From the Ten Commandments to the Superman comic: the objects that broke auction records

A stone tablet was auctioned this Wednesday the 18th for more than 5 million dollars. Its particularity? It is the oldest known marble that has the Ten Commandments engraved on it. Although some specialists question its authenticity, the Sotheby’s auction house in New York assures that the piece dates from between 300 and 800 AD.

The history of this piece is full of peculiarities that enhance its value. Discovered in 1913 during railway excavations on the southern coast of Israel, its first owner was unaware of its historical importance and used it as a simple paving stone in a local home.

It was not until 1943 that a scholar acquired it when he understood the importance of the marble and the inscriptions in Paleo-Hebrew script. According to Sotheby’s, the table is the only one of its kind.

“A tangible link to ancient beliefs that have profoundly shaped global religious and cultural traditions serves as a rare testament to history.”said the auction house.

The bid captured the attention of international media, not only because of its historical value, but also because of the high price it reached. It is not an isolated case: the auction market grew after the pandemic, consolidating itself as an exclusive space accessible only to 1% of the world’s population.

Many auctioned pieces have gained notoriety, either for the exorbitant prices achieved, for their historical relevance, or for both reasons. Among them are works of artistic significance, scientific articles, luxury and fashion artifacts, manuscripts and even pieces of technology and popular culture.

Art: the most expensive work in history

Described as “the auction of the century”, in the 2017 Christie’s house offered the ‘Savior of the World’a portrait of Christ attributed to Leonardo da Vinci and probably painted at the beginning of the 17th century. The bidding started at 70 million dollars and reached US$ 450.3 millionsetting a record as the most expensive work of art ever auctioned. Although the identity of the buyer was not immediately revealed, it was later confirmed that it was Saudi Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan al-Saud, who acquired the piece on behalf of the Saudi Ministry of Culture.

More recent, but equally significant, is the work ‘Shot Sage Blue Marilyn’ of Andy Warholconsidered one of the most iconic pieces of pop culture. In it 2022 It marked a milestone in the art market when it was auctioned by Christie’s in New York. This screen print, which portrays Marilyn Monroe in her distinctive vibrant style, reaffirmed Warhol’s legacy as a benchmark of contemporary art.

The initial bid began at 100 million dollars, but interest in this work, considered one of the most emblematic of the 20th century, brought the final price to 195 million dollars. At this amount, it became the most expensive work by an American artist ever auctioned. The buyer was Larry Gagosian, a prominent international gallery owner.

Manuscripts: legacy for history

The German physicist Albert Einstein He is one of the characters who has made the greatest contributions to modern science. His theory of relativitypublished in 1915, transformed humanity’s understanding of space, time, and gravity. He manuscript of 54 pagesprepared between 1913 and 1914 and co-written with his colleague Michele Besso, was auctioned for just over $12 million. The sale, held at Christie’s auction house in Paris on the 2021broke the tender record for an autographed scientific document.

He ‘Codex Leicester’, one of the most notable creations of the Renaissance genius Leonardo da Vinci, It is a milestone in both the history of art and science. This manuscript of 72 pageswritten between 1504 and 1508, brings together studies in astronomy, geology, hydraulics, and other fields, reflecting Da Vinci’s insatiable curiosity and visionary thinking about the natural world.

In 1994the codex was auctioned by Christie’s in New York, reaching a price of 30.8 million dollarsestablishing a mark for a handwritten document. The buyer was the businessman and philanthropist Bill Gates, who has preserved this historical work as a legacy of knowledge and innovation.

Luxuries: pink diamond and a watch

In 2017he ‘Pink Star’a gigantic pink diamondbecame the most expensive jewel ever auctioned, reaching a price of $71.2 million at Sotheby’s, Hong Kong. With an astonishing weight of 59.60 carats, It is the largest polished diamond ever sold at auction. According to the auction house, the buyer was a customer who placed his bid by telephone.

The curious thing is that, in 2012, the diamond was sold for a record 83 million in Geneva, but the buyer Isaac Wolf, a jeweler who lived in New York, was unable to complete the payments.

In it 2017and Rolex Daytona ‘Paul Newman’ broke records by becoming the most expensive watch ever sold at auction, reaching 17.8 million dollars. The sale, organized by Phillips in New York, attracted the attention of collectors around the world.

This iconic model, worn for years by legendary actor and racing driver Paul Newman, bears a personal inscription from his wife, Joanne Woodward, on the back: “Drive Carefully Me.” This detail, along with the connection to Newman, significantly elevated its value and symbolism.

Interestingly, the watch was a gift from Newman to his son-in-law, who kept it until the auction. Although the identity of the buyer was not revealed, this sale cemented the Daytona as one of the most coveted pieces in the history of watch collecting.

Technology and pop culture: from Apple to Superman

Apple leads the computer and cell phone market today, but in 1976 the panorama was different. Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, two young people with revolutionary vision, launched the Apple-1, one of the first personal computers, priced at $666.66. Only 500 units were manufactured, making it a pioneer by integrating a microprocessor with a connection for a keyboard and monitor.

In it 2014one of these units was auctioned by $905,000setting a record for vintage technology. The machine, fully functional and accompanied by its original manual, was purchased at the Bonhams auction house in New York by an anonymous buyer.

On the other hand, Superman the hero of Krypton, remains an intergenerational icon. In 1938, when its story was just beginning, it appeared for the first time in ‘Action Comics No. 1′, written by Jerry Siegel and illustrated by Joe Shuster. This comic marked the origin of the extraterrestrial boy who escaped the catastrophe of his planet to become a defender of humanity. Characters such as Lois Lane and John Zatara were also introduced in its pages.

In 2021, a copy of Action Comics No. 1 in excellent condition was auctioned through ComicConnect by 3.5 million dollars, setting a record in the world of comics collecting. This issue, originally sold for just 10 cents, is considered the cornerstone of the superhero genre.