Rare Book Monthly

Articles - March - 2022 Issue

Hindman Launches Independent Appraisals Division

The Hindman Appraisals Team

The Hindman Appraisals Team

CHICAGO – Hindman has announced the launch of Hindman Appraisals LLC, an independent division, to elevate its offerings to clients by providing independent, impartial and objective appraisal services. This launch follows their critical transition in 2021 to significantly expand Hindman’s appraisal capabilities. Last year alone, Hindman appraised nearly a quarter of a billion dollars in fine and decorative arts, jewelry, collectibles, household contents and other tangible personal property, an 800% increase since 2020. The firm also added a secure appraisal management software program with smartphone apps to streamline cataloging and photographing collections during on-site inspections. Hindman’s Tim Luke will lead this new division as National Director of Appraisals & Valuations.

Luke has also been appointed as the Vice-Chair of the Appraisal Standards Board (ASB) by the Appraisal Foundation, which is authorized by Congress as the source of Appraisals Standards and Appraiser Qualifications in the United States. The seven-member board is responsible for writing, amending and interpreting the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). This will be Luke’s third year serving on the ASB.

“It has been a tremendous honor to lead a team of specialist appraisers with experience and knowledge,” stated Luke. “Our appraisers are all active participants in the marketplace, which sets us apart from our competitors.”

Appraisal and Valuation Services include:

Professional appraisals are all compliant with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) and prepared for:

  • Estate Tax
  • Gift Tax
  • Charitable Contribution
  • Insurance
  • Appraisals for Corporate Art Collections and Other Tangible Personal Property
  • Divorce
  • Equitable Distribution

Luke, as leader of the Appraisals division, will oversee the core team and collaborate with specialists. Prior to joining Hindman in 2021, Luke, a 32-year veteran of the auction and appraisals industry, served as Executive Vice President and Senior Appraiser at Gurr Johns, where he was focused on providing valuation services, evaluating collection and preparing appraisal reports that comply with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).


About Hindman Appraisals
Hindman Appraisals performs several hundred USPAP and IRS compliant appraisals a year and has appraised nearly a quarter-billion dollars in fine and decorative arts in 2021, including jewelry, collectibles, household contents and other tangible personal property. The company works closely with Hindman’s 13 regional offices and appraises fine art, decorative arts, jewelry, wine collections, cars, and entertainment and rock-n-roll memorabilia.

About Tim Luke
Tim Luke joined Hindman in 2021, and has over 32 years of auction and appraisal industry experience. Previously an Executive Vice President and Senior Appraiser at Gurr Johns, Luke focused on providing valuation services, evaluating collections and preparing appraisal reports that comply with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). Prior to joining Gurr Johns, Luke established and was President of his own auction, appraisal and events business, TreasureQuest Group, Inc. in South Florida, for 20 years. In this position, he provided USPAP compliant appraisals for divorce, insurance, donations and estates, as well as offering auction and brokerage services of fine and decorative arts, collectibles and jewelry. Luke began his career at Christie’s in New York where he worked for seven years and served as Director of the Collectibles Department and Auctioneer. Tim holds a B.A. from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio and, has earned various appraisal and auctioneer professional designations, and is an AQB certified USPAP instructor.

Luke is an active member of the National Auctioneers Association (NAA) and is an Accredited Member of the International Society of Appraisers (ISA). He is an instructor and serves on the education committees for both organizations and was awarded the Pat Massart Leadership Award from the Certified Auctioneers Institute. Luke appeared as a participating appraiser for the first nine seasons of PBS’ Antiques Roadshow, and as a Co-host and Appraiser on HGTV’s Cash in the Attic, among other media appearances.

About Hindman
Hindman is one of the nation’s leading fine art auction houses connecting cities nationwide to the global art market and providing expertise across all categories, sales channels and price points. Hindman operates more salerooms in the United States than any other auction house and conducts over 140 auctions a year in categories such as fine art, jewelry and watches, modern design, books and manuscripts, couture, furniture and decorative arts, Asian art, Western art, antiquities, and more. Hindman was formed through the acquisition of two premier auction houses, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers (est.1982) and Cowan’s Auctions (est. 1995). Headquartered in Chicago, Hindman is home to over 160 employees, with additional offices in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, Milwaukee, Naples, Palm Beach, San Diego, Scottsdale, St. Louis and Washington D.C. Visit hindmanauctions.com for more information.

