For the week ending Saturday 8 June 23 auctions were archived to the AED; 6 sales in US$, 7 in British pounds, and 10 in euros.  Turnover for the week was $14,314,720 on the sale of 5,895 lots, 64% of the 9,183 lots offered.  The percentage of lots sold has been down the past two weeks.  Through the spring the market was holding steady in the low to mid 70%s.  The softness seems more seasonal than cyclical. The average lot realization was $2,428.

Five auctions saw their totals reach the one million dollar level:

Sothebys.  The Library of a Distinguished American Book Collector on June 4^th:  $4,891,634

Sothebys.  Highlights from the Mendham Collection:  The Property of the Law Society of England and Wales on June 5th:  $1,842,165

Sothebys.  Music, Continental Books and Manuscripts on June 5^th:  $1,337,273

Sothebys.  Music, Continental Books and Manuscripts, Day II on June 6^th:  $1,278,030

Bloomsbury Auctions.  Important Books and Manuscripts on May 30^th:  $1,019,164

Two sales saw their total proceeds exceed 100% of the high estimates of all lots offered:

Sothebys.  Highlights from the Mendham Collection:  The Property of the Law Society of England and Wales on June 5^th:  103%

Waverly Auctions, Inc.  Rare Books on April 25^th:  100%

Six sales saw 80% or more of their lots sell:

Waverly Auctions, Inc.  Rare Books on April 25^th:  96%

Heritage Auctions [HA.com].  Rare Books online bidding ended June 6^th:  93%

Bruun Rasmussen.  Interiors – Prints on June 6^th:  92%

Bruun Rasmussen.  Books on June 4^th:  91%

Skinner, Inc.  Fine Books and Manuscripts on June 1^st:  89%

Swann Galleries, Inc.  Maps, Atlases, Natural History and Historic Prints, Ephemera on June 6th:  86%

For the week ahead 19 auctions are scheduled:

Mon. June 10^th    Coutau-Begarie.  Comic Strips [61013].  421 lots

                                    Cornette de Saint Cyr.  Photographs [21962].  19 lots

Tues. June 11^th          Piasa.  Books, Prints [20631].  276 lots

                                    Sothebys.  Fine Books and Manuscripts, including Americana [N09066].  264 lots

Wed. June 12^th          Aguttes.  Books, Posters and Ancient Paper [21356].  353 lots

                                    Bruun Rasmussen.  Modern Prints [841].  37 lots

                                    Christies.  Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts [1176].  138 lots

                                    Old World Auctions.  Antique Maps, Globes, Charts, Atlases & Vintage Graphics – internet bidding
  ending today [145].  880 lots

                                    Rupert Toovey and Co.  Prints [1133].  38 lots

Thurs. June 13^th        Ader.  Ancient and Modern Prints [21945].  317 lots

                                    Heritage Auctions [HA.com].  Rare Books – internet bidding ending today [201324].  221 lots

                                    PBA Galleries.  Fine Literature – Illustrated & Children’s Books – Oz:  The Collection of
  Ralph A. Massey [508].  420 lots

Fri. June 14^th            The Romantique Agony Book and Print Auctions.  Books [51].  1,167 lots

Sat. June 15^th             Christies.  Books and Manuscripts [2800].  410 lots

                                    Clars Auction Gallery.  Prints, Photographs [61513].

                                    ERA Encheres.  Collection of 60 Atlases, Esotericism, Manuscripts, Curiosa, Old Books,
   Varied [21730].  308 lots

                                    The Romantic Agony Book and Print Auctions.  Books [51].  1,167 lots

Sun. June 16^th          Clars Auction Gallery.  Prints, Photographs [61513].

As we head toward July 4th and Bastille Day the summer, beaches and mountains beckon.  It has been a busy spring and there are still more books, manuscripts, maps and ephemera to sell but the warmth in the rooms confirms the hiatus will soon be upon us.  That said, summer is not the stone quiet it used to be and there will be events and material to consider all the way through to Labor Day.

Bruce McKinney
AE