Auction Update Review: Everything but the fireworks | The Week ending June 23 ,2012 « Rare Book Hub - Rare Books, Book Auctions, Antiquarian Book Collecting

Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: [EINSTEIN, ALBERT]; JOHN GRAUDENZ [PHOTOGRAPHER]. Photographic portrait of Albert Einstein by John Graudenz, taken circa 1928. $15,000 to $25,000.

Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: ENIGMA M4. A fully operational four-rotor ("M4") Kriegsmarine Enigma Cipher Machine. Berlin-Wilmersdorf, Germany, Heimsoeth und Rinke, 1942. $300,000 to $500,000.

Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: FEYNMAN, RICHARD P. “Surely You’re Joking Mr. Feynman”. Adventures of a Curious Character. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1985. $15,000 to $20,000.

Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: An intact egg of the Aepyornis Maximus, or Elephant Bird. Pre-17th century, Madagascar. $35,000 to $45,000.

Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Palm frond with fish. Green River Formation, Wyoming, United States. Sabalites sp., and Diplomystus dentatus Cenozoic, Eocene (53-33 million years ago). $60,000 to $70,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 18: The Birds of America; from Original Drawings by John James Audubon $6,000,000 to $8,000,000.

Sotheby’s, Dec. 18: The Birds of America; from Original Drawings by John James Audubon $6,000,000 to $8,000,000.

Sotheby’s, Dec. 18: The Birds of America; from Original Drawings by John James Audubon $6,000,000 to $8,000,000.

Sotheby’s, Dec. 18: The Birds of America; from Original Drawings by John James Audubon $6,000,000 to $8,000,000.

Sotheby’s, Dec. 18: The Birds of America; from Original Drawings by John James Audubon $6,000,000 to $8,000,000.
Swann Auction Galleries Dec 17: Currier & Ives, The Mississippi in Time of Peace, hand-colored lithograph, 1865. $6,000 to $9,000.

Swann Auction Galleries Dec 17: Hartmann Schedel, Liber Cronicarum..., Nuremberg, 1493. $40,000 to $60,000.

Swann Auction Galleries Dec 17: Claudius Ptolemaeus, Geographicae Enarrationis Libri Octo, Lyons, 1535. $20,000 to $25,000.

Swann Auction Galleries Dec 17: Thomas Jefferys, The American Atlas, London, 1776-77. $10,000 to $15,000.

Swann Auction Galleries Dec 17: John Speed, A Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World, 20 miniature maps, London, 1665. $2,000 to $3,000.

Swann Auction Galleries Dec 17: Biblia Das ist: Die Gantze Heilige Schrifft Durch D. Martin Luther Verteutscht, illustrated cartographic Bible, Basel, 1665. $1,500 to $2,500.

Swann Auction Galleries Dec 17: Early Hawaiian-language school geography, Lahainaluna Seminary, 1840. $2,500 to $3,500.

Swann Auction Galleries Dec 17: Cornelis de Jode, Africae Vera Forma, et Situs, Antwerp, 1593. $4,000 to $6,000.

Swann Auction Galleries Dec 17: Maria Vincenzo Coronelli, America Settentrionale Colle Nuove Scoperte Sin All Anno, Venice, 1688. $7,000 to $10,000.

Swann Auction Galleries Dec 17: Johann Christoph Volkamer, Nürnbergische Hesperides, Nuremberg, 1708-1714. $12,000 to $18,000.

Swann Auction Galleries Dec 17: Johann Bayer, Uranometria, Omnium Asterismorum Continens Schemata..., 51 celestial charts, c. 1603. $5,000 to $7,500.

Swann Auction Galleries Dec 17: Manuscript map of Commodore Perry’s Black Ship squadron at Edo Bay, with manuscript sketchbook, ink & watercolor, Japan, c. 1853. $2,500 to $3,500.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 18: CLEMENS, SAMUEL L. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. Hartford: The American Publishing Company, 1876. $14,000 to $18,000.

Sotheby’s, Dec. 18: BATEMAN, JAMES. The Orchidaceae of Mexico and Guatemala. London: J. Ridgway & Sons for the author, [1837]-1843. $60,000 to $80,000.

Sotheby’s, Dec. 18: WHITMAN, WALT. Leaves of Grass. Brooklyn: [For the author by Andrew and James Rome,] 1855. $150,000 to $200,000.

