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Auction Update Review

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Forty-five Auctions Archived, 30 upcoming this Week

For the week ended Saturday 30 September 45 auctions were archived to the Rare Book Hub Transaction Database; 12 denominated in euros, 4 in Swiss francs, 6 in British pounds and 22 in US dollars.  Turnover was $19,480,115 as 12,692 lots were offered and 8,952 sold for a 71% success rate.  Enthusiasm seems to be carrying the day at a moment when political and economic uncertainty are dominating the headlines.  The average lot brought $2,176,06.

 

5 auctions saw their total proceeds reach a million dollars: 

Sothebys. Post-War and Contemporary Photographs on September 28th: $2,486,125 
Arader Galleries. September Auction on September 23rd: $1,899,220 
Christies. The Collection of Paul F. Walter on September 27th: $1,853,750 
Bonhams. Rare Books and Manuscripts featuring Exploration and Travel on September 26th: $1,382,184 
Bonhams. The Air and Space Sale on September 27th: $1,221,277 


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

Sothebys. The Vivien Leigh Collection on September 26th: 353.90% 
De Baecque and Associes. Demeure by Jacqueline Offenbach and the painter Pierre Mousset Souvenirs-Partitions Library -Tableau on September 23rd: 184.21% 
Freemans. Rare Books, Maps and Manuscripts on September 28th: 148.03% 
Ferraton. Books and Engravings on September 15th: 134.00% 
Keys Fine Arts Auctioneers. Ornithology - Books and Prints on September 22nd: 130.55% 
Bonhams. The Air and Space Sale on September 27th: 127.13% 
Christies. The Collection of Paul F. Walter on September 27th: 126.66% 
Swann Galleries. Printed and Manuscript Americana on September 28th: 113.93% 
Koller Auctions. Autographs on September 18th: 112.04% 
Forum Auctions. Fine Books and Works on Paper on September 27th: 110.00% 
Potomack Company. September Live Auction: Books and prints on September 23rd: 108.95% 
Copley Fine Art Auctions. The Sporting Sale - Books and Prints on July 28th: 106.92% 
Koller Auctions. Old Master Prints on September 22nd: 106.47% 
Sothebys. The Library of John and Suzanne Bonham on September 26th: 100.75% 
Dorotheum . Globes on September 28th: 100.52% 


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

Winner's Auctions and Exhibitions. Win-One Rosh HaShana (No. 1) on September 6th: 100.00% 
Sothebys. The Vivien Leigh Collection on September 26th: 100.00% 
William H. Bunch Auctions and Appraisals. Quarterly Catalogue Auction on September 26th: 100.00% 
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 9/17 on September 24th: 99.49% 
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 9/17 on September 24th: 98.94% 
Heritage Auctions. Tuesday Internet Currency Auction - Online bidstart 9/19 on September 26th: 98.51% 
Heritage Auctions. Internet Sports Collectibles - bidstart 8/29 on September 24th: 96.79% 
Christies. The Collection of Paul F. Walter on September 27th: 91.43% 
De Baecque and Associes. Demeure by Jacqueline Offenbach and the painter Pierre Mousset Souvenirs-Partitions Library -Tableau on September 23rd: 89.47% 
Copley Fine Art Auctions. The Sporting Sale - Books and Prints on July 28th: 87.69% 
Forum Auctions. Online Sale: Books and Works on Paper on September 22nd: 86.27% 
Sothebys. Yeats: The Family Collection on September 27th: 85.94% 
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on September 26th: 85.71% 
Swann Galleries. Printed and Manuscript Americana on September 28th: 85.54% 
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on September 27th: 84.62% 
Ferraton. Books and Engravings on September 15th: 84.50% 
Koller Auctions. Autographs on September 18th: 84.00% 
Freemans. Rare Books, Maps and Manuscripts on September 28th: 83.51% 
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. Fine Prints on September 28th: 82.65% 
Kedem Auction. Jewish and Israeli History, Art and Culture on August 29th: 82.17% 
Forum Auctions. Fine Books and Works on Paper on September 27th: 81.77% 
Sothebys. The Library of John and Suzanne Bonham on September 26th: 80.15% 

