Auction Update Review

Rare Book Hub: 41 Auctions Archived, another 50 Upcoming this Week

For the week ended 5 May 2023, 41 auctions were archived to Rare Book Hub’s Transactions+ database; 10 denominated in euros, 3 in British pounds, 1 in Mexican pesos, and 27 in US dollars.

 

Turnover this past week was $22,698,722.26 as 89.96% of all lots changed hands.  There were 8,121 offered and 7,306 transacted.  The average lot sold for a robust $3,106.86.

 

 6 auctions saw their total proceeds reach a million dollars:


SothebysPier 24 Photography from the Pilara Family Foundation Sold to Benefit Charitable Organizations Eveni on May 1st: $7,106,920
SothebysPier 24 Photography from the Pilara Family Foundation Sold to Benefit Charitable Organizations Day S on May 2nd: $3,513,074
Heritage AuctionsMovie Posters Signature Auction on April 30th: $1,943,247
Kedem Auctions Ltd.Part 2: Rare and Important Manuscripts and Items of the Gross Family Collection on May 2nd: $1,544,500
Swann GalleriesEarly Printed Books on May 4th: $1,320,469
FreemansBooks and Manuscripts on May 3rd: $1,026,328

 

11 auctions saw total sales exceed 100% of the high estimates of all lots offered:

Catawiki B. V.Old and Rare Books Auction (pre-1700) - bidstart 4/14 on April 26th: 255.46%
FreemansBooks and Manuscripts on May 3rd: 167.78%
Catawiki B. V.Old and Rare Books Auction (pre-1600) - bidstart 4/14 on April 25th: 155.18%
Robert Siegel GalleriesThe Yellowstone Collection of 1847 Issue Covers on May 3rd: 141.06%
Swann GalleriesEarly Printed Books on May 4th: 137.72%
SothebysPier 24 Photography from the Pilara Family Foundation Sold to Benefit Charitable Organizations Day S on May 2nd: 116.75%
SothebysPier 24 Photography from the Pilara Family Foundation Sold to Benefit Charitable Organizations Eveni on May 1st: 116.28%
Doyle New YorkAmerican Paintings and Prints on May 3rd: 114.83%
Catawiki B. V.Old and Rare Books Auction (pre-1700) - bidstart 4/14 on April 24th: 112.19%
Heritage AuctionsTuesday US Currency Select Auction - bidstart 4/25 on May 2nd: 104.42%
BonhamsFine Books and Manuscripts on May 3rd: 102.47%


26 sales saw at least 80% of their lots sell:

