NEW YORK – Swann Auction Galleries’ first live online auction, a May 7 offering of Printed & Manuscript African Americana, was an overwhelming success that totaled $742,581 and set 13 auction records. Absentee and live online bidding was facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.

The overall low-to-high pre-sale estimate was $455,900-$672,900. Of the 399 lots presented, 356 sold, representing an 89% sell-through rate by lot.

The top lot was an 1848 letterpress slave-related broadside advertising “$250 Reward! Ranaway [sic.] from the Subscriber,” which realized $37,500, a world auction record. Also among the 13 lots that set record prices was a 1968 dorm poster emblazoned in red on white “I Am a Man, Memphis.” It sold for $6,500. Notable amongst the photographica, a V. Lafayette Newell albumen photo of a contraband family at Point Lookout, Maryland, circa 1863-65, made $32,500.

All prices quoted include buyer’s premium. A full report will appear soon on Auction Central News.

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View top auction results on LiveAuctioneers here: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/pages/recent-auction-sales/