Auction "Russian enamel" on 21 and 23 April. A brief summary
ARTinvestment.RU   29 апреля 2016

Almost 70 million rubles of revenue in the two auction days

Even a year had passed since the birth of the auction house "Cabinet", and this auction platform confidently and firmly established itself as the main seller of antiquarian books in Russia. Here you can buy the most expensive edition, are the most spectacular (the venue is selected each time one of the best hotels of Moscow), the most successful in the percent of sales and the longest auctions. The latter, however, wished to see a corrected downwards. But long-term auction "Russian enamel" is not because they are deliberately delaying, but because up to a dozen people almost traded for each lot. The excess of the provisional estimates — rather the rule than the exception at these auctions. No joke, 8 of the 14 held the "literary Fund" from October 2015 auctions, the total revenue exceeded the average total estimate (from 119 % to 171 % for the money). It is hoped to reduce the number of lots in each auction, the catalog division on two auction days, an earlier start of trading, holding them in the daytime, etc. otherwise, have a fun to observe the many top selling-лотов there is no way (if they are trading after 22-23 hours, closer to midnight). And that means that live coverage does not work, and only the dry facts on the basis of the published on the website results. But they are impressive. Especially if we talk about the last big auction of the "literary Fund".

on Thursday 21 April in the hotel "Metropol", in the classic setting of the halls of "Chekhov" and "Turgenev" was the most successful auction of the "literary Fund" in the entire history of its existence: total revenues exceeded $ 68 million rubles. This is a record figure for the whole of the Russian antiquarian market. The final result was 140 % of the average total estimate. Sold 85 % of the lots (410 of 482), which is also a record for the auction house. Before the start of trading in the hall miraculously managed to find a seat (all the profits in advance in the pre-reception and aperitif) — the atmosphere was festive.

And the celebration began selling the gospel the beginning of the XVII century with an inserted record book award by the Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich (lot 1) for 1.5 million rubles, while the estimate of 450-500 thousand rubles (lot sold at the absentee rate). Then the book is Latin for "the Shortest message about the destruction of the Indies, described by Bartolomeo de Las Casas, Spanish Bishop (lot 3) sold for 3 million rubles to the gambler in the hall, probably became the most active buyer this evening (estimate of 2.8–3 million rubles).

the Book from the library of Marshal Kliment Voroshilov "Description of all living in the Russian State peoples, their everyday rituals, habits, clothes, houses, exercises, amusements, religion, and other memorable objects", including about one hundred colored engravings, sold for 2.2 million rubles player in the hall (lot 26; estimated 1-1. 2 million rubles). Approximately to the third ten lots, the number of registered online-участников exceeded 40 people, this means that along with a full hall, phone and absentee players participated in the auction more than a hundred of the bidder. There were a lot of contenders for a book by V. M. Golovnin "Journey of the Russian Imperial sloop Diana from Kronstadt to Kamchatka, committed under the command of Navy Lieutenant (now captain I-го grade) Golovnin in 1807, 1808 and 1809," (lot 36). Traded 650 thousand RUB from 1.15 million rubles. Then hall and a phone bidder for a long time could not divide the binder of the magazine "Herald of Europe" with the first publications of Pushkin (lot 41): reached 1.1 million to 2.5 million rubles.

With a large excess of estimate has been sold lot 77 — "Military Charter, which was written and dedicated to Peter the Great by General Wade in 1698 A. A. Weide. Traded for it from 70 to 420 thousand rubles, ie, the lot was higher than the starting price 6 times. An intense struggle between the hall and the phone turned over a complete set of 10 issues of the "collection of information about the Caucasian mountaineers published with the permission of His Imperial Highness the Commander-in-chief of the Caucasian army at the Caucasian Griscom management" (lot 132): from 180 thousand rubles, the price soared to 900 thousand rubles. Lot won a phone buyer.

P. Potocki Essay "history of the Guards artillerii" (lot 231) got a new owner for 850 thousand rubles (estimate of 280-300 thousand rubles). As for the book, I. B. Fuchs "Homosexuality as a crime" (SPb., 1914) argued from 20 to 200 thousand rubles.

Guaranteed top-лотом the entire auction was a collection of 29 native and translated books by Nikolai Stepanovich Gumilev and collections with publications of the poet, seven of which are autographed by the author (lot 334). Who and how was trading for this unique collection, could not see (the lot was already near the end of the auction), but the result is 5.5 million rubles against 3-3,2 million rubles of the estimate gives the right to assume that the fight was serious. Honored caused a stir, and 25 editions of Konstantin Tsiolkovsky (lot 346): here from the start of 240 thousand rubles reached 1.2 million rubles. But care books N. Olovyanishnikov "History of bells and kalokairinou art" (Moscow, 1912) for 1.3 million rubles at the start of 60 thousand was, presumably, a complete surprise: a lot higher than the estimate of 32 (!) times.

Finally, of course, loud final chord of the auction was the sale of the second edition of the collection "Dark avenues" by Ivan Bunin with a touching dedication by the author to the probably the memoirist Zinaida Alexeevna Shakhovskoy: "This book (the best of all my others) I've twisted for You, Zinaida Alekseevna, in the skin of my heart. IV. Bunin. P. S. However, I'm sorry: I stole this inscription, — is so Bitter inscribed one of his books actress Knipper-Чеховой! 29.3.1950 Paris" (lot 475). The book traded with 80 thousand to 1 million rubles! However, for such a personal autograph price may be fair.

From the auction on April 21 fast forward two days later: April 23, in the trading house "Biblio-Глобус" auction house "Antiquarium" held another mini-аукцион "For world book day. Rare books on bibliography and bibliology". Here, of course, there was such tremendous battles of the auction, how to bid on April 21, however, this auction was quite successful. Sold 1.3 million (66 % of the estimate), and the hammer took 57 % of the lots (61 of 107). This means that in one week and two auctions "Cabinet" of books has sold almost 70 million roubles, with which we heartily congratulate them!

Maria Onuchina, AI