Roseberry’s sent in this report on the first of their Dalí sales held last week that made £405,600:

On Thursday 17 October, Roseberys auctioneers offered the largest collection of Dali works to be seen together in London for decades.  The rare books, in particular, attracted a huge amount of interest with Lot 56, a first edition of “Les Chants de Maldoror”, achieving the highest hammer price of £65,000. Other books that commanded high prices include Lot 155, Tzara, Tristan, “Grains et Issues, Reve Experimental” sold for £19,000;  Lot 168, Breton, Andre, “Cours Naturel”, sold for £15,000 and Lot 163, Char, Rene, “Artine” sold for £9,000.

Dali’s large animal bronzes with a surrealist slant also sold well.  Both the “Elephant Spatial” (Lot 80) and the “Rhinoceros Habile en Dentelles” (Lot 61) exceeded their estimates achieving £9,000 and £18,500 respectively.

Lot 77, “Ten Recipes for Immortality” was, perhaps, one of the most elaborately presented suites of Dali’s graphic works in the auction.  This portfolio, constructed of perspex with gilt metal mounts, includes prints which need to be constructed to be viewed.  One of these, “The Immortal Monarchy” involves a mirror to reflect the image.  Another, “Genetic Imperialism”, is a three-dimensional pop up work.  The whole is presented within a magnificent suitcase with a silvered metal telephone receiver handle.  The lot sold for £8,500 to a New York gallery.

Roseberys hopes to offer the second part of this private collector’s works next spring.