On May 12 & 13, 2021 Dominic Winter Auctioneers, based in the Cotswold Water Park in Gloucestershire (UK) held an auction entitled “Printed Books, Maps & Documents, Numismatics: The Patricia Milne-Henderson Collection” which included three lots of 19th century plaster intaglio impressions. As shown below, the prices realized for the impressions were impressive!
The hammer price was quoted in GBP with the days bank exchange rate at about US$1.44/1 GBP. Buyer’s premium was 24% for Lot 202 and 20% for Lots 242 and 243.
First was lot No. 202 Lot 202 – Grand Tour Plaster Intaglios, 19th century (dominicwinter.co.uk) “Grand Tour Plaster Intaglios. A collection of approximately 2,750 miniature plaster intaglios of classical and neo-classical subjects, contained in 49 trays, Italian, circa 1820-40, each intaglio edged in pale yellow paper, with rope twist gilt border, manuscript number in ink to each, contained in 49 deal wooden trays, each lined with blue-green paper, many trays with a number of intaglios no longer present….”
Based on the pictures the trays appeared to have little value and the condition of the individual intaglio plasters varied from quite good to poor ones with more age staining than physical damage. The hammer price was £8,500 or about US$15,200 (including buyer’s premium). Average price per piece comes to about US$ 5.52. If one had the time and inclination to list and sell the individual pieces online at the going rate of around US$30, there could possibly be a nice profit in someone’s future.
Next was lot 242. Lot 242 – Paoletti (Bartolomeo and Pietro). A (dominicwinter.co.uk) “Paoletti (Bartolomeo, 1757-1834, and Pietro, 1801-1847). A collection of 300 plaster cameos (or intaglios) presented in seven leather-bound double-sided faux book boxes, Rome, circa 1820, 300 white plaster intaglios, or impronte, being miniature impressions in relief of ancient gems, cameos, coins and medals, as well as modern sculptures and portraits, each bordered with pale yellow paper (with manuscript number added), and edged in gilt… spines gilt-decorated and each lettered in gilt PAOLETTI, rubbed, and some scuffs and marks (generally in good condition), 8vo (24.5 x 16 cm)”
The books and plasters appeared to be in “antique aged” good condition. The lot hammer price was £9,000 or about US$15,500 (including buyer’s premium); that comes to about US$2,200 per book.
Last was lot No. 243 Lot 243 – Paoletti (Pietro, 1801-1847). A collection (dominicwinter.co.uk) “Paoletti (Pietro, 1801-1847). A collection of 158 plaster cameos (or intaglios), presented in five leather-bound double-sided faux book boxes, Rome, circa 1835-40, 158 white plaster intaglios, or impronte, being miniature impressions in relief of ancient gems, cameos, coins and medals, as well as modern sculptures and portraits, each bordered with pale yellow or black paper (with manuscript numbers added in ink), edged in gilt…spines gilt-decorated, and lettered in gilt PAOLETTI IMPRONTE, (5th volume lettered Paoletti, 6, Munumenti in Vari Luoghi), some intaglios loose, one or two with a little damage, bindings generally rubbed and with some marks, 8vo (24.5 x 16 cm).”
The books and plasters appeared to be in fair to good condition. The lot hammer price was £4,200 or about US$7,250 (including buyer’s premium); that comes to about US$1,450 per book.
Similar sale:
A set of three comparable Liberotti “books” in similar condition, containing 102 impressions sold at auction in March 2021 (Nadeau’s Auction Gallery https://www.nadeausauction.com/lot-details/?lot=187667 ) for US$3,050, including buyer’s premium.
Other Goodies:
The Dominic Winter auction was a treasure trove of original documents and books related mainly to Numismatics, but with some real finds in the engraved gem area. There were, for example, two lots, each with original copies of Mariette’s “Traite des pierees…” dated 1750.
Lot 226 – Mariette (Pierre-Jean). Traité des pierres (dominicwinter.co.uk) “Mariette (Pierre-Jean). Traité des pierres gravées / Recueil des pierres gravées du Cabinet du Roy, 2 volumes, 1st edition, Paris, de l’imprimerie de l’auteur, 1750, [10 including engraved title and dedication leaves], 468 [plus 447*-448*]…”
The lot sold for US$4,150 (including buyer’s premium).
And Lot 227 – Mariette (Pierre-Jean). Traité des pierres (dominicwinter.co.uk) “Mariette (Pierre-Jean). Traité des pierres gravées / Recueil des pierres gravées du Cabinet du Roy, 2 volumes, 1st edition, Paris, de l’imprimerie de l’auteur, 1750, [10 including half-title, engraved title and dedication leaves], 468 [plus 447*-448]… together with:“Caylus (Anne Claude Philippe comte de), Recueil de trois cent têtes et sujets de composition, Gravés par Mr. le comte de Caÿlus d’après les pierres gravées antiques du Cabinet du roi, [Paris]: Se vend a Paris ches Basan [1775?], engraved title and text leaf, 300 engraved images on 150 plates, some toning…”
The lotsold for US$2,300 (including buyer’s premium).
All in all a fun auction.