Yesterday's Top Lots: The Complete Poster Works of Roger Broders

The December 15th sale was the first time the complete work of a single poster artist has come to auction. The Complete Poster Works of Roger Broders offered 100 lots - nearly every poster he designed - all from one private collection. The sale beat more than a dozen prices for Broders posters sold in the United States, set three world records, and two others, considering today's exchange rate. The strong prices could be justified, in part, by the work's spectacular condition.

Roger Broders, Dunkerque, circa 1930.

The top lot of the sale was Dunkerque, a poster designed for the railway and the local tourist office of Chemin de Fer du Nord. Swann's specialists were only able to find two other instances of this poster coming to auction. It sold for $19,200.

Roger Broders, Monte-Carlo, 1930. Sold for $18,000.

Monte-Carlo, 1930, was created to promote the Monte-Carlo Country Club's glamorous amenities and membership, and is one of Broders's most masterful posters. The grandeur of the perspective and depth of field, combined with the way the bright Riviera sunlight silhouettes the figures in the foreground, make it a poster to remember.

Roger Broders, Sur la Côte d'Azur, circa 1931.

Another very desirable poster that did well in the sale was Sur la Côte d'Azur. Bringing $11,400, the sale more than doubled the previous auction record for this image.

Tuesday's Top Lots: Important Photobooks & Photographs

Important Photobooks & Photographs sold well in Tuesday's auction, with several records set and strong interest in some very interesting pieces. The top lot of the sale, Andrew J. Russell's United States Military Rail Road Photographic Album earned a record $156,000, making it the photography department's top lot of the year. The album depicts the railroads, battlefields and landscapes of the Civil War.

Andrew J. Russell, United States Military Rail Road Photographic Album, 107 albumen prints, 1863-64.

Among the photobooks was Edwin Hale Lincoln's beautiful Wild Flowers of New England Photographed From Nature. A first edition of this eight-volume set containing 400 photographic plates, it brought $108,000--another auction record.

Edwin Hale Lincoln, Wild Flowers of New England Photographed From Nature, one of only perhaps 50 copies, Massachusetts, 1910-14.

Contemporary art also did well. Aaron Siskind's portfolio Viterbo Broom, containing 18 abstract photographs, sold for $48,000. It was the portfolio's first time at auction. 

Aaron Siskind, Viterbo Broom, portfolio containing 18 photographs, 1967.

The top lot among individual photographs was a striking Peter Beard photograph. Fayel Tall / El Molo Bay, Lake Rudolf, a mixed media silver print with applied blood and feather in Beard's signature style, attracted several bidders and brought $36,000.

Peter Beard, Fayel Tall / El Molo Bay, Lake Rudolf, 1987, printed 1997.

Thursday's Top Lots: Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Historical Prints, Ephemera

Thursday's sale of Maps, Atlases, Natural History & Historical Prints and Ephemera went wonderfully, with successful sales of several very important maps, illustrated books, and prints.

David Roberts, The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt and Nubia, 2 titles in 6 volumes, London, 1842-49.

The top lot of the auction was David Roberts' beautiful illustrated book The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt and Nubia. Published in London between 1842 and 1849, it brought a strong $33,600.

Fry-Jefferson, A Map of the most inhabited part of Virginia containing the whole Province of Maryland, London, 1775.

Among the maps, A Map of the most inhabited part of Virginia containing the whole Province of Maryland took the top spot, selling for $28,800.

Groups lots of maps also did very well in this sale. In particular, a group of over 22 maps concerning the growth of California during the 1920s and 1930s went for $16,800 - the result of two very interested parties, who drove the price well above the estimate of $400 - $600.

John James Audubon, Barnacle Goose, London: Havell, 1836.

Decorative graphics and Natural History prints also sold well. John James Audubon's Barnacle Goose, Plate CCXCVI from his mammoth portfolio Birds of America, a historical benchmark of ornithological illustrations, sold for $5,040.

Thursday's Top Lots: Americana & Ocean Liner Memorabilia

Thursday’s sale of Printed & Manuscript Americana /Ocean Liner Memorabilia saw an unusually high number of registered bidders. The American Revolution and Civil War sections of the Americana sale attracted the strongest interest, and led to some impressive results.

Thomas Houseworth & Co., Pacific Coast Scenery (detail), San Francisco, 1872.

A scarce and important 1872 album of California photographs by Thomas Houseworth, estimated at $2,000 to $3,000 due to condition problems, nonetheless brought $21,600 in a fierce battle between eight telephone bidders.

Gazette of the United States, first newspaper printing of the Bill of Rights (detail), New York, 3 October 1789.

Two lots tied for the position of top lot in this auction: the first newspaper printing of the Bill of Rights, and an archive of military correspondence from King George’s War each brought $24,000.

Photograph of Eugene Victor Debs from an archive of personal letters to his nephew, 1893-1925.

Two important lots were won by institutions. A group of letters by Socialist leader Eugene Debs went to Indiana State University for $6,720. A large collection of Muhlenberg family correspondence from the 1820s and 1830s went to Dickinson College in Pennsylvania for the same price.

"Titanic" Plan of First Class Accommodation, December 1911.

The top lot among the Ocean Liner Memorabilia was the Plan of First Class Accommodation for the “Titanic.” The extremely rare deck plan sold for $7,200.

The Collector's Eye: Bill Hunt in Conversation with Daile Kaplan

Swann is pleased to announce that we will host a talk and book signing with author and photography collector W.M. Hunt.

Wednesday, December 7 from 6 to 8 PM. At 6:30, Bill and Daile Kaplan, Director of Swann's Photographs department, will discuss "The Collector's Eye."

On view will be Important Photobooks & Photographs (at auction December 13).

Please rsvp to 212 254 4710, ext. 305 or rsvp@swanngalleries.com