Auction Highlights
Posted on 6 December 2013
Following on from the success of last week's art auction, Pam Plumbly held one of the most successful rare book auctions in recent memory and certainly since the Pycroft Collection held two years ago. Top lot went to the record making 1776 Poa print by Robert Laurie which adorned the cover but the auction was strong throughout with a sales total just over $180 000.
Featuring a Tui resting on a branch, the Poa print is believed to be one of only around ten known copies in existence today and only one of two remaining in private hands. The print, a mezzotint in colour, was almost a century ahead of its time with colour printing not established as a commercial process until late in the 19th Century. Robert Laurie was only around twenty years old at the time and chose the subject after Captain Cook returned to England on the 30th July 1775 with a rather poorly stuffed and mounted Tui.
A few of the auction preliminary highlights included:
Lot 9. Christmas Card signed by Charles and Diana $1090 (illustrated)
Lot 95. NZ: In a series of letters - SMD Martin $1335
Lot 110. Some Account of NZ - John Savage $4850
Lot 125. The Journals of Captain Cook - Beaglehole $2060
Lot 129. Voyage to the Pacific Ocean (with Atlas) $6060
Lot 139. W. L Buller History of the Birds $3515
Lot 257. The Sphere - Illustrated Newspaper $2425
Lot 267. Maori Art - Hamilton $2305
Lot 287. The Ancient History of the Maori - John White $6790
Lot 322. The Poa - Robert Laurie $24 550 *record price for a print to be sold at auction in New Zealand
Lot 334. A series of Lithographic Drawings - R. A Oliver $9700
Lot 399. The Botanical Magazine $3150
All prices include buyer's premium and GST. A full list of prices realized will be available shortly.
