Bloomsbury, the English auction house that specializes in works on paper, has announced it's opening in New York in September. It will be located at 6 West 48th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues near Rockefeller Center. They come into New York with a clear plan and strategy. They intend, in time, to offer 20 sales a year in three distinct price ranges: entry level or bibliophile and priced from $100 to $300 and up, serious books in the middle range of valuation, and exceptional material of high value. Bloomsbury's London location, by lot volume, is the leading auction house in the category today and New York their third location. They opened in Rome this past year.
According to Bloomsbury's chairman Tommaso Zanzotto and AE's own tracking of all documented book, manuscript and ephemera lots sold via traditional auction, Bloomsbury had the single busiest auction site, by lot volume, in 2006. In that year it offered 17,044 lots up from 14,839 in 2005 and 11,788 in 2004. Christies, in four locations, offered 19,284 lots in 2006 and Sotheby's, in five locations, 10,758. Swann Galleries dominated, by lot volume, the New York auction market, offering 11,788 lots in 2006. Sotheby's and Christies have long dominated book auctions at the high end but have continued to increase minimum consignment value thus opening the market to enterprising specialists.
Bonhams entered the New York market in 2005 adding to its array of European and American rooms. Now Bloomsbury's entry brings to four the number of English houses competing in New York. Swann is the only exclusively American entry in a five horse race.
Mr. Zanzotto describes the New York location as supported by individuals of exceptional talent. Rupert Powell, Managing Director, is based in England while in New York, Tom Lamb, who served in several executive capacities at Christies, is Resident Manager. Richard Austin, who worked both at Butterfield's and Christie's, will manage bibliophile and literature sales. Jeremy Markowitz, who will manage manuscripts and Americana, and Richard Austin are the first of several specialists to be named. Stephen Massey has been retained as senior consultant. "To do this business we must have the confidence and trust of our clients." This level of hiring suggests they mean it.
The firm is currently redesigning its literature and has reaffirmed its commitment to the printed catalogue even as it expands its electronic presence. "We intend for our presentations to be clear, illuminating and insightful - understandable and accessible to all, be they the newest collector or the most experienced dealer."
The schedule of events for the fall is taking shape. An inaugural sale of Important Printed Books and Manuscripts on September 26th begins the season, to be followed closely by a series of specialist book sales including Americana, English Literature, Travel and Colour Plate Books, Illustrated and Children's Books. By the end of December the firm hopes to have conducted 4 and perhaps 5 fall sales. A prints and photographs department will open in 2008.
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: APRES DE MANNEVILLETTE Le Neptune Oriental
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: CASSAS Eaux fortes de la Sicile et quelques vues d’Espagne
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: CASSINI DE THURY Carte générale et particulière de la France.
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: JOUY; GARNERAY Vues des côtes de France dans l'Océan et dans la Méditerranée
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: LA PÉROUSE Voyage autour du monde
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: LE GENTIL DE LA GALAISIERE Voyage dans les Mers de l’Inde
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: LICENT Hoang Ho, Pai Ho, Loan Ho, Leao Ho. Itinéraires suivis dans le bassin du golfe du Pei Tcheuly
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: FRENCH SCHOOL FROM THE 19th CENTURY Panorama d’Athènes
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: PEETERS Description des principales villes, havres et isles du golfe de Venise
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: PÉRON; FREYCINET Voyage de découverte aux terres australes
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: STACKELBERG La Grèce : vues pittoresques et topographiques.
Gros & Delettrez, 7 November: VALENTINER Atlas des Sonnensystems.
Forum Auctions Online Sale: The Detective Fiction Collection of John Cooper Ending 7th November, 2024
Forum, Nov. 7: Christie (Agatha). The Thirteen Problems, first edition, The Crime Club, 1932. £15,000 to £20,000.
Forum, Nov. 7: Christie (Agatha). Dumb Witness, first edition, 1937. £3,000 to £4,000.
Forum, Nov. 7: Christie (Agatha). Cards on the Table, first edition, The Crime Club, 1936. £2,000 to £3,000.
Forum, Nov. 7: [Carr (John Dickson)], "Carter Dickson" and John Rhode. Drop to his Death, first edition, Heinemann, [1939]. £600 to £800.
Forum, Nov. 7: Berkeley (Anthony). Jumping Jenny, first edition, Hodder and Stoughton, 1933. £800 to £1,200.
Forum Auctions Online Sale: The Detective Fiction Collection of John Cooper Ending 7th November, 2024
Forum, Nov. 7: Marsh (Ngaio). Overture to Death, first edition, The Crime Club, 1939. £600 to £800.
Forum, Nov. 7: [Day-Lewis (Cecil)] "Nicholas Blake". The Beast Must Die, first edition, 1938. £750 to £1,000.
Forum, Nov. 7: Brand (Christianna). Green for Danger, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author, John Lane the Bodley Head, 1945. £600 to £800.
Forum, Nov. 7: Christie (Agatha). Murder is Easy, first edition, signed by the author, 1939. £3,000 to £4,000.
Forum, Nov. 7: Sayers (Dorothy L.) Lord Peter Views the Body, first edition, Gollancz, 1928. £6,000 to £8,000.
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RareBookBuyer.com We Buy Librairies & Rare Books Nationwide ABAA Dealer
RareBookBuyer.com Specialized in Purchasing Institutional Collections & Deacccessioned Books
RareBookBuyer.com We Buy Librairies & Rare Books Nationwide ABAA Dealer
RareBookBuyer.com Specialized in Purchasing Institutional Collections & Deacccessioned Books
RareBookBuyer.com We Buy Librairies & Rare Books Nationwide ABAA Dealer
RareBookBuyer.com Specialized in Purchasing Institutional Collections & Deacccessioned Books
RareBookBuyer.com We Buy Librairies & Rare Books Nationwide ABAA Dealer
Sotheby's Fine Books, Manuscripts & More Available for Immediate Purchase
Sotheby’s: J.R.R. Tolkien. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. 11,135 USD
Sotheby’s: Edgar Allan Poe. The Raven and Other Poems, 1845. 33,000 USD
Sotheby’s: Leo Tolstoy, Clara Bow. War and Peace, 1886. 22,500 USD
Sotheby’s: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, 1902. 7,500 USD
Sotheby’s: F. Scott Fitzgerald. This Side of Paradise, The Great Gatsby, and Others, 1920-1941. 24,180 USD
Freeman’s | Hindman Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts, Including Americana November 14
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: LEROUX, Gaston. The Phantom of the Opera. FIRST AM. ED, FIRST ISSUE IN THE VERY RARE DUST JACKET. 1911. $6,000 – 8,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: GOULD, John. A Monograph of the Trochilidae...Humming-Birds. L., [1849-] 1861. $60,000 – 80,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: A COMPLETE RUN of Limited Editions Club publications, v.p. [mostly New York], 1929-2010. $50,000 – 60,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: ORWELL, George. Nineteen Eighty-Four. Lon., 1949. FIRST EDITION IN A VERY FINE DUST JACKET. $6,000 – 8,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: GOULD. A Monograph of the Ramphastidae...Toucans. L., [1852-] 54. SECOND ED. $35,000 – 45,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14:The Federalist. NY, 1788. FIRST EDITION, THICK PAPER COPY. $60,000 – 80,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: SELBY. Plates to Selby’s Illustrations of British Ornithology. Edin., [1833-] 34. $20,000 – 30,000.