The Sotheby's reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Sotheby's

Sotheby's is a noted auction house. The first ever Sotheby's sale was held on March 11th, 1744 when the company's founder, Samuel Baker, presided over the disposal of 'several hundred scarce and valuable' books.

Today, the firm has a turnover of approximately $2 billion per annum, and offices on London's New Bond Street and Manhattan's York Avenue. Sotheby's is now accepted as being the world's largest fine-art auctioneer with offices around the world.

This pre-eminent position has been achieved through natural growth, acquisitions (notably the purchase of the United States' largest fine-art auctioneer, Parke-Bernet, in 1964), and excellent management during the cyclical 'art recessions' seen over the past century.

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