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Auction Update Review

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19 Auctions Archived, 5 Upcoming

For the week ended Saturday 26 December 19 sales were archived to the RBH database; 8 denominated in euros and 11 in US dollars.  Sales were $21,558,344 as 11,835 lots were offered and 8,435 sold for a 71% success rate.

The fall sales have ended.

2 auctions saw their total proceeds reach a million dollars: 

Sothebys. The Valmadonna Trust Library: Part I Magnificent Manuscripts and the Bomberg Talmud on December 22nd: $14,868,000 
Sothebys. Important Judaica on December 22nd: $3,418,375 

2 auctions saw their total sales exceed 100% of the high estimates of all lots offered in the sale: 

Bolaffi Ambassador Auctions. Rare Books and Autographs on December 16th: 124.85% 
Bubb Kuyper. Modern Art: Prints and Drawings (part 1) on November 26th: 108.91% 

6 sales saw at least 80% of their lots sell: 

Heritage Auctions. Comics - Internet bidstart 12/13 on December 20th: 100.00% 
Heritage Auctions. Entertainment on December 19th: 99.28% 
Heritage Auctions. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 12/13 on December 20th: 97.97% 
Heritage Auctions. The William E. Fredeman Victoriana Collection Rare Books Internet Auction on December 20th: 95.92% 
Holabird Kagin Americana. December Sale - Part 1 on December 12th: 93.42% 
Heritage Auctions. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 12/17 on December 24th: 92.14% 

19 total sales reported this week: 

Heritage Auctions. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 12/17 on December 24th: 92.14% 
Holabird Kagin Americana. Americana - Online Only on December 15th: 24.44% 
Holabird Kagin Americana. Western Americana Live Auction - session 2 on December 14th: 74.22% 
Holabird Kagin Americana. Western Americana Live Auction - session 1 on December 13th: 61.05% 
Holabird Kagin Americana. December Sale - Part 1 on December 12th: 93.42% 
Sothebys. Important Judaica on December 22nd: 70.89% 
Sothebys. The Valmadonna Trust Library: Part I Magnificent Manuscripts and the Bomberg Talmud on December 22nd: 75.00% 
Bubb Kuyper. Drawings, Old Master Prints, Maps and Plans on November 27th: 76.05% 
Bubb Kuyper. Modern Art (2), Photographs, Japanese Prints on November 26th: 69.68% 
Bubb Kuyper. Modern Art: Prints and Drawings (part 1) on November 26th: 69.58% 
Bubb Kuyper. Manuscripts, Old and Rare Books on November 25th: 67.75% 
Bubb Kuyper. Books: Varia, History, Natural History on November 25th: 60.87% 
Bubb Kuyper. Books: Fine Printing, Literature on November 24th: 65.71% 
Bubb Kuyper. Books: Bibliography, Arts, Children's Books on November 24th: 68.02% 
Bolaffi Ambassador Auctions. Rare Books and Autographs on December 16th: 71.34% 
Heritage Auctions. Comics - Internet bidstart 12/13 on December 20th: 100.00% 
Heritage Auctions. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 12/13 on December 20th: 97.97% 
Heritage Auctions. The William E. Fredeman Victoriana Collection Rare Books Internet Auction on December 20th: 95.92% 
Heritage Auctions. Entertainment on December 19th: 99.28% 

