Rare Books & Manuscripts auction

Rare Books, Autographs,
Prints & Photographs

Hermitage Fine Art · October 2026 Auction

Monaco — 29 October

Salvador Dalí — Drawings and letters to Léonide Massine, c. 1941–42 Mert & Marcus — Kate, for Numéro, May 2001 Grigory Rasputin — Icon of St Pimen with his inscription

Hermitage Fine Art invites you to discover its autumn catalogue of rare books, autographs, prints and photographs, featuring an exceptional selection of lots spanning centuries of art, history and culture.

Prints, Photographs & Posters

The catalogue opens with a section dedicated to Prints, Photographs & Posters (lots 701–734), including lithographs, engravings and photographs, many from limited editions and bearing the artists' signatures. Particular highlights include a striking photograph of Kate Moss for Numéro (May 2001) by the celebrated fashion photography duo Mert & Marcus (lot 725); a collection of postage stamps designed by Austrian artist and architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (lot 729); and a first edition of Helmut Newton's SUMO (lot 726). This monumental publishing project, distinguished by its extraordinary format, exceptional printing quality and iconic photographic subjects, has become a landmark in the history of photography books.

Mert & Marcus — Kate, for Numéro, May 2001 Lot 725 Mert & Marcus Kate, for Numéro, May 2001 Estimate €16,000 – 18,000 Helmut Newton — SUMO, first edition Lot 726 Helmut Newton SUMO, first edition Estimate €1,000 – 1,500 Friedensreich Hundertwasser — Stamps for the UN Declaration of Human Rights Lot 729 Friedensreich Hundertwasser Stamps for the UN Declaration of Human Rights Estimate €500 – 600

Across the Catalogue

Travel & Geography

A selection of 19th- and early 20th-century travel accounts (lots 743–753) documents journeys through Africa, Italy and the Netherlands, voyages around the world, submarine exploration and the earliest flying machines. A particular highlight is a rare publication devoted to the first motorised crossing of the Sahara in Citroën vehicles, bearing the autograph of one of its authors (lot 752).

Early Maps & Cartography

Rare 16th- and 17th-century geographical maps (lots 841–850), finely hand-coloured in watercolour and embellished with elaborate decorative cartouches, offer fascinating insights into the geographical knowledge and artistic traditions of their time.

Monaco & the French Riviera

Periodicals and publications (lots 800–805) illustrate the history and cultural life of the region during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Of particular interest is a programme commemorating the inauguration of the Stade Louis II, attended by the President of the International Olympic Committee, Juan Antonio Samaranch (lot 806). It bears the autographs of Prince Rainier III, Hereditary Prince Albert, Princess Caroline, Princess Antoinette and Stefano Casiraghi.

The Little Red Book

Two first editions of Mao Zedong's Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung. The paperbound edition (lot 796) was intended for army officers, while the edition in its distinctive red vinyl binding (lot 795) was distributed among soldiers.

Gastronomy, Wine & Cocktails

An exceptional selection of rare books (lots 818–840) brings together publications from different historical periods, offering an insight into the evolution of culinary traditions, wine appreciation and the art of cocktail-making.

Haardt & Audouin-Dubreuil — The Citroën crossing of the Sahara, 1924, signed Lot 752 Haardt & Audouin-Dubreuil The Citroën crossing of the Sahara, 1924, signed Estimate €200 – 300 Stade Louis II, 1985 — Inauguration programme signed by the Princely Family Lot 806 Stade Louis II, 1985 Inauguration programme signed by the Princely Family Estimate €200 – 250 Mao Zedong — Little Red Book, first edition, red vinyl Lot 795 Mao Zedong Little Red Book, first edition, red vinyl Estimate €1,800 – 2,000 Mao Zedong — Little Red Book, first edition, paperbound Lot 796 Mao Zedong Little Red Book, first edition, paperbound Estimate €1,500 – 1,700
Salvador Dalí — Drawings and letters to Léonide Massine, c. 1941–42 Salvador Dalí — Drawings and letters to Léonide Massine, c. 1941–42
Highlight

Salvador Dalí

1904 – 1989

A particular highlight is Salvador Dalí (lot 784), represented by an exceptional group of autograph letters and original ink and watercolour drawings, dating from circa 1941–1942. Addressed to the celebrated choreographer Léonide Massine, the correspondence includes a letter signed by Dalí and another dictated to his wife Gala. The authenticity of the work has been confirmed by Robert and Nicolas Descharnes.

Estimate €40,000 – 45,000

View lot 784

Autographs & Manuscripts

As always, the auction features an extensive selection of Autographs & Manuscripts by distinguished figures in science, art, literature and culture — from Picasso, Eiffel, Einstein and Chaplin to Tchaikovsky, Rasputin, Bunin and Dovlatov.

