The earliest auction in human history, recorded in writing, is a description of the auction of brides in ancient Babylon (1894-709 BC) in the book "History" written by the ancient Greek historian Herodotus. The so-called "auction of brides" is an auction activity with women of marriageable age as the auction object. Women are auctioned in order of beauty and health, and the man with the highest bid wins the bid and becomes the bridegroom.
The auctions in ancient Babylon, ancient Greece, and ancient Egypt are the first milestone in the history of world auctions. Its characteristics: long history, long time span, and lasting for about a thousand years.
The auctions in the Roman Republic period (510-27 BC) have achieved unprecedented development. On the basis of retaining slave auctions, trophy auctions and commodity auctions have emerged.
The auctions in the Roman period are the second milestone in the history of world auctions, and they also lasted for about a thousand years. At this time, the auctions were rich in content and the auction objects were wide. The auction in the Roman period was the first peak in the development of the auction industry in human history. It laid the foundation for modern auctions and established the model. It can be regarded as the source and ancestor of modern auctions.
The auction industry sprouted in ancient Rome, but it was formally formed in modern Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries. In November 1660, old and scrapped ships were auctioned in Britain; in February 1689, paintings and manuscripts were auctioned; in 1739, real estate was auctioned for the first time. Modern European auctions are the third milestone in the history of world auctions, and as a result, another peak in the development of the auction industry in human history has emerged. Its main manifestations are:
Auction institutions appeared in large numbers. In 1744 and 1766, the two largest auction houses in the world today, Sotheby's and Christie's, were established in London respectively. At that time, there were more than 60 auction houses of all sizes in London, and the auction industry was very prosperous. In March 1744, Sotheby's held its first auction, with hundreds of books left behind by a nobleman, and the auction total was 826 pounds. In December 1766, Christie's held its first auction, with 89 items left behind by a nobleman, and the auction total was 176 pounds. Before and after the establishment of the two major auction houses, some auction houses that are now famous in the world came into being one after another.
