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Christies: The Mary and Cheney Cowles Collection of Indian Painting and Calligraphy
Auction Reports
| Auction Name | The Mary and Cheney Cowles Collection of Indian Painting and Calligraphy | Total Sales (USD) | 5,185,918.00 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auction Date | April 28, 2026 - April 28, 2026 | Low Estimate of Lots Sold (USD) | 1,263,200.00 |
| Sale Number | #24425 | High Estimate of Lots Sold (USD) | 1,873,600.00 |
| Total Lots | 78 | ||
| Sold Lots | 78.0 | Low Estimate of All Lots (USD) | 1,263,200.00 |
| % of Lots Sold | 100.00% | High Estimate of All Lots (USD) | 1,873,600.00 |
| Unsold Lots | 0 | Total Sales as a % of High Est. | 276.79% |
Top twenty-five by sale price
| Lot Number | Author Name | Book Title | Year Published | Estimate | Actual Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52 | THE PAINTING ASCRIBED TO MANOHAR, MUGHAL INDIA, EARLY 17TH CENTURY; THE CALLIGRAPHY SIGNED 'ABDULLAH AL-HUSAYNI, MUGHAL INDIA, DATED AH 1017 / 1608-9 AD | A Courtier Holding A Book |
1608-9 | USD 80,000.00 - 120,000.00 | USD 571,500.00 |
| 29 | THE DRAWING SIGNED ASA, MUGHAL INDIA, CIRCA 1590; THE CALLIGRAPHY SIGNED MUHAMMAD HUSAYN KASHMIRI, MUGHAL INDIA, CIRCA 1590 | Demons Banqueting In A Fantastic Landscape |
c. 1590 | USD 50,000.00 - 70,000.00 | USD 444,500.00 |
| 47 | POSSIBLY BY HASHIM, MUGHAL INDIA, CIRCA 1640 | Man With A Matchlock |
c. 1640 | USD 40,000.00 - 60,000.00 | USD 304,800.00 |
| 82 | HARYANA, CIRCA 1816 | Ascetics Encamped Outside A Walled Town |
c. 1816 | Not Available | USD 304,800.00 |
| 41 | GOLCONDA, DECCAN, INDIA, CIRCA 1660 | Abdullah Qutb Shah (D.1672) |
c. 1660 | USD 50,000.00 - 70,000.00 | USD 292,100.00 |
| 15 | MUGHAL INDIA, CIRCA 1600 | The Angel Raphael Greeting Tobias |
c. 1600 | USD 30,000.00 - 50,000.00 | USD 254,000.00 |
| 53 | THE PAINTING ASCRIBED TO BISHAN DAS, THE MARGINS ATTRIBUTABLE TO INAYAT, MUGHAL INDIA, CIRCA 1620; THE CALLIGRAPHY, MUGHAL INDIA, EARLY 17TH CENTURY | The Emperor Jahangir (D.1627) With A Falcon |
c. 1620 | USD 120,000.00 - 180,000.00 | USD 254,000.00 |
| 60 | MUGHAL INDIA, DATED 8 RABI' I AH 1051⁄17 JUNE 1641 AD AND 8 RABI' I AH 1052 / 6 JUNE 1642 AD | A Firman Of The Emperor Shah Jahan (D.1666) |
1641; 1642 | USD 20,000.00 - 30,000.00 | USD 190,500.00 |
| 14 | MUGHAL INDIA, 1600 | The Virgin Mary Standing In Prayer |
1600 | USD 30,000.00 - 50,000.00 | USD 152,400.00 |
| 17 | MUGHAL INDIA, CIRCA 1610 | A Woman On A Stone Bench |
c. 1610 | USD 20,000.00 - 30,000.00 | USD 139,700.00 |
| 24 | THE PAINTING MUGHAL INDIA, CIRCA 1590; THE CALLIGRAPHY SIGNED MIR 'ALI, FIRST HALF 16TH CENTURY | Layla Visits Majnun In The Desert |
c. 1590; first half 16th century | USD 60,000.00 - 80,000.00 | USD 139,700.00 |
| 71 | MUGHAL INDIA, SECOND HALF 17TH CENTURY | Princes, Ladies And Courtiers In A Camp |
second half 17th century | USD 10,000.00 - 15,000.00 | USD 139,700.00 |
| 74 | MUGHAL INDIA, DATED 1 JUMADA I AH 1201 / 19 FEBRUARY 1787 AD | An Illuminated Firman Of Shah Alam Ii (D.1806) |
1787 | USD 20,000.00 - 30,000.00 | USD 139,700.00 |
| 84 | DELHI, INDIA, CIRCA 1830 | William Fraser'S Dinner Party |
c. 1830 | USD 20,000.00 - 30,000.00 | USD 139,700.00 |
| 38 | ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAHIM DECCANI, GOLCONDA, DECCAN, INDIA, CIRCA 1660-80 | A Lady In A Garden |
c. 1660-80 | USD 20,000.00 - 30,000.00 | USD 114,300.00 |
| 70 | ATTRIBUTABLE TO MUHAMMAD AFZAL, MUGHAL INDIA, CIRCA 1740 | A Visit To A Yogini At Night |
c. 1740 | USD 25,000.00 - 35,000.00 | USD 114,300.00 |
| 10 | MUGHAL INDIA, CIRCA 1590 | The Emperor Akbar Subdues A Cobra |
c. 1590 | USD 40,000.00 - 60,000.00 | USD 107,950.00 |
| 25 | MUGHAL INDIA, CIRCA 1600 | A Seated Prince In A Pavilion |
