Francesco Goya Y Lucientes, (1746-1828). [Los Caprichos. Madrid: probably printed by Rafael Esteve for the artist, 1799], was the top lot across all three sales, selling for $607,500.

Salem Witch Trials – manuscript document, the deposition of Mary Daniel against Margaret Scott, Rowley, Mass., August 4, 1692, realized $137,500 (world auction record for Salem artifact).

NEW YORK CITY — Christie’s books and manuscripts sales on June 15 realized $9,690,563, across three auctions, with an overall 75 percent sold by lot. The various owner sale totaled $6,894,875, setting the highest total ever for a single-session various-owners books sale at Christie’s New York. The auctions witnessed active online participation, with top lots selling to online buyers, including the record-setting Enigma cipher machine, which sold for $547,500, and there was global bidding with registrants across 22 countries.

The top lot of the three sales was a presentation copy of the first edition of Francisco Goya y Lucientes’ Los Caprichos, 1799, which realized $607,500. In addition to the Enigma machine, a world auction record was set for a manuscript document from the Salem Witch Trials containing the deposition of Mary Daniel, from the Eric C. Caren collection, which sold for $137,500.

Watch for a full sales report in an upcoming issue.