Rare Books Auction in Hamburg with Biblical Results - 144,000* Euro for the Word of God

Hamburg, 12 June 2017, (kk) – With total proceeds of around EUR 1.6 million*, the auction of Rare Books at Ketterer Kunst in Hamburg on 22 May 2017 achieved an outstanding result. The new concept with a focus on high-quality offers worked out. A lot total reduced by around 60% in comparison to last year‘s May auction grossed a result on par with figures from the same period.

TOP 5 lots

EUR 144,000*, calling price: EUR 100,000 - No. 11: Biblia germanica. Augsburg around 1474

EUR 72,000*, calling price: EUR 60,000 - No. 39: Jan Huygen van Linschoten - Itinerario. London 1598

EUR 60,000*, calling price: EUR 17,000 - No. 13: Biblia germanica-latina Wittenberg 1574

EUR 60,000*, calling price: EUR 42,000 - No. 08: Hartmann Schedel - Liber chronicarum. Nuremberg 1493

EUR 50,000*, calling price: EUR 15,000 - No. 09: Damião de Goes - Chronica do felicissimo rei Dom Emanuel. Lisbon 1566-67

EUR 50,000*, calling price: EUR 8,500 - No. 94: Zao Wou-Ki - Harry Roskolenko: Paris Poems. Paris 1950

EUR 36,000*, calling price: EUR 30,000 - No. 53: Adolph von Menzel - Armeewerk Friedrichs des Großen. Around 1850-60

Several religious works were among the auction‘s main attractions, the array was led by the “Biblia germanica“ (lot 11) made in Augsburg around 1474. It was sold to a collector from North Rhine-Westphalia in the saleroom who stood his grounds against mainly German competitors for a remarkable result of EUR 144,000*.

The “Biblia germanica-latina“ (lot 13) made in Wittenberg around 1574, was also in heavy demand. A number of written bids and half a dozen phone bidders from Germany, Argentina and Switzerland made for a sharp increase of the calling price of EUR 19,000. Despite strong international competition, a German dealer eventually won the lot with a bid worth EUR 60,000*.
While Jan Huygen van Linschoten‘s “Itinerario“, the most acclaimed geographic work of its days with major impact on the Dutch expansion in Asia, was sold, as expected, to a Dutch private collector for a result of EUR 72,000*, Hartmann Schedel‘s “Liber chronicarum“ (lot 8) was sold to the west coast of the USA for EUR 60,000* and a French dealer won the “Chronica do felicissimo rei Dom Emanuel“ (lot 9) by Damião de Goes. Even though a German collector in the saleroom fought as hard as several phone bidders from Argentina and the USA, the Frenchman outbid them all with a result of EUR 50,400*.

The same result was also realized for Zao Wou-Ki‘s “Harry Roskolenko: Paris Poems“ (lot 94). The rare and complete copy of the de-luxe edition with a signed watercolor and the extra suite of lithographs went to an online bidder who left numerous phone bidders from all over Europe behind.

Both Adolph von Menzel‘s “Armeewerk Friedrichs des Großen“, which climbed up to EUR 36,000*, as well as the auction‘s most sought-after book “Le Surréalisme en 1947“ (lot 89) by André Breton and Marcel Duchamp, with 24 original graphics and an object by Marcel Duchamp, remained in Germany. The latter was in great demand with the auction room, half a dozen written bids and a dozen phones from all over the world, making sure that this first edition of the important surrealist catalog soared from a calling price of EUR 5,000 to a result of EUR 34,800*.

Other lots that realized remarkable results:

lot no. 07, Nam June Paik, Fluxus Testament. Calling priceEUR 17,000, result EUR 28,800*
lot no. 03, Manuskript, Heures a l'usage de Rome. Calling price EUR 3,400, result EUR 24,000*
lot no. 81, Georg Heym, Umbra Vitae. Calling price EUR 4,500, result EUR 14,400*
lot no. 86, Franz Toussaint, Le jardin des Caresses. Calling price EUR 1,800, result EUR 11,400*

The auction of Maritime and North German Art, traditionally held in Hamburg right before the auction of Rare Books, also has some results worthwhile mentioning.

Here a small selection:

lot no. 547, Thomas Herbst, Stehendes Mädchen im blauen Kleid. Calling price EUR 2,800, result EUR 10,200*
lot no. 512, Johannes Holst, Hamburger Vollschiff „Klio“… Calling price EUR 3,000, result EUR 9,840*
lot no. 511, Johannes Holst, Weiße Dreimastbark auf ruhiger See. Calling price EUR 2,500, result EUR 6,720*

Unsold objects can be acquired in the post auction sale until 15 June 2017.

* The rounded result is the hammer + 20 percent buyer's premium

Since it was founded in 1954, Ketterer Kunst has been on the forefront of auction houses dealing in Fine Art and Rare Books, with its headquarters in Munich, and a branch in Hamburg. Representatives' offices in Berlin, Heidelberg, Duesseldorf, Italy and the US have contributed substantially to the company's success. In addition, exhibitions, special thematic and charity auctions as well as monthly online auctions at www.ketterer-internet-auction.com are regular events at Ketterer Kunst. Robert Ketterer is owner and CEO of Ketterer Kunst.

Your media contact:

Ketterer Kunst
Joseph-Wild-Str. 18
81829 München
Michaela Derra M.A.
Telefon: +49-(0)89-55244-152
Fax: +49-(0)89-55244-177
E-Mail: m.derra@kettererkunst.de
www.kettererkunst.de

Your contact in the Rare Books department:

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

This release was published on openPR.