Brandon Beachy, $14 to Steve Moyer of Baseball Info Solutions – Of the 575 players purchased between the two auctions last weekend, this is my favorite buy.
It detailed the chronology of the Christie's internal investigation at a time when the commission was launching its own investigation into price-fixing and collusion between the two auction giants.
It concerned the discussions with Mr. Davidge who resigned under pressure Christmas Eve 1999, handing over to lawyers for Christie's a trove of handwritten memos and notes that the government contends documented illegal contacts between the two auction houses.
Documents from Christopher M. Davidge, who abruptly resigned as Christie's chief executive on Dec. 24, support accusations of collusion between the two auction giants, Christie's has said in court filings.
Sensing a chance to introduce Latin art enthusiasts to her two-month-old site, Kessler rounded up two minibuses painted with the LatinArte logo and shuttled customers back and forth between the two auction houses, serving champagne and hors d'oeuvres en route.
The four auctions are expected to generate between $6 million and $9 million total.
The two auction houses made considerable profits.
By contrast, the first three auctions incentivize players to strategize.
The investigation centers on allegations of price fixing between the two major auction houses and has resulted in the resignations of both companies' chief executives and biggest business getters: Diana D. Brooks of Sotheby's and Christopher Davidge of Christie's.
Rather than the usual tug-of-war between the two powerful auction giants, this season has been marked by the appearance of a new and rich presence that has aggressively invaded Sotheby's and Christie's turf: Phillips, the sleepy, 206-year-old auction house that was bought by LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton in October.
