Anatoly Borovkov about the current state antique-букинистического market
ARTinvestment.RU   11 марта 2016

The opinion of the expert in the market places seems too optimistic. In used books has its own difficulties and crisis phenomena, as in any business. But there is some objective indicator of health: the scribes, new auctions and active old

Eastern wisdom says: "How you say "halva" — in the mouth will not become sweet". Here we are last year hear from the lips of the Russian officials of various rank and the Duma servants of the people, including the media, the same thing: "the sanctions don't bother us, the crisis we are not afraid of sanctions — is all only for the benefit of our country and etc. etc."...

And-то good in Russia, namely in the scope of its trading-экономических interests like antique trade occurs. I don't want to talk in this post about trying to adopt a law on so-called "Capitale" art and Antiques in private collections, which would have led to the death of the entire Antiques market in Russia, and about other factors that negatively affect the international image of Russia and collecting in General. About it already wrote a lot of press. I want to talk just about being positive for collectors, giving us the sanctions and the General impoverishment of the middle class of Russia.

so, Russian antique-букинистический the market. And he, ironically, is thriving! If a few years ago a leading role in this market played galleries and secondhand stores, but now they slowly die, and the leaders of the steel market auction house, which confidently multiply and expand their activities, at least in Moscow. They fell on "hot springtime", a time of record sales.

the Leader of such auctions was recently organized house "literary Fund" which, thanks to its marketing policy, and competent staff, able to competently prepare auction catalogues, and conducting the auctions in the best hotels of Moscow has made a name for himself the press and revived the community of collectors. See, just a few auctions held, and what masterpieces they were and for what money: two books of the first lifetime editions of T. Shevchenko — pictures in a few million (11 000 000 and 8 500 000 rubles); the first book in A. N. Radishchev — "Reflections on Greek history, or about the causes of prosperity and misery of the Greeks" the abbé de Mably G. translated from the French by A. N. Radishchev 1773 (the price is 4 600 000 rubles) — record again (by the way, the author of these lines it is this copy of the book Mably in early translated by A. N. Radishchev was sold on one of the antique shops in the CHA for $15 000 eight years ago, and now it has brought its new owner about $60,000 — is a good result, investments in Antiques. I wonder how this instance will be worth in 5-10 years?); "Arithmetic" Magnitsky 1703 (without engravings on the frontispiece) — caring for 1 100 000; the collection of all lifetime editions of Marina Tsvetaeva — over 8 000 000; "UNOVIS. A piece of Vitebsk Tvarkoma No. 1" with the square of Malevich, 1920 — starting price: 3 000 000; a full set of "Russian folk tales..." in 10 volumes, 1780-1783, collected and published by Novikov I. Levshin, — price 8 500 000 rubles.

High results recently flashed the auction house "Empire" selling off a collection of Silver age books, previously owned by collector J. B. Zhvanetsky.

And it's all — that have already been sold!!!

And ahead of March 17, the auction house sold a rare "Russian Primer" prepared by T. G. Shevchenko, 1860 (again buy the Ukrainians and take their monument of culture).

auction house "KABINET" March 16, exhibits editions of Russian avant-garde worthy of decorating such auctions as Sotheby's and Christie's, as they have long time since anything similar was not. So, L. Lisitsky "Suprematic tale about two squares in 6-ти buildings" 1922 — only one in the world Suprematist children's book. The famous book of L. Lissitzky "Prague legend" 1917 — is one of the edition of 110 copies. The book is a classic of Jewish literature David gofshtein "Troyer" with illustrations and design by Marc Chagall, published in Kiev in 1922; this copy is not clearly readable the author's autograph in Yiddish: Kazimir Malevich or possibly a well-known Jewish artist Abraham Manevich, because the writing is very similar. The book when it was folded in half due to its large format and sent to the addressee by mail, that often practiced by the authors. For example, the books large format received An. Marienhof, sassylassie his book "Hand tie", and VL. Mayakovsky, sending recipients the book "Took. Drum futurists". At the same auction and will be, perhaps, the best work in lithography N. S. Goncharova "Mystical images of war" of 1914.

As can be seen, from-за crisis, from-за complicated modern life the old collectors have to part with these masterpieces book. At the same time, new collectors, not straitened in means, there is a great chance to invest in eternal values are often of global significance, and to invest correctly: devalued rubles — in never falling, correct, authenticated Antiques. This is what we observe in the results of the latest antique-букинистических auctions.

Anatoly Borovkov,
member of the International Confederation of antique and art-дилеров (MKAAD),
specifically for AI