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Three Auctions

18 Sep, 2021 (edited)
2021-9-18 6:50:42 AM UTC

26th September

Lot 154 - Sworders Timed Auction


TOLKIEN, J R R: The Lord of the Rings, Three volumes. George Allen and Unwin, first editions, 12th. 8th. And 9th. Impressions, 1962, 1961, & 1962. All three volumes with dust jackets. The dust jackets are a little rubbed and the spines faded; otherwise a clean set. (3)

Estimate £300-£600
Sold for £480

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auc ... utm_content=lot-view-link




30th September

Lot 4063 - TW Gaze


J.R.R. Tolkien, 2 titles: 'The Hobbit', London George Allen & Unwin, 1976, 1st deluxe edition, 1st impression, 13 coloured plates and map end papers as called for, original black pictorial cloth gilt, depicting Smaug to front cover in gilt, silver and red, original glassine protective wrapping (worn) original box with printed paper label, 'The Lord of the Rings', George Allen & Unwin, 1978, deluxe edition, 6th impression, two folding maps as called for, original black pictorial cloth decorated gilt, silver and green, original glassine wrapper, original box with printed paper label (2)

Estimate £100-£200
Sold for £550

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auc ... utm_content=lot-view-link

Lot 4064 - TW Gaze


J.R.R. Tolkien, nine titles: 'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - The Two Towers - The Return of the King', London, George Allen & Unwin, 1961, 10th impression, 1960, 7th impression, 1960, 6th impression, 3 volumes, 3 folding maps as called for, original cloth gilt, vols 2 & 3 in dust wrappers, 'The Hobbit', London, George Allen & Unwin, 1961, 12th impression, coloured frontis, map end papers, original pictorial cloth, dust wrapper (worn, closed tears around head of spine), 'The Silmarillion', 1977, 1st edition in dust wrapper, 'Unfinished Tales', 1980, 1st edition in dust wrapper, 'The History of Middle-Earth', pts II & III, 'Tom Bombadil', 1962 1st in wrapper, plus 2 others (11)

Estimate £150-£200
Sold for £750

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auc ... utm_content=lot-view-link




1st October

Lot 272 - W&H Peacock




Tolkien J.R.R. The History of Middle Earth. Edited by Christopher Tolkien. George Allen/Harper Collins. 1991-1996. 8vo Hbs + Djs. 12 volumes. Vols. 2, 5 - 12 are first editions.

CONDITION REPORT:
Small hole in the base of the dust jacket spine ( only ) of vol. 7; small ownership labels in TRC of some feps. Otherwise a VG/VG set.

Estimate £250-£350
Sold for £420


https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auc ... utm_content=lot-view-link
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19 Sep, 2021
2021-9-19 9:00:34 PM UTC
I am ignorant to the ways of auctions. Why are these estimates so low? PoME can sell for £200 by itself.
19 Sep, 2021
2021-9-19 9:05:09 PM UTC

Caudimordax wrote:

I am ignorant to the ways of auctions. Why are these estimates so low? PoME can sell for £200 by itself.

I suspect that the auctioneers have not researched these books, just plucked a number out of the air that they expect 12 hardbacks to usually sell for.
20 Sep, 2021
2021-9-20 10:09:04 AM UTC

Caudimordax wrote:

I am ignorant to the ways of auctions. Why are these estimates so low? PoME can sell for £200 by itself.

They not follow the ebay...
20 Sep, 2021
2021-9-20 4:16:03 PM UTC
Very common for auctioneers to under-estimate for a variety of reasons. Some examples:

  • Lack of knowledge is of course one possible reason
  • Reserves/minimum bid is usually a fraction (e.g. half) the low estimate, and items with low reserves get more bids
  • Being able to say "sold for 10x the estimate!" makes good press after the auction to make it sound like the market is hot and generate future business
1 Oct, 2021
2021-10-1 11:35:10 AM UTC
They were pretty close on the estimate for HoMe.
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