For the week ending Saturday June 23^rd 29 auctions were archived; 6 in British pounds, 9 in euros, 1 in Mexican pesos and 13 in US dollars.  Ten thousand one hundred and fifty-six lots were offered and 6,963 sold for a 68.6% success rate.  A single lot, George Washington’s personally annotated copy of the [US] Constitution, Bill of Rights and other key acts of the first Congress in 1789 brought $9,826,500 at Christie’s against its high estimate of $3,000,000.  Sales for all lots totaled $20,864,959, 112% of the high estimate of all lots offered.  It was, on its face, a good week that also provided evidence of broad weakness.

The following auctions exceeded 100% of the total of their high estimates:

Christie’s.  George Washington’s Personal Copy of the first Acts of Congress in 1789 on
  June 22^nd:  328%

Osenat.  The French Empire at Fontainbleau on June 10th:  236%

Henri Godts Books & Prints.  Books from the 16^th to 20^th Centuries on June 16th:  219%

Ader.  Letters and Manuscripts, Autographs, Collection of E. H. and diverses on June 14th:  218%

Rupert Toovey.  Prints on June 13^th:  171%

Gonelli Casa d’Aste.  Prints on June 14^th:  138%

Dominic Winter Book Auctions.  Children’s & Illustrated Books, Antique Toys and Games on June 21^st:  132%

Christie’s.  Books on June 19^th:  107%

Dominic Winter Book Auctions.  Printed Books, Maps and Documents on June 20^th:  101%

The following auctions realized more than $1,000,000 in total sales:

Christie’s.  George Washington’s Personal Copy of the first Acts of Congress in 1789 on June 22^nd:  $9,826,500

Christie’s.  Books and Manuscripts on June 22^nd:  $1,961,725

Christie’s.  Books on June 19^th:  $1,161,699

Swann Galleries.  American Art / Contemporary Art on June 14^th:  $1,076,559

The following sales sold at least 80% of their lots:

Christie’s.  George Washington’s Personal Copy of the first Acts of Congress in 1789 on June 22^nd:  100%

Heritage Auctions.  Rare Books – Internet auctioned June 21^st:   97%

Clars Auction Gallery.  Art and German Literature Books on June 16^th:  94%

Ader. Letters and Manuscripts, Autographs, Collection of E. H. and diverses on June 14th:  93%

Swann Galleries.  19^th & 20^th Century Literature on June 21^st:  89%

Pierre Berge & Associates.  Archeology on June 1^st:  88%

Rupert Toovey.  Prints on May 16^th:  86%

Osenat.  The French Empire at Fontainbleau on June 10th:  84%

Swann Galleries.  American Art / Contemporary Art on June 14^th:  84%

For the week ahead 19 sales are scheduled:

Tuesday June 26^th  Bonhams.  Books [20138].  738 lots

                                    Robert A. Siegel.  Rarities of the World [1025].  5 selected lots

Wed. June 27^th          Gray’s Auctioneers.  Decorative Arts [58].  43 lots

                                    Heritage Auctions.  Illustration Art [5087].  878 lots

Thursday June 28^th  Ader.  Letters, Manuscripts, Autographs [19473].  393 lots.

                                    Aguttes.  Books, Ancient Documents and Stamps [18567].  209 lots

                                    Aguttes.  Books [19337].  39 lots

                                    Bloomsbury Auctions.  Modern and Contemporary Prints [35934].  422 lots

                                    Cowan’s Auctions.  American History – Internet bidstart 6/21 [263].  355 lots

                                    Eldred’s.  Fine and Decorative Arts [750].  51 lots           

                                    Heritage Auctions.  Illustration Art [5087].  878 lots

                                    Heritage Auctions.  Rare Books.  Internet bidstart 6/21.  433 lots

                                    Neret – Minet & Tessier.  Militaria [13402].  36 items

                                    Swann Galleries.  Discovery Sale [2283].  333 lots

Friday June 29^th        Eldred’s.  Fine and Decorative Arts [750].  51 lots

Saturday June 30^th   Dirk Soulis.  Important Railroadiana [53987].  61 lots

                                    Neal Auction Company.  Prints [63012].  56 lots.

Sunday July 1^st          Amsterdam Book Auctions.  Curios, Books, Comics, Art [19].  696 lots

                                    Neal Auction Company.  Prints [63012].  56 lots.

With summer now underway and the auctions still in full advance we are experiencing a rare auction season, a busy and solid flow of sales that will run through July.  At this point there are 48 events on the July calendar and inevitably more to be scheduled.

Bruce McKinney
AE
June 24th, 2012