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Christies: Valuable Books and Manuscripts

Auction Reports


Auction Name	Valuable Books and Manuscripts	Total Sales (GBP)	4,500,468.00
Auction Date	December 11, 2024 - December 11, 2024	Low Estimate of Lots Sold (GBP)	2,922,500.00
Sale Number	#22693	High Estimate of Lots Sold (GBP)	4,238,500.00
Total Lots	170
Sold Lots	136	Low Estimate of All Lots (GBP)	3,636,000.00
% of Lots Sold	80.00%	High Estimate of All Lots (GBP)	5,282,500.00
Unsold Lots	34	Total Sales as a % of High Est.	85.20%

Top twenty-five by sale price

Lot Number	Author Name	Book Title	Year Published	Estimate	Actual Price
114		BIBLE, in German. Translated by Martin LUTHER (1483-1546). Biblia, das ist, die gantze Heilige Schrifft Deudsch.	1534	GBP 200,000.00 - 300,000.00	GBP 604,800.00
94	Albert Einstein (1879-1955)	Series of 43 autograph letters signed ('Albert Einstein' (4), 'Albert' (23), the later letters with variations on the pet-name 'Johannzel', two letters lacking signature) to his first wife, Mileva Maric,	1898 - 1903	GBP 700,000.00 - 1,000,000.00	GBP 441,000.00
133	Major General William Thomas Eden (1768-1851), youngest son of Sir Robert Eden, 1st Baronet, of Maryland	A panoramic view of Calcutta, 1812		GBP 120,000.00 - 150,000.00	GBP 327,600.00
7	The Psalter of Count Ludwig the Younger of Oettingen	Psalter, in German with Latin incipits, illuminated manuscript on vellum, Swabia, 1418	1418	GBP 40,000.00 - 60,000.00	GBP 151,200.00
67	Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)	Autograph manuscript signed (at end, 'Igor Stravinsky'),The Firebird (L'oiseau de feu), Suite for small orchestra ('Instrumente pour petit orchestre'), the last 14 bars of the 'Berceuse' and the complete 'Final',	1915-03-31	GBP 70,000.00 - 100,000.00	GBP 126,000.00
8	Ovid (43BC - 17 or 18 AD)	The Gladstone Metamorphoses, in Latin, manuscript on paper	first half 15th century	GBP 50,000.00 - 80,000.00	GBP 119,700.00
72	Richard Wagner (1813-1883)	Autograph manuscript signed (at end, 'Richard Wagner'), the first poetical draft of the libretto for Tannhauser, here titled 'Das Venusberg / Romantische Oper in 3 Acten', Dresden, 29 January -- 22 March 1843	29 January -- 22 March 1843	GBP 80,000.00 - 120,000.00	GBP 119,700.00
132	FLINDERS, Matthew (1774-1814)	A Voyage to Terra Australis; undertaken for the purpose of completing the discovery of that vast country, and prosecuted in the years 1801, 1802, and 1803, in his Majesty's Ship the Investigator.	1814	GBP 60,000.00 - 80,000.00	GBP 119,700.00
9	Virgil (70-19 BC)	The Gladstone Aeneid, in Latin, decorated manuscript on paper	first half 15th century	GBP 60,000.00 - 90,000.00	GBP 113,400.00
29	Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)	Autograph sketch leaf for the string quartet in C, op. 59 no.3, the second movement,	1806	GBP 100,000.00 - 150,000.00	GBP 113,400.00
110	HOMER (c. 8th century BCE)	Opera, in Greek. Bound with:]QUINTUS Smyrnaeus (fl. 4th century). Posthomerica:] Derelictorum ab Homero libri quatuordecim, in Greek. - TRYPHIODORUS (3rd or 4th century). De Trojae excidio, in Greek. - COLLUTHUS. De raptu Helenae, in Greek.	1504, c.1505	GBP 70,000.00 - 100,000.00	GBP 113,400.00
149	EINSTEIN, Albert (1879-1955)	Uber die von der molekularkinetischen Theorie der Warme geforderte Bewegung von in ruhenden Flussigkeiten suspendierten Teilchen.' Offprint from: Annalen der Physik, 4th Series, vol. 17.	1905	GBP 70,000.00 - 100,000.00	GBP 113,400.00
10		Book of Hours, use of Rome, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum	c.1440s	GBP 40,000.00 - 60,000.00	GBP 88,200.00
123	GALILEI, Galileo (1564-1642)	Dialogo ... sopre i due massimi sistemi del mondo Tolemaico, e Copernicano.	1632	GBP 40,000.00 - 60,000.00	GBP 88,200.00
129	VANCOUVER, George (1757-1798)	A Voyage of Discovery to the North Pacific Ocean, and Round the World; in which the coast of North-west America has been carefully examined and accurately surveyed ... and performed in the years 1790, 1791, 1792, 1793, 1794, and 1795.	1798	GBP 40,000.00 - 60,000.00	GBP 88,200.00
135	[AUSTEN, Jane (1775-1817).]	Pride and Prejudice.	1813	GBP 40,000.00 - 60,000.00	GBP 81,900.00
150	EINSTEIN, Albert (1879-1955)	'Ist die Tragheit eines Korpers von seinem Energieinhalt abhangig?' Offprint from: Annalen der Physik, 4th Series, vol. 18.	1905	GBP 70,000.00 - 100,000.00	GBP 81,900.00
6	Morigenes the Astrologer, Pseudo-Aristotle, Geber and others	A compendium of alchemical texts, in Latin, manuscript on vellum	c.1400	GBP 12,000.00 - 18,000.00	GBP 75,600.00
18	Manuel Chrysoloras (c.1350-1415)	Erotemata, in Greek, decorated manuscript on paper	final quarter 15th century	GBP 15,000.00 - 20,000.00	GBP 60,480.00
3	John of Freiburg (c.1250-1314)	Summa confessorum, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum	first quarter 14th century	GBP 30,000.00 - 50,000.00	GBP 50,400.00
112	Homer (c. 8th century BCE)	Commentary on the Iliad:] Homeri interpres pervetustus, in Greek, edited by Janus Lascaris (1445-1535).	1517	GBP 50,000.00 - 80,000.00	GBP 50,400.00
103	HERMES TRISMEGISTUS (ascribed to)	De potestate et sapientia Dei [Pimander], translated by Marsilius Ficinus (1433-1499).	18 December 1471	GBP 40,000.00 - 60,000.00	GBP 44,100.00
20		Book of Hours, use of Nevers, in French and Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum	c.1495-1500	GBP 30,000.00 - 50,000.00	GBP 40,320.00
145	GOULD, John (1804-1881)	The Birds of Great Britain.	1862-1873	GBP 30,000.00 - 50,000.00	GBP 40,320.00
109	SOPHOCLES (c. 496-406 BCE)	Tragaediae Septem cum commentariis, in Greek.	August 1502	GBP 8,000.00 - 12,000.00	GBP 37,800.00

