This article in the New York Times about Scientific Treasures soon to be auctioned at Christie's -- on June 17, including a copy of Nicolaus Copernicus's book "De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium" ("On th Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres") and the first telephone directory, just led me to visit the Christie's website.

Turns out it is a wonderful place to wander through collections and history.

It just happens that tonight there was an auction of "Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts Including Americana."

A letter written by John Adams, went for $37,500; a first edition of "Pride and Prejudice", 3 volumes who once belonged to the Duke of Buckingham sold for $47,500; and a First Trade Edition of Robert Frost "New Hampshire" with the title-page signed, went for $3,750. The grand total for the evening $2,492,875. Not bad, unless you compare it to the June 6 auction of 20th Century British Art that brought in, in comparison 11,679,913 British Pounds.