NEW YORK — Books and manuscripts had a standout winter-spring season at Swann Galleries. “As a company whose origins are as a book auction house, it is reaffirming to see this growth, over 25%, in our book department over the last year. Even more exciting is that the results reflect not only strength in our established departments but also great momentum in our latest specialized sale, Focus on Women,” said President Nicholas D. Lowry. The top auctions of the season included two record-breakers in their respective categories: Printed & Manuscript African Americana and Early Printed Books. Both sales recorded their highest totals in history at the house: African Americana earned $1,378,838 on March 30, and the timed online auction of Early Printed Books closed on May 4 at $1,326,560. Absentee and Internet live bidding was facilitated through LiveAuctioneers.
Swann marks strongest Printed & Manuscript African Americana sale to date
NEW YORK — Swann Galleries’ annual Printed & Manuscript African Americana auction on March 30 was, by a wide margin, the most successful in its 28-year history. The event set records, with $1,377,463 in total sales and an even 94% sell-through rate. Eight lots hit the $50,000 mark — after only 14 lots hit that mark in the previous 27 years combined. It was the third-largest sale in the long history of the house’s book department, behind only two noted single-owner sales, the Epstein sale of 1992 and the Ford sale of 2012.