Auction Update Review
Rare Book Hub: 64 Auctions Archived, another 15 Upcoming this Week
Fifteen thousand six hundred thirteen lots were offered and 13,199 sold for an 84.03% win rate.
Turnover was $23,899,199.07. The average lot sold for $1,821.72.
Sothebys. The Ten Commandments on December 18th: $5,040,000
Artcurial. de Gaulle on December 16th: $4,004,361
University Archives. Rare Autographs, Manuscripts & Books - Just In Time For The Holidays! on December 11th: $1,460,917
Sothebys. Books and Manuscripts on December 17th: $1,316,632
Sothebys. Important Judaica on December 18th: $1,223,880
Arenberg Auctions. Prints, Drawings & Photographs, Rare Books, Atlases & Manuscripts, Surrealism & Belgian Royal Family on December 14th: $1,027,605
20 auctions saw total sales exceed 100% of the high estimates of all lots offered:
Artcurial. de Gaulle on December 16th: 333.69%
Heritage Auctions. Non-Sports Trading Cards Showcase Auction on December 19th: 295.78%
Sothebys. The Ten Commandments on December 18th: 252.00%
Beaussant Lefevre. Ancient and Modern Books on December 19th: 213.85%
Gonnelli Casa DAste. Ancient, Modern and Contemporary Art - Session 3 and 4 on November 27th: 172.34%
Gonnelli Casa DAste. Ancient, Modern and Contemporary Art - Session 5 and 6 on November 28th: 172.05%
Christies. Online: MICA: THE COLLECTION OF MICA ERTEGUN on December 17th: 137.79%
Bonhams. The Winter Automobilia Online Auction on December 16th: 129.30%
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Children's & Illustrated Books, Modern First Editions, Vintage Games and Toys on December 13th: 129.10%
Potter and Potter Auctions. Winter Magic Auction Featuring the Collection of Max Maven on December 14th: 127.77%
Bonhams. The Complete Kelmscott Press Collection of Joseph Mark Van Horn on December 17th: 125.25%
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Printed Books, Maps and Documents on December 12th: 124.66%
Arenberg Auctions. Prints, Drawings & Photographs, Rare Books, Atlases & Manuscripts, Surrealism & Belgian Royal Family on December 14th: 122.56%
University Archives. Rare Autographs, Manuscripts & Books - Just In Time For The Holidays! on December 11th: 118.08%
Robert Siegel Galleries. Worldwide Stamps and Postal History on December 19th: 106.72%
Bonhams. Collections, Including a Nicky Haslam Interior; Selected Items from the Estate of Michael Winner; and an Important Archive of Photographs by Cecil Beaton from the Estate of Geoffrey Sawyer on December 16th: 106.49%
Bonhams. Japanese Prints, Paintings, and Screens on December 18th: 106.00%
Aguttes. Sports - Memories of legends of the 20th including Collection of Mr G. on December 15th: 104.75%
Ripley Auctions. Great Estates: Live! on December 14th: 103.95%
Christies. MICA: THE COLLECTION OF MICA ERTEGUN on December 13th: 103.53%
39 sales saw at least 80% of their lots sell:
Neal Auction Company. Mid-Century, Modern, Contemporary Auction on December 19th: 100.00%
Sothebys. The Ten Commandments on December 18th: 100.00%
Tessier & Sarrou and Associates. Books, Online on December 17th: 100.00%
Christies. Online: MICA: THE COLLECTION OF MICA ERTEGUN on December 17th: 100.00%
Heritage Auctions. Tuesday World Paper Money Select Auction on December 17th: 100.00%
Heritage Auctions. Tuesday US Currency Select Auction on December 17th: 100.00%
Christies. MICA: THE COLLECTION OF MICA ERTEGUN on December 13th: 100.00%
Heritage Auctions. Pulp Magazine Select Auction on December 15th: 100.00%
Artcurial. de Gaulle on December 16th: 99.68%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday, Monday & Tuesday Comic Books Select Auction on December 17th: 99.59%
Arenberg Auctions. Prints, Drawings & Photographs, Rare Books, Atlases & Manuscripts, Surrealism & Belgian Royal Family on December 14th: 99.50%
Heritage Auctions. Wednesday Comic Art and Animation Select Auction on December 18th: 99.39%
Schilb Antiquarian. Rare Books with NO Reserve, NO Buyer's Premium on December 15th: 99.06%
Potter and Potter Auctions. Winter Magic Auction Featuring the Collection of Max Maven on December 14th: 98.89%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Sports Collectibles Select Auction on December 15th: 98.78%
Heritage Auctions. Wednesday Trading Card Games Select Auction on December 18th: 98.59%
Tessier & Sarrou and Associates. Books, Online on December 16th: 98.10%
Bonhams. Collections, Including a Nicky Haslam Interior; Selected Items from the Estate of Michael Winner; and an Important Archive of Photographs by Cecil Beaton from the Estate of Geoffrey Sawyer on December 16th: 97.56%