 

Top 25 Lots Reported This Past Week.
  1. Bonhams De Insulis nuper in mari Indico repertis. Preceded by Carolus Verardus (1440-1500). Historia Baetica. on September 26th Actual price: USD $751,500.
  2. Sothebys A STORYBOOK LIFE (THE COMPLETE SERIES) on September 28th Actual price: USD $468,500.
  3. Sothebys MAILÄNDER DOM (FASSADE), MAILAND on September 28th Actual price: USD $456,500.
  4. Arader Galleries Blaeu's Atlas Major on September 23rd Actual price: USD $274,500.
  5. Freemans [Charts of the Coast of America from Cape Breton to the Entrance of the Gulph of Mexico]. on September 28th Actual price: USD $212,500.
  6. Arader Galleries Audubon Aquatint Engraving, Male Turkey, Plate 1 on September 23rd Actual price: USD $183,000.
  7. Bonhams Underweysung der messung, mit dem zirckel unn richtscheyt in Linien ebnen unnd gantzen corporen. on September 26th Actual price: USD $175,000.
  8. Arader Galleries THE ONLY SURVIVING ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT OF THE FIRST PLAN OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH on September 23rd Actual price: USD $158,600.
  9. Arader Galleries Audubon Aquatint Engraving, Pileated Woodpecker, Plate 111 on September 23rd Actual price: USD $158,600.
  10. Christies Suzhou I-IV on September 27th Actual price: USD $125,000.
  11. Heritage Auctions 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #53 PSA NM-MT 8 - Only One Higher. on September 21st Actual price: USD $120,000.
  12. Sothebys THE CAPTAIN on September 27th Actual price: USD $117,250.
  13. Swann Galleries Large archive of Indian missionary letters written by the Pond family on the Minnesota frontier. on September 28th Actual price: USD $112,500.
  14. Christies Views of India, Indonesia and Myanmar (Burma), c. 1858 on September 27th Actual price: USD $107,500.
  15. Arader Galleries Extremely rare map of North America by Forlani on September 23rd Actual price: USD $98,820.
  16. Heritage Auctions 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #149 PSA NM-MT 8. on September 21st Actual price: USD $90,000.
  17. Christies Ten Days on September 27th Actual price: USD $87,500.
  18. Arader Galleries Champlains Definitive Map of New France on September 23rd Actual price: USD $85,400.
  19. Arader Galleries Fully Framed Set of the First Edition of Catlin's North American Indian Portfolio on September 23rd Actual price: USD $85,400.
  20. Heritage Auctions 1933 Goudey Lou Gehrig #160 PSA NM-MT+ 8.5 - Pop Two, Two Higher. on September 21st Actual price: USD $84,000.
  21. Sothebys VIVIEN LEIGH READING WITH TISSY on September 26th Actual price: USD $83,750.
  22. Sothebys GERHARD RICHTER 1, KÖLN on September 28th Actual price: USD $81,250.
  23. Sothebys GONE WITH THE WIND on September 26th Actual price: USD $78,725.
  24. Arader Galleries First Globe to show Travel's of Lewis & Clark on September 23rd Actual price: USD $73,200.
  25. Forum Auctions Historia Coelestis libri duo quorum prior exhibet catalogum stellarum fixarum Britannicum... Oservante... in Observatorio Regio Grenovicensi continua serie ab anno 1676 ad annum 1705 completum on September 27th Actual price: USD $72,025.



