On 11th March 1744, Sotheby’s first ever auction took place in London, offering several hundred rare books totalling £826. Fittingly, given the company’s roots in the book world, Sotheby’s – now a leading international auction house – has remained at the heart of the literary world.

From 29 September – 8 October, Sotheby’s will partner with the Literature, Publishing & Translation Commission of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture to participate in The Riyadh International Book Fair (RIBF). The book fair is considered a major cultural event in the Arab cultural scene, as it is one of the most well-visited and diverse cultural programs to take place in the region, with the presence of the most prominent Arab and international publishing houses, institutions and brands. The fair is accompanied by conferences, educational workshops and seminars on the arts.

Sotheby’s will exhibit a specially curated selection of exceptional books, manuscripts, photographs and objects to exhibit within the Kingdom for the first time. Sotheby’s leading experts will be in attendance from its global offices and will join the series of panel discussions and lectures.  

Edward Gibbs, Chairman, Sotheby’s Middle East & India: “Earlier this year, Sotheby’s presented the first Digital Arts Forum and NFT exhibition in Saudi Arabia, in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, at the inaugural Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale. We were thrilled with the response to this innovative cultural program and hugely encouraged by the vibrancy of the art scene in the Kingdom. We are proud to now present some outstanding highlights from our private sales portfolio as part of the Riyadh International Book Fair – testament to our longstanding commitment to Saudi Arabia.”

Daniel Asmar, Managing Director, Sotheby’s MENA: “Saudi Arabia is a country rich in heritage, and nurturing these diverse traditions whilst further developing the cultural sector is a fundamental component of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. Sotheby’s continues to play a role in these ambitious plans through participation in events such as the Riyadh International Book Fair, where we are proud to present a number of world-class highlights in the category.”

Images: Sotheby's at Riyadh International Book Fair

 

HIGHLIGHTS ON VIEW AT SOTHEBY’S BOOTH

Richard Fattorini, Sotheby’s Senior Specialist in Books & Manuscripts: “As a specialist in books on exploration and travel, I often have the pleasure of viewing incredibly rare photographs and maps. We are excited to bring to Riyadh an exhibition of some of the most desirable pieces in the field, ranging from the historically significant and magnificently bound, to beautiful objects boasting prestigious provenance.”

Among the highlights travelling is a monumental, museum-quality World Globe dating to 1840, created by the greatest globe-makers of the day, George and John Cary, and supplied to Jesus College, Oxford University, in the same year. The spectacular Victorian piece measures an impressive 36 inches in diameter, and shows the Holy Cities of Mecca and Medina, and the pilgrimage port of Jeddah.

Alongside this is a rare album of photographs depicting HM Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh on their royal visit to Saudi Arabia in 1979, during their six-nation tour of Gulf States when they also travelled to Kuwait and Bahrain. The group of 39 photographs includes the Queen disembarking Concord at Riyadh Airport, their official welcome by HM King Khalid of Saudi Arabia, and their attendance at events including camel racing in the desert.

Also on view is a large and detailed map depicting the geology of the Arabian Peninsula dating to 1963. It was compiled in 1963 as part of a project by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Arabian American Oil Company under the joint sponsorship of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, and the U.S. Department of State.

Among the fine art exhibited is a painting of a falcon by Nicholas Manning painted in 2018. Over the years, the artist has perfected a style of realism based on a close observation of nature that results in paintings that depict creatures full of life. Manning’s works are rare on the market, with the artist working directly with a select client base of patrons, including members of the British Royal Family.

Further highlights include: an exceptional deluxe edition folio of prints depicting 19^th-century Egypt by David Roberts, an acclaimed British painter who was among the first to travel to the Near East; a first edition of the finest work on falconry that has ever been produced, by German ornithologist Hermann Schlegel, with illustrations of birds depicted life-size; the first edition of the most important work of the nineteenth century devoted to Islamic art – L'Art Arabe d'apres les monuments du Kaire (1869-1877) – with an exhaustive description of the applied arts in Cairo.

All of the pieces on view will be available for private sale.

SOTHEBY’S PRIVATE SALES

Sotheby’s assists its global audience of collectors to buy and sell works across all fine art disciplines, as well as diamonds, fine jewellery, watches and rare vintages. Private Sales operates outside the traditional auction calendar, offering the freedom to collect world-class works any day of the year.

Just as Sotheby’s is rapidly expanding its reach, attracting new clients and younger demographics, it is also expanding the scope of its offerings and the channels via which collectors can transact. Private sales are a key component of this, complementing the auction business and providing collectors – established and new – with a broader menu of opportunities to transact.

Find out more here.