2008 Auction History

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

All Results in BOLD

The draft of the speech of Martin Luther King was withdrawn from the sale of Sotheby's New York in Dec. 11.

A copy of the map of Nouvelle France by Champlain is for sale by Sotheby's in London on November 13, lot 196, estimated 30 K£. (SOLD 160 K£ including fees)

In memory of Lon Chaney: A poster for the movie Phantom of the Opera is for sale by Heritage on November 7-8 in Dallas. It is announced at 200 K $ in the press release and 150 K $ in the catalog (lot 85,729). (SOLD 155 K$ including fees).

Bonhams and Butterfield sells in Los Angeles on Oct. 15 a document bearing the signature of Molière (40 K $, lot 1166). (SOLD 330 K$ before fees).

The watch with which Wills has crossed Australia will be sold by Bonhams and Goodman in Sydney on September 22 (60 KA$). (SOLD 100 K$ before fees).

First post was from the press of India (OneIndia) : a chain of Sanctus Spiritus of King Henry VIII of England will be sold in December in London (OneIndia told of £ 1 million ; estimate was 200 K£). (SOLD 310 K£ including fees)

Two lithographs by Nelson Mandela are included in the sale of Bonhams in London on September 10 (12 and £ 10 K). (both UNSOLD).

A concert costume of Elvis Presley is expected at 275 K $ (Lot 242) by GottaHaveIt in New York on August 6. (SOLD 300 K$ including fees). The talisman necklace of John Lennon, lot 38, is estimated 500 K $. (SOLD 530 K$ including fees). The previous lot, 37, is a military tunic that John mockingly wore in 1966: 300 K $. (SOLD 360 K$ including fees). Lot 486 of the same sale, for $ 60 K, is a blue jeans worn by Marilyn Monroe in the film The River of No Return. (UNSOLD).

One of two guitars burned by Jimi Hendrix is to be found in London on September 4 at The Fame Bureau (£ 500 K). (SOLD 280 K£, probably before fees, from a low estimate of 250 K£).

On the occasion of the Olympic Games, China Guardian in Beijing is organizing a sale of art on the theme of sport. It will take place on August 15, and the online catalog is promised for July 15. The first announced work is a portrait of Samaranch by Jin Shangyi. (CANCELLED SALE)

On July 23 in Knightsbridge, Bonhams sells a patriot bonnet of the French Revolution (3 K£) (SOLD 8.6 K£ before fees) and a marriage sword of King Zog (4 K£). (SOLD 9 K£ before fees).

On 11 and 12 July, Heritage organizes a sale in Dallas that specializes in posters and in midget window cards of movies. Flying down to Rio is represented in both categories, respectively at 12 K$ (Lot 28947) (SOLD 26 K$ including fees) and 7 K$ (Lot 28948) (SOLD 26 K$ including fees). For horror movies, see a poster of Godzilla in Japanese (12 K$, lot 28576). (SOLD 12 K$ including fees).

4 K£, it's not expensive for a letter from Nelson dealing with strategy. It is the lot 190 at Bonhams in London on June 24. The graphologists will appreciate his jerky writing. (SOLD 4.4 K£ before fees).

Guernsey's prepares to sell in Boston a baseball trophy from 1912. That year the championship was won by the Boston Red Sox. Sale on October 18. (SOLD 190 K$, probably before fees).

A device used on stage circa 1920 by Harry Houdini to cut a girl into eight pieces is only at 4 K$ at Bonhams in Los Angeles on June 16 (lot 3173W). (SOLD 2.25 K$ before fees).

In October 18 and 19 at Beverly Hills, Julien's Auctions is organizing the sale of souvenirs of Bob Hope, including many lots on the theme of golf. (results available on the site of the auction house)

Two Steinway pianos that once belonged to Elton John go on sale at Bonhams in London on June 18 (35 and 25 K£). (SOLD 35 K£ before fees, and UNSOLD).

I take that the chapter of memorabilia is consistent this week to add the desk of Dickens, waiting for 50 K £ on June 4 at Christie's London. (SOLD 430 K£ including fees).

The Australian agency AAP announces a decoration of the First World War, a Victoria Cross, for 600 KA$ on May 27 at Sotheby's. (SOLD 470 KA$ on a low estimate of 400 KA$).