Sotheby’s, Dec. 18: LEE, HARPER. Three “Seckatary Hawkins”-related books inscribed and signed by Harper Lee. $60,000 to $80,000.

Sotheby’s, Dec. 18: POE, EDGAR ALLAN. The Raven. New York: Wiley and Putnam, 1845. $120,000 to $180,000.

Auction Update Review

Everything but the fireworks

For the week ending Saturday June 23^rd 29 auctions were archived; 6 in British pounds, 9 in euros, 1 in Mexican pesos and 13 in US dollars. Ten thousand one hundred and fifty-six lots were offered and 6,963 sold for a 68.6% success rate. A single lot, George Washington’s personally annotated copy of the [US] Constitution, Bill of Rights and other key acts of the first Congress in 1789 brought $9,826,500 at Christie’s against its high estimate of $3,000,000. Sales for all lots totaled $20,864,959, 112% of the high estimate of all lots offered. It was, on its face, a good week that also provided evidence of broad weakness.

The following auctions exceeded 100% of the total of their high estimates:

Christie’s. George Washington’s Personal Copy of the first Acts of Congress in 1789 on
June 22^nd: 328%

Osenat. The French Empire at Fontainbleau on June 10th: 236%

Henri Godts Books & Prints. Books from the 16^th to 20^th Centuries on June 16th: 219%

Ader. Letters and Manuscripts, Autographs, Collection of E. H. and diverses on June 14th: 218%

Rupert Toovey. Prints on June 13^th: 171%

Gonelli Casa d’Aste. Prints on June 14^th: 138%

Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Children’s & Illustrated Books, Antique Toys and Games on June 21^st: 132%

Christie’s. Books on June 19^th: 107%

Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Printed Books, Maps and Documents on June 20^th: 101%

The following auctions realized more than $1,000,000 in total sales:

Christie’s. George Washington’s Personal Copy of the first Acts of Congress in 1789 on June 22^nd: $9,826,500

Christie’s. Books and Manuscripts on June 22^nd: $1,961,725

Christie’s. Books on June 19^th: $1,161,699

Swann Galleries. American Art / Contemporary Art on June 14^th: $1,076,559

The following sales sold at least 80% of their lots:

Christie’s. George Washington’s Personal Copy of the first Acts of Congress in 1789 on June 22^nd: 100%

Heritage Auctions. Rare Books – Internet auctioned June 21^st: 97%

Clars Auction Gallery. Art and German Literature Books on June 16^th: 94%

Ader. Letters and Manuscripts, Autographs, Collection of E. H. and diverses on June 14th: 93%

Swann Galleries. 19^th & 20^th Century Literature on June 21^st: 89%

Pierre Berge & Associates. Archeology on June 1^st: 88%

Rupert Toovey. Prints on May 16^th: 86%

Osenat. The French Empire at Fontainbleau on June 10th: 84%

Swann Galleries. American Art / Contemporary Art on June 14^th: 84%

For the week ahead 19 sales are scheduled:

Tuesday June 26^th Bonhams. Books [20138]. 738 lots

Robert A. Siegel. Rarities of the World [1025]. 5 selected lots

Wed. June 27^th Gray’s Auctioneers. Decorative Arts [58]. 43 lots

Heritage Auctions. Illustration Art [5087]. 878 lots

Thursday June 28^th Ader. Letters, Manuscripts, Autographs [19473]. 393 lots.

Aguttes. Books, Ancient Documents and Stamps [18567]. 209 lots

Aguttes. Books [19337]. 39 lots

Bloomsbury Auctions. Modern and Contemporary Prints [35934]. 422 lots

Cowan’s Auctions. American History – Internet bidstart 6/21 [263]. 355 lots

Eldred’s. Fine and Decorative Arts [750]. 51 lots

Heritage Auctions. Illustration Art [5087]. 878 lots

Heritage Auctions. Rare Books. Internet bidstart 6/21. 433 lots

Neret – Minet & Tessier. Militaria [13402]. 36 items

Swann Galleries. Discovery Sale [2283]. 333 lots

Friday June 29^th Eldred’s. Fine and Decorative Arts [750]. 51 lots

Saturday June 30^th Dirk Soulis. Important Railroadiana [53987]. 61 lots

Neal Auction Company. Prints [63012]. 56 lots.