Addison and SarovaOnline Only Bookworm Auction on April 30th: 100.00%
Heritage AuctionsSunday Sports Collectibles Select Auction - bidstart 4/16 on April 30th: 100.00%
Heritage AuctionsThe MLJ Heroes Showcase Auction on May 4th: 100.00%
Heritage AuctionsTuesday World Paper Money Select Auction - bidstart 4/25 on May 2nd: 100.00%
Heritage AuctionsWednesday Trading Card Games Select Auction - bidstart 4/26 on May 3rd: 100.00%
Robert Siegel GalleriesThe Yellowstone Collection of 1847 Issue Covers on May 3rd: 100.00%
Heritage AuctionsSunday & Monday Comic Books Select Auction - bidstart 4/23 on May 1st: 99.83%
Heritage AuctionsWednesday Comic Art and Animation Select Auction - bidstart 4/26 on May 3rd: 99.64%
Heritage AuctionsTuesday US Currency Select Auction - bidstart 4/25 on May 2nd: 99.21%
Schilb AntiquarianRare Books with NO Reserve, NO Buyer's Premium on April 30th: 98.10%
Addison and SarovaRare Books, Manuscripts and Ephemera on April 29th: 96.15%
Heritage AuctionsMovie Posters Signature Auction on April 30th: 94.92%
SothebysPier 24 Photography from the Pilara Family Foundation Sold to Benefit Charitable Organizations Eveni on May 1st: 94.64%
Kedem Auctions Ltd.Rare and Important Items on May 2nd: 94.44%
SothebysPier 24 Photography from the Pilara Family Foundation Sold to Benefit Charitable Organizations Day S on May 2nd: 93.94%
Ripley AuctionsSpring Great Estates Art and Antiques Auction on April 30th: 93.62%
Swann GalleriesEarly Printed Books on May 4th: 92.86%
Catawiki B. V.Old and Rare Books Auction (pre-1700) - bidstart 4/14 on April 26th: 92.86%
Doyle New YorkAmerican Paintings and Prints on May 3rd: 91.30%
FreemansBooks and Manuscripts on May 3rd: 90.59%
Kedem Auctions Ltd.Part 2: Rare and Important Manuscripts and Items of the Gross Family Collection on May 2nd: 90.54%
Catawiki B. V.Old and Rare Books Auction (pre-1600) - bidstart 4/14 on April 25th: 88.24%
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare BooksFine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper - bidstart 4/22 on April 29th: 88.00%
Catawiki B. V.Old and Rare Books Auction (pre-1700) - bidstart 4/14 on April 24th: 87.18%
Tessier & Sarrou and AssociatesComic Albums and Originals on April 1st: 83.90%
Early AmericanHistory Auction at Early American on May 4th: 80.62%

Top 25 Lots Reported This Past Week.
  1. Sothebys 'Charleston S. C.' on May 1st Actual price: USD $952,500.
  2. Sothebys The Little Screens on May 1st Actual price: USD $609,600.
  3. Sothebys Migrant Mother, Nipomo, California on May 1st Actual price: USD $609,600.
  4. Sothebys The Music Lesson on May 1st Actual price: USD $508,000.
  5. Sothebys Clarence Lippard, Drifter, Interstate 80, Sparks, Nevada, 29 August 1983 on May 2nd Actual price: USD $444,500.
  6. Sothebys Juan Patricio Lobato, Carney, Rocky Ford, Colorado, August 23, 1980 on May 1st Actual price: USD $444,500.
  7. Freemans The Transactions of the Royal Humane Society... on May 3rd Actual price: USD $441,000.
  8. Sothebys Charlene Van Tighem, Physical Therapist, Augusta, Montana, June 26, 1983 on May 2nd Actual price: USD $355,600.
  9. Sothebys Selected Images from Eden, Colorado on May 1st Actual price: USD $330,200.
  10. Sothebys The Brown Sisters on May 1st Actual price: USD $330,200.
  11. Heritage Auctions Frankenstein (Universal, 1931). Folded, Very Fine/Near Mint. One Sheet (27" X 41") Style A. on April 30th Actual price: USD $312,000.
  12. Sothebys Andy Warhol, Artist, New York City, August 20, 1969 on May 1st Actual price: USD $279,400.
  13. Sothebys The Beatles, London, England, August 11, 1967 (Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, John Lennon, and George Harrison) on May 1st Actual price: USD $273,050.
  14. Sothebys Roger Tims, Jim Duncan, Leonard Markley, Don Belak, Coal Miners, Reliance, Wyoming, August 20, 1979 on May 1st Actual price: USD $254,000.
  15. Sothebys The Family on May 1st Actual price: USD $241,300.
  16. Sothebys 'Colorado Springs' on May 1st Actual price: USD $215,900.
  17. Swann Galleries King Lear; Othello; [and] Anthony & Cleopatra; Extracted from the First Folio. on May 4th Actual price: USD $180,000.
  18. Sothebys Bob Dylan, Singer, New York, New York, February 10, 1965 on May 2nd Actual price: USD $165,100.
  19. Sothebys Queen Elizabeth I—Sir Gilbert Dethick | 9 illustrated heraldic manuscripts presented to the Queen, 1568-80 on May 4th Actual price: USD $159,824.
  20. Sothebys Francis Bacon, Painter, Paris, France, April 11, 1979 on May 2nd Actual price: USD $152,400.
  21. Kedem Auctions Ltd. Had Gadya, getseykhent un litografiert Eliezer Lissitzky [One Little Goat (or: The Only Kid), drawn and lithographed by Eliezer Lissitzky]. on May 2nd Actual price: USD $150,000.
  22. Kedem Auctions Ltd. Remarkable, rare manuscript – encyclopedic compendium of practical kabbalah of tremendous scope: remedies, segulot, protections, amulets, hashbaot and goralot; on May 2nd Actual price: USD $150,000.
  23. Sothebys Ditched, Stalled and Stranded, San Joaquin Valley, California on May 2nd Actual price: USD $114,300.
  24. Kedem Auctions Ltd. Parchment manuscript, siddur following the Ashkenazi rite. on May 2nd Actual price: USD $106,250.
  25. Sothebys Selected Images of Prague on May 2nd Actual price: USD $101,600.

