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Swann Galleries: Autographs

Auction Reports


Auction Name	Autographs	Total Sales (USD)	695,647.28
Auction Date	November 06, 2025 - November 06, 2025	Low Estimate of Lots Sold (USD)	459,600.00
Sale Number	#110625	High Estimate of Lots Sold (USD)	682,550.00
Total Lots	271
Sold Lots	221.0	Low Estimate of All Lots (USD)	517,300.00
% of Lots Sold	81.55%	High Estimate of All Lots (USD)	769,650.00
Unsold Lots	50	Total Sales as a % of High Est.	90.39%

Top twenty-five by sale price

Lot Number	Author Name	Book Title	Year Published	Estimate	Actual Price
93	(Album.) Autograph album containing 29 ALsS by each of the U.S.	(Album.) Autograph album containing 29 ALsS by each of the U.S. presidents from Washington to Coolidge. Vp, 1785-1945.	1785-1945.	USD 80,000.00 - 120,000.00	USD 188,000.00
166	Franz Schubert.	Franz Schubert. Autograph Musical manuscript, unsigned, fragment from Der Taucher, Np, 1813.	1813	USD 60,000.00 - 70,000.00	USD 95,250.00
20	John Lennon.	John Lennon. Typescript Signed, with numerous holograph corrections, interview discussing Paul, Linda, and Yoko. [New York], 31 August 1971.	31 August 1971.	USD 6,000.00 - 9,000.00	USD 19,050.00
46	Alexander Hamilton.	Alexander Hamilton. Autograph Letter Signed, "A.H.," as Inspector General of the U.S. Army, to Secretary of War James McHenry. New York, 19 February 1800.	19 February 1800.	USD 15,000.00 - 25,000.00	USD 17,780.00
137	George Washington.	George Washington. Clipped portion of a partly-printed DS, three-language ship's papers. [Philadelphia], circa 15 November 1796.	circa 15 November 1796.	USD 10,000.00 - 15,000.00	USD 17,780.00
111	Thomas Jefferson.	Thomas Jefferson. Two items: Holograph plat drawing, uncommon map of field near Monticello * Autograph Letter Signed. Np, nd; [Charlottesville], 9 August 1815.	nd; 9 August 1815.	USD 15,000.00 - 25,000.00	USD 12,700.00
113	Thomas Jefferson.	Thomas Jefferson. Autograph Letter Signed, to his business partner Patrick Gibson, assuring payment of a $700 promissory note. "Monticello" [Charlottesville], 22 December 1812.	22 December 1812.	USD 8,000.00 - 12,000.00	USD 8,890.00
11	Lou Gehrig.	Lou Gehrig. Photograph Signed and Inscribed, "To Nancy-- / Best Wishes." Np, circa 1939.	circa 1939.	USD 3,000.00 - 4,000.00	USD 8,255.00
116	Abraham Lincoln.	Abraham Lincoln. Partly-printed vellum Document Signed, as President. Washington, 21 February 1863.	21 February 1863.	USD 6,000.00 - 9,000.00	USD 8,255.00
215	Mark Twain.	Mark Twain. Engraved half-length portrait Signed, twice, with both his real and pen names. Np, nd.	nd.	USD 6,000.00 - 9,000.00	USD 8,255.00
196	Ernest Hemingway.	Ernest Hemingway. Typed Letter Signed, "I love you / Papa," to Marlene Dietrich ("My Dearest"). Finca Vigia, 30 August 1957.	30 August 1957.	USD 4,000.00 - 6,000.00	USD 7,112.00
208	George Sand.	George Sand. Autograph Manuscript Signed, draft of her one-act play Francia. Np, circa 1872.	circa 1872.	USD 10,000.00 - 15,000.00	USD 7,112.00
218	Walt Whitman.	Walt Whitman. Manuscript Signed, draft of three complete poems from his Leaves of Grass. Np, [1891?].	[1891?].	USD 7,000.00 - 10,000.00	USD 6,350.00
78	Horatio Nelson.	Horatio Nelson. Autograph Letter Signed, to artist Robert Barker ("Mr. Barker"). Merton [London], 21 January 1802.	21 January 1802.	USD 800.00 - 1,200.00	USD 6,096.00
112	Thomas Jefferson.	Thomas Jefferson. Partly-printed vellum Document Signed, granting plot of land. Washington, 27 August 1805.	27 August 1805.	USD 3,500.00 - 5,000.00	USD 6,096.00
65B	Albert and Elsa Einstein.	Albert and Elsa Einstein. Autograph Letter Signed, "A. Einstein," to violinist Lili Petschnikoff ("Dear Mrs. Petschnikoff"). Caputh, 1 June 1931.	1 June 1931.	USD 2,000.00 - 3,000.00	USD 5,924.16
47	Alexander Hamilton.	Alexander Hamilton. Letter Signed, "AHamilton," as Treasury Secretary, to Collector William Webb. [Philadelphia], 27 May 1794.	27 May 1794.	USD 4,000.00 - 6,000.00	USD 5,842.00
53	Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben.	Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben. Letter Signed, "Steuben Maj: Genl," to Brigadier General George Weedon. Richmond, 29 March [1781].	29 March [1781].	USD 4,000.00 - 6,000.00	USD 5,842.00
140	Samuel Barber.	Samuel Barber. Autograph Musical Quotation Signed and dated. Mount Kisco, September 1965.	September 1965.	USD 6,000.00 - 9,000.00	USD 5,715.00
62A	Marie Curie.	Marie Curie. Autograph Note Signed, "M. Curie," to American dancer Loie Fuller ("Dear friend"). Np, nd.	nd.	USD 2,500.00 - 3,500.00	USD 5,364.48
115	John F. Kennedy.	John F. Kennedy. Typed Letter Signed, "John Kennedy," as President, to former CIA Director Allen Dulles ("Dear Allen"). Washington, 29 November 1961.	29 November 1961.	USD 3,500.00 - 5,000.00	USD 5,334.00
153	George Gershwin.	George Gershwin. Photograph Signed and Inscribed, "Sincerely." Np, nd.	nd.	USD 3,000.00 - 4,000.00	USD 4,572.00
174	Richard Wagner.	Richard Wagner. Document Signed, contract for the 4-night performance of Der Ring des Niebelungen. Frankfurt am Main, 11 August 1881.	11 August 1881.	USD 4,000.00 - 6,000.00	USD 4,572.00
179	Rupert Brooke.	Rupert Brooke. Autograph Letter Signed, to "Dear [St. John Greer?] Ervine." [London], "Monday" [January 1912?].	Monday [January 1912?].	USD 4,000.00 - 6,000.00	USD 4,572.00
65	Edward VII; King of the UK.	Edward VII; King of the UK. Partly-printed Document Signed, "EdwardR&I." "St. James's" [London], 12 January 1903.	12 January 1903.	USD 600.00 - 900.00	USD 4,488.00

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.
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.
Heritage Auctions
Rare Books Signature Auction
December 15, 2025

Heritage, Dec. 15: John Donne. Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death. London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.

Heritage, Dec. 15: Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.

Heritage, Dec. 15: F. Scott Fitzgerald. Tender is the Night. A Romance.

Heritage, Dec. 15: Bram Stoker. Dracula. Westminster: Archibald Constable & Co., 1897.

Heritage, Dec. 15: Jerry Thomas. How to Mix Drinks, or the Bon-Vivant's Companion, Containing Clear and Reliable Directions for Mixing All the Beverages Used in the United States…
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