Sunday July 1^st Amsterdam Book Auctions. Curios, Books, Comics, Art [19]. 696 lots

Neal Auction Company. Prints [63012]. 56 lots.

With summer now underway and the auctions still in full advance we are experiencing a rare auction season, a busy and solid flow of sales that will run through July. At this point there are 48 events on the July calendar and inevitably more to be scheduled.

Bruce McKinney
AE
June 24th, 2012

Bonhams, Dec. 5: SHAKESPEARE, WILLIAM. Macbeth: A Tragedy. London, 1673. FIRST SEPARATE AND FIRST QUARTO EDITION. THE CHARLTON HESTON COPY. $80,000 to $120,000.

Bonhams, Dec. 5: HEMINGWAY, ERNEST. In Our Time. Paris, 1924. FIRST EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY. $20,000 to $30,000.

Bonhams, Dec. 5: HAWTHORNE, NATHANIEL. Fanshawe, A Tale. Boston, 1828. FIRST EDITION OF AUTHOR'S FIRST BOOK. $20,000 to $30,000.

Bonhams, Dec. 5: THOREAU, HENRY DAVID. Walden; Or, Life in the Woods. Boston, 1854. FINE COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION. $10,000 to $15,000.

Bonhams, Dec. 5: SHAKESPEARE, WILLIAM. Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies. London, 1685. THE FOURTH FOLIO, Brewster/Bentley issue. $20,000 to $30,000.

Bonhams, Dec. 5: STEIG, WILLIAM. Original maquette and 58 finished drawings for The Agony in the Kindergarten, one of Steig's most important books. $10,000 to $15,000.

Bonhams, Dec. 5: VERNE, JULES. A Journey to the Centre of the Earth. New York & London, 1872. FIRST EDITION, RARE AMERICAN ISSUE, with Scribner & Welford cancel title. $5,000 to $8,000.

Bonhams, Dec. 5: KING, STEPHEN. Carrie. New York, 1974. INSCRIBED FIRST EDITION, OF AUTHOR'S FIRST BOOK. $1,200 to $1,800.

Bonhams, Dec. 4: APPLE MACINTOSH PROTOTYPE. 1983. The earliest known Macintosh with "Twiggy" drive, one of only two known working machines. $120,000 to $180,000.

Bonhams, Dec. 4: PLATO. Timaeus [AND] Critias [from Ficini's 1484 Opera]. A LANDMARK OF SCIENTIFIC THOUGHT. $80,000 to $120,000.

Bonhams, Dec. 4: LOVELACE, AUGUSTA ADA. Sketch of the Analytical Engine Invented by Charles Babbage Esq. London, 1843. FIRST EDITION, JOURNAL ISSUE, MOST IMPORTANT PAPER IN EARLY DIGITAL COMPUTING. $15,000 to $20,000.

Bonhams, Dec. 4: APPLE-1 COMPUTER. Signed by Steve Wozniak, used in development of Apple II. $200,000 to $300,000.

Bonhams, Dec. 4: DARWIN, CHARLES. 1809-1882. On the Origin of Species By Means of Natural Selection. London, 1859. FIRST EDITION. $80,000 to $120,000.
Chiswick Auctions Seeking Consignments. Churchill (Winston) & Others. 1944 Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference, 27 April 1944. £8,000 to £12,000.

Chiswick Auctions Seeking Consignments. Joyce (James). Ulysses. First English edition, 1922. £800 to £1,200.

Chiswick Auctions Seeking Consignments. Belzoni (Giovanni Battista). Plates Illustrated of the Researches and Operations...in Egypt and Nubia, FIRST EDITION, 1821-1822. £14,375 inc Buyers Premium.

Chiswick Auctions Seeking Consignments. Astor (John Jacob). A collection of rare letters, 9 January 1812- 4 September 1837. £26,000 inc Buyers Premium.

Chiswick Auctions Seeking Consignments. Rowling (J.K.) Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, FIRST EDITION, first issue, 1997. £27,500 inc Buyers Premium.

Chiswick Auctions Seeking Consignments. Royal Family. Photograph of Queen Elizabeth, George VI, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret, signed, 1946. £3,640 inc Buyers Premium.

Chiswick Auctions Seeking Consignments. Collodi (Carlo). Le avventure di Pinocchio. Storia di un burattino, FIRST EDITION, 1883. £8,401 inc Buyers Premium.