Millions for autographs Chekhov: the results of the auction "Russian enamel" on September 29
ARTinvestment.RU   06 октября 2016

Almost 12 million rubles brought letters and autographs of Chekhov at the last auction. More than half of total revenue trading

September 29 auction house "Russian enamel" held a special auction devoted to Anton Pavlovich Chekhov. More precisely, the name "All Czechs" were only the first part of the auction (lots 1-104), and the remaining approximately 200 lots —, it was a "rare books, autographs, photographs, postcards and posters".

the Last auction can be characterized by the phrase "less is better". In the hall there were relatively few participants, but they came to buy. Lots the percentage left is not much (30% of the total exposed), but almost all the top-лоты was purchased, often with multiple excess of estimate. Summary of — 22.9 mln RUB total revenue, and it is already 107% of the average total estimate (30%-ном care for lots). And the "Chekhov" of trading accounts for 17 million of revenue (129 % of average total estimate section). The purchase was mainly through the Internet (57 lots), telephone (22 lots) and hall (14 lots). On absentee rates was only bought 2 lots. Concise and clear trading new distinguished auctioneer Alexander. Missed less than three hours.

In the section "All Czechs", as mentioned above, the main struggle was for the autographs. Opened the auction two handwritten letters of Anton Pavlovich, 1879 and 1883 years, addressed to a friend of the family Gabriel Pavlovich Kravtsov (lots 1 and 2). However, the letter of 19-летнего Chekhov with estimeytom 1,5–1,6 million rubles struggle arose — the first lot was left without a buyer. In the bidding process this item once was asked to return Internet-игроки, but the second time you sold it, alas, was not. But the second letter already acquired by 1883 some fame by A. Chekhov (aka "A. Chekhonte," he is "M. Carpets", aka the "Man without a spleen") caused a serious fight. And this is understandable. If you compare these two letters, the first — is a more traditional courteous letter of congratulations with New year and bowing, and the second letter was written more than felt the Chekhovian style, humor, and a lot of personal details about the author's life make it a very interesting source. So, Chekhov writes, for example, that works "as a flunky" in 6-7 editions, goes to bed at five o'clock in the morning, and receives 8 kopeks per line, while on some cabs a day spends more than the ruble. "Eat well, drink too dress up not bad, but... it has no extra meat! Say I lost weight beyond recognition", — writes Chekhov Kravtsov. For these and other cute details collectors on the phone in the hall and via the Internet fought from 2.1 million to 3.6 million RUB more Insistent all turned out to be a phone buyer. The letter, incidentally, became the most expensive lot of the evening.

Next, for 1.8 million rubles, three times more expensive than the estimate 550-600 thousand rubles., bought was the first book of A. P. Chekhov (then he signed "A. Chekhonte") "Tales of Melpomene. Six short stories" (M.: Type. A. Levenson, 1884). This lot (No. 3) also sparked a lively competition in all communication channels.

Numerous editions of the newspaper "Novoye Vremya" and "Russkie Vedomosti" from the first publications of different stories Chekhov the majority remained unsold. Newspapers — material specific. It is difficult to imagine a newspaper in perfect collectible condition. Circulations of Newspapers are large, so the estimate got lots were low. But collectors Chekhov,-видимому, or already had in their collections these copies, or prefer to wait for another occasion to buy them.

Another top-лотом was the second book of Chekhov's "Motley stories" (SPb.: Publishing of magazine "Splinters", 1886, lot 10). A collection of 77 works — "salad, a disorderly rabble of student robotised, osobennyh censorship and the editors of humorous publications", as they called this book the author, — were sold to the player by phone at 1.7 mln (estimate for the lot 1-1,2 million roubles). In this instance, you have a Chekhov's autograph, addressed to the writer, poet, translator and publisher Ivan Alekseyevich Belousov (1863-1930).

