Rare Book Monthly

print Send Email to Friend Change Font Size Share Link

Articles - March - 2010 Issue

It's in the Mail

- by Bruce E. McKinney


According to a representative of the auction house there were about ten consistent bidders for the books, most of them dealers. In typical book sale there are 30 to 250 bidders.

And in a follow-up with Charles F. Shreve, President of Spink-Shreves Galleries, who organized the sale, I inquired if many lots had been turned back to the house because of undisclosed issues. His answer was telling. Of the 1,294 lots offered 1,293 sold and only two returned. In other words 99.92% of the lots sold and less than two tenths of one percent were returned. Those are numbers only a few auction houses ever achieve.

Taken together, the catalogue, the estimates, the advertising and promotion created an event. If the books did less well the stamps exceeded all expectations. Mr. Risvold is no longer with us but his catalogues are. They and the items they describe will be with us for generations to come.

Included is a comparison of 2001-2010 records in the AED with the 149 lots in this sale that more or less overlapped the field of books, manuscripts and ephemera. It suggests the Spink-Shreves did well but that these 149 items would probably have done better if pitched to book collectors.

Notes on the Sale

Rare Book Monthly

  • <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 11. Blaeu's Superb World Map on a Polar Projection (1695) Est. $5,500 - $7,000 <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 36. Schedel's Ancient World Map with Humanoid Creatures (1493) Est. $14,000 - $17,000 <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 49. One of the First Lunar Globes to Show the Far Side of the Moon (1963) Est. $1,000 - $1,300 <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 5. The First World Map with Lavish Allegorical Vignettes of the Continents (1594) Est. $15,000 - $17,000 <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 55. Anti-British Propaganda Map with Churchill as an Octopus (1942) Est. $2,000 - $2,300 <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 197. One of the Most Influential Maps of Westward Expansion (1846) Est. $9,500 - $12,000 <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 10. Scarce Pitt Edition of Carte-a-Figures Map of the World (1680) Est. $9,500 - $11,000 <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 220. A Fine, Early Rendering of San Francisco (1874) Est. $2,200 - $2,500 <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 707. Hand-Colored Image of the Presentation of Jesus with Gilt Highlights (1450) Est. $1,600 - $1,900 <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 80. One of the Most Important Maps Perpetuating the Myth of the Island of California (1680) Est. $3,250 - $4,000 <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 725. Homann's Atlas Featuring 26 Folio-Sized Maps in Original Color (1715) Est. $4,500 - $5,500 <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 169. One of the Earliest Maps to Show Philadelphia (1695) Est. $4,750 - $6,000
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 11. Blaeu's Superb World Map on a Polar Projection (1695) Est. $5,500 - $7,000
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 36. Schedel's Ancient World Map with Humanoid Creatures (1493) Est. $14,000 - $17,000
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 49. One of the First Lunar Globes to Show the Far Side of the Moon (1963) Est. $1,000 - $1,300
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 5. The First World Map with Lavish Allegorical Vignettes of the Continents (1594) Est. $15,000 - $17,000
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 55. Anti-British Propaganda Map with Churchill as an Octopus (1942) Est. $2,000 - $2,300
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 197. One of the Most Influential Maps of Westward Expansion (1846) Est. $9,500 - $12,000
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 10. Scarce Pitt Edition of Carte-a-Figures Map of the World (1680) Est. $9,500 - $11,000
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 220. A Fine, Early Rendering of San Francisco (1874) Est. $2,200 - $2,500
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 707. Hand-Colored Image of the Presentation of Jesus with Gilt Highlights (1450) Est. $1,600 - $1,900
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 80. One of the Most Important Maps Perpetuating the Myth of the Island of California (1680) Est. $3,250 - $4,000
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 725. Homann's Atlas Featuring 26 Folio-Sized Maps in Original Color (1715) Est. $4,500 - $5,500
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 169. One of the Earliest Maps to Show Philadelphia (1695) Est. $4,750 - $6,000