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper on December 14th: 97.52%
University Archives. Rare Autographs, Manuscripts & Books - Just In Time For The Holidays! on December 11th: 96.14%
Bonhams. The Winter Automobilia Online Auction on December 16th: 95.76%
Beaussant Lefevre. Ancient and Modern Books on December 19th: 95.62%
Heritage Auctions. Non-Sports Trading Cards Showcase Auction on December 19th: 95.19%
Bonhams. The Complete Kelmscott Press Collection of Joseph Mark Van Horn on December 17th: 94.94%
Santa Fe Art Auction. Etcetera Holiday Sale - online 12/6 on December 16th: 92.96%
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Children's & Illustrated Books, Modern First Editions, Vintage Games and Toys on December 13th: 92.40%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Movie Posters Select Auction on December 15th: 91.46%
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Printed Books, Maps and Documents on December 12th: 90.91%
Robert Siegel Galleries. Worldwide Stamps and Postal History on December 19th: 90.74%
Rago Arts and Auctions. Editions and Works on Paper on December 18th: 90.60%
Aguttes. Sports - Memories of legends of the 20th including Collection of Mr G. on December 15th: 90.00%
Ripley Auctions. Great Estates: Live! on December 14th: 90.00%
Moreshet Auctions. Special Chabad Auction for Chanukah on December 15th: 89.06%
John McInnis Auctioneers. Private Alchemy and Chemistry Library on December 13th: 88.53%
Early American. History Auction on December 14th: 88.37%
John McInnis Auctioneers. Private Alchemy and Chemistry Library - Day 2 on December 14th: 87.77%
Morphy Auctions. Fine and Decorative Arts on December 19th: 85.96%
Sothebys. Books and Manuscripts on December 17th: 83.33%
Gonnelli Casa DAste. Ancient, Modern and Contemporary Art - Session 5 and 6 on November 28th: 80.85%
64 total sales reported this week:
RR Auction. Encapsulated Auction on December 19th: 67.13%
Robert Siegel Galleries. Worldwide Stamps and Postal History on December 19th: 90.74%
PBA Galleries. Americana - Travel & Exploration - Maps, Prints & Views on December 19th: 60.75%
Neal Auction Company. Mid-Century, Modern, Contemporary Auction on December 19th: 100.00%
Beaussant Lefevre. Ancient and Modern Books on December 19th: 95.62%
Morphy Auctions. Fine and Decorative Arts on December 19th: 85.96%
Aste Bolaffi. Rare Books and Autographs on December 19th: 64.68%
Heritage Auctions. Non-Sports Trading Cards Showcase Auction on December 19th: 95.19%
Sothebys. The Ten Commandments on December 18th: 100.00%
Sothebys. Important Judaica on December 18th: 57.85%
Setdart. 18th December - Contemporary Art on December 18th: 44.44%
Rago Arts and Auctions. Editions and Works on Paper on December 18th: 90.60%
Heritage Auctions. Wednesday Trading Card Games Select Auction on December 18th: 98.59%
Heritage Auctions. Wednesday Comic Art and Animation Select Auction on December 18th: 99.39%
Finarte. Photographs: Under 1K on December 18th: 60.69%
Bonhams. Japanese Prints, Paintings, and Screens on December 18th: 75.27%
Bonhams. Fine Books & Manuscripts on December 18th: 69.81%
Bonhams. The Complete Kelmscott Press Collection of Joseph Mark Van Horn on December 17th: 94.94%
Tessier & Sarrou and Associates. Books, Online on December 17th: 100.00%
Swann Galleries. Fine Photographs on December 17th: 78.92%
Sothebys. Books and Manuscripts on December 17th: 83.33%
Christies. Online: MICA: THE COLLECTION OF MICA ERTEGUN on December 17th: 100.00%
Bonhams. Deck the Walls: Prints and Multiples on December 17th: 76.33%
Bonhams. Belgian & Contemporary Art Online on December 17th: 41.67%
Bertolami Fine Art . Rare, Antique and Collectible Books on December 17th: 76.45%
Heritage Auctions. Tuesday World Paper Money Select Auction on December 17th: 100.00%
ALDE. Original Editions from the 19th and 20th Centuries on December 17th: 67.80%
Heritage Auctions. Tuesday US Currency Select Auction on December 17th: 100.00%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday, Monday & Tuesday Comic Books Select Auction on December 17th: 99.59%
Gonnelli Casa DAste. Ancient, Modern and Contemporary Art - Session 5 and 6 on November 28th: 80.85%
Gonnelli Casa DAste. Ancient, Modern and Contemporary Art - Session 3 and 4 on November 27th: 75.71%
Gonnelli Casa DAste. Ancient, Modern and Contemporary Art - Session 1 and 2 on November 26th: 63.64%
