Auction Update Review
A Busy Week in the Busy Season
For an entire year auction houses
have been pursing consignments and collections, feeling out consignors on
reserves and estimates, and parsing lots all in preparation for the culmination
of the fall auction season. It is here,
in the shortening days of November that auction houses learn if their work will
pay off. This year, more than most, is
difficult what with the weak economy, an aging primary audience and an
intensifying transparency that is affecting every aspect of collectibles. It has been a somewhat difficult year but
overall not a bad one. With six weeks to
go we are rounding the final stretch and heading for the finish line.
For the week twenty-two sales were
archived; five each in Dollars and British Pounds and twelve in Euros. Ten thousand four hundred and twenty-four
lots were offered and 7,367 sold for a 71% success rate. The total turnover was a robust $20.4 million
against an aggregate high estimate of $25.4 million.
Eight auctions reached or exceeded 100%
of their aggregate high estimates:
Osenat. Gantner’s Books on November 13th: 165%
Ader. Photographs on November 14th: 125%
Leslie Hindman. Fine Books and Manuscripts on November 15th
115%
Zisska & Schauer. Books on November 9th: 111%
Rasmussen. Books and Maps on November 13th: 110%
Artcurial Briest-Le Fur-Poulain-F.
Tajan. Books and Manuscripts on November
14th: 106%
Gonnelli Casa d’Aste. Autographs on November 11th: 101%
Christie’s. Photographs, Books on November 12th: 100%
Seven events reached or exceeded $1
million in sales:
Sotheby’s. Travel, Atlases and Maps on November 15th: $3,487,923
Zisska & Schauer. Books on November 9th: $2,934,887
Christie’s. Manuscripts and American Art on November 15th: $2,771,693
Christie’s. Photographs, Books on November 12th: $2,322,804
Gonelli Casa d’Aste. Manuscripts and Autographs on November 11th: $1,504,208
Skinner’s. Fine Books and Manuscripts on November 13th: $1,276,460
Artcurial Briest-Le Fur-Poulain-F.
Tajan. Books and Manuscripts on November
14th: $1,199,008
For the week ahead 14 sales are
scheduled:
November 21st Ketterer Kunst / F. Doerling. Rare Books (385)
Australian
Book Auctions. Books (57) on Monday
November 21st
November 22nd Bonhams. Books, Maps, Manuscripts and Historical
Photographs (18992)
Ketterer
Kunst / F. Doerling. Rare Books (385)
Australian
Book Auctions. Books (57)
November 23rd Christie’s. Books (8002)
Ader. Books ancient et modern – Architecture –
Manuscripts (17507)
Piasa. Ancient and Modern Prints (17189)
November 24th Galerie Bassenge. Prints (98e)
November 25th Galerie Bassenge. Prints (98e)
The
Romantique Agony Book and Print Auctions.
Books (46)
November 26th Galerie Bassenge. Prints (98e)
The
Romantique Agony Book and Print Auctions.
Books (46)
Artcurial
Briest-Le Fur-Poulain-F. Tajan. Comic
Strips – Herge’s Universe (1956)
Bruce McKinney
AE
November 20th, 2011