You can be forgiven for not knowing that the world of books is in the midst of a tumultuous transition because this week it sure didn’t feel that way.  The sales archived, five altogether, offered one thousand two hundred and seventy-seven lots of which one thousand and forty-one sold for an 82% success rate.  The aggregate low and high estimates for the lots that sold were $496,084 and $905,537.  Total sales were $928,629 or 103% of the total estimate of all lots offered.  This suggests a stiffening resolve by auction houses and an acceptance by consignors to estimate conservatively and let the market set prices.  For all sides this is a good strategy for it sells the material and encourages buyers.  Five sales do not a season make but they suggest increasing trust in the market to perform logically.

For the week two sales surpassed 100% of their aggregate high estimates:

Bloomsbury.  The Craigie Aitchison Sale on January 26^th:  161%

Dominic Winter Book Auct.  Books, Maps, Epyptology, Bibles on January 25^th:  109%

For the week ahead seventeen sales and sessions are scheduled:

Tuesday January 31^st  Bloomsbury Auctions.  Antiquarian Books (35870)

                                                Bonhams.  Books (20134)

                                                Bruun Rasmussen.  Modern Prints and Drawings (1205a)

Wednesday February 1^st     Bruun Rasmussen.  Old Prints and Drawings (1205b)

Thursday February 2^nd        Aguttes.  Books, Ancient Documents and Stamps (18332)

                                                AntiquarianAuctions.co.za.  Rare Books – Online Bidstart 1/16 (16)

                                                Bloomsbury Auctions.  Bibliophile Sale (35876)

                                                Freeman’s.  Books, Manuscripts and Ephemera (1421)

                                                James D. Julia.  Fine Art (319)

                                                Swann Galleries.  Vintage Posters (2267)

Friday February 3^rd              James D. Julia.  Fine Art (319) continued

                                                Kiefer – Buch – und  Kunstauktionen.  Books and Graphics (79a)

                                                Piasa.  Photography (18211)

                                                Skinner, Inc.  Fine Prints (2581B)

Saturday February 4^th          Alain & Evelyne Morel de Westgaver.  Autographs, Prints and Books (18131)

                                                James D. Julia.  Fine Art (319) final session          

                                                Kiefer – Buch – und  Kunstauktionen.  Books and Graphics (79b)

The auction market continues to increase its footprint.

Bruce McKinney

AE

January 29^th, 2012