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W. Graham Arader: "Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated" - By Bruce McKinney W. Graham Arader III By Bruce McKinney On June 19th the most recent and certainly not final chapter of the Graham Arader story was written in the auction rooms at Sotheby's, as they conducted a 202 lot sale of selected inventory from the storied archives of W. Graham Arader of King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, and Madison Avenue in New York. The sale realized $3.26 million. No doubt, many dealers wished for the sale to fail and were deeply disappointed that it made a passable grade even as the economic downturn has taken hold. Whether it was an act of bravery or necessity is subject to interpretation and both admirers and detractors have their different views. That it was an exceptional outcome given the difficult environment is beyond dispute. Mr. Arader commands the attention of the press. He has been the subject, for almost thirty years, of newspaper and magazine articles, the bickering of competitors and the admiration of clients. He is the subject of a Wikipedia page that includes articles about and references to him. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Arader Indicative of his larger than life personality and position in New York society the New York Observer, in March, writing about him and his New York City home had this to say: "The legendary art dealer W. Graham Arader III, an eccentric maestro in the world of rare prints and antique maps, has cut the price of his seven-story, 10-bedroom, 22-room, 12,000-square-foot mansion at 1016 Madison Avenue from $75 million to $65 million. He now has only the second most expensive listing in New York: Aby Rosen's townhouse on East 71st Street is still asking $75 million." His approach to the recent auction was vintage Graham Arader. He pledged 20% of the auction proceeds to charities of the buyer's choice. For institutions, this amounted to a discount of 20%, for well-healed successful bidders the chance to acquire appealing material and earn the appreciation of institutions and charities they designate. In the run up to the sale the New York Times on June 18th addressed a rumor - "Despite reports that he was closing his business, Graham Arader, a New York dealer in rare books, atlases, botanical prints and natural history watercolors, is just selling off inventory in Sotheby's sale on Friday of 200 of his holdings. A third of the lots will be sold without reserve, and Mr. Arader has pledged to donate 20 percent of each lot's hammer price to any recognized charity designated by the buyer." Following the sale Mr. Arader released the following statement: "With auction proceeds, sales after the auction and special sales in all of my galleries for the next month it appears that I am going to gross about $5,000,000 and hopefully give away $1,000,000 on top of that. Those funds will be distributed to the participating charities on July 23 at 1016 Madison Avenue at 4 pm to be followed by a dinner party at 6:30 for all institutions that participated (about 50) and for all people who acquired artwork at the sale and afterward. A list of the lots that sold with the charities to be benefited will be distributed at this event. Any charity that supported this new idea will be given a minimum of $1000 even if any buyers did not designate them. I hope that this will cover some of their costs of promotion for this new idea and encourage them to participate next year. It is very important that full disclosure be available for all parties to insure the continuation of this concept.
W. Graham Arader: "Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated" - By Bruce McKinney Catlin's North American Indian Portfolio brought $230,500 The integrity of David Redden and Selby Kiffer of Sotheby's was a joy to behold in virtually every step of this process. None of the success of this event would have been remotely possible without their impeccable reputations, which they provided to make this idea work. My gratitude to them is deep. While the example of my father as a philanthropist had a huge influence on this idea, the motivating event that drove me to this was the list provided by the US Attorney for Connecticut of the dealers that were claiming funds from Forbes Smiley for the vast amount of maps that he sold them. I realized then that practically all of my competition was buying from this convicted thief and that it would be impossible for me to compete with dealers whose costs were considerably less than mine. I had to do something that would set me apart. So in the midst of this depressing revelation and realization, I determined to give virtually 50% of my income away to set myself apart. To my amazement, the more I gave the more business I did. No matter how much I gave away, it always seems to come back to me beyond my wildest dreams. What a shock and what FUN. Soon I became addicted to the process that led me to the idea of this collaboration with the world's finest auction house for the Graham Arader sale and the many organizations that I have been supporting over the years. A broad number of people bought from all over the world. Next year it is my plan to include inventory in the Graham Arader sale that does not belong to me as long as the consignors are willing to put the artwork and books in at no reserve and will donate 20% of the hammer price to the buyers designated charity. My goal is to be able to arrange for gifts to institutions in the $5,000,000 range." Mr. Arader lives large. No doubt, material purchased at the sale will in time carry the provenance of Mr. Arader, the event noted and mentioned in future catalogues when random lots return to the rooms. Some dealers will continue to be repulsed but canny buyers who acquired these collectibles and souvenirs will be rewarded. Mark Twain had it right.