The Top 25 Lots Reported This Past Week.
  1. Sothebys The Complete Babylonian Talmud, Printed by Daniel Bomberg in Venice, Comprising tractates from the First (1519/20-1523) and Second (1525-1539) Editions on December 22nd Actual price: USD $9,322,000.
  2. Sothebys Hebrew Bible: Pentateuch with Haftarot and the Five Scrolls, England: 15 Tammuz 4949=2 July 1189 on December 22nd Actual price: USD $3,610,000.
  3. Sothebys Illuminated Hebrew Bible: Psalms, with Commentary by David Kimhi. Scribe: Shem-Tov ben Samuel Barukh [Bologna]: 1401 on December 22nd Actual price: USD $670,000.
  4. Sothebys Arba'ah Turim (Four Rows),  Jacob ben Asher, Soncino: Solomon ben Moses Soncino [1490] on December 22nd Actual price: USD $430,000.
  5. Sothebys An Important Illuminated Haggadah, [Calcutta, India]: 1868 on December 22nd Actual price: USD $418,000.
  6. Sothebys Grace after Meals (Seder Birkat Ha-Mazon), Vienna: 1737 [Scribe-Artist: Ze'ev Wolf Herlingen]<br> on December 22nd Actual price: USD $382,000.
  7. Sothebys Teshuvot She'elot (Responsa), Solomon ibn Adret, Rome: Obadiah, Manasseh and Benjamin [ca. 1469-73] on December 22nd Actual price: USD $346,000.
  8. Sothebys Hebrew Bible: Pentateuch with Masorah and Masoretic and Grammatical Introduction (Hamisha Humshei Torah with Mahberet ha-Tijan). Scribe: Benayah ben Sa'adyah ben Zechariah. Yemen: 1470 on December 22nd Actual price: USD $334,000.
  9. Sothebys SEFER TORAH (PENTATEUCH), MANUSCRIPT SCROLL ON PARCHMENT, ASHKENAZ:  CA.1270 on December 22nd Actual price: USD $310,000.
  10. Sothebys Zedah la-Derekh (Provisions for the Road), Joseph ben Azriel [ Zurich],  Scribe: Yehiel [Zurich: ca. 1426] on December 22nd Actual price: USD $280,000.
  11. Sothebys Perush ha-Torah (Commentary on the Pentateuch), Moses ben Nahman (Nahmanides), Rome: Obadiah, Manasseh and Benjamin of Rome [ca. 1469-73] on December 22nd Actual price: USD $200,000.
  12. Sothebys Decorated Hebrew Bible: (Pentateuch: Shemot-Devarim) Yemen: Early Fifteenth Century on December 22nd Actual price: USD $187,500.
  13. Sothebys The Earliest American Ketubbah (Jewish Marriage Contract), New York: 1751 on December 22nd Actual price: USD $187,500.
  14. Sothebys Samaritan Torah Scroll (Aktaba Kadisha), Land of Israel [ca. 1166, Scribe: Shalmah ben Abraham bar Yosef of Sarepta] on December 22nd Actual price: USD $162,500.
  15. Sothebys Sefer ha-Assufot (Halakhic Miscellany), Ashkenaz: ca. 1307 on December 22nd Actual price: USD $137,500.
  16. Sothebys Mishnayot ‘im Peirush le-ha-Rambam (Mishnah, with the Commentary of Maimonides), Moses ben Maimon (Maimonides), Naples: Joshua Solomon Soncino, 11 Iyar 5252 (8 May 1492) on December 22nd Actual price: USD $125,000.
  17. Sothebys Order of Blessings for Meals…Occasional Blessings…and the Order of Prayers for Women… (Seder Tikun Se'udah…Birkot ha-Nehenin…ve-Seder Nashim…) [Vienna or Dresden?, circa 1725] on December 22nd Actual price: USD $112,500.
  18. Sothebys Register of Internments, Isaac Leeser, Manuscript on Paper, Philadelphia: 1830-1858. Bound with: Sof Adam (The End of Man), Jacob de Meza, Amsterdam: 1827 on December 22nd Actual price: USD $112,500.
  19. Sothebys A Monumental Illuminated Micrographic Manuscript, Levi Van Gelder, [Chicago: ca. 1865] on December 22nd Actual price: USD $100,000.
  20. Sothebys Samaritan Pentateuch (Arhuta Kadishta), Land of Israel: late 14th–early 15th century<br> on December 22nd Actual price: USD $87,500.
  21. Bolaffi Ambassador Auctions Magnifico autografo musicale, 12 pagine in folio, con gli schizzi del più noto dei due quintetti composti da Dvoràk nella stessa tonalità, il Quintetto per pianoforte e archi in la maggiore op. 81 on December 16th Actual price: USD $68,125.
  22. Sothebys Tehillim (Psalms) with Commentary of David Kimhi, Italy [Bologna]: Joseph and Nerijah Hayyim, Mordecai and Hezekiah Montero, 29 August 1477 on December 22nd Actual price: USD $62,500.
  23. Bolaffi Ambassador Auctions [Raccolta di diverse vedute della città di Genova e delle principali sue parti e fabbriche. on December 16th Actual price: USD $61,313.
  24. Bubb Kuyper Toverspiegel. on November 26th Actual price: USD $50,767.
  25. Sothebys A Magnificient Illustrated Esther Scroll, (Prague: ca. 1700) on December 22nd Actual price: USD $43,750.


For the week ahead 5 sales are scheduled:

Thu. Dec. 31st
Tooveys. West Sussex. Prints. 35 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 12/24. 188 lots

Sun. Jan. 3rd
National Book Auctions. Ithaca. Books.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Comics - Internet bidstart 12/27.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 12/27.

