BCD Library Results

Kolbe & Fanning's recent sale of the BCD Library on the coinage of antiquity was an extraordinary success. The auction lasted a little over nine hours, as over 250 registered bidders from around the world fought to win some of the 600 lots being offered. In the end, the sale realized 171% of its total pre-sale estimate, with a 96% sell rate. Record prices were the order of the day as both long-established and relatively new collectors took advantage of the unparalleled opportunity presented. A number of lots realized multiples of the estimate, with half a dozen lots bringing at least ten times estimate. The nine hours did not drag.

A few highlights (all prices are hammer and do not include the 20% premium):

Lot 107, the complete set of the Zeitschrift für Numismatik, sold for $42,500

Lot 518, a fine original copy of J.N. Svoronos's important work on Crete, bound with a rare supplement, sold for $19,000 on an estimate of $2500

Lot 515, Charles Seltman's personal copy of his landmark The Temple Coins of Olympia, with accompanying supplementary materials including original correspondence and handwritten notes, sold for $12,000 on a $750 estimate

Lot 168, a complete set of John Jacob Gessner's rare 1735-1738 Specimen rei nummariae with 338 finely engraved plates of ancient coins, sold for $10,000 on a $1500 estimate

Lot 165, a finely bound set of the first edition of Joseph Eckhel's monumental Doctrina numorum veterum, brought $8000 on a $1500 estimate.

The most incredible result was with lot 497, a rare offprint of Svoronos's study of the coinage of Delphi, in a charming hand-etched binding. Originally from the library of Kurt Regling, this unique copy of a rarely encountered and interesting work, modestly estimated at just $300, became the subject of a fierce bidding war that surpassed everyone's expectations. After several minutes of sustained bidding, the volume hammered for an amazing $22,500, a truly stunning result of 75 times the original estimate.

Kolbe & Fanning hope to hold our next sale in June, featuring a variety of books on ancient, world and U.S. coins. Part II of the BCD Library is tentatively scheduled for October. Thank you to everyone who participated in the first BCD Library sale. We look forward to the second sale in the autumn.

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
KOLBE & FANNING BCD LIBRARY SALE(https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n03a03.html)
KOLBE & FANNING BCD LIBRARY HIGHLIGHTS(https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n04a02.html)
MORE KOLBE & FANNING BCD LIBRARY HIGHLIGHTS(https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n05a02.html)
MORE KOLBE & FANNING BCD LIBRARY HIGHLIGHTS(https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n06a02.html)