April 7, 2012, the first auction of the "House of antique books in Nikitsky." More specifically, it was the first full commercial auction, and the previous (and indeed the very first) was a charity, and went into the book in opening day "House of antique books in Nikitsky» . Then the amount collected far exceeded organizers' expectations. Well, a good sign for good luck.

So, really the first auction, in a new place, and the place, I must say, excellent. The very center of Moscow, stylish interiors showrooms, a special hall for the auction and, most importantly, experienced organizers, is not new to this business. What else is needed for a successful business? That's right: a favorable economic situation. But with this and get started. Everyone is always interested in how things are going for themselves, their colleagues competitors in similar industries in the country in general. We are in his review covers a wide range of auctions associated with the arts: painting, medals, coins, books, and so on. and so on. and partly give answers to these questions.

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new auction house for the first time holds the auction, and this interesting with all these points of view. Is there a required number of new lots of interesting (and, as we know, good things are always in short supply), is whether the buyers (a very topical issue in our post-crisis time), who they are - regulars and new people, and if new, then who are they? All this is very interesting and important questions.

guests are going to ... Source: Photo by author

Bidding began Source: Photo by author

So, April 7, 14:30 - Half an hour before the start of trading. Meeting people and getting to know an unfamiliar place.

Sergei Burmistrov welcomes guests, and all behave in much the same as I do, that is, twist the head of three hundred sixty degrees, stare, get accustomed, not forgetting however, to talk about their hobbies, if already met. Here and there you hear:

- What have you brought me into this show again?
- What's that? Let me also take a look.

audience is going to thorough, take it all and write a classic portrait of a buyer's auction: a strong man 45-60 years old, well dressed and confident. On the question of whether to buy something, politely answers: yes, requisitions for a couple of lots.

That's how quietly hall was filled to capacity, forty places was not enough, denounced chairs, and still had some democratic could find room for oneself who is where. Cool.

According to Sergei Burmistrova, they did not expect such a large number of participants came from and old friends, and many brand new faces. In the course of trading, I counted about 45-50 people - a lot.

I'll tell you that the auction was a success: it was put up for auction 305 lots with a total estimate of 6 481 514-7 724 114 rubles. Sold 176 lots (57.9%), 100 of them went to buyers in the audience, won the 29 lots participants traded on the phone, and 49 times lucky owners of part-time rates (there could be a lot more, but the room is not eager to share with them .) The final result in the hall -5105717 rubles (71,9%).

So trading.

highlight of the program was the emigre journal archive "Chimes" - historical papers and autographs. Sold 70%of the strings - a great result. The fight was not joking, prices, starting from the starting 50,000, easily passes and one hundred and two hundred thousandth lines, the number of steps is beyond calculation, less than three or four candidates for the lot - a rarity. Emotions over the edge. The beauty, not bargaining.

Lot number 210 - Berdyaev, the manuscript: three men struggling in the room, telephone and correspondence rate, starting 80,000, the price of 240,000 rubles a hammer, a victory party hall.

Lot number 211 - Bunin, a story with editing and signature: the struggle between the two phones and two participants in the room, starting with 85 000 price comes to 190 thousand, and conquers the phone.

Lot number 230 - Sasha Cherny, the author's manuscript corrections: start - 120 thousand rubles, the finish - 340 000, and the rate of part-time wins (!).

Next comes the lot number 231 - the manuscript of the poem "Easter in Gatchina" of the same Sasha Cherny. Here everything was even more dramatic: from 40 000 rubles starting in more than twenty paces price reaches 200,000, Price negotiating is hot, the auctioneer (the woman, by the way) several times said to almost three, but someone always interrupts it. Due to the "Three!" Still sounded at around 200 000 rubles, a hammer blow - and then heard "Up!" ... Bid raises a person not involved in a fight, he waited until the last, but fascinated (I can not find another word!) Going on, pulled myself together and did not have time to make a bid before the hammer fell. Pause ... Everyone is waiting for the auctioneer's decision (this happens sometimes, and usually keeps the auctioneer bidding, apologizing for being hurried to hit with a hammer), but this time leading to the stern was: too late, said hammer has struck. Hall gasped cool!

Lot number 243 - "card for kisses: valid for citizens of both sexes under 15 years of age: an additional card on the 1917 and 1918 /Chairman ' oscular Committee "Alexandrov, secretaries P. Fyodorov, Boris Litvinov and K. Vasin. 19 x 19.5 cm. " Voice from the audience: "Well, now begin!" And? And ... And - do not start with 5000 rubles of four steps, the hammer falls at a cost of 8000, awarding the winning coupon kissing the phone.

