Art News

Two day auction of rare books at Ketterer Kunst nets more than €1.6 million

HAMBURG.- In the bidding race for George Catlin’s “North American Indian Portfolio” (lot 40), which could almost double its starting price of € 45.000 with a result of € 87.600*, several bidders from the USA were left empty handed. The unique contemporary document of highest rarity will remain in Germany after the heated bidding skirmish. With an overall result of more than € 1,6 million, the two day auction of Rare Books at Ketterer Kunst in Hamburg made for excellent results and even outperformed the spring auction by more than € 100.000. The evening auction alone achieved the remarkable sales quota of 86 percent lots sold. The entire auction realized 98 percent of the volume of estimated prices. ”Works in the section of Expressionism were particularly sought after, in the end all but five lots were sold. This is also largely owed to the fact that more and more fine art buyers a