Livres Rares et Manuscrits at Christie's Paris ends on Monday, May 10. The 183 lots include Piranèse's Vedute di Roma (c.1800–1807) rates the top estimate, at €60,000–80,000. Pierre-Paul Dubuisson's Armorial des principales maisons et familles du royaume (1757), in an ornate binding with the arms of Marie Leczinska, the wife of Louis XV, is estimated at €30,000–40,000. A set of the Elzevier Les Petites Républiques in uniform bindings could sell for €12,000–18,000.
At Sotheby's Paris on Tuesday, May 11, 319 lots from the Bibliothèque Littéraire Hubert Heilbronn. A volume of Stendhal's Oeuvres complètes (Paris, 1806) with more than 115 manuscript annotations by Stendhal shares the top estimate of €30,000–50,000 with a first edition of Dumas' Les Trois Mousquetaires (1844) in a contemporary binding. There will be much of interest here to the Stendhal, Proust, and Hugo collectors out there.
On Wednesday, May 12, Fine Books & Manuscripts, Including Americana at Hindman Auctions. The 363 lots include a very extensive set of Limited Editions Club publications (more than 550 titles) from the collection of Jack Belcher (estimated at $50,000–70,000).
At Swann Galleries on Wednesday, Selections from the Letterform Archive, in 153 lots. An 1862 Parisian specimen book from the C. Derriey firm rates the top estimate, at $5,000–7,500. Fournier le Jeune's Manuel Typographique (1764) could sell for $3,000–4,000.
Dominic Winter Auctioneers holds a two-day sale of Printed Books, Maps & Documents, Numismatics: The Patricia Milne-Henderson Collection on Wednesday and Thursday, May 12–13. The 606 lots include a 1648 second Blaeu edition of the Theatrum orbis terrarum atlas of England and Wales (£6,000–8,000), and a collection of some 300 Paoletti plaster cameos from around 1820 (£2,000–3,000). Luigi Mayer's Views in Egypt (1805) could also sell for £2,000–3,000, and a 1579 Christopher Saxton map of Hampshire rates the same estimate.
At Swann Galleries on Thursday, Graphic Design, in 200 lots. Three lots share the top estimate of $20,000–30,000: Walter Dexel's Constructivist 1924 gas-promotion poster; Alexander Rodchenko's 1923 poster for Dobrolet, the Russian Society of Volunteer Air Fleet; and Tadanori Yokoo's 1965 Persona Exhibition poster.
On Thursday at Hindman, 282 lots of Fine Press Books. A great variety of American fine printing here -- well worth a thorough browse!
And finally on Thursday, Fine Golf Books and Memorabilia at PBA Galleries, in 341 lots. Thomas Marsh's Blackheath Golfing Lays by the Poet-Laureate of the Club (1873) rates the top estimate, at $5,000–8,000. This copy is from the collection of Joseph S. F. Murdoch.