Quinn's Auction Galleries. American Civil War Book Auction on November 14th: 69.72%
Quinn's Auction Galleries. Maps - Natural History - Prints and Books Auction on December 12th: 78.49%
Koller Auctions. Prints and Multiples - Online Only on December 4th: 74.29%
Tessier & Sarrou and Associates. Books, Online on December 16th: 98.10%
Santa Fe Art Auction. Etcetera Holiday Sale - online 12/6 on December 16th: 92.96%
Bonhams. The Winter Automobilia Online Auction on December 16th: 95.76%
Bonhams. Collections, Including a Nicky Haslam Interior; Selected Items from the Estate of Michael Winner; and an Important Archive of Photographs by Cecil Beaton from the Estate of Geoffrey Sawyer on December 16th: 97.56%
Artcurial. de Gaulle on December 16th: 99.68%
Sydney Rare Book Auctions. Gary Gorton Crime Fiction Collection Part 4 on December 15th: 71.39%
Schilb Antiquarian. Rare Books with NO Reserve, NO Buyer's Premium on December 15th: 99.06%
Moreshet Auctions. Special Chabad Auction for Chanukah on December 15th: 89.06%
Aguttes. Sports - Memories of legends of the 20th including Collection of Mr G. on December 15th: 90.00%
Ripley Auctions. Great Estates: Live! on December 14th: 90.00%
Potter and Potter Auctions. Winter Magic Auction Featuring the Collection of Max Maven on December 14th: 98.89%
Morton Subastas. Saturday Sale on December 14th: 72.00%
John McInnis Auctioneers. Private Alchemy and Chemistry Library - Day 2 on December 14th: 87.77%
Early American. History Auction on December 14th: 88.37%
Vermot de Pas. NASA PHOTOGRAPHS - HISTORY OF THE CONQUEST OF SPACE on December 13th: 8.20%
Maison Bibelot. Gift Prints, Online Auction on December 13th: 36.18%
John McInnis Auctioneers. Private Alchemy and Chemistry Library on December 13th: 88.53%
Christies. MICA: THE COLLECTION OF MICA ERTEGUN on December 13th: 100.00%
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Children's & Illustrated Books, Modern First Editions, Vintage Games and Toys on December 13th: 92.40%
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Printed Books, Maps and Documents on December 12th: 90.91%
Arenberg Auctions. Prints, Drawings & Photographs, Rare Books, Atlases & Manuscripts, Surrealism & Belgian Royal Family on December 14th: 99.50%
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books Auction (pre-1700) on December 11th: 68.18%
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books Auction (pre-1700) on December 9th: 78.95%
Catawiki B. V.. Autographs and Manuscripts on December 8th: 71.76%
University Archives. Rare Autographs, Manuscripts & Books - Just In Time For The Holidays! on December 11th: 96.14%
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper on December 14th: 97.52%
Heritage Auctions. Pulp Magazine Select Auction on December 15th: 100.00%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Sports Collectibles Select Auction on December 15th: 98.78%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Movie Posters Select Auction on December 15th: 91.46%
For the week ahead 15 sales are scheduled:
Mon. Dec. 23rd
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Old and Rare Books Auction (pre-1700). 78 lots
Tue. Dec. 24th
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Tuesday US Currency Select Auction. 296 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Tuesday World Paper Money Select Auction. 128 lots
Wed. Dec. 25th
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Wednesday Comic Art and Animation Select Auction. 312 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Wednesday Trading Card Games Select Auction. 60 lots
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Old and Rare Books Auction (pre-1700). 36 lots
Fri. Dec. 27th
Dirk Soulis Auctions. Lee's Summit . Year End Wrap-up Auction. 79 lots
Sat. Dec. 28th
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Franklin. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper. 150 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sports Showcase Auction. 817 lots
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Exclusive Books Auction. 40 lots
Sun. Dec. 29th
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday, Monday & Tuesday Comic Books Select Auction.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Movie Posters Select Auction.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Sports Collectibles Select Auction. 182 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Pulp Magazine Select Auction.
