A complete Limited Editions Club collection up for auction
Talk George Macy devotees
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1PBB
https://hindmanauctions.com/auctions/2065-fine-printed-books-manuscripts-includi...
Could easily see this going over the $60,000 high estimate. The Ulysses is only signed by Matisse. Several of George Macy's own copies, and one of the Alice books is signed by the original Alice.
Several other LEC lots during the same auction too.
Could easily see this going over the $60,000 high estimate. The Ulysses is only signed by Matisse. Several of George Macy's own copies, and one of the Alice books is signed by the original Alice.
Several other LEC lots during the same auction too.
3MobyRichard
First ever complete set offered at auction? Can someone confirm this? Seems incredible. If so, I assume it's because people prefer to sell Ulysses and lysistrata separately.
6Glacierman
>4 GusLogan: I would guess that to some people, that isn't important, whereas having the complete LEC oeuvre is.
7PBB
>3 MobyRichard: The largest collection I could find in one lot is this one: https://hindmanauctions.com/auctions/873-books-manuscripts-various-owner/lot/82?...
From this forum I know of one user who has a complete collection and I know Carol Grossman has a complete collection too. My guess would be that there are not even a double digit number of private, complete collections but there's no way to really know.
I hope a bookseller purchases this and not an institution or private collector. I'd like a chance to buy the Quarto-Millenary materials and Macy's personal copies. I don't know if it's a good opportunity for a seller or not.
>4 GusLogan: I wonder what the largest collection with the same number is, and the longest held LEC subscription by the same person/family.
From this forum I know of one user who has a complete collection and I know Carol Grossman has a complete collection too. My guess would be that there are not even a double digit number of private, complete collections but there's no way to really know.
I hope a bookseller purchases this and not an institution or private collector. I'd like a chance to buy the Quarto-Millenary materials and Macy's personal copies. I don't know if it's a good opportunity for a seller or not.
>4 GusLogan: I wonder what the largest collection with the same number is, and the longest held LEC subscription by the same person/family.
8encephalophagy
Definitely some enticing lots in this auction, especially the smaller grouping of 24 Schiff-era works. Sadly, the buyer's premium with this auction house at 27% (or up to 30% depending on your payment method) is prohibitively high for my taste. Any of these making it back onto the market for resale will likely have to be priced very high for the seller to realize any margin.
9GusLogan
>6 Glacierman:
Sure, I was being light-hearted. I wonder how much of a premium it would generate, though…
Sure, I was being light-hearted. I wonder how much of a premium it would generate, though…
10MobyRichard
>8 encephalophagy:
27% is pretty much standard at this point (with additional % points if you go through liveauctioneers.com). Try being the seller. You only get the hammer price minus fees. The buyer's premium goes straight to the auction house.
27% is pretty much standard at this point (with additional % points if you go through liveauctioneers.com). Try being the seller. You only get the hammer price minus fees. The buyer's premium goes straight to the auction house.
11klamerin
This looks stunning, especially the ephemera. Anybody knows if there is a way to get hold of the text of "Reminiscences of Mrs. Helen Macy"?
It is interesting how this collection was acquired - there is way too much stuff that a random person cannot get hold of I guess. Plus it shows unordinary dedication.
It is interesting how this collection was acquired - there is way too much stuff that a random person cannot get hold of I guess. Plus it shows unordinary dedication.
12PBB
>11 klamerin: https://oralhistoryportal.library.columbia.edu/document.php?id=ldpd_4075333
I'm going to look into getting a copy. Carol Grossman told me she had to get permission from the Macy family to get a copy while working on her book. If that's still the case then I'm not sure if I'll be able to get one.
I'm going to look into getting a copy. Carol Grossman told me she had to get permission from the Macy family to get a copy while working on her book. If that's still the case then I'm not sure if I'll be able to get one.
14GusLogan
>13 PBB:
Strikingly low - but I bet a set advertised as uniformly Fine with matching limitation numbers would have done better ; )
I suppose most LEC collectors already have many of the books they want and don’t have >30k USD lying around, so the most likely buyer is a deep-pocketed bookseller or just possibly an institution…
Strikingly low - but I bet a set advertised as uniformly Fine with matching limitation numbers would have done better ; )
I suppose most LEC collectors already have many of the books they want and don’t have >30k USD lying around, so the most likely buyer is a deep-pocketed bookseller or just possibly an institution…
16Lukas1990
>15 GusLogan: I really wanted that Genesis and even made a low bid for it... A lot of books were sold for higher prices than estimated. Rich Americans?
It is very expensive to participate in US auctions that don't provide in-house shipping. Packing and shipping a quarto sized book to Lithuania costs about 250$. Then there are taxes and customs fees which are: 1) 32$ customs fee; 2) 9% of the total value of the book AND shipping price. All this makes it hard to compete with US collectors and booksellers.
p.s. when I lost the Genesis, I've imediately made a significant bid for another book which is on my radar. I might have a chance.
It is very expensive to participate in US auctions that don't provide in-house shipping. Packing and shipping a quarto sized book to Lithuania costs about 250$. Then there are taxes and customs fees which are: 1) 32$ customs fee; 2) 9% of the total value of the book AND shipping price. All this makes it hard to compete with US collectors and booksellers.
p.s. when I lost the Genesis, I've imediately made a significant bid for another book which is on my radar. I might have a chance.
17GusLogan
>16 Lukas1990:
Wishing you luck! I watched the Schiff lots closely but no bargains as far as I was concerned…
Wishing you luck! I watched the Schiff lots closely but no bargains as far as I was concerned…
18GusLogan
>13 PBB:
So that’s just north of 50 bucks per book - while there are probably at least 100 LEC publications that can be bought for that or less, as an average price it looks great considering the high points.
