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.
Sotheby’s Books, Manuscripts and Music from Medieval to Modern Now through July 10, 2025
Sotheby’s Books, Manuscripts and Music from Medieval to Modern Now through July 10, 2025
Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: Book of Hours by the Masters of Otto van Moerdrecht, Use of Sarum, in Latin, Southern Netherlands (Bruges), c.1450. £20,000 to £30,000.
Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: Albert Einstein. Autograph letter signed, to Attilio Palatino, on his research into General Relativity, 12 May 1929. £12,000 to £18,000.
Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: John Gould. The Birds of Europe, [1832-] 1837, 5 volumes, contemporary half morocco, subscriber’s copy. £40,000 to £60,000.
Sotheby’s Books, Manuscripts and Music from Medieval to Modern Now through July 10, 2025
Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: Ian Fleming. A collection of James Bond first editions, 8 volumes in all. £8,000 to £12,000.
Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 1997, first edition, hardback issue. £50,000 to £70,000.
Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: J.R.R. Tolkien. Autograph letter signed, to Amy Ronald, on Pauline Baynes's map of Middle Earth, 1970. £7,000 to £10,000.
DOYLE, July 23: STOKES, I. N. PHELPS. The Iconography of Manhattan Island, 1498-1909. New York: Robert H. Dodd, 1915-28. Estimate: $3,000-5,000
DOYLE, July 23: [AUTOGRAPH - US PRESIDENT]FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT. A signed photograph of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Estimate $500-800
DOYLE, July 23: [ARION PRESS]. ABBOTT, EDWIN A. Flatland. A Romance of Many Dimensions. San Francisco, 1980. Estimate $2,000-3,000.
DOYLE, July 23: TOLSTOY, LYOF N. and NATHAN HASKELL DOLE, translator. Anna Karénina ... in eight parts. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell & Co., [1886]. Estimate: $400-600
DOYLE, July 23: ROWLING, J.K. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. London: Bloomsbury, 2000. Estimate $1,200-1,800
Freeman’s | Hindman Western Manuscripts and Miniatures July 8, 2025
Freeman’s | Hindman Western Manuscripts and Miniatures July 8, 2025
Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. FRANCESCO PETRARCH (b. Arezzo, 20 July 1304; d. Arqua Petrarca, 19 July 1374). $20,000-30,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. CIRCLE OF THE MASTER OF THE VITAE IMPERATORUM (active Milan, 1431-1459). $15,000-20,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. CIRCLE OF ATTAVANTE DEGLI ATTAVANTI (GABRIELLO DI VANTE) (active Florence, c. 1452-c. 1520/25). $15,000-20,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. FOLLOWER OF HERMAN SCHEERE (active London, c. 1405-1425). $15,000-20,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. An exceptionally rare, illuminated music leaf from a Mozarabic Antiphonal with sister leaves mostly in museum collections. $11,500-14,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. Exceptional leaf from a prestigious Antiphonary by a leading illuminator of the late Duecento. $11,500-14,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. CIRCLE OF THE MASTER OF MS REID 33 and SELWERD ABBEY SCRIPTORIUM (AGNES MARTINI?) (active The Netherlands, Groningen, c. 1468-1510). $10,000-15,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. Previously unknown illumination from one of the most renowned Gothic Choir Book sets of the Middle Ages. $6,000-8,000.