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Fine Books and Manuscripts, Including Americana

RESULTS

Our 5 December auction of Books and Manuscripts featuring a range of history, literature and art did exceptionally well realizing $3.8 million.

Leading the auction were items by Rene Magritte, including Le Problème du Fantôme, a sketchbook containing 49 sketches and works, selling for more than five times the high estimate. Also doing well above estimate was a 1958 letter from Magritte selling for $62,500, a detail of the letter is shown here . Other successes included Yoko Ono's Grapefruit , achieving $485,000, and Bruce Springsteen's original working draft manuscript for "Born to Run," selling for $197,000.

OVERVIEW

Our 5 December sale of Fine Books and Manuscripts including Americana covers a range of history, literature and art with significant lots that are truly uncommon on the market alongside significant lots that always attract wide interest; Austen, Shakespeare and Hemingway for literature, while manuscript Americana features Washington letters and a truly extraordinary Thomas Jefferson letter on the Lewis and Clark Expedition.  Modern art is also well-represented with Duchamp wordplays, illustrated Magritte letters and possibly the most influential Fluxus work the movement produced, Yoko Ono’s “Grapefruit.”