For the week ending Saturday August 10^th five auctions were archived, 4 in US dollars and 1 in euros.  As weeks go this was a quiet one.   Total sales were $533,548 but the material was appealing.  The Leslie Hindman sale in particular offered a primer in interesting collecting opportunities and managed, even in the high heat to sell 84% of their 452 lots for $430,528.

Of the five auctions only Bruun Rasmussen exceeded their total high estimate with their sale of Modern Prints on August 7^th:  120%.

Three of the week’s sales sold at least 80% of their lots:

Heritage Auctions.  Rare Books ending August 9^th:  91%

Bruun Rasmussen.  Modern Prints on August 7^th:  85%

Leslie Hindman.  Fine Books and Manuscripts on August 8^th:  84%

The world is moving toward transparency and auctions are at the forefront of this information revolution.

For the week ahead 6 sales are scheduled:

Tuesday Aug. 14^th  Bruun Rasmussen:  Ancient and Modern Prints [1233].  61 lots

                                    Rupert Toovey and Co.  Photographs, Autographs, Ephemera [1062].  69 lots

Wed. Aug. 15^th           Rupert Toovey and Co.  Photographs, Autographs, Prints [1061].  30 lots

Thurs. Aug. 16^th    Bloomsbury Auctions.  Bibliophile [35946].  477 lots

                                    Heritage Auctions.  Rare Books online bidding [201233].  427 lots

                                    PBA Galleries.  Fine Golf Books and Memorabilia [486].  388 lots.

Auction history and the fresh flow of material at auction are converging and it makes for compelling reading.

Bruce McKinney

AE

August 11^th, 2012