Headed by Frédéric Harnisch, an experienced specialist in all areas of rare and precious books and manuscripts, the department also calls on the best experts whenever specific items demand it.
Its scope is very wide, ranging from medieval manuscripts, illuminated or not, to the most contemporary literary and artistic works, including beautiful bindings from all ages or the most fundamental works of human genius.
The department offers collectors works relating to genealogy and heraldry as well as art and musical creation, not forgetting the graphic works of writers and artists.
Thanks to its expertise, Artcurial has been entrusted with numerous collections that have been successfully auctioned, such as the Maurice Houdayer Library, whose four sales totalled nearly €4m in 2021 and 2022.
Thanks to this diversity of subjects and the expertise brought to each work, the Books & Manuscripts department enjoys an excellent reputation with a wide international audience and organises between two and five sales per year.
Artcurial’s specialists are at your disposal for free and confidential valuations of your books and manuscripts.
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On 11th February 2025, Artcurial will auction a collection of works reflecting a lesser-known aspect of Gérard Lévy’s personality, showcasing his visionary passion for Symbolism and Art Nouveau at a time when these movements were largely forgotten. This remarkable panorama highlights major figures such as Maxence, Khnopff, Schwabe, and Mucha, alongside rarer compositions by Numa Gillet, Marcius-Simons, and Georges Lorin.
On December 16th 2024, Artcurial will hold an exceptional auction dedicated to the personal writings and memorabilia of General de Gaulle, from the estate of Admiral Philippe de Gaulle. Over 370 lots, including private documents and personal objects, will be presented in this historic sale. Part of the proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Fondation Anne de Gaulle.
On Wednesday, June 19th, 2024, in collaboration with experts Emmanuel Lhermitte and Philippine de Sailly, Artcurial organized the first part of the auction of the collection of bibliophile Jean Bourdel (1890-1971), totaling €1,785,663 including fees, with 93% of lots sold. The collection is one of the most important libraries of the 20th century dedicated to Gothic prints in French and to poets and writers of the 16th century. After this first sale, two more auctions will offer the last part of the collection in 2025.
On June 19th, an exceptional sale will take place at Artcurial, in partnership with experts Emmanuel Lhermitte and Philippine de Sailly. This sale will showcase the remarkable collection of Jean Bourdel (1890-1971), a book enthusiast who, since the 1920s and for over fifty years, assembled one of the most notable libraries of the 20th century.