-
<center><b>Case Antiques<br>Two-Day Winter Auction<br>Jan. 30 & 31, 2021</b><b>Case Antiques, Jan. 30-31:</b> Rare 1778 Engraved map of Colonial Philadelphia after George Heap (1714-1752) and Nicholas Scull (1687-1761). $10,000 to $12,000.<b>Case Antiques, Jan. 30-31:</b> Author signed and inscribed <i>THE FOUNTAINHEAD,</i> stated First Edition, by Ayn Rand, published by The Bobbs-Merrill Company, Indianapolis, New York, 1943. $2,000 to $2,400.<b>Case Antiques, Jan. 30-31:</b> John James Audubon (American, 1785-1851) hand-colored aquatint engraving, "Yellow-billed Magpie, Stellers Jay, Ultramarine Jay and Clark's Crow," Plate Number CCCLXII. $1,800 to $2,200.<center><b>Case Antiques<br>Two-Day Winter Auction<br>Jan. 30 & 31, 2021</b><b>Case Antiques, Jan. 30-31:</b> Andrew Jackson (1767-1845) autograph letter, signed, as President, to Nathan Reid detailing Jackson’s intervention on behalf of Reid's grandson. $1,800 to $2,200.<b>Case Antiques, Jan. 30-31:</b> Edward Steichen (Luxembourg/American, 1879-1973) portfolio of photographs, "The Early Years 1900-1927, 12 Hand-Gravure Prints" #41/1000, printed in 1981. $1,400 to $1,600.<b>Case Antiques, Jan. 30-31:</b> President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, TLS, one-page typed letter on The White House, Washington, D.C., stationary to John Marshall Butler. $1,400 to $1,600.<center><b>Case Antiques<br>Two-Day Winter Auction<br>Jan. 30 & 31, 2021</b><b>Case Antiques, Jan. 30-31:</b> Two Pre-Civil War slave related letters, including one written by Mariah, a female domestic slave of James Vincent Musgrove (1814-1890) to her daughter. $1,000 to $1,200.<b>Case Antiques, Jan. 30-31:</b> Two author signed and inscribed Ayn Rand related books, including one Rand signed <i>WE THE LIVING,</i> London 1940 edition. $1,000 to $1,200.<b>Case Antiques, Jan. 30-31:</b> PLAN DE LA VILLE DE MEMPHIS (ETATS-UNIS) 40,000 HABITANTS pen and ink with watercolor hand drawn drainage system map, circa 1870. $700 to $900.<center><b>Case Antiques<br>Two-Day Winter Auction<br>Jan. 30 & 31, 2021</b><b>Case Antiques, Jan. 30-31:</b> Scarce Mezzotint portrait of Thomas Pownall, Colonial Governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay (1757-1760) and South Carolina (1760). $600 to $700.<b>Case Antiques, Jan. 30-31:</b> VIEW OF NORFOLK FROM COSPORT, VIRGINIA, John Hill, engraver, after John Shaw (U.K., 1776-1832). $600 to $700.<b>Case Antiques, Jan. 30-31:</b> THE BURNING OF THE MERCHANT'S EXCHANGE, NEW YORK CITY -THE GREAT FIRE OF DECEMBER, 1835. Scarce color lithograph, a 1909 reissue of the original 1836 print. $500 to $700.
