We can be thankful to the auction houses that present sales in August.  At the very nadir of annual activity a few houses seize the moment to offer material, reminding us that the hearts of both sellers and acquirers may slow but never stop.  For the week four sales were reported:  two in dollars and two in British Pounds.  One thousand nine hundred and two lots were offered and 1,356 sold for a sell-through rate of 71%.  For the lots sold that raised $651,793 the aggregate low and high estimates were $550,715 and $798,949.  The total of high estimates for all lots, sold and unsold, was $1,135,270, the percentage of total sales against the total of the high estimates 57.4%.  In some weeks, when activity is robust, total sales approach even surpass the total of the high estimates for the week.  But this is August, and while the sales continue, albeit at a slower pace, interest is distracted what with vacations, travel, and this year the world financial crises.  In a few years, for some types of book sales, the summer will become the golden moment.  In 2011 we are fighting history and habits and the habits are changing.  Houses running sales through the summer merit support.

For the week ahead six sales are scheduled:

August 8^th     Australian Book Auctions:  Books, 491 lots;

August 9^th     Australian Book Auctions:  Books, 491 lots continuing;

                        Christie’s:  Christie’s Interiors, 13 identified lots

                        Rupert Toovey:  Postcards, Photos, Autographs, Ephemera, 154 lots

August 11^th   Bloomsbury Auctions:  Bibliophile Sale

                        Pacific Book Auctions:  Americana with Ephemera & Maps, 407 lots

Bruce McKinney

AE

August 7^th, 2011