The Live Auction, Part I, of the Two-Part Sale

Realises £2,751,588

Welcoming registered bidders from 25 countries

33% of bidders new to Christie’s

World Auction Records set for books by

 Agatha Christie, Miles Davis, Arthur Conan Doyle and Evelyn Waugh

Over 200 lots still open for bidding in Part II

A first edition of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby,  inscribed by the author to the ‘original “Gatsby” of this story’  sold for £226,800

London – On 28 September, Part I of the much-anticipated Charlie Watts: Gentleman, Collector, Rolling Stone – Literature and Jazz realised £2,751,588 (178% of the low estimate). The live auction presented over 200 lots comprising modern first editions and an extensive collection of jazz amassed by the legendary musician and Rolling Stones drummer. World auction records were set for books by Agatha Christie (The Thirteen Problems), Miles Davis (Miles. The Autobiography), Arthur Conan Doyle (The Hound of the Baskervilles) and Evelyn Waugh (Brideshead Revisited). The top lot was an important presentation copy of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, a book which defines the Jazz Age, inscribed inside the front cover to ‘the original Gatsby’, which sold for £226,800.

Benedict Winter, Specialist, Private & Iconic Collections and Mark Wiltshire, Specialist, Books and Manuscripts at Christie’s: “The results so far for this landmark collection – celebrating the life and legacy of Charlie Watts – are a true testament to the erudite and passionate eye of Charlie, the epitome of an informed and inspired collector. Don’t miss further opportunities to secure remarkable Literature and Jazz lots in Part II which remains open for bidding until midday on 29 September, when it will begin to close sequentially. We look forward to sharing the final results.”

The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle is the most famous Sherlock Holmes story and is widely considered the most iconic detective novel ever written. A remarkably fine presentation copy of the first edition, inscribed by the author sold for £214,200, setting a new world auction record for a book by Arthur Conan Doyle.

The demand for iconic works of detective fiction was further highlighted by the new auction record for a book by Agatha Christie - the world’s best known mystery writer – with Charlie Watts’s copy of The Thirteen Problems selling for £60,480.

Evelyn Waugh’s classic Brideshead Revisited, inscribed to his World War II Commander, also made a new auction record, achieving £60,480.

Jazz highlights were led by two Down Beat awards presented to Charlie Parker for ‘Favorite Soloist: First Place’ and ‘Alto Sax: First Place’, in 1952, which sold for £37,800 and Miles. The Autobiography, an inscribed first edition by Miles Davis and Quincy Thomas Jr. Troupe, closed Part I with a flourish, selling for £27,720 and setting a new world auction price.

For the full results of Part I please click here. For images please see the DropBox.

Part II, the Online Sale, remains open for bidding until Friday 29 September, when lots will close sequentially from 12 noon BST on 29 September.                                                                                     

Please note, the final total realised for the collection (Part I and Part II) will follow once Part II has closed. Meanwhile to browse the current bids in the Online Sale, Part II, please click here