Rare Book Monthly
Articles - August - 2007 Issue
National Book Auctions: It's all in the name
Shifting Gears
By Bruce McKinney
David Hall of CNY Book Auctions of Ithaca has announced that the firm, as part of a series of revisions, is changing its name to National Book Auctions. The firm was established in January 2005 and is based in upstate New York.
During 2006 the firm conducted a series of 18 auctions of printed material in Big Sandy, Texas. The gross hammer price exceeded $250,000. All 8,000 items in these sales were posted to eBay Live with eBay bidders taking home more than half. With these sales now complete the firm is again focusing on its auctions in Ithaca.
In preparation for what is expected to be a busy fall season the firm is completing the first stage of software upgrades which are automating the cataloguing, accounting and invoicing processes. In two further stages the firm expects to upgrade presentation and delivery of lot details.
In Ithaca the firm has enjoyed a strong local following that has translated into a lower percentage of lots posted to eBay Live and a significantly lower win-rate by online bidders. In the projected busy fall season Mr. Hall says that local bidders are very motivated.
In August there are two scheduled sales. In the fall there may be 3 and even 4 sales in a month. The firm is carrying a 50,000 book backlog and is looking forward to the season.
Their website is www.nationalbookauctions.com
