During the same week Sotheby's hosts an exhibition of the Frank Benevento Map Collection that they will sell in London on May 6th.

These auctions and the book fairs together will make New York the epicenter of the collectible works on paper market for a solid week and provide substantial evidence of the state of the market. The auction offerings and realizations will be in public view, the state of the dealer market evident in the scale of negotiation. If you aren't booking a flight, clearing your schedule or making hotel and dinner reservations place your right hand over your left wrist to see if your heart is still beating. If you are a collector this is what you live for. The world changes. It's one thing to live through the Revolution and another thing entirely to be at Bunker Hill.

Still not decided? For those in need of a Button Gwinnet autograph to complete your collection of signers of the Declaration of Independence you have the opportunity to trade two Ivy League 4 year educations for the opening bid at Sotheby's on April 14th. It's lot 189 in the James S. Copley Library sale and also the subject of a separate catalogue.

By Friday the 16th we'll have enough data to decide if the beverage of choice to commemorate these events is beer or champagne. If the pattern holds the best material will sell and sell well, the less important material not so well or not at all.

For collectors in New York who would like to meet I'm in town from the 8th through the 14th. Reach me by email at bmckinney@americanaexchange.com or by phone at 415.823.6678.

Events

The ABAA New York Book Fair April 8th [preview] and 9th to 11th.

The Benevento Collection: Important Maps & Atlases. An exhibition at Sotheby's in New York of highlights April 8th - 13th. The auction takes place in London May 6th.

The Otto Penzler Collection of British Espionage and Thriller Fiction at Swann April 8th.

Early Printed Books at Swann April 12th.

Photographs [N08624] at Sothebys on April 13th.

The Space History Sale at Bonhams April 13th.

The James S. Copley Library: Magnificent American Historical Documents: [N08653] April 14th.

Photographs from the Collection of Patricia McCabe [2397] at Christie's April 14th.

Photographs at Christie's April 15th.

Selection from the Baio Collection of Photography [2407] at Christie's April 15th. http://www.americanaexchange.com/NewAE/auction/auctiondetail.asp?m=4&aid=3672

Photographs sold to Benefit Friends in Deed [2409] at Christie's April 15th.