Rare Book Monthly

  • Koller, Mar. 26: Wit, Frederick de. Atlas. Amsterdam, de Wit, [1680]. CHF 20,000 to 30,000
    Koller, Mar. 26: Merian, Maria Sibylla. Der Raupen wunderbare Verwandelung, und sonderbare Blumennahrung. Nürnberg, 1679; Frankfurt a. M. und Leipzig, 1683. CHF 20,000 to 30,000
    Koller, Mar. 26: GOETHE, JOHANN WOLFGANG VON. Faust. Ein Fragment. Von Goethe. Ächte Ausgabe. Leipzig, G. J. Göschen, 1790. CHF 7,000 to 10,000
    Koller, Mar. 26: Hieronymus. [Das hochwirdig leben der außerwoelten freünde gotes der heiligen altuaeter]. Augsburg, Johann Schönsperger d. Ä., 9. Juni 1497. CHF 40,000 to 60,000.
    Koller, Mar. 26: BIBLIA GERMANICA - Neunte deutsche Bibel. Nürnberg, A. Koberger, 17. Feb. 1483. CHF 40,000 to 60,000
    Koller, Mar. 26: HORAE B.M.V. - Stundenbuch. Lateinische Handschrift auf Pergament, Kalendarium französisch. Nordfrankreich (Rouen?). CHF 25,000 to 40,000
  • Forum Auctions
    Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    27th March 2025
    Forum, Mar. 27: Dürer (Albrecht) Hierin sind begriffen vier bücher von menschlicher Proportion, 4 parts in 1, first edition, Nuremberg, Hieronymus Andreae for Agnes Dürer, 1528. £30,000 to £40,000.
    Forum, Mar. 27: Book of Hours, Use of Rome, illuminated manuscript in Latin, on vellum, 26 fine hand-painted miniatures, 17th century dark brown morocco, [Lyon], [c. 1475 and later c. 1490-1500]. £25,000 to £35,000.
    Forum, Mar. 27: Brontë (Emily) The North Wind, watercolour, [1842]. £15,000 to £20,000.
    Forum, Mar. 27: Titanic.- Mudd (Thomas Cupper, one of the youngest victims of the sinking of the Titanic, 1895-1912) Autograph Letter signed on board RMS Titanic to his mother, April 11th 1912. £20,000 to £30,000.
    Forum Auctions
    Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    27th March 2025
    Forum, Mar. 27: [Austen (Jane)] Emma: A Novel, 3 vol., first edition, for John Murray, 1816. £10,000 to £15,000.
    Forum, Mar. 27: Picasso (Pablo).- Ovid. Les Metamorphoses, one of 95 copies, signed by the artist, Lausanne, Albert Skira, 1931. £10,000 to £15,000.
    Forum, Mar. 27: America.- Ogilby (John) America: Being the Latest, and Most Accurate Description of the New World..., all maps with vibrant hand-colouring in outline, probably by an early hand, 1671. £15,000 to £25,000.
    Forum, Mar. 27: Iceland.- Geological exploration.- Bright (Dr. Richard )and Edward Bird. Collection of twenty original drawings from travels in Iceland with Henry Holland and George Mackenzie, watercolours, [1810]. £20,000 to £30,000.
  • Forum Auctions
    The Library of Barry Humphries
    26th March 2025
    Forum, Mar. 26: Beckford (William) [Vathek] An Arabian Tale, first (but unauthorised) edition, Lady Caroline Lamb's copy with her signature and notes, 1786. £2,000 to £3,000.
    Forum, Mar. 26: Baudelaire (Charles) Les Fleurs du Mal, first edition containing the 6 suppressed poems, first issue, contemporary half black morocco, Paris, 1857. £4,000 to £6,000.
    Forum, Mar. 26: Beardsley (Aubrey).- Pope (Alexander) The Rape of the Lock, one of 25 copies on Japanese vellum, Leonard Smithers, 1896. £4,000 to £6,000.
    Forum, Mar. 26: Douglas (Lord Alfred) Sonnets, first edition, the dedication copy, with signed presentation inscription from the author to his wife Olive Custance, The Academy, 1909. £2,000 to £3,000.
    Forum Auctions
    The Library of Barry Humphries
    26th March 2025
    Forum, Mar. 26: Crowley (Aleister) The Works..., 3 vol. in 1 (as issued)"Essay Competition" issue on India paper, signed presentation inscription from the author, 1905-07. £1,500 to £2,000.
    Forum, Mar. 26: Rodin (Auguste).- Mirbeau (Octave) Le Jardin des Supplices, one of 30 copies on chine with an additional suite, bound in dark purple goatskin, Paris, 1902. £3,000 to £4,000.
    Forum, Mar. 26: Pellar (Hans) Eight original book illustrations for 'Der verliebte Flamingo' [together with] a published copy of the first edition of the book, 1923. £6,000 to £8,000.
    Forum, Mar. 26: Cretté (Georges, binder).- Louÿs (Pierre) Les Aventures du Roi Pausole, 2 vol., one of 99 copies, with 2 original drawings, superbly bound in blue goatskin, gilt, Paris, 1930. £3,000 to £4,000.
  • Sotheby's
    Sell Your Fine Books & Manuscripts
    Sotheby’s: The Shem Tov Bible, 1312 | A Masterpiece from the Golden Age of Spain. Sold: 6,960,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: Ten Commandments Tablet, 300-800 CE | One of humanity's earliest and most enduring moral codes. Sold: 5,040,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: William Blake | Songs of Innocence and of Experience. Sold: 4,320,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: The Declaration of Independence | The Holt printing, the only copy in private hands. Sold: 3,360,000 USD
    Sotheby's
    Sell Your Fine Books & Manuscripts
    Sotheby’s: Thomas Taylor | The original cover art for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Sold: 1,920,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: Machiavelli | Il Principe, a previously unrecorded copy of the book where modern political thought began. Sold: 576,000 GBP
    Sotheby’s: Leonardo da Vinci | Trattato della pittura, ca. 1639, a very fine pre-publication manuscript. Sold: 381,000 GBP
    Sotheby’s: Henri Matisse | Jazz, Paris 1947, the complete portfolio. Sold: 312,000 EUR

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