178 



Early History of American Auctions 



An examination of the auction duties paid by the auctioneers 

 of New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore confirms the justice 

 of persistent criticism that the auction markets were dominated 

 by relatively few and powerful auctioneers ; but the further 

 charge that they were monopolistic seems questionable for the 

 number of auctioneers was large and a comparison of the lists 

 of auctioneers paying the largest amounts of auction duties shows 

 not only radical changes in rank but also the appearance of new 

 names in very short interims.^^ These facts would indicate that 

 competition was at work. 



Total 



348. 



There were this year 45 auctioneers and the total duties paid were 

 $355,000, of which the above 15 paid $348,000. Data from New York 

 Assembly Journal, 1816: 410. 



In 1823 in New York City the ranking auctioneers were 



Van Schaick 

 J. D. Wallace 

 J. Shotwell 



$45-0OO. 

 34,000. 

 32,000. 



There were three others who paid between $10,000 and $20,000 each, five 

 between $5,000 and $10,000, six between $1,000 and $5,000, and eighteen 

 less than $1,000, and several less than $100. The total duties this year were 

 $207,000. Niles 25 : 387. 



In 1828 the ranking list was: 



