Auction Update Review
A Market in Transition
This past week thirteen sales were
archived, seven denominated in dollars, two in British Pounds, four in
Euros. The turnover was robust: $22,993,080 against an aggregate high estimate
of $26,235,703. Three thousand eight hundred
and twenty three lots were offered and 2,920 sold for a 76% success rate. The strength of the book market however is over
stated in these numbers because Sotheby’s and Christies together raised $16.5
million in their robust New York print sales.
Swann and Bonham’s added another $1.7 and $1.6 million to the print
totals. This past week was all about images.
Bonham’s held its annual Space
History sale in New York and raised $590,263 and Swann sold $385,993 of posters
on May 5th.
For the week just past the following houses
reached or exceeded 100% of their aggregate high estimates:
Tajan: Archeology – Tribal Art – 136%
Bonhams: The Space History Sale – 107%
Sotheby’s: Prints – 102%
Piasa: Ancient and Modern Books – 101%
Together all the archived sales achieved 88% of their aggregate high estimates.
For the coming week the following sales will be underway, if not
yet complete.
Artcurial Briest-Le Fur Poulain-F.
Tajan: May 9 and 10;
Neret – Minet Tessier:
May 9;
Bonhams: Photography on May 10th;
Burgerdijk & Niermans: Books, Prints on May 10 and 11;
Paige Auction: Sports on May 10;
Sotheby’s: Books and Manuscripts on May 10;
Sotheby’s: Heinz Hajek-Halk photographs on May 10th;
Sotheby’s: Photographs on May 10;
Christie’s: Important Livres Anciens, Livres d’Artistes
et Manuscrits on May 11;
Christie’s: Collection Michel Wittock on May 11;
Dominic Winter Book Auctions: Printed Books & Maps, African &
General Travel, Natural History, Historical Docs., Stamps, Antiquarian … on May
11;
Bloomsbury: Continental English Literature and Manuscripts
on May 12;
Christie’s: Vintage Posters on May 12;
Dominic Winter Book Auctions: British Topography, Maps & Decorative
Prints on May 12;
Swann Galleries: Literature, Art, Press & Illustrated
Books on May 12;
Alian &b Evelyne Morel de
Westgaver: Postcards Entiers Postaux
Prints & Books on May 14th
Clars Auction gallery: Magnificent May on May 15th;
Profiles in History: Hollywood Auction on May 14th and
15th.
It’s a busy week.
Bruce McKinney
The Americana Exchange