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Sothebys: Western Illuminated Manuscripts

Auction Reports

Auction Name Western Illuminated Manuscripts Total Sales (GBP) 55,880.00
Auction Date December 09, 2025 - December 09, 2025 Low Estimate of Lots Sold (GBP) 32,000.00
Sale Number #L25410 High Estimate of Lots Sold (GBP) 47,000.00
Total Lots 19
Sold Lots 7.0 Low Estimate of All Lots (GBP) 1,669,000.00
% of Lots Sold 36.84% High Estimate of All Lots (GBP) 2,444,000.00
Unsold Lots 12 Total Sales as a % of High Est. 2.29%

Top twenty-five by sale price

Lot Number Author Name Book Title Year Published Estimate Actual Price
1

5 fragments with St Gall Neumes

10th-11th century GBP 9,000.00 - 12,000.00 GBP 19,050.00
5 Vincent Beauvais

Speculum historiale in Latin bifolium on vellum with large illuminated historiated initial

c.1430 GBP 8,000.00 - 12,000.00 GBP 16,510.00
2

The Vision of Ezekiel | by the Almagest Master: a historiated initial on a Bible leaf, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum

13th century (c. 1220s) GBP 2,000.00 - 3,000.00 GBP 5,334.00
8

Three illuminatd roundels from the margins of a Choirbook on vellum illuminated by Niccolo di Giacomo da Bologna

c.1365 GBP 4,000.00 - 6,000.00 GBP 5,334.00
9

A King and a Saint, historiated initials 'A' or 'N' and 'U' from a Choirbook on vellum, illuminated by an unknown Master

c.1490-1500. GBP 2,000.00 - 3,000.00 GBP 3,556.00
6

Illuminated Leaf from a Missal with Dutch text on the verso

c.1430 GBP 3,000.00 - 5,000.00 GBP 3,302.00
11

A Bishop Saint, historiated initial 'S' from a Choirbook on vellum, illuminated by the Master of the Graduals of San Salvatore in Pavia