 


41 total sales reported this week:

Swann Galleries. Early Printed Books on May 4th: 92.86%
Sothebys. The Coronation Sale on May 4th: 70.00%
PBA Galleries. Fine Literature - with Beats, and the Counterculture on May 4th: 74.77%
Nye & Company Auctioneers. Discovery in the Backyard - Online only sale on May 4th: 55.56%
Early American. History Auction at Early American on May 4th: 80.62%
Chiswick Auctions. Happy and Glorious: God Save the King on May 4th: 67.95%
Bonhams. Fine Books and Manuscripts - bidstart 4/24 on May 4th: 76.34%
Heritage Auctions. The MLJ Heroes Showcase Auction on May 4th: 100.00%
Trafford Books. Books, Ephemera, Autographs, Photographs, Postcards, Cigarette Cards, Stamps and Postal History. on May 3rd: 70.00%
Robert Siegel Galleries. The Yellowstone Collection of 1847 Issue Covers on May 3rd: 100.00%
Freemans. Books and Manuscripts on May 3rd: 90.59%
Doyle New York. American Paintings and Prints on May 3rd: 91.30%
Bonhams. Fine Books and Manuscripts on May 3rd: 77.35%
Sothebys. Pier 24 Photography from the Pilara Family Foundation Sold to Benefit Charitable Organizations Day S on May 2nd: 93.94%
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. Photographs on May 2nd: 62.82%
Kedem Auctions Ltd.. Part 2: Rare and Important Manuscripts and Items of the Gross Family Collection on May 2nd: 90.54%
Kedem Auctions Ltd.. Rare and Important Items on May 2nd: 94.44%
Heritage Auctions. Wednesday Trading Card Games Select Auction - bidstart 4/26 on May 3rd: 100.00%
Heritage Auctions. Wednesday Comic Art and Animation Select Auction - bidstart 4/26 on May 3rd: 99.64%
Heritage Auctions. Tuesday World Paper Money Select Auction - bidstart 4/25 on May 2nd: 100.00%
Heritage Auctions. Tuesday US Currency Select Auction - bidstart 4/25 on May 2nd: 99.21%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday & Monday Comic Books Select Auction - bidstart 4/23 on May 1st: 99.83%
Sothebys. Pier 24 Photography from the Pilara Family Foundation Sold to Benefit Charitable Organizations Eveni on May 1st: 94.64%
Schilb Antiquarian. Rare Books with NO Reserve, NO Buyer's Premium on April 30th: 98.10%
Morton Subastas. Opportunity Auction on April 29th: 38.55%
Addison and Sarova. Online Only Bookworm Auction on April 30th: 100.00%
Addison and Sarova. Rare Books, Manuscripts and Ephemera on April 29th: 96.15%
Ripley Auctions. Spring Great Estates Art and Antiques Auction on April 30th: 93.62%
Tessier & Sarrou and Associates. Comic Albums and Originals on April 1st: 83.90%
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books Auction (pre-1600) - bidstart 4/14 on April 25th: 88.24%
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books Auction (pre-1700) - bidstart 4/14 on April 24th: 87.18%
Catawiki B. V.. History Books Auction - bidstart 4/14 on April 23rd: 67.74%
Catawiki B. V.. French Literature and Illustrated - bidstart 4/14 on April 23rd: 72.73%
Catawiki B. V.. Exclusive Cartography Auction - bidstart 4/14 on April 23rd: 66.67%
Catawiki B. V.. Exclusive Books and Maps Auction - bidstart 4/14 on April 23rd: 38.30%
Catawiki B. V.. Autographs and Manuscripts - bidstart 4/14 on April 23rd: 62.96%
Catawiki B. V.. Art and Photography Books - bidstart 4/14 on April 23rd: 64.71%
Catawiki B. V.. Old and Rare Books Auction (pre-1700) - bidstart 4/14 on April 26th: 92.86%
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper - bidstart 4/22 on April 29th: 88.00%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Sports Collectibles Select Auction - bidstart 4/16 on April 30th: 100.00%
Heritage Auctions. Movie Posters Signature Auction on April 30th: 94.92%


