Auction Update Review
The New Normal or Not?
The new auction season is a day or
two away. What with the political
wrangling in Washington and debt problems besetting some European nations it
will surprise no one if the market is, at least short term, thin. Historically such times have been buying
opportunities but it is difficult to muster the courage if smart people on all
sides keep their hands in their pockets.
In time the intrepid may be congratulated but in the short term endure
anxious moments. I have no doubt serious
collectors will seize the opportunity.
That’s how you know who is the serious collector.
The five sales archived this week
were altogether small. The most
successful sale, by dollars, was PBA’s Fine Golf Books: the library of Duncan Campbell. It raised $199,026 while selling only 41% of
the lots. Bonham’s in the UK with their
Scottish Sale achieved the best overall performance. Eighty-seven percent of all lots sold and 77%
of the aggregate high estimate was achieved.
Wednesday Sept 7 Lyon and
Turnbull: Rare books, maps and
manuscripts;
Thursday Sept 8 Bloomsbury
Auctions: Conjuring and Circus;
PBA: Rare Books & Manuscripts;
Friday Sept 9 Cowan’s
Auctions: American Indian and Western
Art;
Keys
Fine Arts: Prints;
Neal
Auction Company: Prints, Photography;
Skinner,
Inc.: Prints;
Saturday Sept 10 Neal
Auction Company
With these sales we sail for the
new world. It will be unsettling and
riveting.
Bruce McKinney
AE