c.1500 GBP 4,000.00 - 6,000.00 GBP 2,794.00
  • <b><center>Dominic Winter<br>Books, Maps, Documents & Autographs<br>Ornithology, Music, Bookplates<br>28th January 2026</center></b> <b>Dominic Winter, Jan. 28:</b> Lot 26. Company School. An album of 85 Indian mica paintings, Madras, c. 1852. £700-1,000 <b>Dominic Winter, Jan. 28:</b> Lot 28. Ross & Hooker. <i>Notes on the Botany of the Antarctic Voyage,</i> 1st edition, 1843. £4,000-6,000 <b>Dominic Winter, Jan. 28:</b> Lot 44. Gould (John). <i>The Birds of Great Britain,</i> 5 volumes, 1st edition, 1862-73. £30,000-40,000 <b><center>Dominic Winter<br>Books, Maps, Documents & Autographs<br>Ornithology, Music, Bookplates<br>28th January 2026</center></b> <b>Dominic Winter, Jan. 28:</b> Lot 72. Edwards (George). <i>A Natural History of Uncommon Birds…</i> [and] <i>Gleanings of Natural History,</i> 7 volumes, 1st edition, 1743-64. £7,000-10,000 <b>Dominic Winter, Jan. 28:</b> Lot 87. Walcott (Charles D. et al.). <i>Geologic Atlas of the United States,</i> 227-volume set, U.S. Geological Survey, 1894-1945. £500-800 <b>Dominic Winter, Jan. 28:</b> Lot 236. <i>A New Dictionary of the Terms Ancient and Modern of the Canting Crew…,</i> By B. E. Gent., 1st edition, [1699]. £3,000-4,000 <b><center>Dominic Winter<br>Books, Maps, Documents & Autographs<br>Ornithology, Music, Bookplates<br>28th January 2026</center></b> <b>Dominic Winter, Jan. 28:</b> Lot 245. Frost Fair Broadside. Upon the Frost in the Year 1739-40, Printed on the Ice upon the Thames at Queen-Hithe, 1739/40. £1,500-2,000 <b>Dominic Winter, Jan. 28:</b> Lot 270. Micheli (Antonino di). <i>La Nuova Chitarra di Regole…,</i> 1st edition, Palermo, 1680. £10,000-15,000 <b>Dominic Winter, Jan. 28:</b> Lot 280. Elgar (Edward). <i>Concerto for Violin and Orchestra,</i> [1910], signed presentation copy. £500-800 <b><center>Dominic Winter<br>Books, Maps, Documents & Autographs<br>Ornithology, Music, Bookplates<br>28th January 2026</center></b> <b>Dominic Winter, Jan. 28:</b> Lot 282 - Griffes (Charles). Autograph Manuscript Score for Overture to <i>Hänsel und Gretel,</i> c. 1910. £2,000-3,000 <b>Dominic Winter, Jan. 28:</b> Lot 304. Churchill (Winston). A terracotta maquette of Churchill by Oscar Nemon, c. 1955. £1,500-2,000 <b>Dominic Winter, Jan. 28:</b> Lot 364 - Russian Imperial Archaeological Commission. Mecheti Samarkanda..., Fascicule I Gour-Emir, St. Petersburg, 1905. £2,000-3,000
    Dominic Winter
    Books, Maps, Documents & Autographs
    Ornithology, Music, Bookplates
    28th January 2026
    Dominic Winter, Jan. 28: Lot 26. Company School. An album of 85 Indian mica paintings, Madras, c. 1852. £700-1,000
    Dominic Winter, Jan. 28: Lot 28. Ross & Hooker. Notes on the Botany of the Antarctic Voyage, 1st edition, 1843. £4,000-6,000
    Dominic Winter, Jan. 28: Lot 44. Gould (John). The Birds of Great Britain, 5 volumes, 1st edition, 1862-73. £30,000-40,000
    Dominic Winter
    Books, Maps, Documents & Autographs
    Ornithology, Music, Bookplates
    28th January 2026
    Dominic Winter, Jan. 28: Lot 72. Edwards (George). A Natural History of Uncommon Birds… [and] Gleanings of Natural History, 7 volumes, 1st edition, 1743-64. £7,000-10,000
    Dominic Winter, Jan. 28: Lot 87. Walcott (Charles D. et al.). Geologic Atlas of the United States, 227-volume set, U.S. Geological Survey, 1894-1945. £500-800
    Dominic Winter, Jan. 28: Lot 236. A New Dictionary of the Terms Ancient and Modern of the Canting Crew…, By B. E. Gent., 1st edition, [1699]. £3,000-4,000
    Dominic Winter
    Books, Maps, Documents & Autographs
    Ornithology, Music, Bookplates
    28th January 2026
    Dominic Winter, Jan. 28: Lot 245. Frost Fair Broadside. Upon the Frost in the Year 1739-40, Printed on the Ice upon the Thames at Queen-Hithe, 1739/40. £1,500-2,000
    Dominic Winter, Jan. 28: Lot 270. Micheli (Antonino di). La Nuova Chitarra di Regole…, 1st edition, Palermo, 1680. £10,000-15,000
    Dominic Winter, Jan. 28: Lot 280. Elgar (Edward). Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, [1910], signed presentation copy. £500-800
    Dominic Winter
