For the week ending Saturday April 7^th 23 auctions were archived, 5 in British pounds, 4 in Swiss francs, 7 each in euros and US dollars.  Seven thousand three hundred and eleven lots were offered and 5,576 sold for a robust 76% success rate.  The aggregate low estimate for the lots sold was $12,421,861, the aggregate high estimate $17,917,826.  Total sales for these lots were $27,370,056.  The total of the high estimates for all sold offered, all the sold and unsold lots, was $23,217,622.  Actual sales exceeded the aggregate high estimate of all lots by more than $4 million.

Eleven of the 23 archived sales reached or exceeded 100% of their total high estimates:

Christie’s.  Collection Victor Hugh on April 4^th:  323%

Artcurial Briest-Le Fur-Poulain F. Tajan.  Weapons, Historical Souvenirs on April 2^nd:  297%

Sotheby’s.  Collection Florence Loeb on April 5^th:  193%

Rupert Toovey & Co.  Antiquarian and Collectors --- on February 21^st:  160%

Alain & Evelyne Morel de Westgaver.  Autographs, Prints, and Books on February 4^th:  159%

Rupert Toovey & Co.  Prints on February 22^nd:  134%

Artcurial Briest-Le Fur-Poulain F. Tajan.  Comic  Strips on March 31^st:  125%

Galerie Koller.  Old Master Prints on March 30^th:  117%

Bloomsbury Auctions.  Books, Autographs and Prints on March 27^th:  112%

Christie’s.  Photographs on April 5^th:  108%

Heritage.  Music and Entertainment Memorabilia on March 31^st:  105%

For the week ahead 18 auctions are scheduled:

Monday April 9^th           Bruun Rasmussen.  Old and Modern Prints (1215) (72 lots)

Tuesday April 10th         Bruun Rasmussen.  Old and Modern Prints (1215) (72 lots)

                                          Christie’s.  Books and Manuscripts (2622)  (165 lots)   

Wednesday April 11^th    Ader.  Prints (18979) (43 items)

                                                Cowan’s Auctions.  Continental and Asian Decorative Art (275) (26 items)

                                                Dominic Winter.  Printed Books and Maps (S322) (542 lots)

                                                Heritage Auctions.  Historical Manuscripts (6080) (417 items)

                                                Heritage Auctions.  Rare Books (6085) (755 lots)

Thursday April 12^th          Ader.  Prints (18988) (209 lots)

                                                Heritage Auctions.  Rare Books (6085) (755 items)

                                                PBA Galleries.  Fine and Rare Books (477)

                                                Swann Galleries.  Fine Books (2275) (100 items)

Saturday April 14^th        Bonhams.   Mapping and Discovery of America (19631) (91 items)

                                           Clars Auction Gallery.  Fine Arts Prints and Photographs (41412)

                                                Profiles in History.  Captain America:  The First Avenger (41412) (31 items)

Sunday April 15^th            Bonhams.   R. M. S. Titanic:  100 Years of Fact & Fiction (19599) (72 items)

                                                Clars Auction Gallery.  Fine Arts Prints and Photographs (41412)

                                                National Book Auctions.   Books and Ephemera – Sets, Native Am. Artifacts, Nautical,
  Bookcases, etc. (04152012)

April is off to a strong start.  This coming week there are 18 sales and the following two weeks 30 and 28 more.  Ten years ago such weeks would have capped an exceptional year.  These days we expect great auctions every month.

Bruce McKInney

The Americana Exchange

Sunday April 8^th, 2012