- By Rob LaHood
- Business & Technology
Of particular interest were eight panels of early hand-illumined vellum that displayed vividly with watercolor painting trimmed in gilt accent areas. The subject matters of the three larger panels were Christian, while the others featured decorative bordering and designs. These items showed beautifully and fetched a $2,800 hammer price (plus buyer’s premium).
Two framed original Wanda Gág lithographs sold for a combined $1,550 hammer price (plus buyer’s premium). One piece featured Gág's “Backyard Corner”, signed in the bottom right hand corner and hand-numbered #30. According to auction records, this particular print was limited to 100 impressions. Wanda Hazel Gág was an American author, illustrator, and printmaker, whose dynamic visual style imbued the often-commonplace subjects of both her serious art and her illustrated books for children, with an intense vitality.
Among the numerous Asian lots were dozens of Mao-era Chinese propaganda posters, Communist China books as well as unique items from Japan including a 20-foot Shunga scroll. This original Shunga piece, "Three Fishermen on the Island of Happiness" featured a Japanese painted ink and watercolor scroll of 20 scenes on 20 sheets joined together, with gold-flecked end panels and blue paper boarders. The narrative tale relates the sexual odyssey of three fishermen washed ashore on an island of beautiful women. The scroll realized a $600 hammer price (plus buyer’s premium).
National Book Auctions is a public auction service specializing in books, ephemera, and art. National Book Auctions is a targeted service offering experience and expertise unique to marketing antique and modern books and ephemera for consignors and collectors alike.
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