Sotheby’s Withdraws Mahfouz Archive from Today’s Auction

For those who have not looked below, please note that Sotheby’s issued this statement last night:

“While it is clear that Sotheby’s consignor had purchased the Mahfouz manuscripts from a member of Naguib Mahfouz’s family, other family members have within the last hour issued a challenge to that purchase. Sotheby’s takes title issues very seriously and has, accordingly, withdrawn the papers from sale until this is resolved.”