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Articles - February - 2026 Issue

POV: You Just Doubled the Estimate. Christie's NYC is Officially GOATed 🏛️

- by Bruce E. McKinney

GenZ: Welcome

GenZ: Welcome

NYC Christie’s Auction Just Cleared $35M+ 🗽🍎

 

NYC really ate with the Christie’s 250th US Anniversary auction. Early 2026 is officially peaked because the vibes were immaculate and the Americana was strictly main character energy.

 

The room was low-key shaking because the final total more than doubled its estimate, securing a massive $35,562,465 bag. 💰 The math was definitely mathing. 📈

 

The absolute standouts?  The Legendary Grails

 

The Declaration of Independence: A rare 1776 broadside printing sold for a massive $5.6 million. Literally the OG “receipt” of freedom.

 

The Emancipation Proclamation: A signed copy of this absolute W for human rights cleared for $3.5 million. Straight-up GOAT behavior from Lincoln.

 

The OG 1976 Apple Computer partnership agreement sold for a casual $2.5 million. 🍏📜 No cap, Steve Jobs and the squad signed some papers that changed the world, and now those docs are the ultimate 1-of-1 grail.

 

Early 2026 is already a W for history stans. Congrats to Christies! Stay woke. 🇺🇸🔥

Rare Book Monthly

  • <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 11. Blaeu's Superb World Map on a Polar Projection (1695) Est. $5,500 - $7,000 <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 36. Schedel's Ancient World Map with Humanoid Creatures (1493) Est. $14,000 - $17,000 <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 49. One of the First Lunar Globes to Show the Far Side of the Moon (1963) Est. $1,000 - $1,300 <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 5. The First World Map with Lavish Allegorical Vignettes of the Continents (1594) Est. $15,000 - $17,000 <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 55. Anti-British Propaganda Map with Churchill as an Octopus (1942) Est. $2,000 - $2,300 <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 197. One of the Most Influential Maps of Westward Expansion (1846) Est. $9,500 - $12,000 <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 10. Scarce Pitt Edition of Carte-a-Figures Map of the World (1680) Est. $9,500 - $11,000 <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 220. A Fine, Early Rendering of San Francisco (1874) Est. $2,200 - $2,500 <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 707. Hand-Colored Image of the Presentation of Jesus with Gilt Highlights (1450) Est. $1,600 - $1,900 <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 80. One of the Most Important Maps Perpetuating the Myth of the Island of California (1680) Est. $3,250 - $4,000 <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 725. Homann's Atlas Featuring 26 Folio-Sized Maps in Original Color (1715) Est. $4,500 - $5,500 <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 169. One of the Earliest Maps to Show Philadelphia (1695) Est. $4,750 - $6,000
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 11. Blaeu's Superb World Map on a Polar Projection (1695) Est. $5,500 - $7,000
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 36. Schedel's Ancient World Map with Humanoid Creatures (1493) Est. $14,000 - $17,000
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 49. One of the First Lunar Globes to Show the Far Side of the Moon (1963) Est. $1,000 - $1,300
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 5. The First World Map with Lavish Allegorical Vignettes of the Continents (1594) Est. $15,000 - $17,000
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 55. Anti-British Propaganda Map with Churchill as an Octopus (1942) Est. $2,000 - $2,300
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 197. One of the Most Influential Maps of Westward Expansion (1846) Est. $9,500 - $12,000
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 10. Scarce Pitt Edition of Carte-a-Figures Map of the World (1680) Est. $9,500 - $11,000
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 220. A Fine, Early Rendering of San Francisco (1874) Est. $2,200 - $2,500
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 707. Hand-Colored Image of the Presentation of Jesus with Gilt Highlights (1450) Est. $1,600 - $1,900
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 80. One of the Most Important Maps Perpetuating the Myth of the Island of California (1680) Est. $3,250 - $4,000
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 725. Homann's Atlas Featuring 26 Folio-Sized Maps in Original Color (1715) Est. $4,500 - $5,500
