Auction of Rare Books in Hamburg - Yielding 540000 %

Hamburg, 23 November 2012, (kk) – 5 EUR, that was the price a book lover from Germany paid on a flee market for a little booklet with the writing “Brücke“ (see press release from 2 October, 2012) on it. It turns out more than a bargain, because in the Rare Books auction the small exhibition catalog for the second travelling exhibition of the world-famous artist group was sold for EUR 27.000*. Accordingly, the return is at an enormous 540000 %.

The TOP 5 Lots

No. 47: Maximilian, Prinz zu Wied-Neuwied, Reise in das Innere Nord-America … Koblenz 1839-41. Result EUR 92.400*, starting price: EUR 77.000
No. 18: Plutarch, Virae illustrium virorum. Venice 1478. Result EUR 84.000*, starting price: EUR 79.000
No. 81: E. T.A. Hoffmann, Prinzessin Brambilla. Breslau 1821. Dedication copy. Result EUR 31.200*, starting price: EUR 1.800
No. 111: Künstlergruppe Brücke, Catalog for the second travelling exhibition. Berlin 1912. Result EUR 27.000*, starting price: EUR 14.000
No. 17: Poetae christiani veteres, Prudentii poetae opera. Venice 1501-1504. Result EUR 19.200*, starting price: EUR 10.000

The two-day auction grossed more than EUR 1,5 million*, in the evening auction alone more than 72 % of the lots were sold. Additionally, the unusual flea market finding was just one out of many lots that made for remarkable increases.

E.T.A. Hoffmann‘s “Prinzessin Brambilla. Ein Capriccio nach Jakob Callot“ soared from a starting price of EUR 1.800 to the fantastic result of EUR 31.200*. The important humorous narration with a signed autographed dedication by Hoffman went to a bidder from Switzerland in the auction room, who stood his grounds against an English art dealer sitting right behind him as well as four other bidders in the room, a number of phones and a bundle of written bids of up to EUR 10.000.

Twice the starting price of EUR 10.000 was due for the first edition of a remarkable collection of early Christian poets, the so-called Prudentii poetae opera. A French phone bidder relegated competitors in the auction room from Germany and Italy as well as a number of written bids to places second and beyond. In the end, he honored the famous work, the first with the famous Anchor-Dolphin printer’s device, some EUR 19.200*.

Also flying to unknown heights was Jules Verne‘s “Bekannte und unbekannte Welten“ (lot 82), which a book dealer from Germany let climb from EUR 2.000 to a result of EUR 9.000*, eventually making for a near five-fold of the starting price. The adventurous journeys are endowed with a large number of woodcut illustrations, with a total of 85 works they are a rare series of the much-treasured splendid edition.

Everything but sad must be true for the seller of Franz Karl Dellavilla‘s “Ein trauriges Stücklein“ (A sad piece, lot 98), as the only edition of the children’s book with eight woodcuts in colors realized a result of EUR 8.640*, that is twenty-five times the starting price of EUR 340. It was won by a German bidder in the auction room who beat more than a dozen opponents.

The list of desired objects was led by the “Reise in das Innere Nord-America in den Jahren 1832 bis 1834“ by Maximilian, Prinz zu Wied-Neuwied, which remains in Germany for a result of EUR 92.400*, as well as by Plutarch‘s “Vitae illoustrium virorum“. The Florentine print with armorial miniatures from the famous printshop of Nicolaus Jenson, a student of Johannes Gutenberg, was acquired by a private collector from Hesse for EUR 84.000*.

Least but not last is the auction of Maritime and Northern German Art, which is traditionally held in Hamburg right before the auction of Rare Books. Here is a selection of some interesting results:

Lot 1490, Paul Müller-Kaempff, Bauernkate in Ahrenshoop. Starting price EUR 2.200, result EUR 11.400*
Lot 1446, Hans Peter Feddersen d. J., Überschwemmte fries. Landschaft. Starting price EUR 2.800, result EUR 11.400*
Lot 1447, Hans Peter Feddersen d. J., Winderdämmerung. Starting price EUR 2.000, result EUR 6.960*
Lot 1501, Gretchen Wohlwill, Mädchen am Fenster. Starting price EUR 2.500, result EUR 4.800*
Lot 1418, Hans Peter Jürgens, Viermastbark „Pamir“… Starting price EUR 1.300, result EUR 3.120*

Remaining lots can be purchased in the post auction sale until 21 December, 2012.

*The result is the hammer price + 20 percent buyer’s premium

Since it was founded in 1954, Ketterer Kunst has been firmly established in the front ranks of auction houses dealing in art and rare books, with its headquarters in Munich and a branch in Hamburg. Gallery rooms in Berlin as well as representatives in Heidelberg, Düsseldorf and Modena (Italy) have contributed substantially to the company's success. In addition, exhibitions, special theme and charity auctions as well as online auctions are regular events at Ketterer Kunst.

Contact:

for press enquiries:
Michaela Derra M.A.
Telefon: +49-(0)89-55244-152 (Fax: -177)
E-Mail: m.derra@kettererkunst.de

for clients:
Ketterer Kunst
Holstenwall 5
20355 Hamburg
Christoph Calaminus
Telefon: +49-(0)40-374961-11, Fax:-66
E-Mail: c.calaminus@kettererkunst.de

This release was published on openPR.