Auction Update Review
In the Eye of the Storm
The fall auction season continues
to reveal its secrets and the story is mixed.
The percentage of lots selling this past week was quite good – 81% as
2,163 lots were offered and 1,742 sold but dollar volume was on the light side
- $3,122,158. There is plenty of
evidence to suggest that every lot offered would have sold if reserves were
somewhat lower but such numbers do not come down without a fight for they often
spell loss for the sellers. For those
consignors letting material potentially sell for less than they paid they’ll
almost certainly find it better to get money rather than the material back.
Books today enjoy greater liquidity than they have
ever had but with this liquidity has come clarity and for many the news is
disappointing.
This week we archived ten sales,
five in dollars, two in British Pounds and three in Euros. Four sales reached or exceeded 100% of their
aggregate high estimate.
Dorotheum: Books and Decorative Prints on October 24th: 153%
Alde: Library of Lord Straboigi and Library of an
Amateur on October 28th: 147%
Bloomsbury: Exploration of Science, Travel and Natural
History on November 3rd: 113%
Swann Galleries: Autographs, Books & Ephemera on November
3rd: 109%
For the week ahead 21 sales are
scheduled:
November 7th Doyle New York. Books, Photographs & Prints (11711)
November 8th Swann Galleries. Art, Press & Illustrated Books / 19th
& 20th Century Literature (2260)
November 9th Bonhams. African, Oceanic & Pre-Columbian Art
(19412)
Sotheby’s. Books and Manuscripts (PF1113)
Sotheby’s. Rare Books from an Amateur’s Library (PF1125)
Zisska
& Schauer. Books (58)
November 10th Bonhams. Sporting Sale: Books, Manuscripts, Prints (18979)
Dominic
Winter Book Auctions. Books and Maps
(11102011)
Zisska
& Schauer. Books (58)
November 11th Christie’s. Photographs (1051)
Gonnelli
Casa d’Aste. Books, Manuscripts and
Autographs (7)
Sotheby’s. Photographs (PF1120)
Swann
Galleries. Rare & Important Travel
Posters (2261)
Zisska
& Schauer. Books (58)
November 12th Christie’s. Books and Manuscripts (2288)
Christie’s. Photographs (1051)
Gonnelli
Casa d’ Aste. Books, Manuscripts and
Autographs (7)
November 13th Bruun Rasmussen. Printed Pictures (1145)
Gonnelli
Casa d’ Aste. Books, Manuscripts and Autographs
(7)
Osenat. Gantner’s Books (111311)
Skinner. Fine Books & Manuscripts (2571b)
Best of luck. It will be an interesting and exciting week.
Bruce McKinney
AE
November 6th, 2011