According to the November 20, 2011 issue of the ANS Enews from the American Numismatic Society:

More than 20,000 auction catalogs can be found in the ANS Library collections. The sheer size of this grouping is testament to their importance and, in fact, they are one of the most frequently consulted items. Aside from containing important information about the items in the sale, one reason these auction catalogs are so valuable and useful is that many contain contemporary handwriting that records the prices realized as well as the name of the buyer.

We see this in the earliest example in the collections, the Harley catalog from 1742. Auction catalogs help with die studies, tracing provenance and realized prices, rarity, and more. They also serve as a glimpse at coin collecting activity of the previous centuries and assist with identifying patterns of connoisseurship, locally and nationally, within the history of coin collecting and history. This exhibit is a very broad introduction to coin catalogs and dealers. The items on display illustrate some historically important auction dealers as well as the important collections that were being offered for sale.

Adams, John W. United States numismatic literature. nineteenth century auction catalogs / Vol. 1 (1982). United States numismatic literature. twentieth century auction catalog, Vol. 2 (1990). Crestline, CA: George Frederick Kolbe Publications.

Spring, John. 2009. Ancient coin auction catalogues, 1880-1980. London: Spink.

Two of the best reference works about coin auction catalogs have been produced more recently. The two-volume work by John W. Adams is an excellent point of reference for information concerning United States auction catalogs from the 19th and 20th centuries. Biographies accompany the auction listings and a comprehensive chart grading auction importance is included along with other useful indexes. Although devoted specifically to ancient coin auction catalogs within a certain period, Spring's book is another thorough and comprehensive study including important dealer biographies, lists of significant sales, and numerous indexes that guide the researcher to understanding many of these sales. His listing includes 886 ancient coin auction catalogues that focus on only the most important sales within that 101 year period.

To read the complete online exhibit, see:Lots of Lots: Auction Catalogs in the ANS Library(numismatics.org/Library/Exhibit4Catalogs)