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Americana has had its ups and downs in the decade since the market peaked. Sotheby's pointed to their $20m total for the week (including a sale of Alexander Hamilton's papers not included in these totals) as the second highest total achieved since 2007 when the comparable sales made $29m.

Without major works on offer at either auction house, the sales depended upon the reputations of a few collections. Although the top works still reflected a mix of American paintings, folk art, outsider art and early American furniture, there were a number of lots that far exceeded their estimates helped along by the strength of the collections from which they emerged.