45 total sales reported this week:

Venator and Hanstein. Modern and contemporary prints, drawings, multiples, modern books and portfolios. on September 23rd: 52.01%
Quagga Rare Books and Art. Internet Book Sale - Historical, Non-fiction - Bidstart 9/21 on September 28th: 47.19%
Freemans. Rare Books, Maps and Manuscripts on September 28th: 83.51%
Sothebys. Post-War and Contemporary Photographs on September 28th: 74.47%
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. Fine Prints on September 28th: 82.65%
Swann Galleries. Printed and Manuscript Americana on September 28th: 85.54%
Skinner. Fine Prints, Fine Photographs on September 27th: 76.92%
Audap and Mirabaud. Posters on June 23rd: 10.92%
Forum Auctions. Fine Books and Works on Paper on September 27th: 81.77%
Dorotheum . Globes on September 28th: 69.23%
Dorotheum . Prints Before 1900 on September 27th: 75.49%
Koller Auctions. Old Master & 19th Century Prints & Drawings (West) on September 22nd: 35.48%
Vermot de Pas. Mister D. Succession : Postcards, Stamps, Posters, Historical Documents, etc... on September 26th: 40.88%
ALDE. Antiquarian and 19th Century Books on September 26th: 68.10%
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on September 27th: 84.62%
Christies. The Collection of Paul F. Walter on September 27th: 91.43%
William H. Bunch Auctions and Appraisals. Quarterly Catalogue Auction on September 26th: 100.00%
Bonhams. The Air and Space Sale on September 27th: 57.14%
Sothebys. Yeats: The Family Collection on September 27th: 85.94%
Bonhams. Rare Books and Manuscripts featuring Exploration and Travel on September 26th: 62.89%
Sothebys. The Vivien Leigh Collection on September 26th: 100.00%
Sothebys. The Library of John and Suzanne Bonham on September 26th: 80.15%
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on September 26th: 85.71%
Ferraton. Books and Engravings on September 15th: 84.50%
Heritage Auctions. Tuesday Internet Currency Auction - Online bidstart 9/19 on September 26th: 98.51%
Potomack Company. September Live Auction: Books and prints on September 23rd: 66.67%
Eldreds. Antiques and Accessories - Books and Prints on September 23rd: 72.29%
De Baecque and Associes. Demeure by Jacqueline Offenbach and the painter Pierre Mousset Souvenirs-Partitions Library -Tableau on September 23rd: 89.47%
Arader Galleries. September Auction on September 23rd: 64.89%
Keys Fine Arts Auctioneers. Ornithology - Books and Prints on September 22nd: 68.66%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 9/17 on September 24th: 99.49%
Heritage Auctions. Internet Sports Collectibles - bidstart 8/29 on September 24th: 96.79%
Ader. Photograph Books on September 22nd: 61.28%
Venator and Hanstein. Books, manuscripts, autographs and prints on September 22nd: 53.04%
PBA Galleries. Rare Cartography - Americana on September 21st: 57.62%
Venator and Hanstein. Rare Posters on September 21st: 60.71%
Forum Auctions. Online Sale: Books and Works on Paper on September 22nd: 86.27%
Koller Auctions. Old Master Prints on September 22nd: 79.37%
Koller Auctions. Autographs on September 18th: 84.00%
Koller Auctions. Books on September 18th: 78.23%
Copley Fine Art Auctions. The Sporting Sale - Books and Prints on July 28th: 87.69%
Kedem Auction. Jewish and Israeli History, Art and Culture on August 29th: 82.17%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 9/17 on September 24th: 98.94%
Winner's Auctions and Exhibitions. Win-One Rosh HaShana (No. 1) on September 6th: 100.00%
Winner's Auctions and Exhibitions. Holy books, letters from Rabbis and Rebbes, Judaica, Maps, Periodicals, Postcards, banknotes, Eretz on July 19th: 62.24%


For the week ahead 30 sales are scheduled:

Mon. Oct. 2nd
Bonhams. New York. Photographs. 108 lots
Winter Associates. Plainville, CT . Modern, Fine Art - Prints. 35 lots
Il Ponte. Milan. Interior Decoration - Modern Art/Modern Antiques - session 10: Books. 307 lots
Il Ponte. Milan. Interior Decoration - Modern Art/Modern Antiques - Prints. 90 lots
Bruun Rasmussen. Copenhagen. Prints. 72 lots

