Christie's natural history sale on March 17th 1999 in London proved a failure with only 54% of lots sold.
The London-based French-owned auction house hoped to renew the success of its previous sale held last November with produced £ 2,84 millions (US $ 6,7 millions) but botanical works offered in this sale carried estimates way above their market prices.
Last November, a member of the family of the Sultan of Brunei had bought many lots at huge prices but this time his absence proved detrimental to the sale during which most ordinary books were bought in.
The Treaty of fruit trees by Duhamel du Monceau was unsold at £ 85,000, way below its £ 120,000-150,000 estimate, the reason being that booksellers can usually offer it at £ 70,000 (US $ 166,500). The 18th Century Flora attributed to M. de la Popelinière was also unsold at £ 85,000 against an estimate of £ 130,000-150,000 and so was the Nova Stirpium Adversaria by Matthias de Lobel and Pierre Pena at £ 55,000 against a £ 60,000-80,000 estimate.
Several books illustrated by French artist Redouté were also unsold but his «Liliacées» went for the low estimate price of £ 250,000 (US $ 416,750) while the main piece of the sale, the Moller Florilegium, a 17th Century German album, fetched the low estimate of £ 500,000 (US $ 833,500). Maria Sibylla Merian's history of insects and Audubon's engravings were also bought in but many booksellers stressed that the good books offered at reasonable prices were all sold meaning that Christie's could not pretend to impose its will on the market.
Christie's natural history sale on March 17th 1999 in London proved a failure with only 54% of lots sold.
The London-based French-owned auction house hoped to renew the success of its previous sale held last November with produced £ 2,84 millions (US $ 6,7 millions) but botanical works offered in this sale carried estimates way above their market prices.
Last November, a member of the family of the Sultan of Brunei had bought many lots at huge prices but this time his absence proved detrimental to the sale during which most ordinary books were bought in.
The Treaty of fruit trees by Duhamel du Monceau was unsold at £ 85,000, way below its £ 120,000-150,000 estimate, the reason being that booksellers can usually offer it at £ 70,000 (US $ 166,500). The 18th Century Flora attributed to M. de la Popelinière was also unsold at £ 85,000 against an estimate of £ 130,000-150,000 and so was the Nova Stirpium Adversaria by Matthias de Lobel and Pierre Pena at £ 55,000 against a £ 60,000-80,000 estimate.
Several books illustrated by French artist Redouté were also unsold but his «Liliacées» went for the low estimate price of £ 250,000 (US $ 416,750) while the main piece of the sale, the Moller Florilegium, a 17th Century German album, fetched the low estimate of £ 500,000 (US $ 833,500). Maria Sibylla Merian's history of insects and Audubon's engravings were also bought in but many booksellers stressed that the good books offered at reasonable prices were all sold meaning that Christie's could not pretend to impose its will on the market.
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