Auction Update Review
The Froth of July
For the week ending July 7th,
2012 12 auctions were archived to the AED; 2 in British pounds, 3 in US
dollars, and 7 in euros. The turnover
was light; $2,888,514 and only 44.8% of the total of the high estimates of all
lots offered sold. This was a very weak week
but also the victim of bad timing. The
Americans were on vacation; the Europeans were packing and the Chinese worrying. Romney was in New Hampshire trying on a
helmet for his tank ride; Obama campaigning in up-for-grabs states hoping
to divert attention from disappointing employment numbers. Out in the real world those buyers who sought
solace in the rooms all found something to buy.
The problem it seems was in the numbers; simply stated not enough
bidders. By this time come September the
fall season, like the sun in the east, will be rising. The main events, the race for the Presidency,
the euro’s ongoing open-heart surgery, and the adjusting Chinese economy will be
center stage but for they for whom works on paper are a passion the sounds of distant
clashes will be but cymbals and kettledrums to their personal Mozart’s Fifth. In the mean time we muddle through.
Three sales reached 100% of their
high estimates for all lots offered:
Neret – Minet & Ressier. Militaria on June 28th: 125%
Ader. Ancient and Modern Books on July 4th: 105%
Alain & Evelyne Morel de
Westgaver. Books, Postcards and
Prints: 104%
No sales reached a million dollars.
One sale sold 80% or more of their
lots and another came close enough to warrant mentioning.
Heritage. Rare Books ending July 5th: 94.2%
Alain & Evelyne Morel de
Westgaver. Books, Postcards and
Prints: 79.1%
For the week ahead 11 sales are
scheduled:
Tuesday July 10th Rossini.
Prints [19530]. 162 lots
Rupert
Toovey and Co. Books [1055]. 295 lots
Sotheby’s. English Literature, History and Children’s
Books and Illustrations [L12404]. 178
lots
Sotheby’s. The History of Script: Sixty Important Manuscript Leaves from the
Schoyen Collection [L12242]
Sotheby’s. Western Manuscripts and miniatures
[L12240]. 36 lots
Wed. July 11th Bonhams. Prints [20018]. 214 lots
Cowan’s
Auctions. Prints [278]. 108 lots
Mealy’s
Auctioneer’s. Rare Books – Congreve
Collection [71112]. 264 lots
Rupert
Toovey and Co. Prints [1054]. 40 lots
Thursday July 12th Bloomsbury Auctions. Old Master & Traditional Prints and
Vintage Posters [35928]. 436 lots
Heritage
Auctions. Rare Books ending July 12th [201228].
401 lots
This is what summer looks like.
Bruce McKinney
AE
July 8th, 2012