Expert Anatoly Borovkov gives a forecast of forthcoming book auctions Sotheby's, Christie's, Bloomsbury, as well as bidding «Rare and valuable books and manuscripts of XVIII - XX century» in the CHA and the bidding strings «Bukinistika» within the

As you know, the book - a source of knowledge, but a good antique book - it is also a good source of cash savings, and the subject of aesthetic pleasure. It is not known collector AA Hungarian in an interview he said: «I have something like orgasm when taking in his hands a rare antique book and feel of an old leather binding». The practice and study of the auction catalog shows that in recent years, a good rare Russian books became more than twice, and some, such as a collection of Futurists «Mirskontsa», even five times. Now the end of the year, the year of global economic crisis, but this is the most opportune time for the collection and replenishment of collections.

In late November - early December, will take place immediately with five auction sales of Russian books.

November 26, auction house Sotheby's put up for auction 34 lots, it is the Russian paper items, among which 13 lots actually Russian book.

November 27, a full-fledged auction of 132 lots of Russian books and manuscripts will hold a house Christie's.

November 29, in Russia will be two book auction. In 13 hours at the Central House of Artists, in the antiquarian book fair, held annually bidding «Rare and valuable books and manuscripts of XVIII - XX centuries», involving 55 carefully selected lots - these books now do not find the stores. And in about 16 hours in the auction house Auction Season «Gelos» hold regular auctions in strings «Bukinistika».

4 December at New York auction house Bloomsbury will hold an auction of Russian books.

Now, briefly on the more interesting lots of the auction.

November 26, 2008 auction, Sotheby's (London) is cheap (8 000-10 000 pounds) put up for auction two «Coronation Collection of Nicholas II», in good condition and Russian (Lot 108).

here (Lot 110), the famous «Imperial Royal Hunt» N. Kutepova in four volumes, in the normal performance without kolenkorovom silver corners. In the fourth, the most rare volume lacks a table, but the starting price for a copy of a moderate (25 000-35 000 lb).

It is a rare and remarkable for the Russian culture the first collection of poems by Alexander Pushkin in 1826 (lot 116), unfortunately, presented a copy defective: it lacks a title and a few pages, but some pages have defects. Initial price (4 000-6 000 lb), a full copy can be sold for 20 times more expensive.

The most valuable of all lots of this auction to me «The collection of news related to this war» in 28 volumes, 1854-1856 years (lot 117). Tom intertwined in the wonderful velvet binding with embossed patterned and, judging by the description, made for Emperor Nicholas I. They are tentatively estimated at 15 000-20 000 British pounds sterling.

Russian avant-garde represented by only one book: it is a frequent participant in almost all auction in recent years «Lidantyu headlamps» Ilya Zdanevicha , published in Paris in 1923.

looks much better Christie's auction on Nov. 27, 2008 (London) . Quite a rare book of Peter's time Dm. Kantemir «system or the state of religion muhamedanskoy ...» 1722 (Lot 2) with a high estimate of 12 000-18 000 pounds. I do not like, only traces of the book worm in the bottom left corner, visible in the illustration in the catalog. Obviously, they have izeden and binding of this rare book.

here exposed and become part of the market describing the coronation of Alexander II (40 000-60 000 lb) and Alexander III (50 000-70 000 lb). True, it is worth noting that the description of the coronation of Alexander II, issued in French, a copy of the description of the coronation of Alexander III, published in Russian.

Sadly, indeed, very rare description coronation of Elizabeth in 1745 (50 000-60 000 pounds) is also not published in Russian and in German, which noticeably reduces the value of the book for the Russian collector.

Of course, interesting and just grow up in the price of two autograph Chekhov: a picture of a memorial inscription (Lot 40, 3 000-4 000 pounds) and a letter (Lot 41, 3 000-4 000 pounds).

One of the most desired lot is 46: this is the first edition of the poem lifetime Gogol «Dead Souls» 1842 (10 000-15 000 lb). In itself, this edition is not very great rarity, but with preservation of the publications cover, which was also the author of Gogol, as in the present instance, it is the dream of many collectors. Moreover, in the same lot is the first edition and second volume «Dead souls», 1855.

There were no participation in the auction and the next Pushkinsky «Eugene Onegin» 1833 (lot 83, 20 000-30 000 lb). It was published during his lifetime Pushkin edition of 2 400 copies and is no longer a rarity.

