Call Number:

Print Collection 43

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts

Extent:

38 linear feet (39 boxes)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Christie's auction catalogs, 1967-2016, Print Collection 43, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania

Date:

1967-2020 (inclusive)

Creator:

Christie's International PLC

Form:

Auction catalogs

Abstract:

Founded in 1766 Christie's is one of the world's largest auction houses. It has played an increasingly central role in the sale of rare books and manuscripts over the course of the 20th century. This finding aid serves as a guide to the more than 500 Christie's catalogs held in Print Coll. 43 as well as Christie's catalogs post-1977 which are not present in Print Coll. 43 but are held elsewhere in the Penn Libraries. Those catalogs with box and folder numbers present are in Print Coll. 43, those with library call numbers listed can be found in the Penn Libraries catalog, those listed as being in Print Coll. 28 are located in the Lawrence J. Schoenberg collection of catalogs.

Founded in 1766 Christie's is one of the world's largest auction house. It has played an increasingly central role in the sale of rare books and manuscripts over the course of the 20th century. The catalogs in this collection were largely received directly from Christie's by the Penn Libraries and some contain annotations and other material added by librarians at Penn. Catalogs before the late 1980s generally do not include printed price estimates in the body of the catalog. These were often printed separately and inserted in the catalogue. Likewise, separate sheets listing the prices realized at the sale with names of buyers were frequently mailed to catalog recipients after a sale. This finding aid notes the presence of some of this additional material, but should not be presumed to be comprehensive in this area.

The collection is arranged into 14 series by the location of sale. The vast majority of catalogs listed here were issued by Christie's London (1967-2018) or Christie's New York (1977-2018). In addition to catalogs from London and New York, the collection includes a smaller number of catalogs for Christie's auctions held in Australia, Geneva, Italy, Los Angeles, Milan, Monaco, Paris, Rome, Scotland, Thailand, and Zurich. Within each series catalogs are listed by date from oldest to most recent.

This finding aid serves as a guide to the more than 500 Christie's catalogs held in Print Coll. 43 as well as Christie's catalogs post-1977 which are not present in Print Coll. 43 but are held elsewhere in the Penn Libraries. Those catalogs with box and folder numbers present are in Print Coll. 43, those with library call numbers listed can be found in the Penn Libraries catalog, those listed as being in Print Coll. 28 are located in the Lawrence J. Schoenberg collection of catalogs.