For the week ahead 50 sales are scheduled:

Mon. May. 8th
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Old and Rare Books Auction (pre-1600) - bidstart 4/28. 20 lots
Winter Associates. Plainville, CT . Early American furniture and decorative arts; Traditional & Contemporary Art; Garden Sculpture; Coin. 40 lots

Tue. May. 9th
Burgersdijk and Niermans. Leiden. Books and Prints. 1196 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Tuesday US Currency Select Auction - bidstart 5/2. 528 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Tuesday World Paper Money Select Auction - bidstart 5/2. 100 lots
Bonhams. New York. Prints and Multiples. 239 lots
Mirabaud-Mercier Auctioneers. PARIS . Sale of Collectible Posters. 1501 lots
Finarte. Milan. Photographs: Under IK. 267 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. The Ibrahim Salem Banknote Collection of World Peninsulas and Islands. 368 lots
Dorotheum . Linz. Spring Auction. 82 lots
William H. Bunch Auctions and Appraisals. Chadds Ford, PA . Eclectic Variety Auction Online - bidstart 5/3. 81 lots
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Old and Rare Books Auction (pre-1600) - bidstart 4/28. 28 lots
Bruun Rasmussen. Copenhagen. Modern Art and Design - Prints. 48 lots
New England Auctions. South Deerfield. Fine Books and Ephemera List.

Wed. May. 10th
Tooveys. West Sussex. Postcards; Cigarette and Trade Cards; Photographs, Autographs, and Ephemera. 193 lots
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Gloucestershire. Printed Books, Maps and Documents, Travel and Exploration. 485 lots
OSENAT. FONTAINEBLEAU. Books and Autographs. 181 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Wednesday Comic Art and Animation Select Auction - bidstart 5/3. 307 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Wednesday Trading Card Games Select Auction - bidstart 5/3. 117 lots
Finarte. Rome. Prints and Multiples. 363 lots
Lion Heart Autographs. New York, NY . 190 Fresh-to-the-Market Autographs: Einstein, Lincoln, Dickens, Glinka, Haydn, Paganini, Tchaikovsky. 190 lots
International Autograph Auctions Europe SL. Malaga. Autographs, Letters and Manuscripts - Timed Auction. 480 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Depth of Field: Photographs Showcase Auction. 167 lots
RR Auction. Amherst. Fine Autographs and Artifacts Featuring Major Figures in Science and Technology - bidstart 4/18. 741 lots
Leland Little Auctions. Hillsborough, NC. May Estate Auction. 45 lots
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Old and Rare Books Auction (pre-1700) - bidstart 4/28. 27 lots
Thomaston Place Auction Galleries. Thomaston. Mischievous Magpie. 161 lots

