Christina Geiger has been appointed to one of the storied positions in the auction world: head of the rare books and manuscripts department at Christie’s in New York. It’s a role in which several men have risen to prominence: Stephen Massey, Francis Wahlgren, and Tom Lecky. Christina is the first woman to take the helm. She leads a team of four other specialists: Senior Americana, Books, and Manuscripts Specialist Peter Klarnet; Junior Specialist Rhiannon Knol; Associate Specialist Heather Weintraub; and her own soon-to-be-appointed replacement as Senior Specialist in Books and Manuscripts.
Christina has spent her entire career in the auction world. A few months after graduating from Williams College in 1996 she became an administrator at Christie’s, working in the image archives. She transitioned to the rare book department four years later—first at Christie’s East and soon afterwards at the then-new offices at Rockefeller Center. In 2002, she moved home to California for a spell, cataloguing and appraising books at PBA Galleries in San Francisco for four years. She was subsequently hired by Bonhams Auctioneers to open their Book Department in New York and led their inaugural New York auction of Fine Books & Manuscripts in December 2006. In 2010, she was principal specialist for the most valuable sale in that department’s history: The American Experience: 1630-1890 consigned by yours truly, Bruce McKinney. After a busy, full decade of auctions at Bonhams, she came back full circle to where she started—at Christie’s New York.
She reflects, “At every stage of my career, I have felt lucky to have one of the most privileged jobs on earth—to handle those special books and manuscripts which speak to the human spirit and human achievement, and to befriend the collectors who share a passion for them. Now, however, I simply cannot imagine it getting any better than this. I am grateful for the incredible legacy of my predecessors in this role, for the powerful resources and leadership currently at Christie’s, and for the support of our inspiring clients. My view is that by continuing to work with diligence, integrity, and love for the property, the team and I will be rewarded with the honor of handling the most interesting material that comes to market. I am deeply looking forward to many years of seeing ‘what is next’ at Christie’s.”
What is next at Christie’s New York in the near future are the three auctions in June 2019 which will mark Christina’s official debut:
- Fine Printed Books & Manuscripts including Americana on June 12, for which she is currently inviting consignments
- The first ever Online sale to be conducted by the New York Books Department: Write Me and Tell Me Your Heart: Leonard Cohen’s Letters to Marianne. June 5 – June 13.
- A Single Lot auction also on June 12, TBA
Christina Geiger lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband, the documentary cinematographer Liam Dalzell, their ten-year-old son Henry Dalzell, and their dog (beagle-mix), Julie.
Her contact details are:
Christina Geiger
Head of Department
Books & Manuscripts
CHRISTIE'S
20 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10020
Phone: 212-636-2667
Email: cgeiger@christies.com
Twitter: @ChristiesBKS