But for lot number 249 - Letter from the Young Communists and young people of the Soviet Union, Comrade Stalin signed by the "father of nations" - is already struggling to really distance rate, phone, and two people in the room: from the start at 40 thousand rubles reach 140,000, the phone wins.

card for kisses: valid for citizens of both sexes under 15 years of age: an additional card on the 1917 and 1918 /Chairman ' oscular Committee "Alexandrov, secretaries P. Fyodorov, Boris Litvinov and K. Vasin. 19 x 19.5 cm Estimate: 5-6 thousand rubles Result: 8000 rubles «House of antique books in Nikitsky." 04/07/2012. Lot 243 Source: vnikitskom.com

[Stalin, IV autograph] Letter from the Komsomol and the youth of the Soviet Union, Comrade Stalin. Moscow: Printing the newspaper "Battle Flag". In 1943. 4 seconds. 29 x 21 cm Estimate: 30-35 thousand rubles Result: 140 000 rubles «House of antique books in Nikitsky." 04/07/2012. Lot 249 Source: vnikitskom.com

Among the active struggle, as always, is a place for humor. So, put up for auction lot number 36. Leading declares, "estimate 40-50 thousand rubles, and bidding will begin at fifty." And then for some reason adds: "Not to forty." And then the audience starts refinement:
- With fifty?
- Yes, with fifty.
- Not with forty?
After several repetitions of all completely confused. Someone exclaims, "For God's sake, for what amount of start: with fifty or forty?" Leading finally starts the bidding with a 50 000 and 55 lowers the hammer at the same time the hall sweeps clear a sigh of relief: finally became clear.

Declare item number 40 - "" before God ": the pornography. Publication of the spiritual and national magazine "Pilot". " Start of 5000 rubles. Silence. I see none. Surprise lead. Strike the hammer - and then someone raises the bid. Leading with reproachful: "Well, what are you?". In response, judiciously: "Such a theme, it's not just make up your mind ...»

begins bargaining for lot number 56 - AL Chizhevsky book "Physical factors of the historical process" with the autograph of the author. Start of 16,000 rubles, young, a thousand rubles, the price dopolzaet steps to 25. "Thirty!" - Comes out of the room. The opponent agrees to increase the pitch: "35!". The first participant raised to 40,000. It seems that patience is really left of the second participant, "60!". First triumphantly declares: "70!". Everything. Hammer. Voices from the hall to the winner, "Why are you trading?»

Lot number 110 - "First Love" with pictures of Turgenev, among other things, V. Konashevich. I see none. And then a voice: "I already have - sorry, and would have taken." Other picks: "And I have." Third: "Yes, they all have." Q: "Well, since everyone has - not sold!»

Sitting in the hall and watch the auction, I suddenly found myself thinking that the watch is not just for the audience in the hall , and for how behave and act real pros - booksellers, collectors, patrons of book auctions. Here they are - in their environment, and the looseness collected at the same time, so frankly ridiculous situations, and auction tricks, and minor tweaks to really present colors were added to the action.

Lot number 115 - "List of Good Deeds" Olesha with an inscription by the author of "Alexander Malyshkin /Neighbor-writer." Is not this a remarkable tenacity of the inscription is explained by the applicant in the struggle for a book? With the launch of 20,000 gently by 2000, reached 28, and then one of the traded announced that it makes the last bet - 30,000. In response to "32." Sigh out loud: "Well, once again the last 34." In the hall: "36." And then the one who groaned and said: "50,000. And yet ". Hall gasped, but he heard of the "55".
- Damn! Well, 60!

victory.

on lot number 46 (out of 305, by the way) has sounded the question: "A break will be?" - "No". - "Why?»

After a while the same voice again offered to take a break, but the leading short answer "No" and start bidding for the lot number 133 to 3200 rubles for part-time rate . He's from the audience: "5000 and a break." Q: "5500". From the audience: "6000 and a break." Q: "6500". From the audience: "10,000, and a break." Leading with a hammer knocks and announces an individual break for the winner, he gets satisfaction and slowly leaves the room. Lead continues to bidding. Hall: "And we break?" - "Did you buy the more quickly as the previous party, and you will" - calmly retorts, and continues to lead trades.

found a place for patriotism. Declared the lot number 156 - a poster with the text of the National Anthem of the Soviet Union and signed by Sergei Mikhalkov. Declared the start of 30 thousand rubles, but the people remain silent. Pause, leading slowly begins to count. On account of "Two!" From the audience dealt reproachfully, weighty, "Patriot should be." Bid rises. The impact hammer. From the audience: "I hereby ... Russian ...»

So, in a warm friendly atmosphere, and all passed. What do you want to pay attention for the first auction of the new auction house? There are not only new auctions, but also new customers, that is, the market is developing in all directions, it is again. New customers have the necessary means to not only buy what they need, but in certain cases, to afford what is called the delay. Therefore, we continue to assert that the auction - is not only the purchase and sale, but also fun.

Thus, we see a very good continuation of the spring auction season, and that's fine. Until next time!

Babulin Constantine, AI