Thu. May. 11th
Forum Auctions. London. Online Sale: Books and Works on Paper. 219 lots
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. Chicago. Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts, including Americana. 410 lots
Doyle New York. New York. Rare Books, Autographs, and Maps. 333 lots
Swann Galleries. New York. Old Master Through Modern Prints. 499 lots
One Of A Kind Collectibles. Coral Gables. Rare Autograph Auction. 191 lots
Robert Siegel Galleries. New York. The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History & Stamps Used Abroad, Part 1. 296 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Jim Davis: The Art of Garfield Comics and Comic Art Showcase Auction. 100 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Spring Sports Catalogue Auction. 2222 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Music Memorabilia & Concert Posters Signature. 464 lots
Nosbüsch & Stucke. Berlin. Modern Literature, Erotica and Posters. 513 lots
Nosbüsch & Stucke. Berlin. Valuable Books, Autographs, and Prints. 450 lots

Fri. May. 12th
Nosbüsch & Stucke. Berlin. Intermedia - The Schaffernicht Collection. 406 lots
Nosbüsch & Stucke. Berlin. Fluxus and Friends. 237 lots
Clars Auction Gallery. Oakland. Fine Collectors' Auction.

Sat. May. 13th
Nosbüsch & Stucke. Berlin. Modern Art and Photography. 393 lots
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Franklin. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper - bidstart 5/6. 200 lots
Holabird Kagin Americana. Reno. Spring Into Americana.
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Autographs and Manuscripts - bidstart 5/5. 7 lots

Sun. May. 14th
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday & Monday Comic Books Select Auction - bidstart 5/7.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Movie Posters Select Auction - bidstart 5/7.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Sports Collectibles Select Auction - bidstart 4/30. 229 lots
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Autographs and Manuscripts - bidstart 5/5. 12 lots
Catawiki B. V.. LA Assen, . Historical Photography Auction - bidstart 5/5. 7 lots

