Auction Update Review
The Plot Thickens
For the week ending Saturday
February 18th ten sales were archived; three in dollars, three in
Euros, and four in British Pounds. Sales
for the week totaled $7,570,787, precisely one hundred percent of the aggregate
high estimate for all lots in all sales.
One thousand four hundred and seven lots were offered and one thousand
and eighty-five sold for a success rate of 77%.
It was a very good week.
Four sales approached or exceeded
100% of their aggregate high estimates and they included the three top grossing
sales. This suggests that those who have
money are willing to spend it on important material.
Those sales approaching or
exceeding 100% of their aggregate high estimates are:
Neret – Minet & Tessler. Art on February 8th: 155%;
Artcurial Briest-Le
Fur-Poulain-F. Drawings of Writers on
February 14th: 123%;
Christie’s. The Printer’s Proof on February on February 15th: 101%
Christie’s. Hockney on Paper on February 17th: 98%
The Artcurial Briest and two
Christie’s sales totaled $6,070,393 of the week’s $7,570,787.
For the week upcoming 13 sales are
scheduled:
Tuesday February 21st Bruun Rasmussen. Prints (1208)
Cowan’s
Auctions. World at War (253)
Rupert
Toovey and Co. Antiquarian and
Collectors Books (1017)
Wed. February 22nd Bonhams.
Modern Prints and the St. Ives School (19776)
Heritage
Auctions. Vintage Comics and Comic Art 0
online (7054)
Rupert
Toovey and Co. Prints (1016)
Thursday February 23rd Bloomsbury Auctions. Literature, Manuscripts and Modern First Editions
(35882)
Heritage
Auctions. Vintage Comics and Comic Art
continuing (7054)
Heritage
Auctions. Rare Books and Autographs
(201208)
Swann
Galleries. Private Presses and
Illustrated Books (2269)
Friday February 24th Heritage Comics and Comic
Art (7054)
Saturday February 25th Dirk Soulis. Spivey’s Maps, Prints and Books (22512)
Morton
Casa de Subastas. Books, Documents and Prints
(623)
Coming off two successful book
fairs on the American west coast and strong results at the high end of the
market in auction rooms in the United States and Europe we are casting a
hopeful eye on a market showing some promise.
Bruce McKinney
AE
February 19th, 2012