Most interesting to handwritten album of 1828 with the lyrics as the Pushkin and his contemporaries (Lot 85, 8 000-10 000 lb). Its value lies in the eleven original engravings from various publications of the time, including four rare engravings S. Galaktionov to «Bakhchissaray fountain» Pushkin.

striking disproportionate cost of their first edition of «Poems F. Tyutchev», 1854 (lot 97, 20 000-30 000 lb), which is not a rarity. The same publication in an interesting tselnokozhanom book will be sold on 29 November in the Russian Auction «Gelos» with initial price of 30 000 rubles. A catalog of Bloomsbury on 4 December in New York on the same edition an estimated U.S. $ 2 000.

good books represented in the auction Russian science. This is a publication of the first three lifetime of great mathematician NI Lobachevsky (1792-1856), among which the «Pangeometriya» in 1855 (lot 57, 6 000-9 000 pounds) and the «imaginary geometry» in 1835 (lot 58, 5 000 -- 8 000 pounds). This is the first publication of the famous periodic table of elements of DI Mendeleev first printed in 1869 edition of 80 copies (Lot 60, 10 000-15 000 lb). And the pride of Russia, the world's first description of the invention and the radio circuit, made by Popov in 1896 (lot 75, 4 000-6 000 lb). It should be noted that these publications and even a few rare books Lobachevsky available two days later, on 29 November in Moscow, at an auction in the CHA, roughly the same price, but with a commission of 10 per cent rather than 15 per cent, as at the Christie.

Vanguard, published in Russia, is presented very poorly. In addition to 14 sheets of lithographs NS Goncharova of a series «Mystical images of war», without a title, description, and publishing an illustrated directory of 1914 (1 200-1 800 lb), it can be noted the book A. Kruchenykh «Vzorval» 1913 lithograph from O. Rozanova , K. and others . (lot 120, 3 000-5 000 pounds). Of course, the most interesting sounding avant-garde had become famous, rare «Kozochka» El Lisitsky , published in Kiev in 1919, edition of 75 copies ( Lot 121, 28 000-35 000 lb). On this edition, I wrote in his «Deziderate editions of the Russian avant-garde», noting that valued only the total copies of publications wrapper. Unfortunately, from the description in the auction catalog, I do not know whether it is in this instance.

At the end of the catalog (lot 131) announced a full set of 14 beautiful rooms magazine «Firebird» 1921-1926 years, bound in two binding with the assessment in the 5 000-8 000 pounds.

Auction in the Central House of Artists on 29 November , which I mentioned above, the organizers prepared for the whole year. The catalog includes its really rare and valuable Russian edition.

They need to note two autograph S. Yesenin (lots 5 and 7) with the start of 100 000 rubles.

A rare, not found «ABC» Leo Tolstoy, a complete set in the first edition of 1872 (lot 10, 550 000 rubles).

Two Pushkin almanac times with his works, now is not found in the antique market (lots 13 and 14).

The first statement in the press Lermontov (lots 20, 21).

Two basic books of Russian avant-garde, written by A. Kruchenykh in 1912 and 1913 of the «Game of Hell» (Lot 29, 260 000 rubles) and «Duck nest» (Lot 30, 320 000 rubles) with lithography N . Goncharova and Olga Rozanova.

A complete set (five pieces), all first editions of NI Lobachevsky on his neevklidovoy geometry, on which I have mentioned, including the «Beginning geometry», 1829-1830 years.

Luxurious having historical value, the publication of the Gospel in 1644, in excellent condition (Lot 45, Home 900 000 rubles).

One of the best illustrated books of Russian nineteenth century, the beginning of «Featured logos and characters are ...» in 1811 with a large number of prints (lot 51, 800 000 rubles).

And of course, three very rare book with a description of Moscow and its attractions, printed in the XVIII - early XIX century, the era of the bindings and in prime condition (lots 48, 50, 52).

With a complete catalog of auction lots, and it can be found from 26 to 29 November in the Central House of Artists in the antiquarian book fair.

secondhand strings auction house «Gelos» 29 November presents for auction an interesting book «Samples of fonts typography the Imperial Academy of Sciences» 1870 edition of the assessment of 25 000 rubles.

ABOUT F. Tyutchev poems in 1854, I have already mentioned.

The most interesting sale can be «Gospel uchitelnoe», printed in 1569 in Zabludove, with a modest initial assessment of 250 000 rubles. At the time of this review, I have no information about other interesting lots of the auction.

Finally, Bloomsbury auction on December 4 in New York . It presented a lot of Russian avant-garde books, decorated by artists-constructivists. On the correctness of their assessment, given the global economic crisis, we will know after the auction. However, this applies to all upcoming auctions. The best auction lots Bloomsbury me lots 235 - rare «October in Cuba» with collages N. Prusakova, A. Naumov, and S. Svetlova, and lot 253 - a full set, which is rare, constructivist folder «Art in the home», 1925 edition of assessment of 15 000-25 000 U.S. dollars.

Anatoly Borovkov, an expert member of the International Confederation

antique and art dealers in Russia and CIS