To begin finding information, try using the following subject headings in the corresponding resource.

Books

• Art auctions
• Art objects-catalogs
• Art objects-collectors and collecting
• Art objects-prices
• Art dealers
• Auctions
• Auction catalogs

• Drawing-catalogs
• Drawing-prices
• Painting-catalogs
• Painting-Prices

• Art/Sales and Prices
• Art Trade
• Auction Sales
• Main Heading + Sales and Prices
• Valuation of Works of Art
• Names of auction houses

• Art Markets
• Auctions
• Art galleries
• Sales catalogues
• Vente
• Catalogue de vente
• Commerce d’art
• Art dealers

• Art markets

• Bibliotheque Forney. Catalogue des Catalogues de Ventes d'Art, 2 vols. Boston: G.K. Hall, 1972.


Location: See Orbis Record
Dates: 1778-1971

Contents:


• Fine Arts

Notes: A French publication that indexes 14,000 sales catalogues and includes 50,000 entries. The resource is divided into three sections: I. Collectors, II. Places of Auction, and III. Dates of Auctions. A good resource for historical French auction research.


• De Lorenzi, Giovanna de. Cataloghi di collezioni d'arte nelle biblioteche fiorentine. Pisa: Scuola normale superiore di Pisa, 1988.


Location: See Orbis Record
Dates Covered: 1840-1940

Contents:


• Paintings
• Drawings
• Prints
• Sculpture
• Decorative Arts


Notes: This resource includes the auction catalog holdings of ten Florentine Libraries: Biblioteca Marucelliana, Biblioteca Nazionale di Firenze, Biblioteca degli Uffizi, Fondazione Berenson, Fondazione Longhi, Istituto Nazionale di Studi sul Rinascimento, Kunsthistoriches Institut in Florenz, Istituto Olandese Universitario di Storia dell'Arte, Museo Nazionale del Bargello, and Museo Stibbert. Entries are arranged by consignor and include auction title and sale date. Catalogs included in this resource are keyed to Lugt.


• Duplessis, Georges. Les ventes de tableaux, dessins, estampes et objets d'art aux XVIIe et XVIIIe siecles. Paris: Rapilly, 1874.


Location: See Orbis Record
Dates Covered: 1611-1800

Contents:


• Paintings
• Drawings
• Prints
• Decorative Arts


Notes: This resource presents auction catalogs from European cities. The catalogs are arranged by date and entries include catalog title, consignor, and "bought-in" results. The title includes an index of sellers. Numerous English entries are included. No information on location of auction catalog is provided.



• Frick Art Reference Library. Frick Art Reference Library Sales Catalogue Index. Boston, MA: G.K. Hall, 1992. Microfiche.


Location: See Orbis Record
Dates Covered: 1773-1992

Contents:


• ?????


Notes:


• Harvard University. Fine Arts Library. Catalogue of the Harvard University Fine Art Library and Fogg Art Museum. Vol. 15: Catalogue of Auction Sales Catalogues. Boston: G.K. Hall, 1971.


Location: See Orbis Record
Dates Covered: 1895-1971

Contents:


• Paintings
• Drawings
• Sculpture
• Prints
• Photographs
• Decorative Arts


Notes: This catalog details the auction holdings of both Harvard's Fine Art Library and the Library of the Fogg Art Museum. Numbering over 20,000 items, the catalog is organized alphabetically by dealer and date of sale.



• Lancour, Harold, comp. American Art Auction Catalogues, 1785-1942: A Union List. New York: The New York Public Library, 1944.


Location: See Orbis Record
Dates Covered: 1785-1942

Contents:


• Paintings
• Drawings
• Engravings
• Sculpture
• Decorative Objects
• Furniture
• Jewelry
• Textiles
• Tapestries, Rugs, and Carpets
• Mineral Carvings
• Musical Instruments

Notes: A catalog of over 7,000 American auction sale catalogs from the period of 1785-1942, compiled from the holdings of 21 major libraries. Arranged chronologically, each entry lists the date of sale, owner's name, title, auction firm, number of lot, and location of catalog copies. Also includes a list of American auction houses and addresses, and an index to over 60,000 owner names. Numbers given to entries are used as a standard reference in other publications.


