For the week ended Saturday March 7^th 24 sales were archived to the RBT database; 4 denominated in euros, 6 in British pounds, and 14 in US dollars.  Turnover was $7,755,354 as 5,578 lots were offered and 4,512 sold for an 81% success rate.  Bidder enthusiasm and auction estimates were nicely balanced.

2 auctions saw total proceeds reach a million dollars: 

Swann Galleries. 19th and 20th Century Prints and Drawings on March 5th: $2,506,211
Arader Galleries. Natural History & Americana on February 28th: $1,279,750

7 auctions saw total sales exceed 100% of the high estimates of all lots offered:

Carlsen Gallery. Mid-Winter Sale - Books and Prints on February 8th: 474.38%
Bruun Rasmussen. Old Master Prints on March 2nd: 161.63%
Heritage Auctions. Americana, Political on February 28th: 154.84%
Bruun Rasmussen. Modern and Contemporary Prints on March 4th: 127.11%
Skinner. Americana - Books and Prints on March 2nd: 110.65%
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Printed Books, Maps & Documents; Medieval Manuscripts & Illuminated Leaves; Bookbinding Equipment on March 4th: 105.17%
Tooveys. Decorative Prints on February 25th: 101.35%

13 sales saw at least 80% of their lots sell:

Carlsen Gallery. Mid-Winter Sale - Books and Prints on February 8th: 100.00%
Alaska Auction. Prints on February 28th: 100.00%
Heritage Auctions. Comics - Internet bidstart 2/22 on March 1st: 99.23%
Heritage Auctions. Americana, Political on February 28th: 98.85%
Heritage Auctions. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 2/22 on March 1st: 98.25%
Arader Galleries. Natural History & Americana on February 28th: 96.32%
Heritage Auctions. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 2/26 on March 5th: 91.51%
Skinner. Americana - Books and Prints on March 2nd: 90.91%
Tooveys. Decorative Prints on February 25th: 86.49%
Bruun Rasmussen. Modern and Contemporary Prints on March 3rd: 84.62%
Tooveys. Photographs, Autographs, Printed and Manuscript Ephemera on February 24th: 80.58%
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Printed Books, Maps & Documents; Medieval Manuscripts & Illuminated Leaves; Bookbinding Equipment on March 4th: 80.16%
Bruun Rasmussen. Old Master Prints on March 2nd: 80.00%

24 total sales reported this week:

Carlsen Gallery. Mid-Winter Sale - Books and Prints on February 8th: 100.00%
Alaska Auction. Prints on February 28th: 100.00%
Artcurial. Aeronautics on March 2nd: 58.00%
Dominic Winter Book Auctions. Printed Books, Maps & Documents; Medieval Manuscripts & Illuminated Leaves; Bookbinding Equipment on March 4th: 80.16%
Heritage Auctions. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 2/26 on March 5th: 91.51%
Bloomsbury Auctions. Photo Opportunities on March 6th: 56.90%
Bloomsbury Auctions. 19th and 20th Century Photographs from a Private Collection on March 5th: 75.36%
Swann Galleries. 19th and 20th Century Prints and Drawings on March 5th: 65.52%
Bonhams. Prints and Multiples on March 4th: 72.65%
Bruun Rasmussen. Modern and Contemporary Prints on March 4th: 71.43%
Bruun Rasmussen. Modern and Contemporary Prints on March 3rd: 84.62%
Bruun Rasmussen. Old Master Prints on March 2nd: 80.00%
Bonhams. Entertainment Memorabilia on March 1st: 79.05%
Eldreds. Winter Market Sale - Prints on February 28th: 69.77%
Skinner. Americana - Books and Prints on March 2nd: 90.91%
Auctionata. Prints, Photographs on February 28th: 31.07%
Heritage Auctions. Americana, Political on February 28th: 98.85%
Heritage Auctions. Comics - Internet bidstart 2/22 on March 1st: 99.23%
Tooveys. Decorative Prints on February 25th: 86.49%
Tooveys. Photographs, Autographs, Printed and Manuscript Ephemera on February 24th: 80.58%
Skinner. Asian Art - Books and Prints - Internet Bidstart 2/17 on February 27th: 63.03%
Kolbe and Fanning Numismatic Booksellers. North American Numismatic Literature Live Online Sale on February 28th: 77.11%
Heritage Auctions. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 2/22 on March 1st: 98.25%
Arader Galleries. Natural History & Americana on February 28th: 96.32%

For the week ahead 22 sales are scheduled:

Mon. Mar. 9th
Bruun Rasmussen. Copenhagen. Old Master Prints. 7 lots

Tue. Mar. 10th
Doyle New York. New York. Doyle at Home: Decorative Prints. 28 lots
Rossini. Paris. Books. 244 lots
Bruun Rasmussen. Copenhagen. Modern and Contemporary Prints. 54 lots

Wed. Mar. 11th
Bearnes Hampton and Littlewood. Exeter. Books, Maps and Prints.
RR Auction. Amherst. Fine Autographs and Artifacts - bidstart 2/20. 941 lots
Kedem Auction. Jerusalem . Judaica: Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters. 470 lots

Thu. Mar. 12th
Bloomsbury Auctions. London. Bibliophile. 483 lots
AntiquarianAuctions.com. Cape Town. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 3/5. 497 lots
Waverly Auctions. Falls Church. Manuscripts. 16 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 3/5. 273 lots

Fri. Mar. 13th
Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society. Lancaster. Rare and Used Books. 468 lots

Sat. Mar. 14th
Christies. Paris. Comics and Illustration. 446 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Texana. 362 lots
Alaska Auction. Anchorage. Prints. 25 lots
Christies. Paris. Tintin. 10 lots
Eldreds. East Dennis,. Antiques and Accessories - Books and Prints. 57 lots

Sun. Mar. 15th
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Comics - Internet bidstart 3/8.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 3/8.
James D Julia Auctioneers. Fairfield. Militaria - Documents, Books, letters. 24 lots
National Book Auctions. Ithaca. Books.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Marilyn Monroe Photographs Internet bidstart 3/5. 45 lots

The first cresendo of the young 2015 auction season is just a month away.  The quiet months have not been quiet.  April will see the year's first real tests.

Bruce McKinney

Rare Book Hub