Rare Book Monthly
In San Francisco: It's Show Time!
There was a wide range of material - $50 to the hundreds of thousands.
Mid-level dealers on up also reported strong sales. John Windle reported approximately $150,000 of sales on 40 to 50 transactions split between his shop during show week and the show itself. Seventy percent, by dollar volume, were collector purchases. Derek McDonnell of Hordern House, Sydney, Australia reported, "We're very pleased with the fair both for buying and selling." We sold about 20 items "including a good set of Vancouver and purchased about forty items ranging from the hundreds to the tens of thousands in US dollars." Jonathan Potter Limited of London reported a good show. "We enjoyed the San Francisco show, as ever, and are always pleased to meet new clients and reacquaint ourselves with those already known to us. Business at the fair was varied - we sold to the trade and the public, and also bought some items from the trade. The current strength of the pound certainly helps purchasing and is, we feel, now being accepted as the norm by American buyers.
Our sales and purchases represented a complete cross section of our stock. However, just one example of a decorative map sold was:
27490). J.Speed, [London, 1627-1676],
The Kingdome Of Denmarke
51 x 39cms, copperplate. Coloured
From the first world atlas produced in England, Speed's map is a typically decorative "carte a figures". Side panels depict costumed figures, while above are vignettes of notable places including Copenhagen, Elsinore and Hamburg and Schleswig.
We also sold a number of Jonathan's book Collecting Antique Map and subscriptions to a new map magazine, MapForum, all of which help to promote an interest in antique maps and the history of cartography in general.
Purchases were varied but included an Ortelius map of the British Isles. Purchases will go into stock at our gallery in London."
Sebastiaan Hesselink of the Netherlands reported one large sale and a group of smaller ones but noted that the Euro/US$ exchange rate is a negative factor in his sales to North America for the moment.
Helen Kahn of Montreal reported a strong show and said she always enjoys the California events. "I like to take some time with customers and I can do that here."