Bruce McKinney

RBH and AE

  • Jeschke Jadi
    Auction 151
    Saturday, April 27, 2024
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 27: Lot 546. Christoph Jacob Trew. Plantae selectae, 1750-1773.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 27: Lot 70. Thomas Murner. Die Narren beschwerung. 1558.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 27: Lot 621. Michael Bernhard Valentini. Museum Museorum, 1714.
    Jeschke Jadi
    Auction 151
    Saturday, April 27, 2024
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 27: Lot 545. Sander Reichenbachia. Orchids illustrated and described, 1888-1894.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 27: Lot 1018. Marinetti, Boccioni, Pratella Futurism - Comprehensive collection of 35 Futurist manifestos, some of them exceptionally rare. 1909-1933.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 27: Lot 634. August Johann Rösel von Rosenhof. 3 Original Drawings, around 1740.
    Jeschke Jadi
    Auction 151
    Saturday, April 27, 2024
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 27: Lot 671. Jacob / Picasso. Chronique des Temps, 1956.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 27: Lot 1260. Mary Webb. Sarn. 1948. Lucie Weill Art Deco Binding.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 27: Lot 508. Felix Bonfils. 108 large-format photographs of Syria and Palestine.
    Jeschke Jadi
    Auction 151
    Saturday, April 27, 2024
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 27: Lot 967. Dante Aligheri and Salvador Dali. Divina Commedia, 1963.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 27: Lot 1316. Tolouse-Lautrec. Dessinateur. Duhayon binding, 1948.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 27: Lot 1303. Regards sur Paris. Braque, Picasso, Masson, 1962.
  • Fonsie Mealy’s
    Rare Book & Collectors Sale
    24th April 2024
    Fonsie Mealy, Apr. 24: McCarthy (Cormac). Cities of the Plain, N.Y., 1998, First Edn., signed on hf. title; together with Uncorrected Proof and Uncorrected Advance Reading Copies, both signed by the Author. €800 to €1,000.
    Fonsie Mealy, Apr. 24: Stanihurst (Richard). De Rebus in Hibernia Gestis, Libri Quattuor, sm. 4to Antwerp (Christi. Plantium) 1584. First Edn. €525 to €750.
    Fonsie Mealy, Apr. 24: Fleischer (Nat.) Jack Dempsey The Idol of Fistiana, An Intimate Narrative, N.Y., 1929, First Edn. Signed on f.e.p. by Rocky Marciano. €400 to €600.
    Fonsie Mealy’s
    Rare Book & Collectors Sale
    24th April 2024
    Fonsie Mealy, Apr. 24: Smith - Classical Atlas, Lond., 1820. Bound with, Smiths New General Atlas .. Principal Empires, Kingdoms, & States throughout the World, Lond. 1822. €350 to €500.
    Fonsie Mealy, Apr. 24: Rare Auction Catalogues – 1856: Bindon Blood, of Ennis, Co. Clare: Sotheby & Wilkinson. €320 to €450.
    Fonsie Mealy, Apr. 24: [Mavor (Wm.)] A General Collection of Voyages and Travels from the Discovery of America to the Commencement of the Nineteenth Century, 28 vols. (complete) Lond., 1810. €300 to €400.
    Fonsie Mealy’s
    Rare Book & Collectors Sale
    24th April 2024
    Fonsie Mealy, Apr. 24: Mc Carthy (Cormac). Outer Dark, N.Y. (Random House)1968, Signed by Mc Carthy. €250 to €300.
    Fonsie Mealy, Apr. 24: Three signed works by Ted Huges - Wodwo, 1967; Crow from the Life and Songs of the Crow, 1970; and Tales from Ovid, 1997. €200 to €300.
    Fonsie Mealy, Apr. 24: The Garden. An Illustrated Weekly Journal of Horticulture in all its Branches, 7 vols. lg. 4to Lond. 1877-1880. With 127 colored plates. €200 to €300.
    Fonsie Mealy’s
    Rare Book & Collectors Sale
    24th April 2024
    Fonsie Mealy, Apr. 24: Procter (Richard A.) Saturn and its System: Containing Discussions of The Motion (Real and Apparent)…, Lond. 1865. First Edn. €160 to €220.
    Fonsie Mealy, Apr. 24: [Ashe] St. George, Lord Bishop of Clogher, A Sermon Preached to the Protestants of Ireland, now in London,... Oct. 23, 1712, London 1712. Second Edn. €130 to €180.
  • Potter & Potter Auctions
    How History Unfolds on Paper:
    Choice Selections from the Eric C. Caren Collection
    Part IX
    Starting 10AM CST
    April 18, 2024
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: [RUTH, George Herman “Babe” (1895-1948)]. Signed photograph. Circa 1930s. 191 x 248 mm. $1,500 to $2,500.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: HARRISON, Benjamin. Document signed (“Benj Harrison”) as governor of Virginia, certifying the service of Daniel Cumbo, a Black Revolutionary soldier. $6,000 to $9,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: ONE OF THE FIRST PRINTED ANNOUNCEMENTS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. $4,000 to $6,000.