    Books, Maps, Documents & Autographs
    Ornithology, Music, Bookplates
    28th January 2026
    Dominic Winter, Jan. 28: Lot 282 - Griffes (Charles). Autograph Manuscript Score for Overture to Hänsel und Gretel, c. 1910. £2,000-3,000
    Dominic Winter, Jan. 28: Lot 304. Churchill (Winston). A terracotta maquette of Churchill by Oscar Nemon, c. 1955. £1,500-2,000
    Dominic Winter, Jan. 28: Lot 364 - Russian Imperial Archaeological Commission. Mecheti Samarkanda..., Fascicule I Gour-Emir, St. Petersburg, 1905. £2,000-3,000
  • <b><center>Sotheby’s<br>Fine Manuscript and Printed Americana<br>27 January 2026</center></b> <b>Sotheby’s, Jan. 27:</b> An extraordinary pair of books from George Washington’s field library, marking the conjunction of Robert Rogers, George Washington, and Henry Knox. $1,200,000 to $1,800,000. <b>Sotheby’s, Jan. 27:</b> An extraordinary letter marking the conjunction of George Washington, the Marquis de Lafayette, and Benjamin Franklin. $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. <b>Sotheby’s, Jan. 27:</b> Virginia House of Delegates. The genesis of the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. $350,000 to $500,000. <b><center>Sotheby’s<br>Fine Manuscript and Printed Americana<br>27 January 2026</center></b> <b>Sotheby’s, Jan. 27:</b> (Gettysburg). “Genl. Doubleday has taken charge of the battle”: Autograph witness to the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg, illustrated by fourteen maps and plans. $200,000 to $300,000. <b>Sotheby’s, Jan. 27:</b> President Lincoln thanks a schoolboy on behalf of "all the children of the nation for his efforts to ensure "that this war shall be successful, and the Union be maintained and perpetuated." $200,000 to $300,000. <b>Sotheby’s, Jan. 27:</b> [World War II]. An archive of maps and files documenting the allied campaign in Europe, from the early stages of planning for D-Day and Operation Overlord, to Germany’s surrender. $200,000 to $300,000.
    Sotheby’s
    Fine Manuscript and Printed Americana
    27 January 2026
    Sotheby’s, Jan. 27: An extraordinary pair of books from George Washington’s field library, marking the conjunction of Robert Rogers, George Washington, and Henry Knox. $1,200,000 to $1,800,000.
    Sotheby’s, Jan. 27: An extraordinary letter marking the conjunction of George Washington, the Marquis de Lafayette, and Benjamin Franklin. $1,000,000 to $1,500,000.
    Sotheby’s, Jan. 27: Virginia House of Delegates. The genesis of the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. $350,000 to $500,000.
    Sotheby’s
    Fine Manuscript and Printed Americana
    27 January 2026
    Sotheby’s, Jan. 27: (Gettysburg). “Genl. Doubleday has taken charge of the battle”: Autograph witness to the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg, illustrated by fourteen maps and plans. $200,000 to $300,000.
    Sotheby’s, Jan. 27: President Lincoln thanks a schoolboy on behalf of "all the children of the nation for his efforts to ensure "that this war shall be successful, and the Union be maintained and perpetuated." $200,000 to $300,000.
    Sotheby’s, Jan. 27: [World War II]. An archive of maps and files documenting the allied campaign in Europe, from the early stages of planning for D-Day and Operation Overlord, to Germany’s surrender. $200,000 to $300,000.
  • <center><b>Forum Auctions<br>Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper<br>29th January 2026</b></center> <b>Forum, Jan. 29:</b> Plato. [<i>Apanta ta tou Platonos. Omnia Platonis opera</i>], 2 parts in 2 vol., editio princeps of Plato's works in the original Greek, Venice, House of Aldus, 1513. £8,000-12,000 <b>Forum, Jan. 29:</b> Book of Hours, Use of Rome, In Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum, [Southern Netherlands (probably Bruges), c.1460]. £6,000-8,000 <b>Forum, Jan. 29:</b> Correspondence and documents by or addressed to the first four Viscounts Molesworth and members of their families, letters and manuscripts, 1690-1783. £10,000-15,000 <center><b>Forum Auctions<br>Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper<br>29th