For the week ending Saturday October 20^th 19 auctions were archived to the AED; 1 in British pounds, 1 in Mexican pesos, 5 in US dollars, and 12 in euros.  Sales were $9,359,618 against the total high estimate of all lots offered - $10,624,378:  88%.  Five thousand seven hundred and fifty-five lots were offered and 4,138 lots sold for a 72% success rate.

Two sales reached a million dollars:

Heritage Auctions’ sale of Illustration Art on October 13^th:  $3,334,719

Sotheby’s sale of the “Musical Collection of Andre Meyer” in Paris on October 16^th:  $2,306,739

Four sales realized 100% or more of the total of the high estimates of all lots offered:

Heritage Auctions’ sale of Illustration Art on October 13^th:  153%

Henri Godts Books & Prints Auctions’ sale of Books from the XVth to the XXth Century:  115%

Sotheby’s sale of the “Musical Collection of Andre Meyer” in Paris on October 16^th:  112%

Rossini’s sale of Books on October 16^th:  101%

Three sales sold at least 80% of their lots in the books, manuscripts, maps and ephemera field:

Doyle New York’s sale of Prints:  95%

Heritage Auctions’ sale of Illustration Art on October 13^th:  93%

Heritage on line – Rare Books internet bidding ended October 18^th:  83%

For the week ahead 21 sales are scheduled:

Mon. Oct. 22^nd Cornette de Saint Cyr.  Prints and Multiples.  [19623].  231 lots

Tues.  Oct. 23^rd           Ader.  Free Masonry [20042].  11 lots

                                    Archives International Auctions.  U. S. & Worldwide Banknotes, Security Printing Ephemera
  & Confederate Bons [XIIc].  805 lots

                                    Bonhams.  Prints.  [20059].  289 lots

                                    Swann Galleries.  Aldine Imprints & early Printed Books from the Library of
  Kenneth Rapoport [2291].  119 lots 

Wed. Oct. 24^th Ader.  Ancient and Modern Books [20,155].  397 lots

                                    Bonhams.  Books [20510].  119 lots

Thurs. Oct. 25^th          Bloomsbury Auctions.  Modern First Editions:  The Library of a Gentleman [35988].  416 lots

                                    De Baecque & Associes.  Ancient and Modern Books, Autographs and Documents [19675].  420 lots

                                    Hauff and Auvermann.  Rare Books, Autographs and Engravings [68a].  755 lots

                                    Heritage Auctions.  Rare Books internet bidding ending October 18^th [201243].  285 lots 

                                    PBA Galleries.  Ranchos of California:  The John C. Broome Collection [491].  412 lots

Fri.  Oct. 26^th              Hauff and Auvermann.  Rare Books, Autographs and Engravings [68b].  1062 lots

                                    Osenat.  Charles-Guillaume Etienne Library [20218].  91 lots

                                    Piasa.  Ancient, Modern and Contemporary Photographs [19939].  211 lots

Sat. Oct. 27^th Hauff and Auvermann.  Part III – Modern Literature, Posters and Photographs [68c].  674 lots
Hauff and Auvermann.  Part IV – Modern and Contemporary Art [68d].  541 lots
J. Sugarman Auction Corp.  World Class Collection of Unique Collectibles [1] 
  A small number of very large lots.

                                    Morton Casa de Subastas.  Books, Documents and Prints [650].  339 lots

Sun. Oct. 28^th             Knotty Pine Auction Service.  Antique and Estate Books [102812].  305 lots

A steadily rising flow of auctions and auction lots are providing the clearest view ever achieved of rare and collectible books in real time.  It’s disconcerting, engrossing and exciting and beneath the surface surprisingly strong.

Bruce McKinney

AE

October 21^st, 2012