In the run-up to summer auction houses around the world completed twenty-two sales in the category of works on paper that were archived this past week.  Eight thousand eight hundred and sixty-one lots were offered and 75% or 6,661 lots sold, raising $23.4 million dollars against their aggregate high estimates of $23.7 million.  It was another strong reporting period and evidence the market is finding a comfortable level.  Six sales were denominated in British pounds; four in dollars and a dozen is Euros.

By dollars the five largest sales were:

Christie’s.  Manuscrits, Continental English Literature, etc on May 11th:  $4,628,122;

Christie’s.  Wittock Importants Livres, Livres d’Artistes, etc on May 11^th:  $2,451,116;

Sotheby’s.  Manuscripts on May 10^th:  $2,256,660;

Artcurial Briest-Le Fur-Poulain-F.Tajan.  Ancient Books on May 9^th:  $2,058,776;

Alde.  Rare Ancient Books on May 6^th:  $2,130,2228

Nine sales reached or exceeded 100% of their total high estimate:

Alde.  Rare Ancient Books on May 6^th: 220%;

Dominic Winter Book Auctions.  Printed Books & Maps, African & General Travel, Natural History, Historical Docs., etc on May 11^th:  137%;

Zisska & Schauer.  Books and Prints [session D] on May 6^th:  119%;

Christie’s.  Collection Michel Wittock on May 11^th:  119%;

Piasa.  Modern Prints, Literature; Art, Press and Illustrated Books on May 5^th:  117%;

Artcurial Briest-Le Fur-Poulain-F.Tajan.  Ancient Books on May 9^th:  113%;

Zisska & Schauer.  Books and Prints [session A] on May 4^th:  109%;

Bloomsbury Auctions.  Manuscripts on May 12^th:  106%;

Dominic Winter Book Auctions.  Prints on May 12^th:  105%

For all 22 sales together a remarkable 99% of the aggregate high estimates were achieved.

For the coming week the auction schedule continues to be robust.  Twenty-four events are scheduled.

Christie’s Photographs on May 17^th;

Henri Godts’ Books from the XVIth to the XXth Centuries on May 17^th;

Rubert Toovey’s Antiquarian & Collectors’ Books, etc on May 17^th;

Ader:  Weapons and Historic Memories on May 18^th;

Bloomsbury Auctions’ Photographs on May 18^th;

Dominic Winter’s Collectors Sale:  Aviation and Transport on May 18^th;

Sotheby’s Books and Manuscripts on May 18^th;

Bonham’s Photographs on May 19^th;

Christie’s Americana:  Printed and Manuscript on May 19^th;

Dominic Winter’s Collectors Sale:  Medals, Uniforms & Militaria on May 19^th;

Hauff and Auvermann:  Part I – Rare Books, Autographs and Engravings on May 19^th;

PBA:  Rare Americana – Travel & Exploration – Maps & Atlases on May 19^th;

Swann Galleries:  Important Photobooks & Photographs on May 19^th;

Bloomsbury Auctions:  Photographs on May 20^th;

Coutau-Begarie:  Historical, Military Souveniers on May 20^th;

Hauff and Auvermann:  Part II – Rare Books, Autographs and Engravings on May 20^th;

Le Libraire Alain Ferraton:  Ancient & Modern Books – Drawings & Prints on May 20^th;

Sotheby’s:  The James S. Copley Library – third section on May 20^th;

Sotheby’s:  John Lansing’s Notes from the United States Constitutional Convention May 20^th;

Alde:  Ancient and Modern Books on May 21^st;

Hauff and Auvermann:  Part III – Modern Literature, Posters, Modern Art on May 21^st;

Heritage Auctions:  Dallas Grand Format Americana & Political Memorabilia Auction on May 21^st;

Le Libraire Alain Ferraton:  Ancient & Modern Books – Drawings & Prints – Second Section on May 21^st;

Bonhams’ Books and Manuscripts on May 22nd

Bruce McKinney
AE
May 15, 2011