Annotation practice of the Hugo Helbing Gallery
Each hand copy is the result of an internal business and documentation process. Depending on their function within the business process, they contain different categories of annotations, which are indicated on the start page of each hand copy. Explanations of the terms can be found in the glossary.
In addition to annotation categories, hand copies vary over time and depending on who annotated and for what purpose. Where and how certain annotation categories are placed on the page varies. The pattern described in the following example is therefore not easily transferable to other hand copies. It is always necessary to check the meanings of the annotations on a case-by-case basis by looking at the context of the whole catalogue and by comparing it with other copies.
Example
On the left is the abbreviated name of the „Einliefernde“ (consignor), in this case "Chillingw. Next to the name is the minimum price that the lot should achieve through the auction (= limit price). According to the list of persons who consigned objects in the front section of the catalogue, which usually contains more information than the information in the catalogue section, the consignor is a Nuremberg-based Kommerzienrat Chillingworth.
The results of the auction are noted on the right: The name of the person or institution that bought the lot at auction or the indication that the lot was not auctioned ("retour") as well as the highest bids in each case. In addition, the line through or the circle around the lot number marks the status of the lot as sold or returned.
In the full view of the catalogue, further annotations become visible, which are noted on carbon copy pages:
This is a bidding order that was submitted in the run-up to the auction. According to this, a person named "Pschorr", identified by the letter G, had bid a maximum of 250 marks for lot number 86. According to the list of persons who placed bidding orders at the front of the catalogue, the person listed under the letter G was a Munich resident named "Major Gg. Pschorr". The annotation for lot no. 86 indicates that Pschorr's maximum willingness to pay was not exhausted during the auction, as he was knocked down at 150 marks.
There is another annotated hand copy of the catalogue discussed here:
In comparison with the HH copy, it becomes clear that only the results of the auction are noted here:
On the left or below the description of the object are the hammer prices or the highest bids. If the lot was auctioned, the name of the buyer was noted. Analogous to the HH copy, the tick or circle around the lot number marks the status of the lot as sold or returned. In the case of lot no. 86, the "H" and the name "Pschorr" in brackets indicate that the lot was not knocked down in response to a bid made during the auction, but was awarded by Major Pschorr as part of the auction order.