Mediaeval manuscripts sold tremendously well in Paris and at Sotheby's in London on November 30th and December 2nd 1998. A book of Hours on vellum in Latin and French produced in Eastern France circa 1430 (194 leaves), 19,7 x 13,7 cm, fetched 4 million francs (US $ 714,200) in Drouot while the Hours of Guy de Laval, also circa 1430, went for 3 million FF (US $ 535,700). A book of Hours of the Virgin in Latin and French, first quarter of the 15th Century, sold for 1,7 million francs (US $ 303,500) and another one of the same period, Hours in use in Rome, was bought for 1,5 million francs (US $ 267,800).
In London, French dealer Pierre Beres acquired a Paris book Hours, circa 1250, for £ 450,000 (US $ 747,320). Another French dealer, Dominique Laucournet, obtained a 13th Century Missel in Latin for £ 220,000 (US $ 365,350).
Books from the Ortiz-Patino collection also fared well in London, notably one in French titled "Le livre du Roy modus et de la Royne Racio", a rare illustrated incunabula which fetched £ 285,000 (US $ 473,000) while the "Théâtre d'agriculture et mesnage des champs", by Olivier de Serres, which was one of French king Henri 4th's favorites went for £ 165,000 (US $ 274,000) to British dealer Jonathan Hill.
Baudelaire's first edition of "Les Fleurs du Mal" (1857) only fetched £ 110,000 (US $ 211,000) against a top pre-sale estimate of £ 150,000. It went to Paris dealer Jean-Claude Vrain while the second edition of 1861 containing all the uncensored poems rocketed to £ 200,000 (US $ 332,000), a price which many experts found as far too excessive in comparison with that of the first edition.
Meanwhile, a compilation of about 185 geographical maps and views of the second half of the 16th Century, published in Rome and in Venice and engraved by G.F Camocio, F. Berteli, P. Furiani, M. Rota, D. Zenoi and J.P Cimerlinus, reached an incredible bid of 4,8 million francs (US $ 857,000) against a top pre-sale estimate of 500,000 FF in Drouot on November 25th 1998. No one expected such a price for this exceptional set of engravings which included many rare maps.
Two days later, Paris auctioneer Joel Millon sold a 19,5 x 12 cm drawing representing a seated woman by French 18th Century master François Watteau for 1,8 million FF (US $ 321,400), a price which doubled the pre-sale estimate.
On November 24th, Paris auctioneer Antoine Ader, sold an 18th Century clock with heliocentric sphere in white marble by French maker Antide Janvier for 800,000 FF (US $ 142,800).
Only nine models of this clock made in 1784-1785 are known to be in existence nowadays. Adrian Darmon
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