For the week fourteen auctions were archived.  Three thousand three hundred and fifty lots were offered and two thousand two hundred twenty-four sold for an anemic 66%.  This may be explained by the fact that 97% of the sales were in Euros and British Pounds and many people are on edge over the unresolved Greek and Italian debt issues.  People no doubt have money but to buy collectibles they must also have confidence.

On the American side, while the sales have been few and small, the confidence expressed by both dealers and visitors at the two-day San Francisco Book and Ephemera Fair was rich with optimism.  Sales will probably turn out to be good rather than great but the enthusiasm among buyers was noticeable and contagious.

On Sunday the longest line were hopefuls bringing material for free appraisal.  People seem willing to part with their printed material if the price is right.

Archived sales totaled $2,070,739.

For the week only one sale exceeded 100% of the aggregate high value of all lots offered.  Bonhams, on January 31st, achieved 116% of its high estimate, a very nice performance in an otherwise uncertain market.

For the week ahead  7 sales are scheduled:

Monday February 6                PBA Galleries.  Rare Books and Manuscripts [472] 195 lots

Tuesday February 7                Bruun Rasmussen.  Prints - Online [1206] 92 lots

Wednesday February 8           Bruun Rasmussen.  Prints - Online [1206] continued

                                                Dominic Winter.  Old Masters and Modern Prints [S317] 182 lots

                                                Heritage Auctions.  Rare Books [6064] 685 lots

                                                Neret - Minet & Tessier [11902] 221 lots

Sunday February 12                Bonhams.  Property from Serendipity Books [20200]  271 lots

Next weekend the ABAA will host its Pasadena Book Fair and attendance is expected to be good.

Bruce McKinney
AE