For the week ending Saturday December 22^nd 46 sales were archived to the AED; 13 in US dollars, one each in Canadian dollars, Mexican pesos, and British pounds, and 32 in euros.  Total turnover was $13,294,744, or 60% of the high estimate of all 16,880 lots offered - $22,330,538.  The volume has been extraordinarily and finally, as the days extended deeper into the month the pace has slowed.

The major sale for the week was Profiles in History’s The Property of a Distinguished Collector on December 18^th.  Eighty-five percent of all lots sold and $5,,883,185 changed hands.  The sale was widely described as important and fresh.  In the trade these are code words for desirable. 

Three sales saw their totals reach one million dollars:

Profiles in History.  The Property of a Distinguished American Private Collector on December 18^th:  $5,883,185

Sotheby’s.  Important Judaica in New York on December 19^th:  $2,014,126

Minerva Auctions.  Books, Autographs and Prints on December 13^th:  $1,118,042

Ten sales saw their total proceeds go beyond 100% of the total of their high estimates for all lots offered:

Artcurial Briest.  Historical Memories on December 17^th:  528%

Pierre Berge & Associes.  Library of the Epyptologist Roger Khawam  on November 29^th:  255%

ERA Encheres.  Books about Teratology, Curiosa, Documents about Cinema on December 15^th:  165%

Ader.  Letters, Manuscripts and Autographs on December 13^th:  161%

Ferraton.  Ancient Books and Prints.  First Vacation on December 14^th:  133%

Heritage Auctions.  Music Memorabilia and Autographs on December 14^th:  127% 

Ader.  Letters, Manuscripts and Autographs II on December 14^th:  123%

Ader.  Letters, Manuscripts and Autographs on December:  116%  

Tajan.  Ancient and Modern Prints on December 13^th:  116%

Profiles in History.  Dreier Collection on July 28^th, 2012:  116%

Ferraton.  Ancient Books and Prints.  2^nd Vacation on December 15^th:  102%

Nine sales sold more than 80% of their lots:

Pierre Berge & Associes.  Library of the Epyptologist Roger Khawam  on November 29^th:  100%

ERA Encheres.  Books about Teratology, Curiosa, Documents about Cinema on December 15^th:  93%

Profiles in History.    Dreier Collection on July 28^th, 2012:  91%

Profiles in History.  The Property of a Distinguished American Private Collector on December 18^th:  85%

Ader.  Letters, Manuscripts and Autographs on December 13^th:  85%

Heritage Auctions.  Rare Books online auction ended December 20^th:  84%

Addison and Sarova.  Rare and Fine Books on November 17^th:  82%

Ferraton.  Ancient Books and Prints.  2^nd Vacation on December 15^th:  82%

Bruun Rasmussen.  Modern Prints on December 18^th:  80%

For the week ahead 3 sales are scheduled:

Thurs. Dec. 27^th         Dirk Soulis Auctions.  Terry Redlin Signed Prints online bidding ending today [28789].  50 lots

Fri. Dec 28^th               Rupert Toovey and Co.  Prints [1091].  35 lots 

As we head toward the end of the fall season there are 4,052,091 records in the AED.   It has been a busy fall season.  Change is in the air.

Best wishes for the holidays.  The days off are well deserved.

Bruce McKinney

AE

December 23^rd, 2012