Auction Update Review
Evidence of a Cautious Spring
For the week ending February 11th 2012 twelve auctions were archived; two in British pounds, three in Euros and seven in dollars. Three thousand eight hundred and twenty-two lots were offered and 2,747 lots sold for a 72% sell-through. Total sales reached $3,619,620 against the aggregate high estimate of all lots offered - $5,298,573 - or 72%. It was a careful week that saw desirable material sell and other lots, that might have sold a year ago, fail for lack of interest.
This may continue for some time. The caution is notable.
Two sales reached or exceeded 100% of their high estimates:
Freemans. Books, Manuscripts and Ephemera on February
2nd: 120%
Skinners. Fine Prints on February 3rd: 107%
For the week ahead 16 sales are scheduled:
Tuesday February 14th Artcurial Briest-Le Fur-Poulain-F. Tajan. Drawings of Writers (18093)
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints (1207a)
Wednesday February 15th Christie's. The Printer's Proof: Etchings by Lucian Freud from the Studio Prints archive (6330)
Freeman's. Estate
Thursday February 16th
Bonhams. Books, Maps and Prints (19857)
PBA
Galleries. Fine
Swann Galleries. African-American Fine Art (2268)
Friday February 17th Alde. Ancient and Scientific Books (18311)
Christies. Hockney on Paper (4422)
Ferraton. Books and Cartographies, First Vacances (18446)
Neret - Minet & Tessler. Posters (12043)
Saturday February 28th Ferraton. Books and Cartographies, Second Vacances (18447)
Sunday February 29th Bruun Rasmussen. Books (1207b)
National Book Auctions. Books and Ephemera - Postal, Bronzes, JFK, etc (02192012)
Best wishes,
Bruce McKinney
