Antiquarian Book Auctions, Part 3

Click on the links to read Part 1 and Part 2 of this series about understanding antiquarian book auctions.

One of the things I always wondered about book auctions is how the auction process works--from a seller who is consigning books to auction to cataloguing and photographing the books, from publicizing the auction to selling the books at the actual auction. Bonhams has created a wonderful series of four videos entitled Anatomy of an Auction related to the December 2 The American Experience: 1630-1890 sale. The videos do an excellent job showing the journey on which an auction house embarks when it receives a consigned collection of books. Each video is approximately seven to ten minutes long and explains what happens when an auction house prepares a collection for sale. Bruce McKinney, the seller of the collection offered on December 2, is interviewed in the fourth video.

If, like me, you also wonder about how the auction process works, I highly recommend watching each of the four videos. Bonus: There are also fascinating glimpses into the history of some of the books that will be offered at the auction.

Click here to watch the videos.

See you in the stacks!