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Autographs and Manuscripts. 54 lots
Bruce McKinney
RBH and AE
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Sotheby's Book Week
2 June - 9 JulySotheby’s, June 25: Smith, Adam. The Wealth of Nations, on its 250th anniversary. $180,000 to $250,000.Sotheby’s, June 17: Fontana, Lucio. Concetto Spaziale. 1967. Leporello en papier doré. Bel exemplaire signé. €4,000 to $€,000.Sotheby’s, June 25: Fitzgerald, F. Scott. "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past”. $150,000 to $200,000.Sotheby’s, June 25: Washington, George (as First President). Washington decries “an ostentatious imitation, or mimickry of Royalty” in his Presidency. $250,000 to $500,000.Sotheby’s, June 17: Lope de Vega. Rare manuscrit autographe signé de la préface dédicatoire de "El Cardenal de Belen" (le cardinal de Bethléem), pièce composée en 1610. €40,000 to €60,000. -
June 23rd, 24th & 25th 2026 Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Medical Incunabula: Petit (Jean)publisher & Kerver (Thielman)printer. Regimen Sanitatis Salernitanum, sm. 8vo, Paris [1498]Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Hugo (Victor) [Wraxall (Lascelles)]. Les Miserable, 3 vols., 8vo, L. (Hurst & Blackett) 1862, First Authorized English Translation (copyright).Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Shelley (Mary Wollstonecraft). Frankenstein: or The Modern Prometheus, 8vo, 2 vols. in one, L. (G. & W.B. Whittaker, Ave-Maria-Lane) 1823.June 23rd, 24th & 25th 2026 Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Cuisine: Anon. Cookery, Pastry, and Sweet Meats in three Books, Alphabetically Digested, 8vo 1710.Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Lambert (Aylmer Bourke). A Description of the Genus Pinus, with Directions Relative to the Cultivation…, 2 vols. Sm. folio L. (Messrs. Weddell) 1832.Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Botany: Curtis (William). Flora Londinensis: or Plates and Descriptions of such Plants as Grow Wild in the Environs of London, 2 vols. folio, London (B. White) 1777 – 1798.June 23rd, 24th & 25th 2026 Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Le Moire (J.M.) Maple Leaves, Canadian History and Quebec Scenery (Third Series) 8vo Quebec (Hunter, Rose & Co.) 1865. First Edn.Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: The Earliest Extant Printed House Contents Sale Catalogue in Ireland: Baillie, Auctioneer, Abby Street. A Catalogue of the Goods and Stock of the late Edward Wingfield…Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: William III King of England. Autograph Letter Signed ("William R") to an unnamed correspondent [possibly Charles-Henri de Lorraine] discussing his strategy against the French forces during the siege of Namur.June 23rd, 24th & 25th 2026 Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: [Austen (Jane) (1785-1817]. Pride and Prejudice, 3 vols. sm. 8vo, L. (T. Egerton) 1813.Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Heaney (Seamus). Ugolino, sm. folio D. (Dolmen) 1979, Limited Edn. No. 78/125 Copies, Signed by Seamus Heaney, Louis le Brocquy, Liam Miller and Andrew Carpenter.Fonsie Mealy’s, June 23-25: Voltaire (F.M. Avouet de). Petits Ouvrages, attribues a M. de Voltaire, sm. folio manuscript, dated 1776, containing 9 works. -
Bonhams, June 14-23: Franklin D. Roosevelt Presentation Gold Pocket Watch. Estimate: $20,000 - 30,000Bonhams, June 14-23: Presentation Copy of the First Issue of the Lincoln Douglas Debates Signed by Abraham Lincoln in Pencil to a Sangamon County Illinois Republican. Estimate: $150,000 - 250,000Bonhams, June 14-23: A Senate Resolution Signed in the Tense Days After the Union's Humiliating Defeat at the First Battle of Bull Run. Estimate: $80,000 - $120,000Bonhams, June 14-23: Seven Passages to a Flight, an Artists Book with a Story Quilt by Faith Ringgold, the Publisher's Own Copy. Estimate: $80,000 - 120,000Bonhams, June 14-23: A New Charter for Virginia, A Response to the First Armed Rebellion in the American Colonies. Estimate: $15,000 - 25,000Bonhams, June 14-23: Earliest obtainable printing of the Bill of Rights. Estimate: $8,000 - 12,000Bonhams, June 14-23: Edward Curtis Orotone. Estimate: $7,000 - 9,000Bonhams, June 14-23: Owned by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis: A Butter or Dessert Plate from FDR's State Dinner Service. Estimate: $3,000 - 5,000Bonhams, June 14-23: An Early Large-Format Plan of the City of Washington. Estimate: $1,500 - 2,500Bonhams, June 14-23: Containing the First Map to Name the Hudson River. Estimate: $20,000 - 30,000Bonhams, June 14-23: America's First Major Novelist, a Complete Chapter in Autograph Manuscript by James Fenimore Cooper. Estimate: $15,000 - 20,000Bonhams, June 14-23: The Only Full-Length Book by Jefferson, with the Justly Famous Map. Estimate: $12,000 - 18,000
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June 25, 2026 Doyle, June 25: Houdini's biography, boldly signed. $3,000 to $5,000.Doyle, June 25: A volume from Abraham Lincoln's library, signed just before heading to Washington for his inauguration. $20,000 to $30,000.Doyle, June 25: A very early Confederate recruiting manual belonging to the chief commissary in Lee's Army. $600 to $800.Doyle, June 25: Rare hand-colored lithographs of the life of Napoleon. $20,000 to $30,000.Doyle, June 25: The "Holster Atlas" of the American Revolution. $5,000 to $8,000.Doyle, June 25: Jewish ceremonies in fine hand-colored engravings. $7,000 to $10,000.Doyle, June 25: A very rare work on Turkish military costume. $1,000 to $1,500.June 25, 2026 Doyle, June 25: The most important illustrated work on the Mexican-American War. $10,000 to $15,000.Doyle, June 25: The finest illustrated book on Afghanistan. $10,000 to $15,000.Doyle, June 25: Henry Justice Ford St. George rescues the Princess from the horrible Dragon. $2,000 to $3,000.Doyle, June 25: A rare work of Prussian Army uniforms under Frederick William II, with exquisite hand-colored engravings. $800 to $1,200.Doyle, June 25: Lenny Bruce typed letter signed to a Village bohemian during his obscenity trials, with a manuscript note and drawing. $300 to $500.Doyle, June 25: Schiff's scarce Shanghai Sketchbook. $300 to $500.Doyle, June 25: The first accurate published representation of the American flag. $2,000 to $4,000. -
Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 123. Celebrate 250 Years of Independence with Original Stars and Stripes (1790) Est. $1,400 - $1,700Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 20. Keulen's Spectacular Chart of the World Featuring California as an Island (1728) Est. $12,000 - $15,000Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 42. Schedel's Ancient World Map with Fantastic Humanoid Creatures (1493) Est. $14,000 - $17,000Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 591. Matching Set of 3 Stunning Globe Gores of Eastern Asia from Coronelli's 3.5 Foot Globe (1688) Est. $5,500 - $7,000Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 9. Speed's Popular World Map with Allegorical Representations of the Elements (1651) Est. $14,000 - $17,000Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 168. First Separate Map of Kansas & Nebraska Territories (1854) Est. $5,500 - $7,000Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 43. Only Macrobius Map with Britain Attached to Europe (1515) Est. $800 - $950Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 250. Rare Map of Boston and One of the Earliest Maps of the Revolutionary War (1775) Est. $2,000 - $2,300Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 79. Schenk's Uncommon Map Featuring Two Figurative Title Cartouches (1696) Est. $1,200 - $1,500Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 681. Hand-Colored Image of the Annunciation to the Shepherds (1502) Est. $800 - $950

