Antiquarian Auctions of South Africa is coming to America in December.
By Michael Stillman
Antiquarian Auctions, the South African based online rare book auction house, announced that they will begin running auctions based in the United States in December. The American auctions will be hosted by ABAA Laguna Beach, California, bookseller Barnaby Rudge. Online auctions will be run approximately once every six weeks.
Antiquarian Auctions will be importing the formula they have employed for around 75 online auctions in South Africa, though the material, mostly African in those auctions, will undoubtedly be very different. The auction firm's strategy is to provide a dedicated venue for booksellers to sell their books, while presenting book buyers with a level of comfort not always available with internet auctions such as eBay. First off, their auctions are dedicated solely to books and related material. The books won't get lost among the millions of other items regularly listed on eBay. The second major feature of Antiquarian Auctions is that only books offered by recognized booksellers will be offered. This is how they can provide a level of comfort to buyers not easily obtained in the bazaar that is eBay. Sellers will have to either be a member of a major book organization such as the ABAA or be otherwise known to Antiquarian Auctions as a reputable dealer.
Booksellers will be able to upload the books they wish to auction during the period between auctions. Bidding will start being accepted one week before the auction's close. Closing will be at 9:00 a.m. on Thursdays. The first auction has been scheduled for December 9 so listings should be accepted shortly if they are not already.
Dealers are charged $1.50 per listing plus 8% of the sales price on successful sales. There is no buyer's premium charged or other fees. Listing fees will be waived for the first auction so there is no risk for dealers to try it out. Reserves may be placed on books with the minimum reserve allowed being $20. Winning bidders and sellers are notified by email and are connected directly to each other to complete the sale. It offers sellers the added advantage of making contact with their customers and possibly building a long-term relationship.
You may also contact Ed Postal of Barnaby Rudge Booksellers for further information. Contact information is provided on their website: www.barnabyrudge.com.
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. 12: Hooke, Robert. Micrographia: or some Physiological Descriptions of Minute Bodies made by Magnifying Glasses. London: James Allestry for the Royal Society, 1667. $12,000 to $15,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Chappuzeau, Samuel. The history of jewels, first edition in English. London: T.N. for Hobart Kemp, 1671. $12,000 to $18,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Sowerby, James. Exotic Mineralogy, containing his most realistic mineral depictions, London: Benjamin Meredith, 1811, Arding and Merrett, 1817. $5,000 to $7,000.
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: 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…
![<b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> John Donne. <i>Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death.</i> London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/8caddaea-4c1f-47a7-9455-62f53af36e3f.jpg "<b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> John Donne. <i>Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death.</i> London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.")