• Lugt, Frits. Repertoire des Catalogues de Ventes Publiques..., 4 vols. The Hague: Nijhoff, 1938-87.


Location: See Orbis Records (A+A, BAC, and theWalpole Library)
Dates Covered: 1600-1925

Contents:


• Paintings
• Medallions
• Cameos
• Drawings
• Tapestries
• Glass
• Intaglios
• Antiquities
• Ceramics
• Arms
• Miniatures
• Prints
• Bronzes
• Sculptures
• Furniture
• Autographs

Notes: This French publication serves as a catalog of international auction catalogs published between 1600-1925 (Volume I: 1600-1825, Volume II: 1826-1860, Volume III: 1861-1900, Volume IV: 1901-1925). Entries are arranged chronologically and include dates, location of sales, name of collector, artist, merchant or proprietor, contents, auctioneers, and libraries in which catalogue may be found. Numbers given are used as a standard reference in other publications.


• Metropolitan Museum of Art. Library. Library Catalog of the Metropolitation Museum of Art. Vol. 46-48: Sales Catalogs. Boston: G.K. Hall, 1980.


Location: See Orbis Record
Dates Covered: 1890-1980

Contents:


• Paintings
• Drawings
• Prints
• Sculpture
• Decorative Arts


Notes: This catalog contains over 45,000 auction catalogs held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art Libraries. The catalog is arranged by auction house and then subdivided by date of sale.


• SCIPIO: Art and Rare Books Catalogs.


Location: See Yale Database Description
Dates Covered: late 16th century-present

Contents:


• Paintings
• Sculpture
• Drawings
• Prints
• Photographs
• Books and Manuscripts
• Furniture
• Musical Instruments

Notes: Online catalog of North American and European auction catalogs which also contains information on provenance research, the history of collecting, and contemporary and historical art market trends. Allows user to search by auction house, seller, date of sale, sale code, and Lugt/Lancour numbers (see above). Entries include date of sale, location of sale, catalog title, auction house, sellers, and institutional holdings.


• Winterthur Museum. Libraries. The Winterthur Museum Libraries Collection of Printed Books and Periodicals. Vol. 9: Auction Catalogs. Wilmington, DE: Scholarly Resources, 1974.


Location: See Orbis Record
Dates Covered: 1903-1974

Contents:


• Paintings
• Drawings
• Prints
• Sculpture
• Decorative Arts


Notes: Arranged alphabetically by auction house, this catalog provides the auction catalog holdings of the Winterthur Museum. Entries are further subdivided by date of auction.

• American Art Annual. Vols. 1-37. New York: MacMillan Company, 1898-1948.


Location: See Orbis Record
Dates Covered: 1898-1948

Contents:

• Paintings
• Prints
• Sculpture


Notes: A yearly publication detailing the art world, American Art Annual includes sales information on paintints, sculptures, and prints. Entries are divided by artist and include title, dimensions, catalog information, date of sale, and price. These interesting volumes also include information on museum publications, directory of art organizations, art schools, art magazines, exhibitions, and other art related information.


• Art Prices Current. London: William Dawson and Sons, Ltd.


Location: See Orbis Record
Dates Covered: 1907-1973

Contents:


• Paintings
• Drawings
• Miniatures
• Engravings
• Prints

Notes: A good resource for 20th century art auction information. Includes lists of sales and auctions, providing information on all lots. Entries are listed alphabetically by artist.


• Art Sales Index. Weybridge, Surrey, England: Art Sales Index, Ltd., 1985-.


Location: See Orbis Record
Dates Covered: 1982-current

Contents:


• Paintings
• Watercolors
• Drawings
• Miniatures
• Prints
• Photographs
• Sculptures

Notes: This annual publication gathers auction information from 450 auctioneers. Information is arranged alphabetically by artist and entries include birth/death date, nationality, hammer price, title of artwork, dimensions, auction date, auctioneer, lot number, and sale estimate. Covers only works sold above a certain price. A good resource for recent auction information.


