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.
Welcome to 2025.
![<b>Sotheby’s, Ending July 10:</b> John Gould. <i>The Birds of Europe,</i> [1832-] 1837, 5 volumes, contemporary half morocco, subscriber’s copy. £40,000 to £60,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/64dbb393-4712-4536-a1a6-26d823c523dc.png "<b>Sotheby’s, Ending July 10:</b> John Gould. <i>The Birds of Europe,</i> [1832-] 1837, 5 volumes, contemporary half morocco, subscriber’s copy. £40,000 to £60,000.")
![<b>DOYLE, July 23:</b> [AUTOGRAPH - US PRESIDENT]FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT. A signed photograph of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Estimate $500-800](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/4ce5fa1d-1943-4413-a80d-7b5c75383e7e.jpg "<b>DOYLE, July 23:</b> [AUTOGRAPH - US PRESIDENT]FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT. A signed photograph of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Estimate $500-800")
![<b>DOYLE, July 23:</b> [ARION PRESS]. ABBOTT, EDWIN A. <i>Flatland. A Romance of Many Dimensions.</i> San Francisco, 1980. Estimate $2,000-3,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/fa635c85-6b12-44f2-8832-2087579574d9.jpg "<b>DOYLE, July 23:</b> [ARION PRESS]. ABBOTT, EDWIN A. <i>Flatland. A Romance of Many Dimensions.</i> San Francisco, 1980. Estimate $2,000-3,000.")
![<b>DOYLE, July 23:</b> TOLSTOY, LYOF N. and NATHAN HASKELL DOLE, translator. <i>Anna Karénina ... in eight parts.</i> New York: Thomas Y. Crowell & Co., [1886]. Estimate: $400-600](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/af9f4e1a-90c2-428c-8d49-9624b070c7a9.jpg "<b>DOYLE, July 23:</b> TOLSTOY, LYOF N. and NATHAN HASKELL DOLE, translator. <i>Anna Karénina ... in eight parts.</i> New York: Thomas Y. Crowell & Co., [1886]. Estimate: $400-600")
