Near perfect sell-through rates were achieved by two auction houses which offered over 1,000 lots - Profiles in History (which conducted Hollywood's Collector's Book Store sale) and National Book Auctions of Ithaca. As always, New England Book Auction was close at 99%. Bonham's in Rome was the lowest at 41%, though most Bonham's offices had above average sales rates.
Four percent of the lots sold went for over $10,000. The leader here was Christie's in New York with 1,378 such items. However, there was plenty available for buyers of more modest means, with 11% of the lots selling for under $100.
The fourth quarter of the year is normally the busiest, but the worsening financial crisis later in the year must have caused some sellers to hold back. The percentage of lots offered in the fourth quarter dropped from 38% to 34%, making the second quarter, with 36% of the lots, the busiest. Likewise, the most active single month was May, with 17% of sales. The past four years, November was always the busiest. Sales, as usual, were slowest in August, with under 2% of the total lots offered.
In total, we tracked 476 auctions, with over 220,000 lots offered for sale. The most expensive item was Abraham Lincoln's response to the "Little People's Petition," sold for $3,401,000. In total, the sales at these auctions came to $375 million. In 2007, that total was over $500 million from slightly fewer lots.
The complete set of seven auction charts is available to all Research and Premium members of the Americana Exchange. If you are already a member, log in. If not, click here to sign up for a Research or Premium membership. You can always reach these charts from the "2008 Auction Results" link under "Subscriber Services" on the left side of this page or by clicking this link.
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24 to January 9
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Ellis Smith Prints unsigned. 20” by 16”.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: United typothetae of America presidents. Pictures of 37 UTA presidents 46th annual convention United typothetae of America Cincinnati 1932.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec signed Paper Impressionism Art Prints. MayMilton 9 1/2” by 13” Reine de Joie 9 1/2” by 13”.
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24 to January 9
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Aberle’ Ballet editions. 108th triumph, American season spring and summer 1944.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Puss ‘n Boots. 1994 Charles Perrult All four are signed by Andreas Deja
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Specimen book of type faces. Job composition department, Philadelphia gazette publishing company .
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24 to January 9
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: An exhibit of printed books, Bridwell library.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur Court By Mark Twain 1889.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: 1963 Philadelphia Eagles official program.
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24 to January 9
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: 8 - Esquire the magazine for men 1954.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: The American printer, July 1910.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Leaves of grass 1855 by Walt Whitman.
Sotheby's Fine Books, Manuscripts & More Available for Immediate Purchase
Sotheby’s: William Shakespeare. The Poems and Sonnets of William Shakespeare, 1960. 7,210 USD
Sotheby’s: Charles Dickens. A Christmas Carol, First Edition, 1843. 17,500 USD
Sotheby’s: William Golding. Lord of the Flies, First Edition, 1954. 5,400 USD
Sotheby's Fine Books, Manuscripts & More Available for Immediate Purchase
Sotheby’s: Lewis Carroll. Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There, Inscribed First Edition, 1872. 25,000 USD
Sotheby’s: J.R.R. Tolkien. The Hobbit, First Edition, 1937. 12,000 USD
Sotheby’s: John Milton. Paradise Lost, 1759. 5,400 USD
