Sotheby’s Geek Week: Fossils, Mars Rocks & More
Sotheby’s Geek Week: Dinosaurs, Mars, and a $6 Million Fossil
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Sotheby’s, renowned for its fine art auctions, is currently undergoing a engaging transformation. Forget Warhols and Picassos for a moment – the Upper East Side institution is embracing its inner geek with the return of its annual Geek Week exhibition, running through July 15th.This isn’t just an auction; it’s a free, immersive pop-up museum showcasing everything from prehistoric fossils to actual pieces of mars.
A Rare Glimpse into the Past (and Beyond)
This year’s Geek Week is headlined by some truly unusual items, offering a unique blend of scientific wonder and investment opportunity.The exhibition provides a rare chance to view these objects up close, sparking curiosity for science enthusiasts and collectors alike.
The Juvenile Ceratosaurus: A Million-Dollar Dino
The undisputed star of the show is a remarkably well-preserved juvenile Ceratosaurus fossil. One of only four of its kind ever discovered,and the sole juvenile specimen,this 150-million-year-old dinosaur measures over 10 feet long and boasts a nearly complete skull. Unearthed in Wyoming in 1996 and expertly mounted by Fossilogic,the fossil is currently up for auction,with bidding already exceeding $3.5 million. Sotheby’s anticipates it will ultimately fetch up to $6 million.This isn’t just a fossil; it’s a window into a prehistoric world, a tangible link to the age of dinosaurs.
A Piece of Mars: The Largest Martian Meteorite
But the prehistoric wonders don’t stop there. Geek Week also features a truly out-of-this-world artifact: the largest known Martian meteorite on Earth.This 54-pound chunk of the Red Planet was ejected into space by a powerful asteroid impact – one of only 16 known to have enough force to launch debris from Mars. After a 140-million-mile journey, it crash-landed in the Sahara Desert. The meteorite is estimated to sell for between $2 and $4 million.
“That chunk had to be loose enough to break off,and then it had to get on the right trajectory to travel 140 million miles to Earth,and then it had to land in a spot where someone coudl find it,” explains Cassandra Hatton,Sotheby’s vice-president of science and natural history,in an interview with Gothamist. “And then we were lucky enough that someone came by who knew enough about meteorites to recognize that it wasn’t just a big rock.” The sheer improbability of its journey makes this meteorite a captivating testament to cosmic chance.
Beyond fossils and Meteorites: Tech History on Display
geek Week isn’t solely focused on paleontology and space. The exhibition also delves into the history of technology, showcasing pivotal moments in computing and innovation.
the Romkey Apple-1: A Piece of Computing History
Tech enthusiasts will be thrilled by the “romkey” Apple-1 computer, hand-built by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in 1976. Considered the finest working Apple-1 in existence, it’s expected to sell for up to $600,000. Adding to the allure, an early business card signed by Jobs is also available. This isn’t just a vintage computer; it’s a foundational piece of the digital revolution.
Other Cosmic and Technological treasures
Rounding out the exhibition are a fascinating array of other items,including flown Apollo medallions,a lunar checklist carried by Buzz Aldrin during the Apollo 11 mission,and the only known copy of the 1949 BINAC computer manual – widely regarded as the first technical manual ever written for a computer.
Plan Your Visit
Sotheby’s Geek Week is free and open to the public daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (1 p.m. on Sundays). it’s a unique opportunity to experience the thrill of scientific discovery and witness extraordinary artifacts firsthand. Who knew one of New York’s most elegant auction houses could transform into the coolest science fair in town? Don’t miss this chance to explore the wonders of the universe – and the ingenuity of humankind.