Forum Auctions
The Library of Barry Humphries
26th March 2025

Forum, Mar. 26: Beckford (William) [Vathek] An Arabian Tale, first (but unauthorised) edition, Lady Caroline Lamb's copy with her signature and notes, 1786. £2,000 to £3,000.

Forum, Mar. 26: Baudelaire (Charles) Les Fleurs du Mal, first edition containing the 6 suppressed poems, first issue, contemporary half black morocco, Paris, 1857. £4,000 to £6,000.

Forum, Mar. 26: Beardsley (Aubrey).- Pope (Alexander) The Rape of the Lock, one of 25 copies on Japanese vellum, Leonard Smithers, 1896. £4,000 to £6,000.

Forum, Mar. 26: Douglas (Lord Alfred) Sonnets, first edition, the dedication copy, with signed presentation inscription from the author to his wife Olive Custance, The Academy, 1909. £2,000 to £3,000.

Forum Auctions
The Library of Barry Humphries
26th March 2025

Forum, Mar. 26: Crowley (Aleister) The Works..., 3 vol. in 1 (as issued)"Essay Competition" issue on India paper, signed presentation inscription from the author, 1905-07. £1,500 to £2,000.

Forum, Mar. 26: Rodin (Auguste).- Mirbeau (Octave) Le Jardin des Supplices, one of 30 copies on chine with an additional suite, bound in dark purple goatskin, Paris, 1902. £3,000 to £4,000.

Forum, Mar. 26: Pellar (Hans) Eight original book illustrations for 'Der verliebte Flamingo' [together with] a published copy of the first edition of the book, 1923. £6,000 to £8,000.

