The Strength of the Collectible Paper Auction Market continues to surprise as the market transforms.
These days we are living through turmoil. Politics, yes, the Collectible Paper market, no.
I ran some comparisons of what January auctions have looked like over the past 20 years. It’s been clear over the past decade that the market was shifting from dealer-retail to auction. The high-end now prefers to get a market-confirmed realization.
These days the mid-market too is finding auctions preferable. How can I say this?
The number of auctions are rising to surreal levels.
Let’s see what the past 20 Januarys suggest, In two words: massive growth:
Year
Month
CP Auctions in January
CP Auctions Archived
Total Lots Offered
% Lots Sold
% Lots Sold Under Low Estimate
% Sold Over High Estimated Price
2025
1
220
199
42461
33757 (80%)
6347 (19%)
20666 (61%)
2024
1
186
185
46363
39321 (85%)
7935 (20%)
24279 (62%)
2023
1
168
167
41969
35764 (85%)
6093 (17%)
23165 (65%)
2022
1
169
168
41065
34970 (85%)
4575 (13%)
24212 (69%)
2021
1
146
145
36432
32469 (89%)
5856 (18%)
19987 (62%)
2020
1
128
128
34180
29956 (88%)
7846 (26%)
16473 (55%)
2019
1
105
104
31624
25398 (80%)
6355 (25%)
14627 (58%)
2018
1
82
82
29404
24925 (85%)
8871 (36%)
10548 (42%)
2017
1
69
68
17728
14229 (80%)
2750 (19%)
9534 (67%)
2016
1
79
79
21252
17410 (82%)
3341 (19%)
11568 (66%)
2015
1
70
70
17386
14167 (81%)
3131 (22%)
9226 (65%)
2014
1
67
66
17906
14064 (79%)
2728 (19%)
8737 (62%)
2013
1
57
53
12676
9219 (73%)
3354 (36%)
3929 (43%)
2012
1
36
32
10361
8406 (81%)
2665 (32%)
3518 (42%)
2011
1
20
18
5891
4531 (77%)
1535 (34%)
1828 (40%)
2010
1
18
18
9080
7557 (83%)
1917 (25%)
3612 (48%)
2009
1
24
24
5385
3715 (69%)
1183 (32%)
1649 (44%)
2008
1
19
18
5615
4098 (73%)
1222 (30%)
1784 (44%)
2007
1
28
27
7615
5750 (76%)
1524 (27%)
2874 (50%)
2006
1
14
14
4339
3324 (77%)
936 (28%)
1510 (45%)
The number of sales continues to quickly rise.
The events are changing. There are more single owner and single subject sales.
In 2024 total collectible paper auction sales raised $1.37 billion dollars. There is nothing in the January numbers to suggest total sales in 2025 won’t go higher.
If you’ve been waiting. You can consign or even create your own auction house.
Gros & Delettrez, June 12: LETTRE ENCYCLIQUE, manuscrit XIXe siècle
Gros & Delettrez, June 12: NOUVEAU TESTAMENT, Amsterdam 1668, reliure arménienne
Doyle The Collection of Mary Tyler Moore June 4, 2025
DOYLE: Peter Max, Portrait of Mary Tyler Moore (Versions 1,2, 5, 6), 2001. Estimate $10,000-15,000
DOYLE: The iconic screen-used wall-mounted "M" from The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Estimate $5,000-8,000
DOYLE: The Mary Tyler Moore Show by Al Hirschfeld. Estimate $4,000-6,000
Doyle The Collection of Mary Tyler Moore June 4, 2025
DOYLE: Annie Leibovitz presents Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke for Vanity Fair. Estimate $4,000-6,000
DOYLE: Al Hirschfeld presents Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke in the CBS Wednesday Night Lineup. Estimate $4,000-6,000
DOYLE: Richard McKenzie, Portrait of Mary Tyler Moore. Estimate $1,000-2,000
Doyle The Collection of Mary Tyler Moore June 4, 2025
DOYLE: Three Original Bill Hargate Costume Designs for The Mary Tyler Moore Hour. Estimate $600-800
DOYLE: The famous Bonnie and Clyde "Wanted" broadside. Estimate $500-800
DOYLE: Ticket to the Final Episode of the Mary Tyler Moore Show Estimate $400-600
Sotheby's Bibliothèque Jacques Dauchez - Autour de Dubuffet
5-19 June
Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Bissière, Roger. Cantique à notre frère soleil de saint François. 1954. 1,000 - 1,500 EUR
Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Céline, Louis-Ferdinand. La vie & l’œuvre de Philippe Ignace Semmelweis. 1924. Rare édition originale, avec envoi. Joint : La Quinine en thérapeutique, 1925. 4,000 - 6,000 EUR
Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Céline, Louis-Ferdinand. Mort à crédit. 1936. Édition originale. Bel exemplaire sur Hollande. 2,500 - 3,500 EUR
Sotheby's Bibliothèque Jacques Dauchez - Autour de Dubuffet
5-19 June
Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Chillida, Eduardo ─ Emil Cioran. Face aux instants. 1985. Un des 100 exemplaires sur Arches. Eau-forte signée. 600 - 800 EUR
Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Dubuffet, Jean. Ler dla canpane. L’Art Brut, 1948. Édition originale. 3,000 - 5,000 EUR
Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Dubuffet, Jean. L'Herne Jean Dubuffet. 1973. Un des 100 exemplaires du tirage de luxe avec une sérigraphie originale en couleurs. 1,000 - 1,500 EUR