Released separate books works — plays "Tragedian captive" (lot 36) and "Wedding" (lot 40), the story "Duel" (lot 43), stories "the Wife", "Birthday" and "Ward No. 6" (convolute, lot 45), a collection of short stories "Gloomy people", dedicated to Tchaikovsky (lot 39), — were all purchased much higher estimate. Moreover, in almost all cases, a win over hall and won the Internet. The first edition of the play "Willy-nilly Tragedian. (From country life). A joke in one act" went for 160 thousand rubles (estimate 110-120 thousand rubles). A collection of "Gloomy people" got the Internet player for 140 thousand rubles (estimate 65-70 thousand rubles). Rare lithographed first edition of "Wedding" by Chekhov (the edition of just 110 copies) reached 170 thousand rubles (estimate 110-120 thousand rubles). For "Duel" has paid 140 thousand rubles (estimate 75-80 thousand rubles). And a convolute with the stories "Wife", "Birthday" and "Ward No. 6" in the fight of the Internet and the hall reached a hammer price of 320 thousand. (score 75-80 thousand rubles). Finally, the only one in this string a lot, not getting to the Internet, — a collection of stories of "Ward No. 6", "Women", "Fear" and "Gusev" (SPb.: Ed. A. S. suvorina, 1893, lot 46). In the first edition of the collection the winning bet made a phone party, the hammer price was 420 thousand rubles, while the estimate of 150-160 thousand rubles.

And again autographs of Chekhov. 4-е edition of the story "Kashtanka" with pictures (lot 64) and a dedication to his nephew "Kolya Chekhov" Internet and phone traded from 600 thousand to 1.2 million rubles. Won a phone buyer. A copy of the referenced collection with the stories of "Ward No. 6", "Women", "Fear" and "Gusev" thanks to a dedicatory inscription "to the Children's writer Maria Vladimirovna Kiseleva as a sign of deep respect from a country doctor" has risen more than fourfold, despite the fact that it was his 6-е edition: two players and fought for it from 1 million to 1.9 million rubles. And win for once-то ever won a hall.

the First collected works of Chekhov in 12 volumes of the publishing house A. F. Marx with a dedication to Chekhov Moscow art theater actor Leonid Mironovich Leonidov (lot 91) was the second most cost-lot auction of the "literary Fund". The first ten volumes of this edition came out during Chekhov's life. Volumes 11 through 15 were published after his death (in the lot had 11 and 12 of volume). In this instance the collected works autographed by a solid provenance: in addition to the actor the Moscow art theatre, and later the people's artist of the USSR Leonid Mironovich Leonidov (1873-1941), it was owned by famous bibliophiles Alexander Leontyev-Истомин and Nikolai V. Panshin. The lot was a long struggle, with the expectant breaks and pausegame, two players in the room, telephone and Internet. What-то the time the phone was not time at the gym and the Internet: a serious, and time to think about a next step, the opponents did not leave. The final price was two times higher than the estimate of 3.5 million rubles (estimate of 1.6–1.7 million rubles.). The new owner works with the autograph became a member traded in the hall.

the Second part of the auction, after Chekhov, was held in a more relaxed mode. But here was your top-лоты and good results. For example, "Notes of a naval officer, in the continuation of the campaign in the Mediterranean under the command of Vice-адмирала Dmitry Senyavin from 1805 to 1810 year," V. B. Bronevsky (lot 129) with 380 thousand in the dispute of the Internet and the hall reached 1.3 million rubles. Won the hall. And a handwritten letter from Mikhail Bulgakov's wife, Lyubov Yevgenievna Belozerskaya (lot 264), Internet, telephone and hall traded from 180 to 460 thousand RUB thousand RUB Autograph of the writer went to player in the hall.

we Will wait for new meetings with rare books, manuscripts and autographs in the walls of the auction house "Russian enamel". The nearest auction will take place on 13 October and it will be exclusively devoted to Russian poetry from the eighteenth to mid-twentieth century.

Maria Onuchina, AI