c. 1600 | USD 40,000.00 - 60,000.00 | USD 101,600.00 |
| 57 | PAINTING ASCRIBED TO BISHAN DAS, MUGHAL INDIA, CIRCA 1620; THE MARGINS MUGHAL INDIA, CIRCA 1630-40 | Rao Bharah And Jassa Jam |
c. 1620 | USD 50,000.00 - 70,000.00 | USD 95,250.00 |
| 11 | BY KANHAR, MUGHAL INDIA, 1595-1600 | Qaracha Khan Is Brought Before Humayun |
1595-1600 | USD 30,000.00 - 50,000.00 | USD 76,200.00 |
| 33 | GOLCONDA OR BIJAPUR, DECCAN, INDIA, CIRCA 1600 | Two Illuminated Folios |
c. 1600 | USD 30,000.00 - 40,000.00 | USD 76,200.00 |
| 65 | PAINTING PROVINCIAL MUGHAL, INDIA, FIRST HALF 18TH CENTURY; CALLIGRAPHY, INDIA, 18TH CENTURY | Ladies Celebrating With Fireworks |
first half 18th century; 18th century | USD 7,000.00 - 10,000.00 | USD 63,500.00 |
| 83 | BY A FOLLOWER OF GHULAM ALI KHAN, MUGHAL DELHI, INDIA, DATED AH 1268 / 1851-2 AD | Ghulam Nasir Al-Din, Known As 'Kale Miyan', And Two Attendants |
1851-2 | USD 30,000.00 - 50,000.00 | USD 63,500.00 |
| 69 | MUGHAL INDIA, CIRCA 1700 | A Prince With Yoginis |
c. 1700 | Not Available | USD 48,260.00 |
| 16 | ASCRIBED TO LA'L, MUGHAL INDIA, CIRCA 1605 | The Virgin And Child |
c. 1605 | USD 40,000.00 - 60,000.00 | USD 44,450.00 |
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Sotheby’s
Shelf Life: Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper from the Library of Stanley J. Seeger and Christopher Cone
25 June – July 7Sotheby’s, July 7: Ludwig van Beethoven. Autograph sketches for the overture "Die Weihe des Hauses", op.124, [1822], UNPUBLISHED. £150,000 to £200,000.Sotheby’s, July 7: Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice, 1813, first edition, 3 volumes, contemporary half calf. £50,000 to £70,000.Sotheby’s, July 7: Walt Whitman. Leaves of Grass, Brooklyn, 1855, first edition, first issue, original green cloth, the Doheny copy. £50,000 to £70,000.Sotheby’s, July 7: Binding—Sangorski & Sutcliffe—Omar Khayyam. Rubaiyat, London, 1872, third edition, in a magnificent jewelled Peacock binding. £15,000 to £20,000.Sotheby’s, July 7: George Eliot. Middlemarch, Edinburgh and London, 1871, first edition in the original parts. £20,000 to £30,000. -
Forum Auctions
The Private Library:
Fine Printing & Private Press books, the collection of the late David Chambers
July 9, 2026Forum, July 9: Hassall (Joan) A large collection of over 300 original woodblocks of engravings for various books, v.d., with Hassall's engraver's glass water-globe (Qty) - Est. £10,000-15,000Forum, July 9: Eragny Press.- [Bradley (Katherine Harris) & Edith Emma Cooper], "Michael Field." Whym Chow, Flame of Love, one of only 27 copies, inscribed by Bradley, the rarest book from the press, 1914. - Est. £3,000-4,000Forum, July 9: [Moore (Thomas Sturge)] [Wood Engravings], 71 wood-engravings printed by David Chambers from the original blocks, the only set on Japanese Hosho paper, from an edition of 5 sets, [1970]. - Est. £3,000-4,000Forum Auctions
The Private Library:
Fine Printing & Private Press books, the collection of the late David Chambers
July 9, 2026Forum, July 9: La Fontaine (Jean de) Contes et Nouvelles en vers, 2 vol., engraved plates after Eisen, fine early 19th century blue morocco, gilt, by Bradel l'ainé, Amsterdam [Paris], 1762. - Est. £2,000-3,000Forum, July 9: Erotica.- Prostitution.- Pretty Women of Paris (The); Their Names and Addresses, Qualities and Faults..., [Paris], privately printed at the Press of the Prefecture de Police, 1883. - Est. £3,000-4,000Forum, July 9: Vale Press.- Ricketts (Charles) & Lucien Pissarro. De la Typographie et de l'Harmonie de la Page Imprimée…, [one of 216 copies], bound in dark blue morocco tooled in gilt, by Sarah T.Prideaux, 1898. - Est. £1,000-1,500Forum Auctions
The Private Library:
Fine Printing & Private Press books, the collection of the late David Chambers
