Auction News Network

A Maharajah’s Ride

Around the turn of the last century, open touring cars were a big hit with the Indian nobility, and particularly with Maharajahs. The 1912 Lancaster 38hp State Limousine that Bonhams will be offering tomorrow belonged to the Maharajah of Rewa. It’s expected to sell for $125,500-$157,000 at the Mercedes-Benz World sale in Weybridge.

UPDATE: The Lancaster sold for $131,795. The 1929 Bentley did not find a buyer.

Teddy Roosevelt’s Colt Pistol

When Theodore Roosevelt said, “Speak softly and carry a big stick,” he may have had his 1902 semi-automatic pistol in mind. Colt presented him with the gun, engraved in gold with ‘T.R.,’ when he was President. Rock Island will offer the pistol, along with Roosevelt’s personal correspondence related to it, at its Illinois auction on Dec. 2-4, when it’s expected to sell for $150,000-$225,000.

UPDATE: T.R.’S Colt pistol sold near the high estimate, for $207,000.

First Apple Contract & Founder Who Quit

The original 1976 contract between the three founders of Apple Computer will be sold by Sotheby’s Dec.13, but more fascinating than the 3-page documents is the letter from the third partner who, 2-weeks after signing, withdrew and sold his 10% interest for $800. That withdrawal letter from Ronald Wayne, will also be on the block. The high estimate for the package is $150,000.

JFK Rocking Chair & PT-109 Patch

During his presidency, JFK was known for favoring rocking chairs, which provided relief from a troublesome back. The last one he ever used was in the suite of the Rice Hotel in Houston, where he spent the night of November 21^st, before his fateful trip to Dallas the next day. Heritage will offer it in their auction of Americana and political memorabilia in Dallas tomorrow, when it will carry an estimate of $20,000-30,000.

Expert Picks at Spectrum Hong Kong Sale

Spectrum Wine is staging its second major sale in Hong Kong next week and Auction Director Amanda Crawford talks about some of her favorite burgundies in the sale from Domaine Leflaive. She is also very high on the ’99 Chambertin from Armand Rousseau with what she calls its big “rustic” power.

Watch Amanda Crawford

Chinese Modern Art In Hong Kong

Chinese master Zhang Daqian (1899-1983) didn’t produce the top estimated lot at Christie’s sale of modern Chinese paintings in Hong Kong on November 29. That honor belongs to “Lotus,” a series of eight scrolls by Cui Ruzhuo, estimated at $5.2m-$7.7m. Zhang did, however, create three of the five highest estimated lots at the sale, where his works have a combined estimated value of $6.1m-$10.3m.

Raymond Chandler’s 1st Novel & A Letter From George

George Washington and Raymond Chandler aren’t names you’ll often see associated. What brings them together on December 8^th is Sotheby’s sale of books and manuscripts in New York, which includes items from both. The Washington offering is a signed autograph letter to the U.S. House of Representatives dated 9 May 1789. It’s estimated at $300,000-$500,000. From Chandler there’s a double presentation copy of his first novel “The Big Sleep,” which the author inscribed to his wife, Cissy. It’s expected to sell for $80,000-$120,000.

Small Bottle, World Record Price

The 18^th century Chinese enameled glass snuff bottle that Bonhams offered earlier today in Hong Kong may be tiny. Its price was not. The bottle from the Qianlong period (1736-1795) set a new world record price of $3,328,400. That was over five times its pre-sale estimate, and more than double the previous record, set at Bonhams last year, of $1.19m.

Liberace In 80 Boxes

Today’s generation may not know him, but there really was nothing like Liberace, the most flamboyant, highest paid, piano playing entertainer of the 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s. His wardrobe makes Lady Gaga understated, his jewelry was as flashy as Liz Taylor’s. And now it’s all for sale—80 boxes of memorabilia to be auctioned Dec.3 by Mid-Hudson Galleries.

Rise Of Burgundy In Asia

Spectrum Wine, an emerging global wine dealer, is staging its second anniversary auction in Hong Kong Dec.3-4. What a difference a year makes. Last year Bordeaux was all the rage with prices to prove it. This year the rapidly rising trend is burgundy. What’s going on in Asia? We asked Spectrum’s consignment director, Dan Rhodes.

Watch  the Video.

The First Navigator’s Guide

What guides did ancient mariners use to find their way? From the mid-16^th century on, they had “Arte de navegar,” the first practical treatise on navigation by Pedro de Medina (1493-1567), which  included the first appearance of his accurate maps of the Atlantic and Americas.  Christie’s will be selling a 1545 edition of the volume, complete with an array of woodcuts, at its Printed Books and Manuscripts sale in London on November 23^rd, when its expected to sell for $316,200-$474,300.

Bonhams To Sell Orson Welles Archive

“Citizen Kane” may be considered Orson Welles’ greatest film, but it wasn’t his favorite. That was “Chimes at Midnight,” released as “Falstaff” in the US, a lesser known 1965 effort that was beset with problems. Until a restored version was shown in the UK earlier this year, it hadn’t been seen in decades. Tomorrow, Bonhams will sell an archive of material related to the film, including 23 of Welles’ wash and watercolor drawings for the movie, along with his production notes.  They’re expected to fetch $62,000-$94,000.

High-End Real Estate Roundup

A showplace lodge in Jackson Hole,  a waterfront retreat on Kiawah Island, and a country estate in North Carolina are all heading to the block in coming weeks. Read more in our weekly high-end real estate auction roundup.

A Coat For Dreaming Up ’007′

James Bond creator Ian Fleming wore this naval jacket throughout World War II, while he was serving as an intelligence officer at such engagements as the Dieppe Raid in 1942. In later years, Fleming would recall how he began to dream up James Bond’s character during this period.  Bonhams will sell the battle-seasoned coat at its Books, Maps, Manuscripts & Historical Photographs sale in London on November 22, when it’s expected to bring $7,900-$11,000.

Botero Dances to $1.76m Record

Christie’s knocked down six artists’s records at its sale of Latin American art last night in New York. Leading the pack was a massive 2007 sculpture of two dancers by Chilean artist Fernando Botero that realized $1.76m, in the mid range of its $1.5m-$2m estimates. All told, the auction brought in $15,333,750.