From The Desk of Chris Karstedt, Executive Vice President

January was a whirlwind month of activity for Stack’s Bowers Galleries, starting with the New York International show, which included three full days of auction action for us. Our International sale opened to a packed house of enthusiastic bidders and when all was said and done, over $4.7 million had crossed the auction block. Our next world event takes place in Hong Kong April 2-4 so be sure to mark your calendars and get your bids in online.

While some of our auction team was in NYC, others attended the FUN show in Orlando. This show is traditionally well attended by many who hope to escape winter weather and to launch the New Year with some important additions to their collections! Action was brisk throughout the week, some fabulous consignments crossed the table for our future sales, and the overall spirit at the show was great. Everyone seemed to be optimistically looking forward to a fabulous 2012.

We closed the month with our traditional Americana sale in NYC. Every now and again in the field of early American coins there is an epochal event—one that causes a sensation at the time and will be forever remembered elsewhere. Such a “happening” took place at the Stack’s Bowers Galleries Americana Sale on the evening of January 25th in our auction gallery in the heart of Manhattan. Crossing the block were two incredible presentations—the finest offering of 1785-1788 Connecticut coppers since our landmark John J. Ford, Jr. Collection several years ago, and a truly remarkable cabinet of 1786-1788 New Jersey coppers. Both comprised the Collection SLT formed over a period of several decades by one of America’s most dedicated connoisseurs. The session opened to a packed gallery and bidding action was intense from the floor and the internet. Every significant colonial collector placed bids in one way, shape or form and when all was said and done, records were set. The sale totaled nearly $6.1 million after over 4,000 lots of US coins, currency and important other numismatic material crossed the block.

Next time, an update on Long Beach and other February happenings!