July 9, 2026Forum, July 9: Martin (John) Illustrations of the Bible, complete set of 20 mezzotints, good impressions, rarely found in early states, [c.1831-1835]. - Est. £1,000-1,500Forum, July 9: Golden Cockerel Press.- Four Gospels of the Lord Jesus Christ (The), one of 500 copies, Mary Gill's copy, Waltham St. Lawrence, 1931 with a signed proof of engraving on japon numbered 10/10 (2) - Est. £5,000-7,000Forum, July 9: Boccaccio (Giovanni) The Decameron, 3 vol., vol.1 extra-illustrated by John Buckland Wright with c.150 erotic original drawings in pen & ink and pencil, 1886 [extra-illustrated c.1940]. - Est. £10,000-15,000Forum Auctions
The Private Library:
Fine Printing & Private Press books, the collection of the late David Chambers
July 9, 2026Forum, July 9: Cox (Morris) Collection of Gogmagog Press Books, 35 vol., rare complete collection of printed books issued by the press, limited editions, most signed by Cox, 1957-83. - Est. £10,000-15,000Forum, July 9: Wynkyn de Worde.- [Terentius Afer (Publius)] [Comedie...], [Paris, Josse Badius: sold in London by Wynkyn de Worde, & others], [15 July 1504]. - Est. £4,000-6,000Forum, July 9: Mosley (James) Ornamented Types. Twenty-Three Alphabets from the Foundry of Louis John Pouchée, 2 vol., one of 10 copies for presentation, from an edition of 210, 1992-93. - Est. £1,000-2,000 -
Forum Auctions
The 10th Anniversary Sale
Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
July 16, 2026Forum, July 16: Inundation papyrus. P.Michael 4, the ‘Inundation papyrus’, a geographical account of the Nile near Canopus, in Greek, remains of two columns from a manuscript scroll on papyrus, Egypt, second century CE. £12,000-18,000Forum, July 16: Book of Hours, use of Sarum, manuscript on vellum, 6 full-page miniatures, with famous Middle English inscriptions, Southern Netherlands for the English market, [c.1430]. £30,000-50,000Forum, July 16: Qu'ran, Arabic manuscript on burnished, stencilled, and gold-flecked paper, 447ff., Sultanate Gujarat, Ahmadabad, [after 1411 but no later than 1442]. £15,000-20,000Forum Auctions
The 10th Anniversary Sale
Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
July 16, 2026Forum, July 16: Turner (William). A New boke of the natures and properties of all wines that are commonly vsed here in England, rare first edition of the first English book on wine, By William Seres, 1568. £20,000-£30,000Forum, July 16: Spenser (Edmund). The Faerie Queene. first edition, Printed [by John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, 1590. £30,000-40,000Forum, July 16: Shakespeare (William). The Comedie of Errors, extracted from the first folio, Isaac Jaggard and Edward Blount, 1623. £15,000-20,000Forum Auctions
The 10th Anniversary Sale
Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
July 16, 2026Forum, July 16: Fleming (Ian). Casino Royale, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author, 1953. £40,000-60,000Forum, July 16: d'Agoty (Jacques-Fabien Gautier). Anatomie de la Tête, first edition, Paris, chez le Sieur Gautier, 1748. £10,000-15,000Forum, July 16: Martial Arts.- Lee (Bruce). 'Praying Mantis style' Kung Fu book, containing numerous annotations, diagrams and graphs in Bruce Lee's hand, c. 1960. £50,000-70,000Forum Auctions
The 10th Anniversary Sale
Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
July 16, 2026Forum, July 16: Warre (Capt. Henry James). Sketches in North America and the Oregon Territory, first edition, rare hand-coloured issue, 1848. £30,000-40,000Forum, July 16: Norie (John William). The Marine Atlas, or Seaman's Complete Pilot for all the principal places in the known world..., 1826. £30,000-50,000Forum, July 16: Mao Tse-tung.- Kim Il-sung.-[Note book for visitors from China to Korea], signed by Mao and Kim, [Beijing, 1954]. £10,000-15,000