Auction Results: Important Daguerreotypes by Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey, October 7, 2010 @Christie’s


The results of Christie’s single artist daguerreotype sale last week were undeniably strong, with Total Sale Proceeds coming in at over $2.8 million, just under the total high estimate. More than 36% of the lots sold above their estimate range, and with the overall Buy-In rate just over 20%, it was a convincing performance for scarce 19th century work, and a continued validation of Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey’s place in early photographic history.

The summary statistics are below (all results include the buyer’s premium):

Total Lots: 74
Pre Sale Low Total Estimate: $2020000
Pre Sale High Total Estimate: $2978000
Total Lots Sold: 58
Total Lots Bought In: 16
Buy In %: 21.62%
Total Sale Proceeds: $2873375

 

Here is the breakdown (using the Low, Mid, and High definitions from the preview post, here):

 

Low Total Lots: 1
Low Sold: 1
Low Bought In: 0
Buy In %: 00.00%
Total Low Estimate: $2000
Total Low Sold: $1375

 

Mid Total Lots: 50
Mid Sold: 40
Mid Bought In: 10
Buy In %: 20.00%
Total Mid Estimate: $1301000
Total Mid Sold: $1286000

 

High Total Lots: 23
High Sold: 17
High Bought In: 6
Buy In %: 26.09%
Total High Estimate: $1675000
Total High Sold: $1586000

 

The top lot by High estimate was lot 3, Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey, 261. Paris. 1841. Etude de plantes, at $140000-160000; it was also the top outcome of the sale at $242500.
86.21% of the lots that sold had proceeds in or above the estimate range. There were a total of eight surprises in this sale (defined as having proceeds of at least double the high estimate):

 

Lot 2, Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey, Self-portrait, 1841, at $194500
Lot 22, Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey, 132. Constantinople, rue sous le petit champ des morts., 1843, at $56250
Lot 30, Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey, Zouk. Syrie. tombeau, 1844, at $134500
Lot 32, Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey, 249. Liban. Les Cedres. Suite., 1844, at $50000
Lot 60, Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey, Jerusalem, Tombeaux de Zachariah et Bnei Hezir, Vallee Kidron, 1844, at $122500 (image at right, top, via Christie’s)
Lot 67, Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey, Jerusalem, Al Wad, rue dans la vielle ville, 1844, at $98500
Lot 69, Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey, Jerusalem, fortifications Porta Aurea, 1844, at $60000
Lot 70, Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey, Jerusalem, Porta Aurea, 1844, at $105400 (image at right, bottom, via Christie’s)
Complete lot by lot results can be found here.

 

Christie’s
20 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10020

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