• Benezit, E. Dictionary of Artists. Paris: Grund, 2006.


Location: See Orbis Record
Dates Covered: 1911-1999

Contents:


• Paintings
• Sculptures
• Prints
• Drawings


Notes: Known for its biographical information, Benezit's Dictionary of Artists offers auction results for each artist as well. Auction information provided for a particular artist is arranged by year and includes location of sale, auction date, title of artwork, and price.


• Berard, Michele. Encyclopedia of Modern Art Auction Prices. New York: Arco Publishing Company, 1971.


Location: See Orbis Record
Dates Covered: 1961-1969

Contents:


• Paintings
• Drawings
• Watercolors
• Gouaches
• Pastels
• Collages

Notes: This resource includes auction information on 280 artists since the Impressionists. Each entry includes a short biography and auction information sorted by medium (drawings, watercolors, and paintings). A good resource for a historical view of the art market.


• Blanc, Charles. Le Tresor de la curiosite tire des catalogues de vente. Paris: Renouard, 1857-1858.


Location: See Orbis Record
Dates Covered: 1737-1855

Contents:


• Paintings
• Drawings
• Prints
• Sculptures
• Books
• Bronzes
• Ivories
• Ceramic
• Stained Glass
• Decorative Arts


Notes: Arranged by year and then by auction house, this resource lists auction results for 18th and 19th century France. Entries include artist, title, description, and price. An index of artist names is provided.


• Fredericksen, Burton B., ed. The Index of Paintings Sold in the British Isles during the Nineteenth Century. 4 vols. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 1988.


Location: See Orbis Record
Dates Covered: 1800-1820

Contents:


• Paintings

Notes: A continuously updated resource for information on early 19th century British art auctions. Each volume contains an index of art auction catalogues, paintings, and owners.


• Gordon's Print Price Annual. Naples, FL: Gordon's Art Reference, 1996.


Location: See Orbis Record
Dates Covered: 1986-2003

Contents:


• Prints

Notes: The definitive resource for information on prints.


• Graves, Algernon. Art Sales from Early in the Eighteenth Century to Early in the Twentieth (Mostly Old Master and Early English Pictures). London: A. Graves, 1918-21.


Location: See Orbis Record
Dates Covered: Early 18th-Early 20th Century

Contents:


• Paintings

Notes: This resource contains auction sales from only English auction houses. Entries are arranged alphabetically by artist and contain auction date, auctioneer, lot number, title, and sale price. This resource differs from others in that it provides previous ownder and purchaser of a given painting.


• Mayer's International Auction Records. New York: Editions Publisol, 1967-.


Location: See Orbis Record
Dates Covered: 1968-2004

Contents:


• Prints
• Drawings
• Watercolors
• Paintings
• Sculpture

Notes: This annual publication contains over 3,000 international public auction sales. Auction results are converted into francs, pounds, euros, and dollars. Mayer's is a good source of current auction information on artists whose works sell in lower price ranges. A fee-based subscription is available online at www.guidemayer.com.


• Mireur, Hippolyte. Dictionnaire des ventes d'art faites en Frances et a l'etranger pendant les XVIIIme and XIXme siecles. 7 vols. Paris: Maison d'Editions d'Oeuvres Artistiques, 1911-1912.


Location: See Orbis Record
Dates Covered: 18th and 19th centuries

Contents:


• Paintings
• Drawings
• Miniatures
• Prints
• Watercolors
• Pastels
• Gouaches
• Sepias
• Charcoal
• Stained Glass
• Enamel

Notes: A good resource for 18th and 19th century French auction sales. Entries are listed chronologically, with scant information provided (auction house, title of sale, amount of sale). As this is a French publication, all auction results are listed in francs.


• Redford, George. Art Sales: A History of Sales of Pictures and Other Works of Art. 2 vols. London: Bradbury, Agnew and Co., 1888.