January 2026</b></center> <b>Forum, Jan. 29:</b> Shakespeare (William). <i>The Dramatic Works,</i> 9 vol., John and Josiah Boydell, 1802. £5,000-7,000 <b>Forum, Jan. 29:</b> Joyce (James). <i>Ulysses,</i> first edition, one of 750 copies on handmade paper, Paris, Shakespeare and Company, 1922 £8,000-12,000 <b>Forum, Jan. 29:</b> Powell (Anthony). [<i>A Dance to the Music of Time</i>], 12 vol., first editions, each with a signed presentation inscription from the author to Osbert Lancaster, 1951-75. £6,000-8,000 <center><b>Forum Auctions<br>Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper<br>29th January 2026</b></center> <b>Forum, Jan. 29:</b> Chaucer (Geoffrey). <i>Troilus and Criseyde,</i> one of 225 copies on handmade paper, wood-engravings by Eric Gill, Waltham St.Lawrence, 1927. £3,000-4,000 <b>Forum, Jan. 29:</b> Borges (Jorge Luis). <i>Luna de Enfrente,</i> first edition, one of 300 copies, presentation copy signed by the author to Leopoldo Marechal, Buenos Aires, Editorial Proa, 1925. £3,000-4,000 <b>Forum, Jan. 29:</b> Nolli (Giovanni Battista). <i>Nuova Pianta di Roma,</i> Rome, 1748. £6,000-8,000 <center><b>Forum Auctions<br>Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper<br>29th January 2026</b></center> <b>Forum, Jan. 29:</b> Roberts (David). <i>The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt, & Nubia,</i> 3 vol., first edition, 1842-49. £15,000-20,000 <b>Forum, Jan. 29:</b> Blacker (William). <i>Catechism of Fly Making, Angling and Dyeing,</i> Published by the author, 1843. £3,000-4,000 <b>Forum, Jan. 29:</b> Herschel (Sir John F. W.) Collection of 69 offprints, extracts and separate publications by Herschel, bound for his son, William James Herschel, 3 vol., [1813-50]. £15,000-20,000
    Forum Auctions
    Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    29th January 2026
    Forum, Jan. 29: Plato. [Apanta ta tou Platonos. Omnia Platonis opera], 2 parts in 2 vol., editio princeps of Plato's works in the original Greek, Venice, House of Aldus, 1513. £8,000-12,000
    Forum, Jan. 29: Book of Hours, Use of Rome, In Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum, [Southern Netherlands (probably Bruges), c.1460]. £6,000-8,000
    Forum, Jan. 29: Correspondence and documents by or addressed to the first four Viscounts Molesworth and members of their families, letters and manuscripts, 1690-1783. £10,000-15,000
    Forum Auctions
    Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    29th January 2026
    Forum, Jan. 29: Shakespeare (William). The Dramatic Works, 9 vol., John and Josiah Boydell, 1802. £5,000-7,000
    Forum, Jan. 29: Joyce (James). Ulysses, first edition, one of 750 copies on handmade paper, Paris, Shakespeare and Company, 1922 £8,000-12,000
    Forum, Jan. 29: Powell (Anthony). [A Dance to the Music of Time], 12 vol., first editions, each with a signed presentation inscription from the author to Osbert Lancaster, 1951-75. £6,000-8,000
    Forum Auctions
    Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    29th January 2026
    Forum, Jan. 29: Chaucer (Geoffrey). Troilus and Criseyde, one of 225 copies on handmade paper, wood-engravings by Eric Gill, Waltham St.Lawrence, 1927. £3,000-4,000
    Forum, Jan. 29: Borges (Jorge Luis). Luna de Enfrente, first edition, one of 300 copies, presentation copy signed by the author to Leopoldo Marechal, Buenos Aires, Editorial Proa, 1925. £3,000-4,000
    Forum, Jan. 29: Nolli (Giovanni Battista). Nuova Pianta di Roma, Rome, 1748. £6,000-8,000
    Forum Auctions
    Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    29th January 2026
    Forum, Jan. 29: Roberts (David). The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt, & Nubia, 3 vol., first edition, 1842-49. £15,000-20,000
    Forum, Jan. 29: Blacker (William). Catechism of Fly Making, Angling and Dyeing, Published by the author, 1843. £3,000-4,000
    Forum, Jan. 29: Herschel (Sir John F. W.) Collection of 69 offprints, extracts and separate publications by Herschel, bound for his son, William James Herschel, 3 vol., [1813-50]. £15,000-20,000