For the week ending July 23^rd, 2011 7 auction sales were archived in the AED:  1 in Euros, 2 in British Pounds, and 4 in dollars.  Turnover for these sales was $3,846,532 against their aggregate high estimate of $5,026,890, at 76.5% percent somewhat below the recent average.   Three thousand seven hundred and thirteen lots were offered and 3,024 sold.  The results posted include a JMW sale conducted in February that while small, was relatively strong.

For the sales reported only one, the dispersal in Kilkenny, Ireland of the Fred Hanna collection reflecting the literary life of Ireland, exceeded 100% of the aggregate high estimate:  108%.   Mr. Hanna, a dealer, collected with a keen eye and his heirs found significant financial reward as well as confirmation, if any was needed, that Mr. Hanna was a skilled collector.  Mealy’s did a very good job in the cataloguing and promotion and reaped the reward, a $541,806 sale at that point in summer when book collectors would as soon be on a beach but stayed focused on the rare opportunities that this single owner sale offered.

Several other sales approached 100% of their aggregate high estimates:

On July 20^th Dominic Winter’s Printed Books & Maps raised $658,862 [95% of the aggregate high estimate] and Doyle New York’s small but effective sale of 21 of 27 lots on July 21^st achieved 96% of its aggregate high estimate.

The JMW sale of Ephemera, Artwork and Postcards is of note.  It was held in February and but only recently reported.  In its category of postcards, posters and ephemera it did very well.  Interest in this type of material has been increasing and auction houses continue to shift resources in its direction.

For the week upcoming six sales are scheduled:

Monday July 25^th.  Cowan’s Online:  Western Expansion Stereoviews;

Thursday July 28^th.  Freeman’s:  Prints;

                                    Key’s Fine Arts:  Books Days;

                                    PBA Galleries:  Fine Books;

Friday July 29^th.        Keys Fine Arts:  Books Days

Saturday July 30^th.    Ephemera

Even in the relative quiet of summer the bang of auction gavels is heard in some city, town or precinct.

Bruce McKinney

AE

July 24^th, 2011