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 169. One of the Earliest Maps to Show Philadelphia (1695) Est. $4,750 - $6,000
  • <b>Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11:</b> DALVIMART, Octavien ou d’ALVIMAR(T). The Costume of Turkey <b>Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11:</b> DALVIMART, Octavien ou d’ALVIMAR(T)]. CLARK. The Military Costume of Turkey <b>Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11:</b> HOMMAIRE DE HELL, Ignace-Xavier. LAURENS, Jules. Voyage en Turquie et en Perse <b>Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11:</b> POSTEL, Guillaume. De la République des Turc <b>Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11:</b> PREZIOSI, Amadeo. Stamboul. Souvenir d’Orient. <b>Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11:</b> COSTUMES. EMPIRE OTTOMAN. <b>Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11:</b> PRISSE D'AVENNES, Achille Constant T. Emile. L'Art Arabe <b>Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11:</b> PRISSE D'AVENNES. Histoire de l'art Egyptie <b>Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11:</b> BESANCENOT, Jean. Costumes et types du Maroc. <b>Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11:</b> COSTUMES OTTOMANS. Suite de figures ottomanes à l’aquarelle <b>Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11:</b> LES MILLE ET UNE NUIT, contes arabes <b>Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11:</b> SCHLEGEL, Hermann et A. H. VERSTER van WULVERHORST. Traité de Fauconnerie - Planches <b>Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11:</b> THEVENOT, Melchisédec. Relation de divers voyages curieux <b>Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11:</b>
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: DALVIMART, Octavien ou d’ALVIMAR(T). The Costume of Turkey
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: DALVIMART, Octavien ou d’ALVIMAR(T)]. CLARK. The Military Costume of Turkey
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: HOMMAIRE DE HELL, Ignace-Xavier. LAURENS, Jules. Voyage en Turquie et en Perse
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: POSTEL, Guillaume. De la République des Turc
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: PREZIOSI, Amadeo. Stamboul. Souvenir d’Orient.
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: COSTUMES. EMPIRE OTTOMAN.
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: PRISSE D'AVENNES, Achille Constant T. Emile. L'Art Arabe
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: PRISSE D'AVENNES. Histoire de l'art Egyptie
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: BESANCENOT, Jean. Costumes et types du Maroc.
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: COSTUMES OTTOMANS. Suite de figures ottomanes à l’aquarelle
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: LES MILLE ET UNE NUIT, contes arabes
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: SCHLEGEL, Hermann et A. H. VERSTER van WULVERHORST. Traité de Fauconnerie - Planches
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11: THEVENOT, Melchisédec. Relation de divers voyages curieux
    Gros & Delettrez, Feb. 11:
  • <b><center>Sotheby's Fine Books & Manuscripts<br>Available for Immediate Purchase</center></b> <b>Sotheby’s:</b> Balthus, Emily Brontë. <i>Wuthering Heights,</i> New York: The Limited Editions Club, 1993. 6,600 USD. <b>Sotheby’s:</b> Charles Dickens. <i>Complete Works,</i> Philadelphia & London: J.B. Lippincott Company & Chapman & Hall, LD, 1850. Limited Edition set of 30 volumes. 7,500 USD. <b>Sotheby’s:</b> John Lennon, Yoko Ono. Handwritten Letter from John Lennon and Yoko Ono to their Chauffer. 1971. 32,500 USD. <b>Sotheby’s:</b> Winston Churchill. First edition of <i>War Speeches,</i> Cassell and Company, Ltd., 1941. Set of 7 volumes. 5,500 USD. <b>Sotheby’s:</b> Andy Warhol, Julia Warhola. <i>Holy Cats</i> First Edition, Signed by Andy Warhol. 1954. 30,000 USD.
    Sotheby's Fine Books & Manuscripts
    Available for Immediate Purchase
    Sotheby’s: Balthus, Emily Brontë. Wuthering Heights, New York: The Limited Editions Club, 1993. 6,600 USD.
    Sotheby’s: Charles Dickens. Complete Works, Philadelphia & London: J.B. Lippincott Company & Chapman & Hall, LD, 1850. Limited Edition set of 30 volumes. 7,500 USD.
    Sotheby’s: John Lennon, Yoko Ono. Handwritten Letter from John Lennon and Yoko Ono to their Chauffer. 1971. 32,500 USD.
    Sotheby’s: Winston Churchill. First edition of War Speeches, Cassell and Company, Ltd., 1941. Set of 7 volumes. 5,500 USD.
    Sotheby’s: Andy Warhol, Julia Warhola. Holy Cats First Edition, Signed by Andy Warhol. 1954. 30,000 USD.

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