Tue. Oct. 3rd
Tooveys. West Sussex. Antiquarian and Collectors' Books. 178 lots
Christies. London -South Kensington. Masterpieces of Design and Photography. 15 lots
Morton Subastas. México DF CP 11000. Books and Documents on the History of Mexico. 314 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Tuesday Internet Currency Auction - Online bidstart 9/26. 718 lots

Wed. Oct. 4th
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Gloucestershire. Printed Books, Maps and Documents. 593 lots
Purcell Auctioneers. Birr. Autumn Irish Interest Books.
Tooveys. West Sussex. Prints and Maps. 203 lots
Grays Auctioneers. Cleveland, . Fine Art, etc. - Books, Prints. 52 lots

Thu. Oct. 5th
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Gloucestershire. Fine Art - Prints. 211 lots
PBA Galleries. San Francisco. Fine Literature. 327 lots
Sothebys. New York. Photographs. 153 lots
Forum Auctions in Italy. Roma. Online Sale: Prints & Drawings - 16th-19th Century. 126 lots
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Franklin. Fine Art – Antique Engravings & Lithographs – Works on Paper. 150 lots

Fri. Oct. 6th
Guernseys. New York, NY. The Kennedy Era. 409 lots
Marc van de Wiele Auctions. Brugge. Rare Books. 1045 lots
Forum Auctions. London. Online Sale: Books and Works on Paper. 99 lots
Kiefer Buch und Kunstauktionen. 75172 Pforzheim. Books, Graphics modern and ancient Arts, Antiques. 5810 lots

Sat. Oct. 7th
Profiles in History. Calabasas Hills. Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds.
Michaans Auctions. Alameda, CA . Gallery Auction - Books, Prints, Photographs. 67 lots
Gibson Auction Inc.. Orange County. Best of the Best Fall Sale. 13 lots
Leland Little Auctions. Hillsborough, NC. October Gallery Sale - Books, Prints. 53 lots
National Book Auctions. Ithaca. Books.

Sun. Oct. 8th
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Sports Collectibles Auction - bidstart 9/10. 238 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 10/1.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 10/1.