Pablo Picasso — Autograph letter to André Level, 1915 Lot 767 Pablo Picasso Autograph letter to André Level, 1915 Estimate €5,000 – 5,500 Gustave Eiffel — Autograph letter, 1916 Lot 768 Gustave Eiffel Autograph letter, 1916 Estimate €600 – 800 Albert Einstein — Signed letter to Irving Segal, 1952 Lot 787 Albert Einstein Signed letter to Irving Segal, 1952 Estimate €2,500 – 3,000 Charlie Chaplin — Signed portrait postcard Lot 791 Charlie Chaplin Signed portrait postcard Estimate €1,500 – 2,000 Fidel Castro — Signed diploma, Havana, 1978 Lot 797 Fidel Castro Signed diploma, Havana, 1978 Estimate €2,500 – 3,000 Pyotr Tchaikovsky — Autograph letter to Joseph Dupont, 1876 Lot 884 Pyotr Tchaikovsky Autograph letter to Joseph Dupont, 1876 Estimate €10,000 – 12,000 Nicholas Roerich — Autograph letter to Denis Roche, 1908 Lot 901 Nicholas Roerich Autograph letter to Denis Roche, 1908 Estimate €600 – 800 Grigory Rasputin — Icon of St Pimen with his inscription Lot 915bis Grigory Rasputin Icon of St Pimen with his inscription Estimate €25,000 – 30,000 Felix Yusupov — Rasputin, 1927, with autograph Lot 967 Felix Yusupov Rasputin, 1927, with autograph Estimate €1,500 – 2,000 Ivan Bunin — Autograph, with S. Yablonovsky Lot 960 Ivan Bunin Autograph, with S. Yablonovsky Estimate €5,000 – 5,500 Alexander Kuprin — Autograph letter to G. Aleksinsky Lot 963 Alexander Kuprin Autograph letter to G. Aleksinsky Estimate €1,200 – 1,500 Alexei Remizov — Autograph letter to S. Kaplun, 1926 Lot 965 Alexei Remizov Autograph letter to S. Kaplun, 1926 Estimate €600 – 800 Feodor Chaliapin — Autograph inscription, 1934 Lot 968 Feodor Chaliapin Autograph inscription, 1934 Estimate €100 – 150 Sergei Dovlatov — The Zone, 1982, with autograph Lot 992 Sergei Dovlatov The Zone, 1982, with autograph Estimate €2,500 – 3,000

Of Particular Significance

Konstantin Balmont — Autograph manuscript notebook of poems, 1925–1931 Lot 961An exceptional autograph manuscript notebook of poetry by Konstantin Balmont, dating from 1925–1931 and originating from the archive of Serge Lifar.Estimate €70,000 – 80,000 Alexei Remizov — Plyas Irodiady, 1922, hand-coloured copy Lot 964An exceptionally rare, entirely lithographed edition of Alexei Remizov's Plyas Irodiady [The Dance of Herodias] (1922), illustrated by the artist N. Istselenov. The copy presented is one of those hand-coloured by the artist.Estimate €12,000 – 14,000

Imperial Russia

The section of Imperial Russian Documents includes documents signed by Emperor Nicholas I (lot 856) and Emperor Alexander III (lot 857), as well as an autograph letter in French by Empress Catherine II, addressed to Count Ernst von Münnich (lot 854).

Among 18th-Century Russian Books & Illustrated Publications, notable highlights include the first botanical atlas published in Russia (lot 858), the first Russian textbook on the art of drawing (lot 861), and a selection of finely engraved views of Saint Petersburg and its surroundings (lots 862–867). Also presented is a rare engraved album by Jean-Baptiste Le Prince, depicting Russian character types, traditional costumes and the everyday life of the various peoples of the Russian Empire (lot 859).

Catherine II — Autograph letter to Count Ernst von Münnich Lot 854 Catherine II Autograph letter to Count Ernst von Münnich Estimate €5,000 – 5,500 Nicholas I — Signed letter, 1827 Lot 856 Nicholas I Signed letter, 1827 Estimate €3,500 – 4,000 Alexander III — Imperial rescript, 1885 Lot 857 Alexander III Imperial rescript, 1885 Estimate €1,800 – 2,000 Johann Amman — The first botanical atlas published in Russia, 1739 Lot 858 Johann Amman The first botanical atlas published in Russia, 1739 Estimate €2,200 – 2,400 Johann Daniel Preisler — The first Russian textbook on drawing Lot 861 Johann Daniel Preisler The first Russian textbook on drawing Estimate €500 – 600 Jean-Baptiste Le Prince — Œuvres: Russian types and costumes Lot 859 Jean-Baptiste Le Prince Œuvres: Russian types and costumes Estimate €3,000 – 4,000

19th-Century Russian Books

The selection includes important historical works and collected editions of Russian literary classics, many preserved in elegant contemporary bindings. Highlights include works by Fyodor Dostoevsky (lot 882), the Slavophile writer Alexei Khomyakov (lot 894), Nikolai Schilder's Emperor Paul I (lot 898), and Evgeny Markov's Sketches of Crimea (lot 899).

The catalogue also features Photographs of the Russian Imperial Family (lots 905–915), memoirs and documentary accounts of the Russian Revolution (lots 920–930), and a selection of rare poetry collections and illustrated publications of the Russian émigré community (lots 931, 935–937, 964 and 973–992).

Fyodor Dostoevsky — Complete Works, 1911–1918 Lot 882 Fyodor Dostoevsky Complete Works, 1911–1918 Estimate €400 – 500 Alexei Khomyakov — Complete Works, 1886–1906 Lot 894 Alexei Khomyakov Complete Works, 1886–1906 Estimate €1,500 – 2,000 Nikolai Schilder — Emperor Paul I Lot 898 Nikolai Schilder Emperor Paul I Estimate €1,200 – 1,400 Evgeny Markov — Sketches of Crimea, 1903 Lot 899 Evgeny Markov Sketches of Crimea, 1903 Estimate €500 – 600

Rare Books & Manuscripts Auction

29 October 2026, 14:30

Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo

Preview

23 October: 19:00 – 21:00

24–25 October: 11:00 – 18:00

info@hermitagefineart.com · +377 97 77 39 80

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