Forum, Mar. 26: Cretté (Georges, binder).- Louÿs (Pierre) Les Aventures du Roi Pausole, 2 vol., one of 99 copies, with 2 original drawings, superbly bound in blue goatskin, gilt, Paris, 1930. £3,000 to £4,000.
Sotheby's
Sell Your Fine Books & Manuscripts

Sotheby’s: The Shem Tov Bible, 1312 | A Masterpiece from the Golden Age of Spain. Sold: 6,960,000 USD

Sotheby’s: Ten Commandments Tablet, 300-800 CE | One of humanity's earliest and most enduring moral codes. Sold: 5,040,000 USD

Sotheby’s: William Blake | Songs of Innocence and of Experience. Sold: 4,320,000 USD

Sotheby’s: The Declaration of Independence | The Holt printing, the only copy in private hands. Sold: 3,360,000 USD

Sotheby's
Sell Your Fine Books & Manuscripts

Sotheby’s: Thomas Taylor | The original cover art for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Sold: 1,920,000 USD

Sotheby’s: Machiavelli | Il Principe, a previously unrecorded copy of the book where modern political thought began. Sold: 576,000 GBP

Sotheby’s: Leonardo da Vinci | Trattato della pittura, ca. 1639, a very fine pre-publication manuscript. Sold: 381,000 GBP

Sotheby’s: Henri Matisse | Jazz, Paris 1947, the complete portfolio. Sold: 312,000 EUR
Koller, Mar. 26: Wit, Frederick de. Atlas. Amsterdam, de Wit, [1680]. CHF 20,000 to 30,000

Koller, Mar. 26: Merian, Maria Sibylla. Der Raupen wunderbare Verwandelung, und sonderbare Blumennahrung. Nürnberg, 1679; Frankfurt a. M. und Leipzig, 1683. CHF 20,000 to 30,000

Koller, Mar. 26: GOETHE, JOHANN WOLFGANG VON. Faust. Ein Fragment. Von Goethe. Ächte Ausgabe. Leipzig, G. J. Göschen, 1790. CHF 7,000 to 10,000

Koller, Mar. 26: Hieronymus. [Das hochwirdig leben der außerwoelten freünde gotes der heiligen altuaeter]. Augsburg, Johann Schönsperger d. Ä., 9. Juni 1497. CHF 40,000 to 60,000.

Koller, Mar. 26: BIBLIA GERMANICA - Neunte deutsche Bibel. Nürnberg, A. Koberger, 17. Feb. 1483. CHF 40,000 to 60,000

Koller, Mar. 26: HORAE B.M.V. - Stundenbuch. Lateinische Handschrift auf Pergament, Kalendarium französisch. Nordfrankreich (Rouen?). CHF 25,000 to 40,000
Forum Auctions
Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
27th March 2025

Forum, Mar. 27: Dürer (Albrecht) Hierin sind begriffen vier bücher von menschlicher Proportion, 4 parts in 1, first edition, Nuremberg, Hieronymus Andreae for Agnes Dürer, 1528. £30,000 to £40,000.

Forum, Mar. 27: Book of Hours, Use of Rome, illuminated manuscript in Latin, on vellum, 26 fine hand-painted miniatures, 17th century dark brown morocco, [Lyon], [c. 1475 and later c. 1490-1500]. £25,000 to £35,000.

Forum, Mar. 27: Brontë (Emily) The North Wind, watercolour, [1842]. £15,000 to £20,000.

Forum, Mar. 27: Titanic.- Mudd (Thomas Cupper, one of the youngest victims of the sinking of the Titanic, 1895-1912) Autograph Letter signed on board RMS Titanic to his mother, April 11th 1912. £20,000 to £30,000.

Forum Auctions
Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
27th March 2025

Forum, Mar. 27: [Austen (Jane)] Emma: A Novel, 3 vol., first edition, for John Murray, 1816. £10,000 to £15,000.

Forum, Mar. 27: Picasso (Pablo).- Ovid. Les Metamorphoses, one of 95 copies, signed by the artist, Lausanne, Albert Skira, 1931. £10,000 to £15,000.

Forum, Mar. 27: America.- Ogilby (John) America: Being the Latest, and Most Accurate Description of the New World..., all maps with vibrant hand-colouring in outline, probably by an early hand, 1671. £15,000 to £25,000.

Forum, Mar. 27: Iceland.- Geological exploration.- Bright (Dr. Richard )and Edward Bird. Collection of twenty original drawings from travels in Iceland with Henry Holland and George Mackenzie, watercolours, [1810]. £20,000 to £30,000.

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