Bookseller Samuel Baker conducts the firm’s first auction on 11 March at the Exeter Exchange on London’s Strand, offering approximately 457 books from the library of Sir John Stanley. The sale realises £826.

George Leigh joins Samuel Baker as a business partner.

Following Samuel Baker’s death, his nephew John Sotheby inherits an interest in the business, introducing the Sotheby name.

The firm moves to 34–35 New Bond Street in Mayfair, establishing its principal London saleroom.

The company adopts the name Sotheby & Co.

Sotheby’s establishes an Impressionist and Modern Art department under chairman Peter Wilson.

The Weinberg Collection auction attracts major international attention and is attended by Queen Elizabeth II.

The Goldschmidt Collection sale offers seven Impressionist and Modern masterpieces in a landmark evening auction.

Sotheby’s acquires Parke-Bernet, then the largest fine-art auction house in the United States, significantly expanding its international presence.

Sotheby’s becomes the first international auction house to conduct sales in Hong Kong.

Sotheby’s becomes a publicly traded company on the London Stock Exchange.

American businessman A. Alfred Taubman acquires Sotheby’s and takes the company private.

Sotheby’s returns to the public market through a listing on the New York Stock Exchange and becomes the first international auction house to conduct sales in Russia.

Sotheby’s becomes the first international auction house to conduct sales in India.

Sotheby’s becomes the first international auction house to conduct auctions in France following the liberalisation of the French auction market.

The price-fixing investigation involving Sotheby’s and Christie’s results in criminal convictions and substantial civil settlements.

Pablo Picasso’s Garçon à la pipe sells at Sotheby’s for more than US$104 million, becoming the first painting to exceed US$100 million at auction.

Sotheby’s becomes the first international auction house to establish a formal presence in mainland China.

Sotheby’s is acquired by Patrick Drahi’s BidFair USA and returns to private ownership.

Sotheby’s acquires the Marcel Breuer Building at 945 Madison Avenue in New York.

ADQ makes a minority investment in Sotheby’s while Patrick Drahi retains majority ownership. New flagship salerooms also open in Hong Kong and Paris.

Sotheby’s opens its New York headquarters in the restored Marcel Breuer Building at 945 Madison Avenue.