-
<center><b>Il Ponte Casa d'Aste<br>Books and Manuscripts<br>26 January 2021</b><center><b>Il Ponte Casa d'Aste<br>Books and Manuscripts<br>26 January 2021</b><center><b>Il Ponte Casa d'Aste<br>Books and Manuscripts<br>26 January 2021</b>
-
<center><b>Forum Auctions<br>Fine Books, Manuscripts<br>and Works on Paper<br>28 January 2021</b><b>Forum Auctions, Jan. 28:</b> Schedel (Hartmann). <i>Liber Chronicarum,</i> first edition, Nuremberg, Anton Koberger for Sebald Schreyer and Sebastian Kammermeister, 1493. £30,000 to £50,000.<b>Forum Auctions, Jan. 28:</b> [Greek Orthodox Church].- <i>Menaion,</i> manuscript in Greek, on paper, in Greek letters, [Eastern Mediterranean], [c. 1400]. £5,000 to £7,000.<b>Forum Auctions, Jan. 28:</b> American Revolution.- Loyalist's cow powder horn, engraved with the cypher "GR" for George III surmounted by a crown, an inscription, and on reverse an engraving of the "North River" [Hudson River], 1777. £5,000 to £7,000.<center><b>Forum Auctions<br>Fine Books, Manuscripts<br>and Works on Paper<br>28 January 2021</b><b>Forum Auctions, Jan. 28:</b> Illuminated prayer book.- <i>Maria Carcer y Trigueros... Santa Misa y Oraciones,</i> illuminated manuscript in Spanish, on paper, [c. 1850]. £5,000 to £7,000.<b>Forum Auctions, Jan. 28:</b> Hardy (Thomas). <i>The Mayor of Casterbridge,</i> 2 vol., first edition in book form, original cloth, 1886. £2,000 to £3,000.<b>Forum Auctions, Jan. 28:</b> [Austen (Jane)]. <i>Emma: A Novel,</i> first edition, Printed for John Murray, 1816. £7,000 to £10,000.<center><b>Forum Auctions<br>Fine Books, Manuscripts<br>and Works on Paper<br>28 January 2021</b><b>Forum Auctions, Jan. 28:</b> Brontë (Charlotte). <i>Jane Eyre. An Autobiography,</i> 3 vol., first edition, Smith, Elder and Co., 1847. £10,000 to £15,000.<b>Forum Auctions, Jan. 28:</b> Cruikshank (George). <i>The Road to the Derby,</i> one of two proof copies, Raphael Tuck & Sons, 1882. £600 to £800.<b>Forum Auctions, Jan. 28:</b> Meunier (Charles, binder).- Gruel (Leon). <i>Manuel Historique et Bibliographique de l'Amateur de Reliures,</i> 2 vol., Paris, 1887.-1905. £3,000 to £4,000.<center><b>Forum Auctions<br>Fine Books, Manuscripts<br>and Works on Paper<br>28 January 2021</b><b>Forum Auctions, Jan. 28:</b> Burne-Jones (Sir Edward). <i>The Work of Edward Burne-Jones,</i> edited by Philip Burne-Jones, one of 200 copies, [c.1900]. £4,000 to £6,000.<b>Forum Auctions, Jan. 28:</b> Nazraeli Press.- <i>Six by Six,</i> 36 vol. [a complete set], one of 100 sets, each with signed photograph, Portland, Or., 2010-16. £10,000 to £15,000.<b>Forum Auctions, Jan. 28:</b> Australasia.- Péron (Francois) and Freycinet. <i>Voyage de Découvertes aux Terres Australes,</i> 5 vol. including Atlas, second edition, Paris, 1824. £6,000 to £8,000.
-
Auction Update Review

This is the week that was
This was a very good week for book auction houses, for consignors, buyers and arm chair impresarios. Any way you slice it the numbers look good. Ten auctions raised $5.65 million against their aggregate high estimate of $5.7. That's ten auctions together achieving 99% of their high estimate. It confirms that bidders, rather than consignors [through reserves], are establishing prices. Continuing performance along these lines will go a long way to restoring confidence and encouraging new collectors into the field. While these are just the results of a single week it is an indication that when savvy auction houses and intelligent consignors work together two objectives are obtained: good prices and strong encouragement to collectors. This makes this past week, to quote the 1960's television show "the week that was."
Confidence for consignors and auction houses going forward will be born in reality, not misplaced optimism. The emerging formula for auction success is careful selection, solid description, extensive illustration, enticing estimates, extensive publicity, early posting [a minimum of 17 days] and multiple channels for bidder participation. The book business is a mosaic and every part has its place.
While Christies was the dollar champion Bloomsbury in the UK took honors for best single performance of overall sales versus total high estimate. Their sale of Natural History on the 23rd brought 171% of the high estimate. Alain and Evelyne Morel de Westgaver achieved 147%. Bloomsbury, selling the Library of the 5th Marquis Camden Will Trust 135%, Christies' Travel, Science and Natural History sale in London on the 23rd 117%. This is very difficult to achieve.
Many other sales did well. Click on the first sale and cursor through them. In doing so, whatever your role and relation to the field, whether a buyer or seller, the news is good, the results refreshing.
An update on AE. We are now beta testing the new site. The feedback is very positive, the approach fresh. If you would like to have a look send me an email at bmckinney@americanaexchange.com. Include your phone number. If you previously volunteered for beta testing we'll contact you this week. We're now aiming for an October 5th release.
Bruce McKinney
AE
9.25.2010