For the week ending Saturday 2 March 2013 33 auctions were archived to the AED; 11 denominated in euros, 8 in British pounds, and 14 in US dollars.  Total sales were $20,072,204.  It was a big, very robust week.   Five sales reached a million dollars, 15 sales saw their total proceeds reach or exceed 100% of the high estimate of all lots offered, and 19 sales sold 80% or more of their lots.  The stock market was flirting with new highs in the United States but its exuberance paled in comparison with the BM²E market.  The results were strong.

Sales reaching a million dollars:

Heritage Auctions [HA.com].  Comics and Comic Art on February 21^st:  $4,105,223

Sothebys.  Fine Travel and Plate  Books:  A Private Collection on February 28^th:  $2,496,940

Sothebys.  Hommage to Aldo Crommelynck on February 25^th:  $2,617,054

Artcurial Briest-Le Fur-Poulain-F. Tajan.  Comic Strips on February 23^rd:  $2,476,817

Swann Galleries.  Fine Photographs and Photobooks on February 26^th:  $1,005,765

Sales reaching 100% of the high estimates of all lots offered:

RR Auction.  Rare Manuscripts, Documents and Autographs, online bidding ended February 13^th:  274%

Sothebys.  Hommage to Aldo Crommelynck:  From Picasso to George Condo:  216%

Cornette de Saint Cyr.  Comics and Illustration:  Michael Gourdon on February 23^rd:  177%

Alain & Evelyne Morel de Westgaver.  Prints and Books on February 2^nd:  161%

Ferraton.  Ancient Books and Prints on February 22^nd:  146%

Sothebys.  Fine Travel and Plate Books:  A Private Collection on February 28^th:  134%

Rupert Toovey and Co.  Prints on February 20^th:  131%

Christies.  Prints on February 27^th:  130%

Christies.  Prints on February 26^th:  121%

Swann Galleries, Inc.  Early Printed, Medical, Scientific and Travel Books on February 28^th:  116%

De Baecque & Associes.  Ancient and  modern Books – Books of the XIX Century and Regionalism:  105%

Bonhams.  World War II:  The Pacific Theatre on February 22^nd:             103%

Rupert Toovey and Co.  Prints on January 23^rd:  101%

Rupert Toovey and Co.  Antiquarian and Collectors’ Books on February 19^th:  100%

Sales that saw 80% or more of their lots sell:

Cornette de Saint Cyr.  Comics and Illustration:  Michel Gourdon:  100%

Heritage Auctions [HA.com].  Animation Art on February 21^st:  98%

Heritage Auctions [HA.com].  Comics and Comic Art on February 21^st:  96%

Waverly Auctions, Inc.  Quinn Auction – Books on February 21^st:  96%

Swann Galleries, Inc.  Early Printed, Medical, Scientific and Travel Books on February 28^th:  96%

Sothebys.  Hommage to Aldo Crommelynck:  From Picasso to George Condo :  96%

Heritage Auctions [HA.com].  Rare Books online bidding ended February 21^st:  94%

Sothebys.  Fine Travel and Plate Books:  A Private Collection on February 28^th:  93%

Heritage Auctions [HA.com].  Rare Books online bidding ended February 21^st:  91%

De Baecque & Associes.  Ancient  and Modern Books – Books of XIX Century and Regionalism on January 31^st:  90%

Rupert Toovey and Co.  Prints on February 20^th:  86%

Christies.  Prints on February 27^th:  86%

Ferraton.  Ancient Books and Prints on February 22^nd:  85%

Bonhams.  Books on February 24^th:  85%

Christies.  Prints on February 26^th:  83%

Alain & Evelyne Morel de Westgaver.  Prints and Books on February 2^nd:  83%

Neal Auction Company/  Winter Estates Auction on February 23^rd:  82%

Bruun Rasmussen.  Prints on February 25^th:  80%

For the week ahead 21 sales are scheduled:

Mon. Mar. 4^th          Bruun Rasmussen.  Prints [1310].  41 lots

Tues. Mar. 5^th             Christie’s.  Andy Wharhol.  Internet sale ending today [24389].  125 lots

                                    ERA Encheres.  Maps [21203].  1 item

Wed. Mar 6^th              Ader.  Comics [208280.  140 lots

                                    Bruun Rasmussen.  Prints [838].  58 items

                                    Dominic Winter.  Printed Books and Maps [30613].   624 lots

                                    Gray’s Auctioneers.  Prints [65]

Thurs. Mar 7^th           Ader.  Theatre and Performing Arts – Collection Jacques Lorcey [20827].  344 lots

                                    Dominic Winter Book Auctions.  Natural History and Sporting Books and Prints [30713].  217 lots

                                    Heritage Auctions.  Rare Books – online bidding ending today [201310].  220 lots

                                    Pierre Berge & Associes.  Ancient and Modern Books [15126].  367 lots

                                    Swann Galleries.  19^th and 20^th Century Prints [2306].  663 lots

Fri. Mar. 8^th                Alde.  The Claude L. Library [20982].  344 lots

                                    Keys Fine Arts.  Prints [30813].  23 lots

Sat. Mar. 9^th                Cowan’s Auctions, Inc.  Fine and Decorative Art:  Prints and Books [310].  74 lots

                                    Dorotheum.  Fine Prints [9930].  31 lots

                                    Marc van de Wiele Auctions.  Rare books, manuscripts and Ensor [48].  778 lots

                                    Northeast Auctions.  Important Portsmouth Weekend Auction – Prints [30913].  13 lots

Sun. Mar. 10^th          National Book Auctions.  Books [31013].

                                    National Book Auctions.  Books and Ephemera – Marilyn, Sendak, PA, Antique, etc [03102013]

                                    Northeast Auctions.  Important Portsmouth Weekend Auction – Prints [30913] ends today.  13 lots

For a few weeks the market had felt desultory and then bang- a terrific week.

Bruce McKinney

AE

3 March 2013