First Edition of the Canadian Art Sales Index from 1980!

When we published the first edition of the Canadian Art Sales Index in 1980, the market for Canadian art was very much in its infancy. The first sale of Canadian art was held at Sotheby Parke Bernet (Canada) Inc. in Toronto in May, 1968. That first year saw approximately $200,000 worth of Canadian art sold in the spring and fall sessions. Twelve years later, in May 1980, saw the first Canadian painting break the illusive $100,000 barrier. Today, on average, we see more than 50 paintings each year top that figure.

In its 35 years of publication the Canadian Art Sales Index has recorded all the significant milestones in the Canadian art market, from the first $100,000 painting to the highest season on record - $71 million in 2004/5 - and all the prices, market swings and significant events in between. In total, the Index has listed over 150,000 prices for paintings, sculpture and art books from salesrooms across Canada and internationally, the work of more than 8,500 Canadian artists.

The Canadian art market has come a long way since that first sale in 1968 - so too has the technology to report and record it. When our first edition rolled off the press, the Internet was unheard of. Price guides were in ascendancy and were the reference vehicles of choice for serious collectors, investors and dealers. Today, while still with an active role to play in the dissemination of Canadian art prices and market information, printed books such as the Canadian Art Sales Index are more and more sharing the information platform with modern technology.

Which brings us to the Canadian Art Sales Index: Online Edition. To service this new and expanding online market the Index offers subscribers a database of over 8,500 artists and more than 55,000 prices covering the past twelve years of market activity in Canada and internationally. Prices will be updated as the various sales occur across the country, and over the months ahead we also hope to add another 50,000 or more historical records to give subscribers the most up-to-date and comprehensive guide to Canada art prices available.

About the Publisher:

Anthony Westbridge has been actively involved in the art market, both as a writer/publisher and art dealer/consultant for more than 40 years. As editor of the bi-monthly newsletter Westbridge Art Market Report he writes about the national and international art markets, covering auction previews and results and offering insightful opinion and analysis. He is editor/publisher of The Collector's Dictionary of Canadian Artists at Auction and the author of the popular market guide How to Make Money Selling Art at Auction as well as several reports on the Canadian art market, including Made in Canada! An Investor's Guide to the Canadian Art Market. He is the founder of the WPL Canadian Art Indices, a series of 17 individual indices on various aspects of the Canadian art market that are considered the barometer of Canadian art activity.

Anthony also conducts fine art investment seminars in conjunction with his position as a fine art consultant, and is available to the media for interviews on the national and international fine art markets. Dubbed the unofficial "Dean of the Canadian Art Market" by national press, Anthony combines his wealth of experience as publisher of The Canadian Art Sales Index with the mangement of a unique, boutique auction house to provide both clients, and the entire industry, with unparallelled insight into the Canadian art market.