Summary and Appraisal

An auction conducted by an internationally recognized forum like Manhattan's American Art Association-Anderson Galleries, means more than the sale of objects to the highest bidder. It is historically important because it records the ceaseless migrations of works of art. It has immediate significance because it gauges Art's popularity, often gives the public its only chance to see privately owned masterpieces. This week the American Art Association-Anderson Galleries published its summary of the 69 sales it managed this season.

Grand total of all sales was $3,443,434, a slight increase over last year. As usual, furniture, sculpture, silver, porcelains, enamels, tapestries and laces accounted for the most money: $2,021,567. Paintings brought $685,475; books and autographs. $644,689.50. Most famed collections dispersed were those of Thomas Fortune Ryan ($409,354), Mrs. Edith Rockefeller McCormick ($330.617), Mrs. Whitelaw Reid ($116,015) (TIME, Dec. 4; Jan. 15; May 14). The late Mrs. Benjamin Stern's library and 18th Century French collection brought $243,142. The highest price for anything was paid at the Ryan auction by canny Lord Duveen of Millbank who bid $102,500 for a marble bust of a Princess of Aragon by Francesco Laurana, 15th Century Florentine. Highest literary item was Francis Scott Key's manuscript of "The Star Spangled Banner," sold for $24,000 to Dr. Abraham Simon Wolf Rosenbach as agent for Baltimore's Walters Art Gallery. Anders Zorn's The Toast, of which exist only 75 impressions, was the most expensive etching: $1.650.

The 18th Century English school of painting which always commands good auction prices was this year's unquestioned leader. Top artist was Raeburn with John Lamont of Lamont which went from one anonymous collector to another for $29,000. Others of the school: a small full-length Gainsborough from Mrs. Reid's collection, $5.100; a Lawrence from the late Henry Seligman's collection, $19,000; a Hoppner, $12.500; Isabella, Lady Molyneux by Gainsborough, $10,000; a Romney, $16,000. Millet's The Knitting Lesson, once owned by the late Levi Zeigler Leiter, was sold to Manhattan's John Levy Galleries for $16,000--highest price for any French work. A Greuze self-portrait brought $14,000, a small Watteau, $9,400; a painting of the entrance to Rouen's Cathedral by Monet, $7,100.

Unusual sales: Mrs. McCormick's diamond necklace and breastplate--$15,000; 24 leaves from the Gutenberg Bible-- $5,100; a first edition of Gray's Elegy-- $3,500; a second edition of Edgar Allan Poe's Poems--$3,400; a complete set of Declaration of Independence signers-- $18,989; an Ispahan palace carpet--$13,000 a glazed terra cotta altarpiece from the workshop of Delia Robbia--$7,600; a two-handled Queen Anne silver cup and cover -- $1,550; a 16th Century Tournai tapestry--$5,400.

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