  • <b>Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11:</b> DALVIMART, Octavien ou d’ALVIMAR(T). The Costume of Turkey <b>Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11:</b> DALVIMART, Octavien ou d’ALVIMAR(T)]. CLARK. The Military Costume of Turkey <b>Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11:</b> HOMMAIRE DE HELL, Ignace-Xavier. LAURENS, Jules. Voyage en Turquie et en Perse <b>Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11:</b> POSTEL, Guillaume. De la République des Turc <b>Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11:</b> PREZIOSI, Amadeo. Stamboul. Souvenir d’Orient. <b>Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11:</b> COSTUMES. EMPIRE OTTOMAN. <b>Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11:</b> PRISSE D'AVENNES, Achille Constant T. Emile. L'Art Arabe <b>Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11:</b> PRISSE D'AVENNES. Histoire de l'art Egyptie <b>Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11:</b> BESANCENOT, Jean. Costumes et types du Maroc. <b>Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11:</b> COSTUMES OTTOMANS. Suite de figures ottomanes à l’aquarelle <b>Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11:</b> LES MILLE ET UNE NUIT, contes arabes <b>Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11:</b> SCHLEGEL, Hermann et A. H. VERSTER van WULVERHORST. Traité de Fauconnerie - Planches <b>Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11:</b> THEVENOT, Melchisédec. Relation de divers voyages curieux <b>Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11:</b>
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: DALVIMART, Octavien ou d’ALVIMAR(T). The Costume of Turkey
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: DALVIMART, Octavien ou d’ALVIMAR(T)]. CLARK. The Military Costume of Turkey
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: HOMMAIRE DE HELL, Ignace-Xavier. LAURENS, Jules. Voyage en Turquie et en Perse
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: POSTEL, Guillaume. De la République des Turc
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: PREZIOSI, Amadeo. Stamboul. Souvenir d’Orient.
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: COSTUMES. EMPIRE OTTOMAN.
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: PRISSE D'AVENNES, Achille Constant T. Emile. L'Art Arabe
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: PRISSE D'AVENNES. Histoire de l'art Egyptie
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: BESANCENOT, Jean. Costumes et types du Maroc.
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: COSTUMES OTTOMANS. Suite de figures ottomanes à l’aquarelle
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: LES MILLE ET UNE NUIT, contes arabes
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: SCHLEGEL, Hermann et A. H. VERSTER van WULVERHORST. Traité de Fauconnerie - Planches
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: THEVENOT, Melchisédec. Relation de divers voyages curieux
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11:
  • <b>Il Ponte, Feb. 25-26:</b> HAMILTON, Sir William (1730-1803) - Campi Phlegraei. Napoli: [Pietro Fabris], 1776, 1779. € 30.000 - 50.000 <b>Il Ponte, Feb. 25-26:</b> [MORTIER] - BLAEU, Joannes (1596-1673) - Het Nieuw Stede Boek van Italie. Amsterdam: Pieter Mortier, 1704-1705. € 15.000 - 25.000 <b>Il Ponte, Feb. 25-26:</b> TULLIO D'ALBISOLA (1899-1971) - Bruno MUNARI (1907-1998) - L'Anguria lirica (lungo poema passionale). Roma e Savona: Edizioni Futuriste di Poesia, senza data [ma 1933?]. € 20.000 - 30.000 <b>Il Ponte, Feb. 25-26:</b> IL MANOSCRITTO RITROVATO DI IPPOLITA MARIA SFORZA. TITO LIVIO - Ab Urbe Condita. Prima Decade. Manoscritto miniato su pergamena, metà XV secolo. € 280.000 - 350.000
    Il Ponte, Feb. 25-26: HAMILTON, Sir William (1730-1803) - Campi Phlegraei. Napoli: [Pietro Fabris], 1776, 1779. € 30.000 - 50.000
    Il Ponte, Feb. 25-26: [MORTIER] - BLAEU, Joannes (1596-1673) - Het Nieuw Stede Boek van Italie. Amsterdam: Pieter Mortier, 1704-1705. € 15.000 - 25.000
    Il Ponte, Feb. 25-26: TULLIO D'ALBISOLA (1899-1971) - Bruno MUNARI (1907-1998) - L'Anguria lirica (lungo poema passionale). Roma e Savona: Edizioni Futuriste di Poesia, senza data [ma 1933?]. € 20.000 - 30.000
    Il Ponte, Feb. 25-26: IL MANOSCRITTO RITROVATO DI IPPOLITA MARIA SFORZA. TITO LIVIO - Ab Urbe Condita. Prima Decade. Manoscritto miniato su pergamena, metà XV secolo. € 280.000 - 350.000
  • <b><center>Sotheby's Fine Books & Manuscripts<br>Available for Immediate Purchase</center></b> <b>Sotheby’s:</b> Balthus, Emily Brontë. <i>Wuthering Heights,</i> New York: The Limited Editions Club, 1993. 6,600 USD. <b>Sotheby’s:</b> Charles Dickens. <i>Complete Works,</i> Philadelphia & London: J.B. Lippincott Company & Chapman & Hall, LD, 1850. Limited Edition set of 30 volumes. 7,500 USD. <b>Sotheby’s:</b> John Lennon, Yoko Ono. Handwritten Letter from John Lennon and Yoko Ono to their Chauffer. 1971. 32,500 USD. <b>Sotheby’s:</b> Winston Churchill. First edition of <i>War Speeches,</i> Cassell and Company, Ltd., 1941. Set of 7 volumes. 5,500 USD. <b>Sotheby’s:</b> Andy Warhol, Julia Warhola. <i>Holy Cats</i> First Edition, Signed by Andy Warhol. 1954. 30,000 USD.
    Sotheby's Fine Books & Manuscripts
    Available for Immediate Purchase
    Sotheby’s: Balthus, Emily Brontë. Wuthering Heights, New York: The Limited Editions Club, 1993. 6,600 USD.
    Sotheby’s: Charles Dickens. Complete Works, Philadelphia & London: J.B. Lippincott Company & Chapman & Hall, LD, 1850. Limited Edition set of 30 volumes. 7,500 USD.
    Sotheby’s: John Lennon, Yoko Ono. Handwritten Letter from John Lennon and Yoko Ono to their Chauffer. 1971. 32,500 USD.
    Sotheby’s: Winston Churchill. First edition of War Speeches, Cassell and Company, Ltd., 1941. Set of 7 volumes. 5,500 USD.
    Sotheby’s: Andy Warhol, Julia Warhola. Holy Cats First Edition, Signed by Andy Warhol. 1954. 30,000 USD.

Article Search

Archived Articles