A fac simile engraved in 1823 of the Declaration of Independence of the United States is estimated 150 K$, to sell by Swann in New York on June 5. (SOLD 110 K$, probably before fees).

June 7 in Dallas, Heritage disperses some artifacts of Franklin D. Roosevelt. (SOLD 48 K$ including fees a lot of three watercolour studies for a portrait of Roosevelt).

The Olympic torch will be in England with 4 years in advance or 60 years of delay according to the way in which one counts: it comes from the London Games of 1948, and Bonhams wants to sell it 2 K£ in Chester on June 4. (SOLD 2.1 K£ before fees).

A lyric manuscript of John Lennon will be presented, of course in London, by Christie' s on July 10 for 200 K£. (SOLD 420 K£ including fees).

In the sale by Heritage Auctions in Dallas on April 5 : Jimi Hendrix, (SOLD 21.5 K$ a pair of boots), the Beatles, (SOLD 60 K$ an autograph), James Dean, (SOLD 54 K$ his lucky watch and 24 K$ a race registration), Hugh Hefner (?) and an oscar. (SOLD 65 K$). These prices include fees.

On April 24 in New York, Sotheby's and SCP Auctions bring their forces together to send a baseball bat of 1917-21 to 200 K$, (SOLD 300 K$ including fees), and jerseys of Joe DiMaggio and Lou Gehrig respectively at 250 and 150 K $. (both UNSOLD). In case you do not know (what was my case so far) : this auction house, SCP Auctions, has obtained $ 2.8 million from a colored baseball card of Honus Wagner. That was in September 2007 (private transaction).

In auctions, Lincoln with Washington is the most prestigious of Americans. The historic Lincoln letter that Sotheby's sells in New York on April 3 is a particularly important document. It deals with emotion the issue of slavery which was so dear to him, in response to a children petition (3 M$). (SOLD 3.4 M$ including fees). A more political letter concerned with the same policy, lot 72, is estimated 500 K$. (UNSOLD). Lot 80 shows that the autograph hunters existed before football: this sheet contains twelve signatures of politicians, including Lincoln, who participated in a ceremony at Gettysburg. This document also should appeal to lovers of history (800 K$). (SOLD 937 K$ including fees). Among other signatures (in a formal sense), let's not forget John Quincy Adams (Lot 57, 250 K$) (UNSOLD) and Thomas Jefferson (Lot 47, 200 K$). (UNSOLD)

With an estimated $ 150 K, Heritage sells on 3 and 4 June in Dallas a 1788 compilation by Publius supporting the Federalist constitution of the United States. Publius was the collective name of James Madison, John Jay and Alexander Hamilton. (SOLD 260 K$ including fees).

On May 3, in Dallas, Heritage sells the helmet worn by Joe Namath in Super Bowl 1969. Starting bid 50 K$. (withdrawn).

Here is a document handwritten and signed by Fidel Castro himself showing his plan of attack on the Moncada barracks on Feb. 21 in Dallas at Heritage. In no other place you can buy such things ... (UNSOLD)

LiveAuctioneers announced for the sale of February 21 to 23 at Richard D. Hatch & Associates a flag of the Confederate army (150 K $).(UNSOLD)

A watch that belonged to James Dean will start bid at 75 K $ on April 5/6 in Dallas by Heritage. (SOLD 54 K$ including fees).

Announcing they expect for croods Tajan informed that the sale of the personal effects of François Mitterrand, January 29, will take place at the Espace Tajan and not at the Hotel Drouot. This is an opportunity for me to observe that for my taste the Espace Tajan is the most beautiful auction room in Paris.
(Top sale: 8 K € before fees for an attorney dress)

On March 19, at Drouot, Pierre Bergé & Associates sells the library devoted to Napoleon and the Empire by Dominique de Villepin. (SOLD 28 K€ before fees a décret handwritten by Napoléon).

In the Sotheby's catalog of 18/19 January, at number 260 a wooden sign painted 200 years ago for the Crocodile Inn Tavern, 200 K $. (UNSOLD).

In the objects that a European would not select: the lot number 562 of the Christie's sale of 18 January, a political hat of 1872, estimated 10 K$. (SOLD 33 K$ including fees).