Location: See Orbis Record
Dates Covered: 17th and 18th centuries

Contents:


• Paintings


Notes: Two volume resource. First volume lists the history of the sales of collections. Second volume includes auction information on British and Old Master artists (Italian, Spanish, French, German, Flemish, and Dutch). Entries include title, price, owner, buyer, and year of auction.


• World Collectors Annuary. Delft: Brouwer, 1946-1996.


Location: See Orbis Record
Dates Covered: 1946-1996

Contents:


• Paintings
• Gouaches
• Pastels
• Watercolors
• Drawings


Notes: This resources provides auction information from major auction houses in 14 different countries. The title is arranged by artist and entries include title, description, dimension, date, provenance, literature review, exhibition history, auction house, and auction date. Prices are given in US dollars. An index for the resources (covering 1946-1981) exists providing a simple way to find information in numerous editions.


• Zellman, Michael David, comp. American Art Analog. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1986.


Location: See Orbis Record
Dates Covered: 1688-1930

Contents:


• Paintings

Notes: Listed chronologically by year of birth, this title provides brief biographical entries for more than 800 American painters. Each entry contains information on the artist's life, work, professional memberships, and works in public collections. Market activity is provided for each artist for the time period of 1975-1985, including record sales.

• Paintings
• Watercolors
• Drawings
• Miniatures
• Prints
• Photographs
• Sculpture

• Prints
• Drawings
• Watercolors
• Paintings
• Sculpture

• Paintings
• Sculpture
• Drawings
• Prints
• Photographs
• Books and Manuscripts
• Furniture
• Musical Instruments

• Microfilm/Microfiche



• Christie's Pictorial Archive [1977-1986]. London: Mindata, 1980.


Please Note: A selection of microforms concentrating on British sales from this collection can be found at the Library of the Yale Center for British Art.


• Christie's Pictorial Sales Review [1980-1986]. Bath, UK, 1986.



• The Knoedler Library. Auction Catalogues on Microfilm [1744-1970]. New York: M. Knoedler, 1973.


Please Note: A selection of microfiche concentrating on British sales from this collection can be found at the Library of the Yale Center for British Art.


• Rijksbureau voor Kunsthistoriche Dokumentatie. Art Sales Catalogues, 1600-1825. Zug, Switzerland, 1986-97.



• Rijksbureau voor Kunsthistoriche Dokumentatie. Art Sales Catalogues, 1826-1860. Leiden, 1997.



• Sotheby and Company. Catalogues of sales [1734-1980]. Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1972-1983.



• Print Resources



• Annuaire general des ventes publiques en France [1941-1947]. Paris: Editions art et technigue, 1943-.


Please note: Art and Architecture Library has 1945-1947 editions.


• Art Price Index International. Madison, CT: Sound View Press, 1993-1997.



• Ceramics and Glass: International Auction Records. Lausanne: Editions vie art cite, 1990-1991.



• Davenport's Art Reference and Price Guide. Ventura, CA: R.J. Davenport, 1990-present.



• Defer, Pierre. Catalogue general des ventes publiques de tableaux et estampes depui 1737 jusqu' a nos jours. 2 vols. Paris: Chez Aubry, 1865.



• Karia, Bhupendra, ed. Artronix Index: Photographs at Auction, 1951-84. New York: Artronix Data Corporation, 1986.



• Leonard's Annual Price Index of Art Auctions. West Newton, MA: Auction Index, 1982-present.



• Sotheby's International Price Guide. New York: Vendome Press, 1985-1989.



• Electronic Resources



• I on Art. 1990-1999. CD-ROM.



• Auction Journals



• Gazette de l'Hotel Drouot. 1891-present.



• Kunstpreis Jahrbuch. 1969-present.


Please note: This journal was originally published in three versions: German (Kunstpreis Jahrbuch), French {Annuaire des ventes d'objects d'art) and English (Art Price Annual). These editions start in 1939.


• Photographic Art Market. 1981-present.



