The results from the Photography sale at Lempertz in Cologne last week were generally uneventful. The top lot NASA image found a buyer, as did a high priced Chargeshimer portfolio, and a handful of lower priced positive surprises added to the tally. But the overall Buy-In rate of roughly 37% dampened the momentum a bit, leading to Total Sale Procceds of roughly €300K, below the aggregate pre-sale high estimate.
The summary statistics are below (all results include the buyer’s premium):
| Summary Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Total Lots | 165 |
| Aggregate Pre Sale Low Estimate | NA |
| Aggregate Pre Sale High Estimate | €417100 |
| Total Lots Sold | 103 |
| Total Lots Bought In | 62 |
| Buy In % | 37.58% |
| Total Sale Proceeds | €300377 |
Here is the breakdown (using our typical Low, Mid, and High definitions):
| Detailed Breakdown | |
|---|---|
| Low Total Lots | 161 |
| Total Low Lots Sold | 99 |
| Total Low Lots Bought In | 62 |
| Low Buy In % | 38.51% |
| Aggregate High Estimate of Low Lots | €366100 |
| Total Proceeds from Low Lots | €243127 |
| Mid Total Lots | 4 |
| Total Mid Lots Sold | 4 |
| Total Mid Lots Bought In | 0 |
| Mid Buy In % | 0.00% |
| Aggregate High Estimate of Mid Lots | €51000 |
| Total Proceeds from Mid Lots | €57250 |
| Total High Lots | 0 |
| Total High Lots Sold | NA |
| Total High Lots Bought In | NA |
| High Buy In % | NA |
| Aggregate High Estimate of High Lots | €0 |
| Total Proceeds from High Lots | €0 |
The top lot by High estimate was lot 576, NASA, Buzz Aldrin descends to the Lunar Surface, 1969, estimated at €15000-20000; it sold at €18750. The top outcome of the sale was lot 523, Chargesheimer, Lichtgrafik. Monoskripturen (10 prints), 1961, estimated at €10000-15000, sold at €25000 (image above via Lempertz).
84.47% of the lots that sold had proceeds in or above the estimate range, and there were a total of 5 positive surprises in the sales (defined as having proceeds of at least double the high estimate) (images above, via Lempertz):
Lot 454, Léonard Misonne, Paysage de Campine, 1910, estimated at €1600-1800, sold at €4000
Lot 501, André Kertész, Christopher Street, New York, 1950/later, estimated at €3300, sold at €7500
Lot 508, Yevgeni Chaldej, Berlin, May 2, 1945, 1945/1990s, estimated at €1000, sold at €2500
Lot 565, Marc Riboud, Nigeria Independance, 1960/later, estimated at €1200-1500, sold at €3500
Lot 605, Jan Saudek, Destiny walks down to the river carrying two innocent Children, 1970, estimated at €1000-1200, sold at €3000
The complete lot by lot results can be found here.