    Potter & Potter Auctions
    How History Unfolds on Paper:
    Choice Selections from the Eric C. Caren Collection
    Part IX
    Starting 10AM CST
    April 18, 2024
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: FIRST PRINTING OF LINCOLN’S IMMORTAL GETTYSBURG ADDRESS. $4,000 to $6,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: HIGHLY IMPORTANT MORMON ARCHIVE. ALLEY, George. Archive of 23 Autograph Letters Signed by Mormon Convert George Alley to His Brother Joseph Alley. $10,000 to $20,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: [AVIATION]. [ARMSTRONG, Neil A.] Aviation Hall of Fame Gold Medal MS64 NGC, Awarded to Neil Armstrong in 1979. $2,000 to $3,000.
    Potter & Potter Auctions
    How History Unfolds on Paper:
    Choice Selections from the Eric C. Caren Collection
    Part IX
    Starting 10AM CST
    April 18, 2024
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: NEWLY DISCOVERED FIRST PRINTING OF "WITH MALICE TOWARDS NONE... " FROM THE ONLY NEWSPAPER ACTUALLY ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN LINCOLN’S SECOND INAUGURAL PROCESSION. $4,000 to $8,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: THE MOST IMPORTANT GEORGE WASHINGTON DOCUMENT IN PRIVATE HANDS; GEORGE WASHINGTON’S COMMISSION AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF, 1775, ONE OF ONLY TWO ORIGINALS. $150,000 to $250,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: A VERY RARE ACCOUNT OF BLACKBEARD’S DEATH AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PIRATE ITEMS EXTANT. $3,000 to $5,000.
    Potter & Potter Auctions
    How History Unfolds on Paper:
    Choice Selections from the Eric C. Caren Collection
    Part IX
    Starting 10AM CST
    April 18, 2024
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: EDISON, Thomas. Patent for Edison’s Improvements on the Electric-Light, No. 219,628. [Washington, D.C.: U.S. Patent Office], 16 September 1879. $2,000 to $3,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: [VIETNAM WAR]. The original pen used by Secretary of State William P. Rogers to sign the Vietnam Peace Agreement, Paris, 27 January 1973. $10,000 to $15,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: SONS OF LIBERTY FOUNDER COLONEL BARRÉ ANNOTATED TITLE-PAGE, “WHICH OUGHT TO ROUSE UP BRITISH ATTENTION”. $4,000 to $6,000.
  • Sotheby’s
    Modern First Editions
    Available for Immediate Purchase
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: Winston Churchill. The Second World War. Set of First-Edition Volumes. 6,000 USD
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: A.A. Milne, Ernest H. Shepard. A Collection of The Pooh Books. Set of First-Editions. 18,600 USD
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: Salvador Dalí, Lewis Carroll. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Finely Bound and Signed Limited Edition. 15,000 USD
    Sotheby’s
    Modern First Editions
    Available for Immediate Purchase
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: Ian Fleming. Live and Let Die. First Edition. 9,500 USD
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter Series. Finely Bound First Printing Set of Complete Series. 5,650 USD
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: Ernest Hemingway. A Farewell to Arms. First Edition, First Printing. 4,200 USD
  • Leland Little, Apr. 26: First Edition of Piccolomini's De La Sfera del Mondo (The Sphere of the World), 1540.
    Leland Little, Apr. 26: First Edition of Vellutello's Commentary on Petrarch, With Map, 1525.
    Leland Little, Apr. 26: Finely Bound Definitive, Illustrated Edition of I Promessi Sposi, 1840.
    Leland Little, Apr. 26: Rare First Edition of John Milton's Latin Correspondence, 1674.
    Leland Little, Apr. 26: Giolito's Edition of Boccaccio's The Decamerone, with Bedford Binding, 1542.
    Leland Little, Apr. 26: First Edition of the First Biography of Marie of the Incarnation, with Rare Portrait, 1677.
    Leland Little, Apr. 26: First Aldine Edition of Volume One of Cicero's Orationes, 1540.
    Leland Little, Apr. 26: First Edition of Bonanni's Illustrated Costume Catalogue, with Complete Plates, 1711.
    Leland Little, Apr. 26: An Important Incunable, the First Italian Edition of Josephus's De Bello Judaico, 1480.
    Leland Little, Apr. 26: First Edition of Jacques Philippe d'Orville's Illustrated Book of the Ruins of Sicily, 1764.
    Leland Little, Apr. 26: An Incunable from 1487, The Contemplative Life, with Early Manuscript.
    Leland Little, Apr. 26: Ignatius of Loyola's Exercitia Spiritualia, 1563.