This year, I decided to visit the auction rooms more often to find objects related to the theme of nature. Leaving aside the live sales, which can sometimes add extra costs, I noticed in the local newspaper, a current sale of old books which took place in the middle of the week in Nice.
I have retained the Work of Monsieur de Buffon, French naturalist, who having just been elected a member of the French Academy in 1753 declares: "Gentlemen, You have filled me with honor by calling me to you; but glory is only a good as long as one is worthy of it, and I do not persuade myself that a few essays written without art and without any other ornament than that of nature, are sufficient titles to dare to take my place among the masters of art, among the eminent men who represent here the literary splendor of France...."
How can we not want to continue reading after these first words of introduction? All his work, already praised during his lifetime, translates a true modernity as much on the approach of the scientific experiments as on the philosophical reflexion that is why his work still remains a model of commitment.
The pleasure of leafing through a book from the first half of the 19th century and discovering the engravings by lifting the serpentine paper cannot be experienced in front of a computer screen. Let's go further.
The CNRS website provides free online access to the complete works of his Histoire naturelle, générale et particulière, published in 36 volumes in-4° between 1749 and 1788.
It is an introduction to natural sciences on the theory of the earth (minerals, mammals, birds)
The Count of LACEPEDE continues the study on Cetaceans, oviparous, snakes and fishes on 2 following volumes.
The quality of the writing is exceptional in its thoroughness and poetry; about the lion, known as "the king of animals".
The announced lot specifies that the auctioned edition was published in Paris, Au Bureau de la Société des Publications Illustrées, 1839-1841, composed of 6 volumes, with the extracts of Daubenton and the classification of CUVIER plus 2 volumes written by LACEPEDE, illustrations in color with an estimate established between 150/200 euros. It is not the original edition but one of the numerous reissues of the beginning of the following century.
The general condition shows some foxing and slightly rubbed corners; these books come from a library for which labels and stamps remain visible. Nevertheless, the reading is perfect and the complete work is illustrated in color.
On specialized online bookstores, the average selling price is between 550 € and 1600 € depending on the edition, the quality of the illustrations and the general condition.
On marketplace type sites, each tome is offered from 20 € per unit up to 50 €. Several more recent reissues are also offered in full or by unit but of less interest to the collector.
The base auctioned in the sale of 26/01/18 in Nice was established at 300 € plus expenses of 58.55 € (including a VAT at 19.6% for books) or a total of 358.55 €.
About twenty people are sitting on uncomfortable chairs in a very dirty room! A cold atmosphere. The young auctioneer announces the 86 lots and the expert of the sale details each work. I noticed that the people present were mostly professionals, dealers, booksellers and a couple of curious people.
Only a few lots, notably in the field of architecture with a work by André PALLADIO, dated 1650, offered a battle at the telephone auction despite the traces of wetness, to fly to 1100 € against the 600 € proposed at the estimate.
For the rest, the prices estimated by the expert remain in the range of the auction.
It is interesting to go to current sales that are not broadcast live to find lots at lower prices than those offered on online sales sites. More and more auction houses have been systematically using live auctions for the last 4 to 5 years, allowing them to reach a larger and younger audience.
On the other hand, many lots are reauctioned a few months after an auction or in another auction room, which demonstrates the desire for a quick profit rather than a longer term investment as a collector would. It is easy to find this information on the Artprice, InterAuction, Auction and other subscription-based databases.
For my part, the eye of the expert will always be necessary to appreciate the quality of the work and his presence on the spot will be an asset to avoid the mistakes of the recorded delay in the live system (experienced!).
