History of Science & Technology

Sotheby’s has offered rare and important scientific books and manuscripts since its founding in 1744 and has a long history of auctioning noteworthy scientific instruments and technological marvels in its sales rooms around the world. The Sotheby’s Science team, based in New York since 2017 and under the leadership of Cassandra Hatton, Global Head of Science and Popular Culture, draws upon this wealth of experience while continuing to push the category in new and exciting directions, focusing on scientific and technological landmarks from the 15^th through the 21^st centuries and the innovators that have shaped – and continue to shape – our world.

Alongside its annual marquee History of Science & Technology auction, the Science team regularly holds single-owner and one-of-a-kind sales, recent examples of which include The Nobel Prize and Papers of Richard Feynman, This Changed Everything: Source Code for World Wide Web held in collaboration with Sir Tim Berners-Lee, and the Snow Crash auction featuring physical and digital lots all connected to Neal Stephenson’s massively influential science fiction novel.

Our marquee History of Science & Technology auction regularly takes place in New York during “Geek Week” – our popular summer sale series which also consists of other science-related sales, including Space Exploration, Natural History, Meteorites, and more. As a global department, we offer outstanding scientific books and manuscripts, technological devices, scientific instruments, medals and awards, art, photography, and much more in New York, London, Paris, Hong Kong, and other locations around the globe. Our expertise runs the gamut of Science, Technology, Space Exploration, and Natural History, and as such, we regularly evaluate and offer rare or one-of-a-kind items that may not find a home anywhere else. In addition to auction, Cassandra Hatton and her team regularly sell important and noteworthy items privately, working closely with museums, institutions, and individual collectors in the United States and around the globe.