Bruce McKinney

RBH and AE

  • <center><b>Sotheby’s<br>Book Week<br>December 9-17, 2025</b></center> <b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 17:</b> Francesco Colonna. <i>Hypnerotomachie,</i> Paris, 1546, Parisian calf by Wotton Binder C for Marcus Fugger. €200,000 to €300,000. <b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 17:</b> Nausea. <i>De principiis dialectices Gorgias,</i> and other works, Venice, 1523, morocco gilt for Cardinal Campeggio. €3,000 to €4,000. <b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 17:</b> Billon. <i>Le fort inexpugnable de l'honneur,</i> Paris, 1555, Parisian calf gilt for Peter Ernst, Graf von Mansfeld. €120,000 to €180,000. <center><b>Sotheby’s<br>Book Week<br>December 9-17, 2025</b></center> <b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 16:</b> Salinger, J.D. The Graham Family archive, including autographed letters, an inscribed Catcher, a rare studio photograph of the author, and more. $120,000 to $180,000. <b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 16:</b> [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of <i>Sense and Sensibility,</i> the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000. <b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 16:</b> Massachusetts General Court. A powerful precursor to the Declaration of Independence: "every Act of Government … without the Consent of the People, is … Tyranny." $40,000 to $60,000.
    Sotheby’s
    Book Week
    December 9-17, 2025
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Francesco Colonna. Hypnerotomachie, Paris, 1546, Parisian calf by Wotton Binder C for Marcus Fugger. €200,000 to €300,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Nausea. De principiis dialectices Gorgias, and other works, Venice, 1523, morocco gilt for Cardinal Campeggio. €3,000 to €4,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Billon. Le fort inexpugnable de l'honneur, Paris, 1555, Parisian calf gilt for Peter Ernst, Graf von Mansfeld. €120,000 to €180,000.
    Sotheby’s
    Book Week
    December 9-17, 2025
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: Salinger, J.D. The Graham Family archive, including autographed letters, an inscribed Catcher, a rare studio photograph of the author, and more. $120,000 to $180,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of Sense and Sensibility, the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: Massachusetts General Court. A powerful precursor to the Declaration of Independence: "every Act of Government … without the Consent of the People, is … Tyranny." $40,000 to $60,000.
  • <b><center>Rare Book Hub is now mobile-friendly!</center></b>
    Rare Book Hub is now mobile-friendly!
  • <b>Bonhams, Dec. 8-18:</b> Autograph Letter Signed ("Martinus Luther") to His Friend the Theologian Gerhard Wiskamp ("Gerardo Xantho Lampadario"). $100,000 - $150,000. <b>Bonhams, Dec. 8-18:</b> An Exceptionally Fine Copy of Austenís Emma: A Novel in Three Volumes. $40,000 - $60,000. <b>Bonhams, Dec. 8-18:</b> Presentation Copy of Ernest Hemmingwayís A Farewell to Arms for Edward Titus of the Black Mankin Press. $30,000 - $50,000. <b>Bonhams, Dec. 8-18:</b> Autograph Manuscript Signed Integrally for "The Songs of Pooh," by Alan Alexander. $30,000 - $50,000. <b>Bonhams, Dec. 8-18:</b> Autograph Manuscript of "Three Fragments from Gˆtterd‰mmerung" by Richard Wagner. $30,000 - $50,000. <b>Bonhams, Dec. 8-18:</b> Original Preliminary Artwork, for the First Edition of Snow Crash. $20,000 - $30,000. <b>Bonhams, Dec. 8-18:</b> Autograph Letter Signed ("T.R. Malthus") to Economist Nassau Senior on Wealth, Labor and Adam Smith. $20,000 - $30,000. <b>Bonhams, Dec. 8-18:</b> History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides Finely Bound by Michael Wilcox. $20,000 - $30,000. <b>Bonhams, Dec. 8-18:</b> First Edition of Lewis and Clark: Travels to the Source of the Missouri River and Across the American Continent to the Pacific Ocean. $8,000 - $12,000. <b>Bonhams, Dec. 8-18:</b> Original Artwork for the First Edition of Neal Stephenson's Groundbreaking Novel Snow Crash. $100,000 - $150,000. <b>Bonhams, Dec. 8-18:</b> A Complete Set Signed Deluxe Editions of King's The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King. $8,000 - $12,000. <b>Bonhams, Dec. 8-18:</b> Autograph Letter Signed ("John Adams") to James Le Ray de Chaumont During the Crucial Years of the Revolutionary War. $8,000 - $12,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("Martinus Luther") to His Friend the Theologian Gerhard Wiskamp ("Gerardo Xantho Lampadario"). $100,000 - $150,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: An Exceptionally Fine Copy of Austenís Emma: A Novel in Three Volumes. $40,000 - $60,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Presentation Copy of Ernest Hemmingwayís A Farewell to Arms for Edward Titus of the Black Mankin Press. $30,000 - $50,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Manuscript Signed Integrally for "The Songs of Pooh," by Alan Alexander. $30,000 - $50,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Manuscript of "Three Fragments from Gˆtterd‰mmerung" by Richard Wagner. $30,000 - $50,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Original Preliminary Artwork, for the First Edition of Snow Crash. $20,000 - $30,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("T.R. Malthus") to Economist Nassau Senior on Wealth, Labor and Adam Smith. $20,000 - $30,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides Finely Bound by Michael Wilcox. $20,000 - $30,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: First Edition of Lewis and Clark: Travels to the Source of the Missouri River and Across the American Continent to the Pacific Ocean. $8,000 - $12,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Original Artwork for the First Edition of Neal Stephenson's Groundbreaking Novel Snow Crash. $100,000 - $150,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: A Complete Set Signed Deluxe Editions of King's The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King. $8,000 - $12,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("John Adams") to James Le Ray de Chaumont During the Crucial Years of the Revolutionary War. $8,000 - $12,000.