Founded in the 1700's, the Sotheby’s legacy continues today as a brand of considerable history and (only recently tarnished) distinction. Hosting auctions of some of the most historically significant fine art and collectibles up for grabs, Sotheby’s Holdings, Inc., is very much a global entity, maintaining salesrooms in New York and London and regularly conducting auctions in 12 other salesrooms around the world. A comprehensive guide to both live and online auctions, Sothebys.com aims to provide users with a virtual bidding experience, enabling anyone with the requisite cash to raise his virtual paddle and join in the fun.

Divided into two main sections, the home page allows for an easy exploration of Sotheby’s live or online auctions. A new feature allows users to search all auctions “with just one click” or conduct a general search by artist or type. The “Online Auction” page lists the various categories of collectibles on the cyberblock. Click on a category and visible links appear at the top of the page, where users can choose from existing sub-categories or scroll down to browse all the work available in that genre. Photographic images of the objects are prominently displayed, so users don’t buy anything sight unseen. Bidders can use a pull-down menu, choosing to view items according to auction close date, price range or its “buy now” price.

Sound a little like eBay? Interestingly enough, Sotheby's and eBay recently combined forces to form a strategic online alliance, allowing interactive bidders to place real-time bids for a good number of Sotheby's traditional auctions held in New York and London. Set to launch this summer, the new site is to be built and hosted by eBay and will feature the same auctions of fine and decorative art, antiques, rare books, jewelry and collectibles currently offered on Sothebys.com. Set to replace the current online auctions on Sothebys.com as well as eBay Premier, the new bidding system will be accessible from both the eBay and Sotheby websites. Can we say sold to the fastest clicker?

Sothebys.com also has a “Special Auctions” page, featuring auctions of collective work often organized by genre or by collector, which are concurrently shown at a Sotheby’s gallery. Upcoming “Special Auctions” include a collection of American Modernism works from the Sid Deutsch Gallery and a collection of Russian Constructivist and German war posters from the Delaware Art Museum. Contact information is provided for those who are interested in participating. Some recent acquisitions include the first printing of the US’s Declaration of Independence, which went for US$ 8.14 million and Louis Armstrong's boyhood cornet, which brought in US$ 108,000. But you don’t have to be Daddy Warbucks to bid; Sothebys.com has sold thousands of lots in the $1,000 price range.

The “Live Auction” page also displays select images and provides extensive information about auction locations and absentee bids. An “event finder” allows users to locate auctions according to when and where they would like to attend. This page also provides auction results, listing all the bids, their increments and the total of what the items were auctioned for. Sothebys.com doesn’t just provide stats about the objects up for bid, it includes extensive historical information to elaborate on the significance of the work.

Auctions aren’t all this site has to offer; users are able to purchase catalogs online, obtain general information about the company, check out graduate programs at Sotheby’s Institute of Art, or browse exclusive properties on the page for Sotheby’s International Realty. An online publication, titled Sotheby’s Connoisseur, includes lifestyle articles where one can read about everything from the intricacies of Pop Art to detailed accounts of a wine tasting. Collecting guides include a “good, better, best” section, allowing the amateur auction hound to quiz himself on his ability to estimate the quality of fine collectibles. A “Buy Catalog” home page permits serious collectors to subscribe or search for individual catalogs by date, department, sale name or number.