Wikipedia

David Redden

David Normand Redden (January 23, 1949 – May 11, 2024) was an American auctioneer. He spent his entire career, from 1974 to 2016, with Sotheby's where he was a vice-chairman and was Sotheby's longest serving auctioneer. He has also chaired the boards of several American and British preservation and educational organizations.

David Redden
David Redden speaking at podium
Redden in 2003
Born
David Normand Redden

(1949-01-23)January 23, 1949
Canton, China
DiedMay 11, 2024(2024-05-11) (aged 75)
Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Alma materWesleyan University
Occupation(s)Auctioneer and philanthropist
Known forAuctioneer and Vice-Chairman of Sotheby's
Board member of

Early life

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Redden was born on January 23, 1949, in Canton, China (now named Guangzhou),[1][2][3] where his father served as an American consul for the US State Department. Nine months later he and his parents were withdrawn by the State Department as the Red Army advanced on Canton and transferred to Haifa, Israel.[4] His father eventually became American consul general in London and Rome, where Redden spent much of his youth and education, receiving his high school diploma from St. Stephen's School in Rome. He later graduated from the Art History program at Wesleyan University, where he participated in anti-Vietnam War demonstrations.[2]

Auction career

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Redden began his auction career as a catalog trainee at Sotheby's[2] in 1974. He initially joined the company in order to learn more about his passion, collecting.[4] By 1975 he was an auctioneer.[5] Between his start at Sotheby's and the mid-1990s, Redden created numerous new auction categories for the company, including the specialty categories such as “space-memorabilia”,[6] “baseball memorabilia, comic books, arcade machines, and computerized animation art.”[4] Early in his career, in the late 1970s, he was appointed the director of PB-84, Sotheby's satellite auction house that focused on lower-priced items and unusual collecting categories. He later also became credited with developing the Internet strategy for Sotheby's in the late 1990s when he became chairman of Sothebys.com.[2] Redden is best known as the manager and auctioneer for many of Sotheby's most celebrated live auctions.[7] Redden served as a vice-chairman of Sotheby's[8] from February 2000[2] to 2016, when he retired.[9] He was also the Worldwide Chairman[10] of Sotheby's Books and Manuscripts.[11]

As an auctioneer Redden's sales included two first printings of the U.S. Declaration of Independence,[2] the Collections of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor,[12] the Empress Josephine's copy of Redoute's Les Liliacees containing the original watercolors,[13] the Estate of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis;[2] a series of popular auctions for the Walt Disney Company;[4] the largest, most complete, and best preserved Tyrannosaurus rex fossil ever recovered[7] known as “Sue”;[14] the most valuable coin ever sold, the 1933 Double Eagle;[15] the Bay Psalm Book, the first book printed in America;[16][17] the world's most valuable stamp, the British Guiana 1¢ Magenta;[18] Albert Einstein's manuscript on Special Relativity,[19] a moon lander (still on the moon), three returned space capsules, and the first sale of luna rocks brought back from the Moon;[20][21] the manuscript of Magna Carta now in the National Archives;[9][22] two of the greatest book sales of the 20th century, the library of H. Bradley Martin and the Garden Ltd. Collection;[23][24] the Nelson Bunker Hunt sale of Ancient Coins,[25] the Four Battleflags of the Revolution,[26] the George Catlin Native American portraits collected in the 19th century by Benjamin O'Fallon,[27] and the Bomberg Talmud from the Valmadonna Library.[28] Several books have been written about his sales including Tyrannosaurus Sue by Steve Fiffer,[29] Illegal Tender by David Tripp,[30] and The One-Cent Magenta by James Barron.[31]

Other notable auctions include: The Barry Halper Collection of Baseball Memorabilia,[32] The Washington-Lafayette Cincinnati Medal,[33][34] James Naismith's manuscript for The Rules of Basketball,[35] The Guidon (flag) from the Battle of Little Bighorn,[36] Robert Kennedy's copy of The Emancipation Proclamation signed by Lincoln,[37] and Treasure from the SS Central America.[38]

Privately, Redden sold Gilbert Stuart's Lansdowne Portrait of George Washington to the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery,[39] the papers of Martin Luther King Jr. to the city of Atlanta and the nine Forbes family Fabergé Imperial Easter Eggs.[40][41] He was also involved in the discovery of the missing first half on the manuscript for Huckleberry Finn.[42] Upon his retirement, Redden was the longest-serving auctioneer in Sotheby's history.[43]

Collusion scandal

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In the 1990s Sotheby's and Christie's colluded on auction commissions and other business practices. Redden, who had no prior knowledge of the crime, was the first staff member at either Christie's or Sotheby's to speak out publicly decrying the criminal activities of the leadership of the two firms.[2][44]

Acting

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Redden performed in the following films:

Boards and philanthropy

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Redden has served as chairman of the following boards: Scenic Hudson, Black Rock Forest, which has created the David Redden Conservation Science Fund which awards grants to scientists of all ages and supports lectures and seminars;[46][47] The Olana Partnership,[48] the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum,[49] the American Trust for the British Library,[50][51] and St. Stephen's School in Rome, Italy. He also served on the boards of the Hudson Highlands Land Trust, the Chelsea Square Conservancy, Friends of Hudson River Park, Madison Square Boys & Girls Club, and the Theater Institute at Storm King. While serving as Chairman of Scenic Hudson,[52] he led $50 million in preservation efforts and land acquisitions.[2] He and his wife have donated conservation easements over a portion of their Storm King Mountain property to the Hudson Highlands Land Trust.[53] For many years he was a sought-after auctioneer for charity benefits.[54]

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

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In 2017 Redden was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The physical decline has prevented Redden from completing the editing of his very extensive Private Diary of a Sotheby’s Auctioneer.  In 2019 his family created the David Redden ALS Fund to benefit research and treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at Columbia University.[55]

In October, 2022 Redden, now completely paralyzed by ALS, volunteered to be the subject of a long term experiment in mind control of machines.  A stent packed with electrodes developed by Synchron Corporation was inserted into Redden´s brain in an eight hour operation involving twelve surgeons.  A month later the stent was operational and training began.  So far as of February 2024 there have been a hundred training sessions, resulting in Redden being able to control a computer through thought alone.[56]  

Getty Acquires Redden Papers

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In 2022, the J. Paul Getty Trust announced the acquisition of Redden´s auction related papers, including his Diary. They are under seal until 2034.[57]   

Personal life and death

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In 1978 Redden married Jeannette Andreasen, currently a Commissioner of the Palisades Interstate Park.[58] They have two children, Stephen and Clare.

