Once upon a time collectible paper auctions were unusual and well-spaced out. In the past, when there was a quiet month, auction houses took opportunities to have siestas. Anymore, quiet months are opportunities to sell material that need extra visibility. For that, August and January are perfect.
These days we regularly cover 250+ auctions a month. During this August however, we expect to cover a slim 140 sales that convert into 4.5 sales a day. For the rest of the year, the pace will pick up again.
While the auctions need to take some time off, the bidders will still be looking for opportunities. That translates into a higher percentage of lots sold when the sales offered are down. Net net, consignors may be sitting on the edge of their seat it usually works out well.
The prices drop a bit while the percentage of lots sold rise. Why? Because it’s August.
For the knowledgeable, this quiet period represents a chance to test their skills.
Here are the August numbers for the past 15 years:
Year
Total Lots
Lots Sold
% Lots Sold
Ave $ Value
Median Value
Total August Sales
2024
40195
34860
0.867
$1,213.00
$250.00
$42,285,180.00
2023
33377
28736
0.861
$1,784.00
$241.00
$51,265,024.00
2022
29170
25839
0.886
$2,067.00
$275.00
$53,409,213.00
2021
37459
33682
0.899
$1,552.00
$228.00
$52,274,464.00
2020
27823
24034
0.864
$955.00
$200.00
$22,952,470.00
2019
23792
20523
0.863
$1,009.00
$180.00
$20,707,707.00
2018
24489
20558
0.839
$1,370.00
$200.00
$28,164,460.00
2017
17676
14180
0.802
$879.00
$188.00
$12,464,220.00
2016
16641
14087
0.847
$877.00
$180.00
$12,354,299.00
2015
21679
15421
0.711
$790.00
$155.00
$12,182,590.00
2014
18576
15612
0.840
$742.00
$167.00
$11,584,104.00
2013
10996
8465
0.770
$1,336.00
$264.00
$11,309,240.00
2012
7273
5499
0.756
$516.00
$156.00
$2,837,484.00
2011
5213
3885
0.745
$538.00
$192.00
$2,090,130.00
2010
3824
2939
0.769
$559.00
$230.00
$1,642,901.00
Enjoy your vacation. And remember your cellphones can get into your RBH accounts while you’re on vacation.
Heritage, Dec. 15: Jerry Thomas. How to Mix Drinks, or the Bon-Vivant's Companion, Containing Clear and Reliable Directions for Mixing All the Beverages Used in the United States…
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Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("Martinus Luther") to His Friend the Theologian Gerhard Wiskamp ("Gerardo Xantho Lampadario"). $100,000 - $150,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: An Exceptionally Fine Copy of Austenís Emma: A Novel in Three Volumes. $40,000 - $60,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Presentation Copy of Ernest Hemmingwayís A Farewell to Arms for Edward Titus of the Black Mankin Press. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Manuscript Signed Integrally for "The Songs of Pooh," by Alan Alexander. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Manuscript of "Three Fragments from Gˆtterd‰mmerung" by Richard Wagner. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Original Preliminary Artwork, for the First Edition of Snow Crash. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("T.R. Malthus") to Economist Nassau Senior on Wealth, Labor and Adam Smith. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides Finely Bound by Michael Wilcox. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: First Edition of Lewis and Clark: Travels to the Source of the Missouri River and Across the American Continent to the Pacific Ocean. $8,000 - $12,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Original Artwork for the First Edition of Neal Stephenson's Groundbreaking Novel Snow Crash. $100,000 - $150,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: A Complete Set Signed Deluxe Editions of King's The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King. $8,000 - $12,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("John Adams") to James Le Ray de Chaumont During the Crucial Years of the Revolutionary War. $8,000 - $12,000.
Sotheby’s Book Week December 9-17, 2025
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Francesco Colonna. Hypnerotomachie, Paris, 1546, Parisian calf by Wotton Binder C for Marcus Fugger. €200,000 to €300,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Nausea. De principiis dialectices Gorgias, and other works, Venice, 1523, morocco gilt for Cardinal Campeggio. €3,000 to €4,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Billon. Le fort inexpugnable de l'honneur, Paris, 1555, Parisian calf gilt for Peter Ernst, Graf von Mansfeld. €120,000 to €180,000.
Sotheby’s Book Week December 9-17, 2025
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: Salinger, J.D. The Graham Family archive, including autographed letters, an inscribed Catcher, a rare studio photograph of the author, and more. $120,000 to $180,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of Sense and Sensibility, the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: Massachusetts General Court. A powerful precursor to the Declaration of Independence: "every Act of Government … without the Consent of the People, is … Tyranny." $40,000 to $60,000.
![<b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> John Donne. <i>Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death.</i> London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/8caddaea-4c1f-47a7-9455-62f53af36e3f.jpg "<b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> John Donne. <i>Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death.</i> London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.")
![<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 16:</b> [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of <i>Sense and Sensibility,</i> the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/9a74d9ff-42dd-46a1-8bb2-b636c4cec796.png "<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 16:</b> [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of <i>Sense and Sensibility,</i> the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.")
