Once again, the money was flowing at auction in the field of rare books, manuscripts, prints and other forms of collectible paper. The previous week, trading cards were the big sellers. The past week, it was prints and related items. These are challenging times we are living through. The threat of war in the Middle East regularly dominates the headlines. The results at auction belie the dangers. Danger usually leads people to draw in and preserve their resources. The market is exhibiting no such fear.

For the week of April 12-18, the big winner was gouache preparatory studies for lithographs by Marc Chagall. Not only was the highest price secured by one of these, but six of the top seven went to Chagall's work. They were created in the late 1950s and came from Chagall's estate. The prices ranged from $557,952 - $1,357,182. Three surpassed one million dollars. All were sold at Sotheby's in a Modern and Contemporary Art sale.

Breaking into Chagall's dominance of the highest prices was a signed print by Roy Lichtenstein. It sold for $762,000 at Christie's. The title is Nude with Blue Hair. She's lovely, in her own special way.

She's been gone for 60 years, yet all you need is her first name to know who she is. Two prints of Marilyn (Monroe) by Andy Warhol sold at Christies for $404,400 and $381,000. But, not even Marilyn could match Andy Mouse's three top 20 appearances. Who is Andy Mouse? Andy is a creation of Keith Haring. The character melds Mickey Mouse and Andy Warhol together. That's an unusual combination. Warhol was thereby both the creator and subject of several of the most expensive items of the past week.

Selling for an even $100,000 is a poster for “the day the music died.” Actually, it is for five days later. It advertises the Winter Dance Party tour for February 7 (1959). The poster features rock music performers Buddy Holly and the Crickets, the Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens, and Dion and the Belmonts. Holly, J. P. Richardson (the “Big Bopper”) and Valens did not appear. They all died in a plane crash four days earlier. But the show went on, as Dion and the Belmonts and the Crickets without Holly performed, along with add-ons Frankie Avalon and Jimmy Clanton. The show must go on.

This coming week, starting Wednesday, April 22, there are 111 auctions with items in the field of collectible paper being offered. We have been following auctions closely for over two decades. This is an astonishing number. It isn't even peak season. That, for the Spring, is usually May, and for the year November. Wars, inflation, whatever – it isn't holding bidders back. They are buying, and as long as there are buyers, there will always be sellers.

To see what's on tap, click here for the auction calendar: www.rarebookhub.com/auctions/calendar