• Local Libraries with Auction Resources



• Auerbach Art Library, Wadsworth Atheneum



• Frick Art Reference Library, Frick Collection



• Art Auction Catalogs, Library of Congress



• Art Research Library, National Gallery of Art



• Research Guide: Auction Sales Indexes, New York Public Library



• Thomas J. Watson Library, The Metropolitan Museum of Art



• Library, Worchester Art Museum

• Fine Arts
• Decorative Arts

• Two- and Three-dimensional original fine art

• Drawings
• Watercolors
• Painting
• Tapestry
• Prints
• Posters
• Sculpture
• Installations
• Photography
• Audio-Visual Material

• Fine Arts

• Fine Arts

• Bonhams and Butterfields


Free registration. This international auction house has offices in three countries: United Kingdom (Bonhams), United States (Bonhams and Butterfields), and Australia (Bonhams and Goodman). Bonhams and Butterfields provides auction services for antiquities, armor, books, maps, manuscripts, clocks, coins, ceramics, fine art, furniture, jewelry, autos, rugs, silver, wine, and real estate. The web site provides information on future sales and past sale results (lot number, description, and price). A user is able to search for items by location, estimate ranges, keywords. Online information is limited to 2003-present (including future auctions). After a search is completed, the web site offers reminder emails when new items match the search. The site offers well prepared FAQs on selling and buying.


• Christie's Auction House


Notes: Free Registration. The web site offers information on antiquities, paintings, books, manuscripts, collectibles, furniture, decorative arts, jewelry, cars, photographs, prints, wine and cigars. Online information is limited to 1998-present (including future auctions). User can perform basic auction searches by date and location. Limited results include lot number and price. For recent auctions (2 months before and 1 month after), Christie's offers LotFinder, which allows for more search parameters and lengthier results, including sale title, location, lot number, creator, estimate, sale date, sale number, provenance, literature, exhibitions, and lot notes.


• Gazette-Drouot.com


This web site is the online version of the magazine serving the Hotel Drouot. Information on upcoming sales is provided. In addition, a directory of auctioneer offices is listed. Online versions of auction catalogs are provided in PDF format. Sales results are provided to those who have subscriptions to the print version of the magazine. Unfortunately, the web sites. FAQ list is provided in French only.


• Phillips de Pury and Company


A smaller auction house, Phillips focuses on a number of areas: Contemporary Art, Impressionist and Modern Art, Photographs, 20th and 21st Century Design Art, and Jewelry. The web site presents a number of online catalogs, as well as auction results presented in a PDF document (lot number and price). Online sales results limited to Fall 2003-present. Information on buying and selling through the auction house is provided.


• Skinner


Free registration. Located in Boston, Skinner auction house has departments in fine arts, furniture, prints, ceramics, jewelry, musical instruments, toys, dolls, science and technology, rugs and carpets. The web site provides information on upcoming sales and catalogs in PDF format. Online auction results from May 2005-present (lot number and price) are available. Information on how to buy and sell through the auction house is provided on the web site


• Sotheby's Auction House


Notes: Free Registration. The web site provides information on painting, sculpture, drawings, photographs, decorative arts, silver, armor, books, ceramics, clocks, coins, jewelry, and manuscripts. Online information is limited to 1998-present (including future auctions). User can search by numerous parameters including keyword, creator, title/name, sale date, price, provenance, auction location, sale title, sale number, and lot number. Each entry includes lot number, title, estimate, hammer price, description, provenance, exhibitions, literature and references. When registered, user may view info from artnet.com for past auction results for a particular artist.


• Swann Auction Galleries


Swann Auction Galleries provides auction services for photographs, posters, prints and drawings, books, maps, atlases, and autographs. The web site provides information on upcoming sales and their corresponding catalogs. Online sales results limited to August 2001-present (lot number and price). Information on buying and selling through Swann Auction Galleries is provided.

• The Appraisers Association of America (212.889.5404 x11)
• The American Society of Appraisers (800.272.8258)
• The Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America (212.944.8291)