A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE AUCTION.

This article provides a brief history of auctions, tracing their origins back to ancient times. The first recorded auction occurred around 500 B.C. in Babylon, where marriage auctions for women took place annually. Auctions were also used by Roman soldiers to sell spoils of war, including slaves. The auction business began to grow rapidly in the 18th century, particularly in London and Paris. Sotheby's and Christie's, two of the most well-known auction houses, have been operating for centuries and have expanded internationally. Christie's recently achieved the biggest sale in auction history with the presentation of the Paul G. Allen Collection. Other major players in the auction market include Freeman's, Bonhams, and Hindman. The article also includes market insights, previews of upcoming auctions, and information on top-selling artists and 2024 auctions. [Extracted from the article]