In an auction season that will confirm or cast doubt on the prospect for a traditional recovery all eyes this fall are upon the fortunes of the important auctions and dealers.  It is certain that doubts have been expressed before and as certain that the market has in time always healed, then advancing to higher highs.  This is the way it has been for as long as anyone can remember.   

This past week the Caren Sale of historically important materials in print laid down the first hash marks.  Swann held the sale and the results were remarkable.  While it’s only one event it’s a good beginning.  Between now and year’s end there will be close to two hundred sales.  For a few years it has felt like we’re in our own end zone.   The Caren sale places us mid-field, an encouraging start.

For the week 11 sales were reported, two in British Pounds, one in Euros and eight in dollars.  Turnover for the week was $3,453,387, 78% of the aggregate high estimate of $4,440,031.  Three thousand five hundred and twenty-three lots were offered and 2,864 sold for a robust 81% success rate.  This suggests estimates and enthusiasm were well matched.

Two sales reached or exceeded 100% of their aggregate high estimates:

Doyle New York, on September 13^th, deftly sold books from the estate of Douglas Fairbanks.  The swashbuckling Fairbanks’ books carried an aggregate high estimate of $153,000 and brought $228,648 – 147%

Dorotheum continued their strong run reaching 103% of the aggregate high estimate for their sale of modern prints on September 12^th.

For the week ahead the following sales are scheduled:

Monday Sept 19^th     Christies:  Palais Abbatial de Royaumont;

Tuesday Sept 20^th    Christies:  Old Master, Modern and Contemporary Prints including Property from the Estate of Ernst Beyeler;

                                      Christies:  Palais Abbatial de Royaumont continued;

Wed.  Sept 21^st  Christies:  Old Masters, Modern and Contemporary Prints;

                                      Christies:  Palais Abbatial de Royaumont completing;

                                      Dominic Winter Book Auctions:  Printed Books & Maps, etc;

Thurs.  Sept 22nd     Bloomsbury Auctions:  Cookery, Gardening, Agriculture and Social History:  A Private Library;

                                    Freeman’s:  Fine Books and Ephemera;

                                    PBA Galleries:  Fine Literature;

Friday Sept 23^rd      Alde:  Ancient and Modern Books – XIX century;

                                    Ferraton:  Books;

                                    Galerie Koller Auctions:  Old Master Prints, Books [A158]; 
                                    Kapandji Morhange:  Classic Sale;

Saturday Sept 24^th   Ferraton:  Books;
Galleries Bassenge:  The Estate of the Artist Christian Theunert [98a];
Gallerie Bassenge:  Architektural Photography [98b];
Galerie Bassange:  Photobooks [98c]

                                    Galerie Koller Auctions:  Old Master Prints, Books [A158];
Morton Casa de Subastas:  Books, Documents and Engravings [608];

 
Sept 25^th    Bonhams:  Books and Manuscripts [19256]

All in all it was an encouraging week and looking forward, a busy week upcoming.

Bruce McKinney

AE

18 September 2011