W. Graham Arader: "Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated"

- By Bruce McKinney

W. Graham Arader III

By Bruce McKinney

On June 19th the most recent and certainly not final chapter of the Graham Arader story was written in the auction rooms at Sotheby's, as they conducted a 202 lot sale of selected inventory from the storied archives of W. Graham Arader of King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, and Madison Avenue in New York. The sale realized $3.26 million. No doubt, many dealers wished for the sale to fail and were deeply disappointed that it made a passable grade even as the economic downturn has taken hold. Whether it was an act of bravery or necessity is subject to interpretation and both admirers and detractors have their different views. That it was an exceptional outcome given the difficult environment is beyond dispute.

Mr. Arader commands the attention of the press. He has been the subject, for almost thirty years, of newspaper and magazine articles, the bickering of competitors and the admiration of clients. He is the subject of a Wikipedia page that includes articles about and references to him.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Arader

Indicative of his larger than life personality and position in New York society the New York Observer, in March, writing about him and his New York City home had this to say:

"The legendary art dealer W. Graham Arader III, an eccentric maestro in the world of rare prints and antique maps, has cut the price of his seven-story, 10-bedroom, 22-room, 12,000-square-foot mansion at 1016 Madison Avenue from $75 million to $65 million. He now has only the second most expensive listing in New York: Aby Rosen's townhouse on East 71st Street is still asking $75 million."

His approach to the recent auction was vintage Graham Arader. He pledged 20% of the auction proceeds to charities of the buyer's choice. For institutions, this amounted to a discount of 20%, for well-healed successful bidders the chance to acquire appealing material and earn the appreciation of institutions and charities they designate.

In the run up to the sale the New York Times on June 18th addressed a rumor -

"Despite reports that he was closing his business, Graham Arader, a New York dealer in rare books, atlases, botanical prints and natural history watercolors, is just selling off inventory in Sotheby's sale on Friday of 200 of his holdings. A third of the lots will be sold without reserve, and Mr. Arader has pledged to donate 20 percent of each lot's hammer price to any recognized charity designated by the buyer."

Following the sale Mr. Arader released the following statement:

"With auction proceeds, sales after the auction and special sales in all of my galleries for the next month it appears that I am going to gross about $5,000,000 and hopefully give away $1,000,000 on top of that. Those funds will be distributed to the participating charities on July 23 at 1016 Madison Avenue at 4 pm to be followed by a dinner party at 6:30 for all institutions that participated (about 50) and for all people who acquired artwork at the sale and afterward. A list of the lots that sold with the charities to be benefited will be distributed at this event. Any charity that supported this new idea will be given a minimum of $1000 even if any buyers did not designate them. I hope that this will cover some of their costs of promotion for this new idea and encourage them to participate next year. It is very important that full disclosure be available for all parties to insure the continuation of this concept.

W. Graham Arader: "Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated"

- By Bruce McKinney

Catlin's North American Indian Portfolio brought $230,500

The integrity of David Redden and Selby Kiffer of Sotheby's was a joy to behold in virtually every step of this process. None of the success of this event would have been remotely possible without their impeccable reputations, which they provided to make this idea work. My gratitude to them is deep.

While the example of my father as a philanthropist had a huge influence on this idea, the motivating event that drove me to this was the list provided by the US Attorney for Connecticut of the dealers that were claiming funds from Forbes Smiley for the vast amount of maps that he sold them. I realized then that practically all of my competition was buying from this convicted thief and that it would be impossible for me to compete with dealers whose costs were considerably less than mine. I had to do something that would set me apart. So in the midst of this depressing revelation and realization, I determined to give virtually 50% of my income away to set myself apart.

To my amazement, the more I gave the more business I did. No matter how much I gave away, it always seems to come back to me beyond my wildest dreams. What a shock and what FUN.

Soon I became addicted to the process that led me to the idea of this collaboration with the world's finest auction house for the Graham Arader sale and the many organizations that I have been supporting over the years.

A broad number of people bought from all over the world.

Next year it is my plan to include inventory in the Graham Arader sale that does not belong to me as long as the consignors are willing to put the artwork and books in at no reserve and will donate 20% of the hammer price to the buyers designated charity.

My goal is to be able to arrange for gifts to institutions in the $5,000,000 range."

Mr. Arader lives large. No doubt, material purchased at the sale will in time carry the provenance of Mr. Arader, the event noted and mentioned in future catalogues when random lots return to the rooms. Some dealers will continue to be repulsed but canny buyers who acquired these collectibles and souvenirs will be rewarded.

Mark Twain had it right.