This past week was a "slow" week at auctions, the Memorial Day holiday in America reducing the number of sales. Nevertheless, another 31 auctions were archived, with sales exceeding $18 million. June promises to be another high-flying month, with no let up expected until July or maybe even August. A total of 16 auctions were denominated in euros, 10 in U.S. dollars, 4 in British pounds, and one in Mexican pesos. There were 11,504 lots offered, of which 7,956 sold, for a sales rate of 69.16%.

<A first Octavo of Audubon's Birds of America is offered at Swann's June 3.

3 auctions saw their total proceeds reach a million dollars:

Artcurial. the Universe of the Creator of TinTin on May 24th: $7,077,439 
Artcurial. Comic Strips on May 25th: $3,077,298
Ketterer Kunst Doerling. Rare Books, Manuscripts, Autographs, Decorative Prints, Maritime and North German Art on May 19th: $1,463,702 

>Chernikhov's Architectural Cycles offered at Bonham's June   4.

6 auctions saw total sales exceed 100% of the high estimates of all lots offered in the sale:

Burgersdijk and Niermans. New and Antiquarian Books on May 14th: 203.74%
Robert Siegel Galleries. Worldwide Postal History on May 15th: 142.74%
Artcurial. the Universe of the Creator of TinTin on May 24th: 137.89%
Gonnelli Casa DAste. Musical works, Autographs and signed books on May 17th: 125.72%
Swann Galleries. Autographs on May 22nd: 115.90%
Hauswedell and Nolte. Rare Books and Autographs on May 21st: 100.72%

15 sales saw at least 80% of their lots sell:

Robert Siegel Galleries. Worldwide Postal History on May 15th: 100.00%
Heritage Auctions. Comics -Internet bidstart 5/18 on May 25th: 98.73%
Heritage Auctions. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 5/18 on May 25th: 97.59%
Aspire Auctions. Prints and Photographs - online bidstart 5/16 on May 23rd: 95.83%
Heritage Auctions. Americana, Political on May 24th: 95.71%
Paige Auction. May Sale - Posters on May 20th: 95.00%
Rupert Toovey and Co. Antiquarian and Collectors Books on May 20th: 86.43%
Rupert Toovey and Co. Prints on May 21st: 86.00%
Swann Galleries. Autographs on May 22nd: 85.82%
Heritage Auctions. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 5/15 on May 22nd: 85.01%
Bonhams. Law Books - Part II on May 20th: 84.34%
Heritage Auctions. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 5/22 on May 29th: 84.17%
Burgersdijk and Niermans. New and Antiquarian Books on May 14th: 83.63%
Bloomsbury Auctions. Important Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper on May 19th: 81.09%
Gonnelli Casa DAste. Musical works, Autographs and signed books on May 17th: 80.95%

For the week ahead 39 sales are scheduled:

Mon. Jun. 2nd
Dorotheum . Vienna. Autographs. 289 lots
Autographes Encheres. Meinier. Autographs, Photographs and Historical Souvenirs - Internet bidstart 5/14. 225 lots

Tue. Jun. 3rd
Bruun Rasmussen. Copenhagen. Books and Manuscripts. 39 lots
Swann Galleries. New York. Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Historical Prints, Ephemera. 388 lots
Sothebys. New York. Fine Books and Manuscripts, Including American. 176 lots
Dorotheum . Vienna. Art Photography. 228 lots
Rossini. Paris. Prints.

Wed. Jun. 4th
Bonhams. London. Prints. 398 lots
Woolley and Wallis. Salisbury. Prints. 41 lots
Bonhams. New York. the Story of the 20th Century. 180 lots
Galerie Bassenge. Berlin-Grunewald . China - Photography 1890s to 1950s. 70 lots
Artcurial. Paris. Prints and Illustrated Books. 304 lots
Dorotheum . Vienna. Modern and Contemporary Prints. 249 lots
Binoche et Giquello. rue La Boetie, Paris. Antiquarian and Modern Books. 224 lots
Galerie Bassenge. Berlin-Grunewald . 19th - 21st Century Photography. 315 lots
Sothebys. New York. John Lennon "You Might Well Arsk". 89 lots

Thu. Jun. 5th
Bloomsbury Auctions. London. Bibliophile. 464 lots
Bloomsbury Auctions. London. Autographs, Manuscripts and Documents. 265 lots
Bonhams. New York. WWII. 16 lots
AntiquarianAuctions.com. Laguna Beach. Antiquarian Books (Preview) - Internet bidstart 5/29. 399 lots
PBA Galleries. San Francisco. Fine & Rare Books with Asian & Graphic Art. 486 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 5/29. 414 lots
Neret Minet and Tessier. Paris. Comic Strips. 518 lots
Rossini. Paris. Letters, Postcards. 130 lots
Vermot de Pas. Paris. Prints and Photographs.

Fri. Jun. 6th
Bloomsbury Auctions. London. Photographs and Photobooks. 242 lots
ALDE. Paris. Gastronomy Books. 349 lots
Eldreds. East Dennis,. Antiques and Collectible - Prints, Books, Maps. 100 lots
Dirk Soulis Auctions. Lee's Summit . Estate Sale - Books and Prints. 15 lots
Ketterer Kunst Doerling. Hamburg. Modern Classics - Prints. 91 lots
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. Denver, . Denver Summer Auction - Prints. 58 lots

Sat. Jun. 7th
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. War and Militaria.
Ketterer Kunst Doerling. Hamburg. Post War and Contemporary - Prints. 110 lots
Mid Hudson Auction Galleries. Cornwall-on-Hudson, . AUDUBONS, MAPS, NATURAL HISTORY, FINE ART & ANTIQUES AUCTION. 214 lots

Sun. Jun. 8th
Grogan and Company. Dedham. Prints, Books. 22 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Comics -Internet bidstart 6/1.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Movie Posters - Internet bidstart 6/1.
National Book Auctions. Ithaca. Books, Art, Ephemera, and Collectibles.
Carlsen Gallery. Greenville, NY. Antiques - Photos, Prints. 9 lots


This coming week will be busy again with 39 more auctions on the docket.

Mike Stillman

AE