The month of November at Swann Galleries featured a marathon of fine art auctions, including a two-day sale of Old Master Through Modern Prints and Master Drawings, a private collection of Contemporary Artists Books, Contemporary Art, and a Travel Posters sale. Combined, the auctions earned $6.7 million and established 30 records for the market. The month opened with Old Master Through Modern Prints and Master Drawings, featuring a private collection of Italian Old Masters. Held over two days, the sale brought a combined total of $2.9 million. Prints from stalwarts of all eras were in strong demand for Old Master Through Modern Prints. Three of the top 10 highest selling lots belonged to Rembrandt etchings, and an equal number for works by modern masters Pablo Picasso and Joan Mir also found success. World records were had for American prints by Winslow Homer, Blanche Lazzell and Gustave Baumann, and the top lot of the sale was clinched by Vincent Van Goghs scarce 1890 etching, Homme la Pipe: Portrait du Docteur Gachet (one of fewer than 65 impressions known), at $161,000. Master Drawings were led by two drawings of machinery by 14th-century Sienese artist Francesco di Giorgio Martini. The drawings were won by an institution for $61,250, a record for a drawing by the artist. Also of note from Italian schools were works by Giorgio Vasari and Il Guercino. Preparatory drawings and studies by French artists included Jean-Franois Millets 187172 charcoal-on-canvas study for the oil painting La Famille du Paysan, at $17,500, and Eugne Delacroixs Jacob Wrestling with the Angel, a brush-and-ink reminiscent of his mural of the same name in the Church of Saint-Sulpice, at $16,250. In Contemporary Artists Books: The Property of a Texas Collector, an exceptional single-owner sale featured rarely seen works by leading artists and imprints. The sale is destined to be remembered as among the finest single-owner Artists Books sales for a long while. I am particularly pleased to note that the buyers ran the gamut from institutions, dealers, and private collectors, with a significant number of first-time clients, noted John D. Larson, the specialist for the sale. The auction earned $1.1 million, with records being recorded for Louise Bourgeoiss Ode ma mre, 1995, the complete portfolio with nine drypoints, at $87,500, as well as Ed Ruschas Stains, 1969, at $112,500. The unique, one-of-a-kind material also garnered interest with Maya Lins From Tibet to Suriname, From China to New York, 2008, bringing $18,750, and Ruschas unique found-object book S, 1999, selling for $23,750. The Contemporary Art sale was led by Wolf Kahns Against Near Hills, Evening, oil on canvas, 1991, an exemplary example of Kahns treescapes in shocks of color, at $185,000. Records were had for David Hockneys Hotel Acatln: Second Day, a color lithograph diptych from 1984, at $137,000; Jasper Johns Flag (Moratorium), color offset lithograph, 1969, at $62,500; and Yves Kleins Timbre Bleu, an IKB pigment on a postage stamp from 1957, a record for this medium from Klein at $27,500. Works by Jenny Holzer, Terry Winters, Clement Meadmore and Gerhard Richter were also among leading lots. This seasons Rare and Important Travel Posters sale was the highest-grossing sale for the category at Swann to date at $636,453. The auction featured seldom-seen and new-to-market images showcasing global destinations. Collectors, dealers and institutions truly fought to acquire signature and scarce examples of travel posters at Swann. Their rarity plus what can only be deemed an acquisitive wanderlust begot from more than 18 months of travel-free shutdowns around the world fueled prices, said Nicholas D. Lowry of the sale. Highlights included Michael Rudolf Wenings Siam / Beautiful Bangkok / The Jewel City of Asia, ca. 1920s, at $16,250; Earl Horters Grand Central Terminal / The Gateway to A Continent, 1927, at $7,500; and Henru Cassiers Red Star Line / Antwerpen Amerika, 1899, at $7,250, all auction records. For the most up-to-date auction schedule, visit swanngalleries.com.