</b> [WILLEM BARENTSZ & HENRY HUDSON] - SAEGHMAN: «Verhael van de vier eerste schip-vaerden […]», 1663. <b>Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4:</b> TERRA NOVA EXPEDITION | LIEUTENANT HENRY ROBERTSON BOWERS: «At the South Pole.», Gelatin Silver Print. [10¾ x 15in. (27.2 x 38.1cm.) ]. <b>Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4:</b> ELEAZAR ALBIN: «A natural History of Birds.» + «A Supplement», 1738-40. Wonderful coloured plates. <b>Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4:</b> PAUL GAIMARD: «Voyage de la Commision scientific du Nord, en Scandinavie, […]», c. 1842-46. ONLY HAND COLOURED COPY KNOWN WITH TWO ORIGINAL PAINTINGS BY BIARD. <b>Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4:</b> JAMES JOYCE: «Ulysses», 1922. FIRST EDITION IN ORIGINAL WRAPPERS.
    SD Scandinavian Art & Rare Book Auctions
    The Odfjell Collection
    Polar – History – Ornithology – Colour Plate Books
    Ending December 4th
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: ROALD AMUNDSEN: «Sydpolen» [ The South Pole] 1912. First edition in jackets and publisher's slip case.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: AMUNDSEN & NANSEN: «Fram over Polhavet» [Farthest North] 1897. AMUNDSEN's COPY!
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: ERNEST SHACKLETON [ed.]: «Aurora Australis» 1908. First edition. The NORWAY COPY.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: ERNEST SHACKLETON: «The heart of the Antarctic» + SUPPLEMENT «The Antarctic Book», 1909.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: SHACKLETON, BERNACCHI, CHERRY-GARRARD [ed.]: «The South Polar Times» I-III, 1902-1911.
    SD Scandinavian Art & Rare Book Auctions
    The Odfjell Collection
    Polar – History – Ornithology – Colour Plate Books
    Ending December 4th
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: [WILLEM BARENTSZ & HENRY HUDSON] - SAEGHMAN: «Verhael van de vier eerste schip-vaerden […]», 1663.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: TERRA NOVA EXPEDITION | LIEUTENANT HENRY ROBERTSON BOWERS: «At the South Pole.», Gelatin Silver Print. [10¾ x 15in. (27.2 x 38.1cm.) ].
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: ELEAZAR ALBIN: «A natural History of Birds.» + «A Supplement», 1738-40. Wonderful coloured plates.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: PAUL GAIMARD: «Voyage de la Commision scientific du Nord, en Scandinavie, […]», c. 1842-46. ONLY HAND COLOURED COPY KNOWN WITH TWO ORIGINAL PAINTINGS BY BIARD.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: JAMES JOYCE: «Ulysses», 1922. FIRST EDITION IN ORIGINAL WRAPPERS.
  • <center><b>Sotheby’s<br>Book Week<br>December 9-17, 2025</b></center> <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. <b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 11:</b> J.K. Rowling. <i>Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone,</i> 1997, first edition, hardback issue, inscribed by the author pre-publication. £100,000 to £150,000. <b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 11:</b> Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Autograph sketchleaf including a probable draft for the E flat Piano Quartet, K.493, 1786. £150,000 to £200,000. <b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 12:</b> Hooke, Robert. <i>Micrographia: or some Physiological Descriptions of Minute Bodies made by Magnifying Glasses.</i> London: James Allestry for the Royal Society, 1667. $12,000 to $15,000. <b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 12:</b> Chappuzeau, Samuel. <i>The history of jewels,</i> first edition in English. London: T.N. for Hobart Kemp, 1671. $12,000 to $18,000. <b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 12:</b> Sowerby, James. <i>Exotic Mineralogy, containing his most realistic mineral depictions,</i> London: Benjamin Meredith, 1811, Arding and Merrett, 1817. $5,000 to $7,000.
    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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