Bruce McKinney

RBH and AE

  • Rose City Book & Paper Fair
    June 14-15, 2025
    1000 NE Multnomah, Portland
    ROSECITYBOOKFAIR.COM
  • Old World Auctions (April 23):
    Lot 748. Second volume of Blaeu's atlas featuring 89 maps of the Americas and Asia (1642) Est. $12,000 - $15,000
    Old World Auctions (April 23):
    Lot 12. A world map with popular cartographic myths and unique embellishments (1788) Est. $3,000 - $3,750
    Old World Auctions (April 23):
    Lot 30. One of the most sought-after charts from Cellarius' work (1708) Est. $1,200 - $1,500
    Old World Auctions (April 23):
    Lot 38. Anti-Vietnam War persuasive cartography on a velvet poster (1971) Est. $350 - $425
    Old World Auctions (April 23):
    Lot 43. Ortelius' influential map of the New World - second plate (1584) Est. $4,750 - $6,000
    Old World Auctions (April 23):
    Lot 95. Scarce German map illustrating the French & Indian War (1755) Est. $8,000 - $9,500
    Old World Auctions (April 23):
    Lot 149. Bachmann's dramatic view of the Mid-Atlantic region (1864) Est. $1,200 - $1,500
    Old World Auctions (April 23):
    Lot 373. De Jode's very rare map of Europe with costumed figures (1593) Est. $6,000 - $7,500
    Old World Auctions (April 23):
    Lot 674. De Bry's Petits Voyages, Part VII with all plates and map of Sri Lanka (1606) Est. $1,400 - $1,700
    Old World Auctions (April 23):
    Lot 704. The first printed map devoted to the Pacific in full contemporary color (1589) Est. $7,500 - $9,000
    Old World Auctions (April 23):
    Lot 734. Superb hand-colored image of the Tree of Jesse (1502) Est. $700 - $850
  • University Archives
    Rare Autographs, Books & Photos; Abraham Lincoln Collection
    April 23, 2025
    University Archives, Apr. 23: Best Image of Abraham Lincoln: "Closest… to ‘seeing' Lincoln… A National Treasure" Original Hesler/Ayres Interpositive. $800,000 to $1,000,000.
    University Archives, Apr. 23: Einstein, 3pp of Unified Field Theory Equations: “I want to try to show that a truly natural choice for field equations exists.” Formalizing His Final Approach, Association to Theory of Relativity. $80,000 to $120,000.
    University Archives, Apr. 23: Marilyn Monroe's Best Personally Owned & Annotated Script for Unfinished Last Film, "Something's Got to Give" (1962). $75,000 to $100,000.
    University Archives
    Rare Autographs, Books & Photos; Abraham Lincoln Collection
    April 23, 2025
    University Archives, Apr. 23: David Ben-Gurion ALS: "The Jewish people have attained the epitome...the State of Israel is born," 1 Day After Signing Israeli Declaration of Independence, Best Ben-Gurion Ever! $80,000 to $100,000.
    University Archives, Apr. 23: Lincoln ALS to Youth: "A young man, before the enemy has learned to watch him...votes... shall redeem the county" Evocative of Famous "Work" Letter. $70,000 to $100,000.
    University Archives, Apr. 23: Lincoln Appointment for Cabinet Member With Largest, Boldest, Full Signature! Important Content: Detente with England. $10,000 to $15,000.
    University Archives
    Rare Autographs, Books & Photos; Abraham Lincoln Collection
    April 23, 2025
    University Archives, Apr. 23: Abraham Lincoln Rare Signed Check To Law Partner W.H. Herndon, Perhaps Unique as Such! $20,000 to $25,000
    University Archives, Apr. 23: Tokyo War Crimes Files of Prosecuting Attorney For POW Camp Atrocities, 500+ Pages, Unpublished Court Documents, Photos and More. $25,000 to $35,000.
    University Archives, Apr. 23: 1698 South Carolina Slavery Archive Huguenot Planters Earliest Rare Plat Maps for Plantations 41 Docs 107 pp. Most Colonial. $25,000 to $35,000.
    University Archives
    Rare Autographs, Books & Photos; Abraham Lincoln Collection
    April 23, 2025
    University Archives, Apr. 23: Adam Smith ALS While Revising “The Wealth of Nations” - A New Discovery Documenting Meeting with Influential Editor. $18,000 to $24,000.
    University Archives, Apr. 23: Margaret Mitchell Rare ALS to Her Editor as Epic Film "Gone With the Wind" Gains Heat "Forgive this scrawl. I haven't written a letter in long hand in years and I've almost forgotten how it's done." $3,000 to $4,000.
    University Archives, Apr. 23: Einstein 1935 TLS, Hopes to Warn Non-Jews of "The true nature of the Hitler regime.” $8,500 to $10,000.
  • Sotheby's
    Sell Your Fine Books & Manuscripts
    Sotheby’s: The Shem Tov Bible, 1312 | A Masterpiece from the Golden Age of Spain. Sold: 6,960,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: Ten Commandments Tablet, 300-800 CE | One of humanity's earliest and most enduring moral codes. Sold: 5,040,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: William Blake | Songs of Innocence and of Experience. Sold: 4,320,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: The Declaration of Independence | The Holt printing, the only copy in private hands. Sold: 3,360,000 USD
    Sotheby's
    Sell Your Fine Books & Manuscripts
    Sotheby’s: Thomas Taylor | The original cover art for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Sold: 1,920,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: Machiavelli | Il Principe, a previously unrecorded copy of the book where modern political thought began. Sold: 576,000 GBP
    Sotheby’s: Leonardo da Vinci | Trattato della pittura, ca. 1639, a very fine pre-publication manuscript. Sold: 381,000 GBP
    Sotheby’s: Henri Matisse | Jazz, Paris 1947, the complete portfolio. Sold: 312,000 EUR