Auction Update Review
Twenty-Two Sales Archived, 24 More Upcoming
In the run-up to summer auction
houses around the world completed twenty-two sales in the category of works on
paper that were archived this past week.
Eight thousand eight hundred and sixty-one lots were offered and 75% or
6,661 lots sold, raising $23.4 million dollars against their aggregate high
estimates of $23.7 million. It was
another strong reporting period and evidence the market is finding a
comfortable level. Six sales were
denominated in British pounds; four in dollars and a dozen is Euros.
By dollars the five largest sales
were:
Christie’s. Manuscrits, Continental English Literature,
etc on May 11th: $4,628,122;
Christie’s. Wittock Importants Livres, Livres d’Artistes,
etc on May 11th: $2,451,116;
Sotheby’s. Manuscripts on May 10th: $2,256,660;
Artcurial Briest-Le
Fur-Poulain-F.Tajan. Ancient Books on
May 9th: $2,058,776;
Alde. Rare Ancient Books on May 6th: $2,130,2228
Nine sales reached or exceeded 100%
of their total high estimate:
Alde. Rare Ancient Books on May 6th:
220%;
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Printed Books & Maps, African &
General Travel, Natural History, Historical Docs., etc on May 11th: 137%;
Zisska & Schauer. Books and Prints [session D] on May 6th: 119%;
Christie’s. Collection Michel Wittock on May 11th: 119%;
Piasa. Modern Prints, Literature; Art, Press and
Illustrated Books on May 5th:
117%;
Artcurial Briest-Le
Fur-Poulain-F.Tajan. Ancient Books on
May 9th: 113%;
Zisska & Schauer. Books and Prints [session A] on May 4th: 109%;
Bloomsbury Auctions. Manuscripts on May 12th: 106%;
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Prints on May 12th: 105%
For all 22 sales together a
remarkable 99% of the aggregate high estimates were achieved.
For the coming week the auction
schedule continues to be robust.
Twenty-four events are scheduled.
Christie’s Photographs on May 17th;
Henri Godts’ Books from the XVIth
to the XXth Centuries on May 17th;
Rubert Toovey’s Antiquarian &
Collectors’ Books, etc on May 17th;
Ader: Weapons and Historic Memories on May 18th;
Bloomsbury Auctions’ Photographs on
May 18th;
Dominic Winter’s Collectors
Sale: Aviation and Transport on May 18th;
Sotheby’s Books and Manuscripts on
May 18th;
Bonham’s Photographs on May 19th;
Christie’s Americana: Printed and Manuscript on May 19th;
Dominic Winter’s Collectors
Sale: Medals, Uniforms & Militaria
on May 19th;
Hauff and Auvermann: Part I – Rare Books, Autographs and
Engravings on May 19th;
PBA: Rare Americana – Travel & Exploration –
Maps & Atlases on May 19th;
Swann Galleries: Important Photobooks & Photographs on May
19th;
Bloomsbury Auctions: Photographs on May 20th;
Coutau-Begarie: Historical, Military Souveniers on May 20th;
Hauff and Auvermann: Part II – Rare Books, Autographs and
Engravings on May 20th;
Le Libraire Alain Ferraton: Ancient & Modern Books – Drawings &
Prints on May 20th;
Sotheby’s: The James S. Copley Library – third section
on May 20th;
Sotheby’s: John Lansing’s Notes from the United States
Constitutional Convention May 20th;
Alde: Ancient and Modern Books on May 21st;
Hauff and Auvermann: Part III – Modern Literature, Posters, Modern
Art on May 21st;
Heritage Auctions: Dallas Grand Format Americana & Political
Memorabilia Auction on May 21st;
Le Libraire Alain Ferraton: Ancient & Modern Books – Drawings &
Prints – Second Section on May 21st;
Bonhams’ Books and Manuscripts on
May 22nd
Bruce McKinney
AE
May 15, 2011