Redden died from complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York, on May 11, 2024, at the age of 75. He was diagnosed nine years prior to his death.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Gabriel, Trip (May 21, 2024). "David Redden, Who Brought Ingenuity to the Auction Block, Dies at 75". The New York Times. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i James Barron (July 4, 2000). "Public Lives; He's Auctioned the 1776 Declaration, Twice". The New York Times.
  3. ^ Linda F. Selzer (2009). Charles Johnson in Context. University of Massachusetts Press. p. 215. ISBN 978-1558497238.
  4. ^ a b c d Rita Rief (August 20, 1995). "Arts/Artifacts; For one Born to Sell, Not Even the Sky's the Limit". New York Times.
  5. ^ Lynn Douglass (July 3, 2012). "Legendary Sotheby's Auctioneer Talks Selling Duchess Of Windsor Jewels, Magna Carta". Forbes.
  6. ^ Susan Pearce; Rosemary Flanders; Fiona Morton (2016). The Collector's Voice: Critical Readings in the Practice of Collecting: Volume 4: Contemporary Voices. Routledge. p. 150. ISBN 9781351964098.
  7. ^ a b "How the Field Museum Played Dead Before the Auction of T-Rex Sue". The Washington Post. April 8, 2014.
  8. ^ Allison Hoffman (September 9, 2009). "Treasure Trove". Tablet Magazine.
  9. ^ a b Olivestone, David (Winter 2017). "The Custodian". Jewish Action.
  10. ^ Patricia Reaney (June 18, 2014). "Rare British Guiana stamp sells for record $9.5 million". Reuters.
  11. ^ Daniel Grant (December 15, 2015). "One of the Greatest Libraries of Judaica Heads to Auction at Sotheby's". The Observer.
  12. ^ Lacey, Robert (1998). Sotheby's : bidding for class (1st ed.). Boston: Little, Brown & Co. ISBN 0316511390. OCLC 38107251.
  13. ^ Reif, Rita (15 November 1985). "Auctions". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-09-16.
  14. ^ Lance Grande (2017). Curators: Behind the Scenes of Natural History Museums. University of Chicago Press. p. 131. ISBN 9780226389431.
  15. ^ John Taylor (April 18, 1988). "Treasures So Rare". New York Magazine. pp. 67–68.
  16. ^ Mackenzie Carpenter (September 18, 2013). "Nation's oldest book may yield divine sum Bay Psalm on display today goes to auction". Toledo Blade.
  17. ^ "World's most expensive book auctioned for $14M in NYC". Live Auctioneers. November 27, 2013.
  18. ^ James Barron (2017). The One-Cent Magenta: Inside the Quest to Own the Most Valuable Stamp in the World. Algonquin Books. p. 19. ISBN 9781616207175.
  19. ^ Billy Goodman (April 15, 1996). "At Sotheby's Auction, Space Sells, Einstein Doesn't". The Scientist.
  20. ^ Chang, Kenneth (31 March 2010). "After 17 Years, a Glimpse of a Lunar Purchase". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-08-19.
  21. ^ Martin, Douglas (12 December 1993). "Space Artifacts of Soviets Soar at a $7 Million Auction". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-08-19.
  22. ^ "Magna Carta copy sold for £10.6m". BBC. December 19, 2007.
  23. ^ "Bounf for Auction: H. Bradley Martin's $30 Million Collection". Washington Post. 1989-06-06. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2018-09-16.
  24. ^ Reif, Rita (8 September 1989). "Auctions". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-09-16.
  25. ^ "Hunt Brothers Strike Gold in Auction". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2018-09-16.
  26. ^ Collins, Glenn (15 June 2006). "Remnants of Revolution, $17 Million". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-09-16.
  27. ^ Swanson, Stevenson (3 December 2004). "Field Museum art sold for $17 million". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2018-12-07.
  28. ^ "The Custodian". Jewish Action. 2017-12-08. Retrieved 2018-09-16.
  29. ^ Fiffer, Steve (2000). Tyrannosaurus Sue : the extraordinary saga of the largest, most fought over T. rex ever found. New York: W.H. Freeman. ISBN 0716735121. OCLC 43555249.
  30. ^ Tripp, David (2004). Illegal tender : Gold, greed, and the mystery of the lost 1933 double eagle. New York: Free Press. ISBN 0743245741. OCLC 55078138.
  31. ^ Barron, James (2017-03-07). The one-cent magenta : inside the quest to own the most valuable stamp in the world (First ed.). Chapel Hill, North Carolina. ISBN 9781616205188. OCLC 953707635.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  32. ^ Popper, Steve (1999-09-24). "Plus: Baseball -- Memorabilia; Nary a Picasso, But oh, for The Mick's Last Bat". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-12-07.
  33. ^ Jewell, Mark (December 12, 2007). "A hero's medal to be sold". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved February 28, 2024 – via PressReader.com.
  34. ^ Collins, Glenn (2007-11-28). "Lafayette's ancestor to auction his famous medal from George Washington". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-12-07.
  35. ^ "Booths purchase original Naismith basketball rules at auction for more than $4 million". KUsports.com. 2010-12-10. Retrieved 2018-12-07.
  36. ^ Glockner, Andrew (11 December 2010). "Detroit Institute of Arts sells U.S. flag from Custer's Last Stand for $2.2 million". MLive.com. Retrieved 2018-12-07.
  37. ^ "Robert F. Kennedy-Owned Emancipation Proclamation Goes for $3.7 Million". artdaily.com. Retrieved 2018-12-07.
  38. ^ Reif, Rita (1999-12-08). "Gold Auction Is Canceled By Sotheby's". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-12-07.
  39. ^ "Smithsonian Battles to Keep Prized Portrait Of Washington". Washington Post. 2001-02-23. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2018-09-16.
  40. ^ Adam Goldman (June 9, 2006). "Sotheby's to auction MLK papers: Sale will benefit the King estate". Associated Press.
  41. ^ Barnes, Brooks. "Russian Oil Tycoon Buys Faberge Eggs From Forbes Clan". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2018-08-19.
  42. ^ "Divided manuscript of 'Huck Finn' reunited". UPI. Retrieved 2018-12-07.
  43. ^ "David Redden". Antiquarian Booksellers of America. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  44. ^ Mason, Christopher (2005-05-03). The Art of the Steal. Penguin. ISBN 9781440627828.
  45. ^ "Niagara Falls Reporter". www.niagarafallsreporter.com. Retrieved 2018-08-19.
  46. ^ "Black Rock Forest Consortium opens ADA-accessible nature trail". Chronicle Newspaper. October 26, 2016.
  47. ^ Terlizzi, Katie (January 2020). "David Redden Conservation Science Fund Small Grants for Scientific Research at Black Rock Forest" (PDF). BlackRockForest.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-12-22. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  48. ^ Sean E. Sawyer. "The Olana Partnership announces appointment of new President". Art Daily.
  49. ^ "Our Advisory Board & Councils: Advisory Board - David Redden". River Keeper.
  50. ^ "Queen Elizabeth I Letters donation announced by British Library". The British Library. December 19, 2017.
  51. ^ "The American Trust for the British Library". Guidestar.
  52. ^ Roger Stone (2012). Mightier Hudson: The Spirited Revival of a Treasured Landscape. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 52. ISBN 9780762784844.
  53. ^ Randall, Mike. "Land trust: 40+ acres to be preserved in Cornwall, Cornwall-on-Hudson". recordonline.com. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
  54. ^ Peers, Alexandra (2006-02-12). "At Charity Auctions, Doing Good While Doing Well". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-12-08.
  55. ^ "David Redden ALS Fund". Office of Development. 2019-12-20. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
  56. ^ Robinson, Natasha (August 26, 2023). "Brain powered: control a computer with your thoughts". The Weekend Australian. pp. 17–18. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  57. ^ "Getty: Resources for Visual Art and Cultural Heritage". www.getty.edu. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
  58. ^ "Palisades Interstate Park Commission | Palisades Interstate Park in New Jersey". www.njpalisades.org. Retrieved 2018-12-08.
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