So that’s just north of 50 bucks per book - while there are probably at least 100 LEC publications that can be bought for that or less, as an average price it looks great considering the high points.
19PBB
https://getmansvirtual.com/biblioctopus/a-near-complete-set-of-the-limited-editi...
A complete 1929-1985 collection for $225,000. I wonder how long they'll sit on it until it sells (if ever)
A complete 1929-1985 collection for $225,000. I wonder how long they'll sit on it until it sells (if ever)
20Lukas1990
>19 PBB: Love how they chose the most valuable books from that period as a cover photo. :)
21DenimDan
>19 PBB: And it stops at 1985. As though LEC didn't continue for another 25 years after that, with some of their most expensive titles to boot! The asking price is laughable.
22PBB
>20 Lukas1990: I can't remember the photo. Ulysses+Lysistrata+Alice?
I asked the seller for a complete list and provenance. They said "This set was purchased from Heritage Book Shop around 2007 or 2008 by our customer. I believe it was assembled during the 1980s."
They also sent a bunch of photos. About 90% have slipcases, 10-20% have glassine or original paper jackets. The Gibbons Roman Empire looks pretty nice, a little wear to the top of the spines but better than most. Moby Dick doesn't look great.
There are two copies of Ulysses (single signed or double signed I don't know) and a few other duplicates that aren't valuable.
I'd share what the seller sent me but when I try and put it into my google drive from the email it destroys the format and I can't figure it out.
I asked the seller for a complete list and provenance. They said "This set was purchased from Heritage Book Shop around 2007 or 2008 by our customer. I believe it was assembled during the 1980s."
They also sent a bunch of photos. About 90% have slipcases, 10-20% have glassine or original paper jackets. The Gibbons Roman Empire looks pretty nice, a little wear to the top of the spines but better than most. Moby Dick doesn't look great.
There are two copies of Ulysses (single signed or double signed I don't know) and a few other duplicates that aren't valuable.
I'd share what the seller sent me but when I try and put it into my google drive from the email it destroys the format and I can't figure it out.
23Django6924
>22 PBB:
If it was the Heritage Bookshop in Beverly Hills, I remember looking at that set back in either the 1990s or early 2000s; your description matches my memory of the condition, as the two titles I was really interested in were Moby-Dick and the Gibbons, and both were as you described. I was never impressed by the Lysistrata--milquetoast translation and Picasso's illustrations have always struck me as uninspired--nor have I had a hankering for Ulysses unless in mint condition and signed by Joyce as well--this one wasn't. If memory serves me, I'm pretty sure the asking price was a lot less than the one above--maybe a quarter of that or I wouldn't have even considered it.
If it was the Heritage Bookshop in Beverly Hills, I remember looking at that set back in either the 1990s or early 2000s; your description matches my memory of the condition, as the two titles I was really interested in were Moby-Dick and the Gibbons, and both were as you described. I was never impressed by the Lysistrata--milquetoast translation and Picasso's illustrations have always struck me as uninspired--nor have I had a hankering for Ulysses unless in mint condition and signed by Joyce as well--this one wasn't. If memory serves me, I'm pretty sure the asking price was a lot less than the one above--maybe a quarter of that or I wouldn't have even considered it.
24PBB
>23 Django6924: Biblioctopus is in Beverly Hills so its likely the Heritage in Beverly Hills. I think they'd be lucky to get a quarter of the asking price today. There's been some large LEC collections that have been in the ballpark of $50k at auction in the past five years or so. I wasn't around for the 90s and 2000s but from a few articles I've read and discussion on this forum the prices for LECs have come down adjusting for inflation, outside of the highlights like Picasso and Matisse. I'm sure most of our most experienced collectors on here know this. A collection I bought included a valuation from 2003. Here's a selection of it:
Tartarin: $145
Aucassin and Nicolette: $100
Paradise Lost: $100
Beowulf: $200
The Prince: $125
Sonnets of Petrarch: $200
Lives of the Most Eminent Painters: $450 -Highest eBay sale price in past 3 years is $120
Keats Poems:$250
Kenilworth:$80
Writings of Thomas Jefferson:$200
Little Women: $75 - This might be the only non-Picasso/Matisse LEC that's appreciated. Goes for $300+ on eBay.
I think the only way to get $225k is if you had all the print portfolios too. Which at that point you're really just paying for the Matisse, Picasso, and Lawrence portfolios which can all go for tens of thousands. Not really representative of the LEC.
Tartarin: $145
Aucassin and Nicolette: $100
Paradise Lost: $100
Beowulf: $200
The Prince: $125
Sonnets of Petrarch: $200
Lives of the Most Eminent Painters: $450 -Highest eBay sale price in past 3 years is $120
Keats Poems:$250
Kenilworth:$80
Writings of Thomas Jefferson:$200
Little Women: $75 - This might be the only non-Picasso/Matisse LEC that's appreciated. Goes for $300+ on eBay.
I think the only way to get $225k is if you had all the print portfolios too. Which at that point you're really just paying for the Matisse, Picasso, and Lawrence portfolios which can all go for tens of thousands. Not really representative of the LEC.
27GusLogan
>26 johnny1991:
Was this a recent auction?
Was this a recent auction?
29Lukas1990
>26 johnny1991: Great deal indeed! The winner might be a bookseller.
30GusLogan
Probably not something many members will wish to buy, but interesting nevertheless:
https://www.abebooks.co.uk/signed/Near-Complete-Set-Limited-Editions-Club/322251...
https://www.abebooks.co.uk/signed/Near-Complete-Set-Limited-Editions-Club/322251...
31mr.philistine
>30 GusLogan: I believe this is the same listing posted in >19 PBB: with the same asking price. I recognized the photo described by >20 Lukas1990: (Ulysses+Lysistrata+Alice) now posted below... :)
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