Auction Update Review
Passing through the Summer Doldrums
We can be thankful to the auction
houses that present sales in August. At
the very nadir of annual activity a few houses seize the moment to offer
material, reminding us that the hearts of both sellers and acquirers may slow
but never stop. For the week four sales
were reported: two in dollars and two in
British Pounds. One thousand nine
hundred and two lots were offered and 1,356 sold for a sell-through rate of
71%. For the lots sold that raised
$651,793 the aggregate low and high estimates were $550,715 and $798,949. The total of high estimates for all lots,
sold and unsold, was $1,135,270, the percentage of total sales against the
total of the high estimates 57.4%. In some
weeks, when activity is robust, total sales approach even surpass the total of
the high estimates for the week. But
this is August, and while the sales continue, albeit at a slower pace, interest
is distracted what with vacations, travel, and this year the world financial
crises. In a few years, for some types
of book sales, the summer will become the golden moment. In 2011 we are fighting history and habits
and the habits are changing. Houses
running sales through the summer merit support.
For the week ahead six sales are
scheduled:
August 8th Australian Book Auctions: Books, 491 lots;
August 9th Australian Book Auctions: Books, 491 lots continuing;
Christie’s: Christie’s Interiors, 13 identified lots
Rupert
Toovey: Postcards, Photos, Autographs,
Ephemera, 154 lots
August 11th Bloomsbury Auctions: Bibliophile Sale
Pacific
Book Auctions: Americana with Ephemera
& Maps, 407 lots
Bruce McKinney
AE
August 7th, 2011