For the week ending Saturday May 19^th, 2012 19 auctions were archived; 5 in euros, 7 in British pounds and 7 in US dollars.  Five thousand one hundred and twenty-three lots were offered and 4,043 sold for a 79% success rate.  Total sales were $18,108,279, 86% of the aggregate high estimate of all sold and unsold lots offered.  Auctions are continuing to provide an efficient outlet for converting paper collectibles into cash.

For the week 5 sales reached or exceeded 100% of the aggregate high estimate of all lots offered:

Artcurial Briest-Le Fur-Poulain-F. Tajan.  Modern Books on May 15^th:  154%

Alde.  Original Editions, Prints on May 16^th:  130%

Sotheby’s.  Books and Manuscripts on May 15^th:  111%

Swann Galleries.  Early Printed and Travel Books on May 15^th:  106%

Dominic Winter Book Auctions.  Printed Books, Maps and Documents on May 16^th:  100%

Seven sales sold 80% or more of their lots:

Christie’s.  Photographs 1840 – Present on May 16^th:  100%

National Book Auctions.  Books and Ephemera on May 6^th:  100%

Heritage Auctions.  Rare Books Internet bidstart May 11^th:  98%

Heritage Auctions.  Space Explorations online bidstart May 12^th:  97%

Swann Galleries.  Early Printed and Travel Books May 15^th:  94%

Skinner, Inc.  Fine Prints on May 18^th:  84%

Bloomsbury Auctions.  Important Books and Manuscripts on May 15^th:  80%

One house, Swann Galleries, made both lists for the same sale, an unusual, even exceptional, performance.

For the week ahead 18 sales are scheduled:

Monday May 21^st Ketterer Kunst / F. Doerling.  Rare Books [391].  1,157 lots

Tuesday May 22^nd  Ader.  Manuscripts, Prints [18359].  421 lots

                                    Bloomsbury Auctions.  Photographs [35919].  280 lots

                                    Bonhams.  The Angling Library of Alan  Jarvis [20289].  488 lots

                                    Bubb Kuyper.  Books, Manuscripts and Graphic Arts [56a].  1,679 lots

                                    Ketterer Kunst / F. Doerling.  Rare Books [391].  1,157 lots

Wed. May 23^rd           Bonhams.  The Stuart B. Schimmel Forgery Collection [20136].  253 lots

                                    Bubb Kuyper.  Books, Manuscripts and Graphic  Arts [56b].  1,725 lots

                                    Old World Auctions.  Maps [140].  922 lots

                                    Sotheby’s.  The Gunter Sachs Collection Day Auction [L12026].  9 lots.

Thurs. May 24^th         Bubb Kuyper.  Books, Manuscripts and Graphic Arts [56c]

                                    Heritage Auctions.  Rare Books – internet bidstart 5/17 [201221].  339 lots

                                    PBA Galleries.  Literature and Books in All Fields [480].

Friday May 25^th         Bubb Kuyper.  Books, Manuscripts and Graphic Arts [56d]

                                    Osenat.  Books – internet [18946]

                                    Piasa.  Ancient, Modern and Contemporary Photographs [18226].  279 lots

Saturday May 26^th    Northeast Auctions.  Historical Americana [52612].  148 lots

Sunday May 27^th       Northeast Auctions.  Historical Americana [52612].  148 lots continued

The pace of auctions, approaching summer, declines a bit but this year should continue, by historical standards, to be brisk.

Bruce McKinney

AE

May 20^th, 2012