Christina Geiger: Appointed Head of Books and Manuscripts at Christie's, New York
- by Bruce E. McKinney
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
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("Martinus Luther") to His Friend the Theologian Gerhard Wiskamp ("Gerardo Xantho Lampadario"). $100,000 - $150,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: An Exceptionally Fine Copy of Austenís Emma: A Novel in Three Volumes. $40,000 - $60,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Presentation Copy of Ernest Hemmingwayís A Farewell to Arms for Edward Titus of the Black Mankin Press. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Manuscript Signed Integrally for "The Songs of Pooh," by Alan Alexander. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Manuscript of "Three Fragments from Gˆtterd‰mmerung" by Richard Wagner. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Original Preliminary Artwork, for the First Edition of Snow Crash. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("T.R. Malthus") to Economist Nassau Senior on Wealth, Labor and Adam Smith. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides Finely Bound by Michael Wilcox. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: First Edition of Lewis and Clark: Travels to the Source of the Missouri River and Across the American Continent to the Pacific Ocean. $8,000 - $12,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Original Artwork for the First Edition of Neal Stephenson's Groundbreaking Novel Snow Crash. $100,000 - $150,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: A Complete Set Signed Deluxe Editions of King's The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King. $8,000 - $12,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("John Adams") to James Le Ray de Chaumont During the Crucial Years of the Revolutionary War. $8,000 - $12,000.
Sotheby’s Book Week December 9-17, 2025
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Francesco Colonna. Hypnerotomachie, Paris, 1546, Parisian calf by Wotton Binder C for Marcus Fugger. €200,000 to €300,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Nausea. De principiis dialectices Gorgias, and other works, Venice, 1523, morocco gilt for Cardinal Campeggio. €3,000 to €4,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Billon. Le fort inexpugnable de l'honneur, Paris, 1555, Parisian calf gilt for Peter Ernst, Graf von Mansfeld. €120,000 to €180,000.
Sotheby’s Book Week December 9-17, 2025
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: Salinger, J.D. The Graham Family archive, including autographed letters, an inscribed Catcher, a rare studio photograph of the author, and more. $120,000 to $180,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of Sense and Sensibility, the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: Massachusetts General Court. A powerful precursor to the Declaration of Independence: "every Act of Government … without the Consent of the People, is … Tyranny." $40,000 to $60,000.
Heritage Auctions Rare Books Signature Auction December 15, 2025
Heritage, Dec. 15: John Donne. Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death. London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.
Heritage, Dec. 15: Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
Heritage, Dec. 15: F. Scott Fitzgerald. Tender is the Night. A Romance.
Heritage, Dec. 15: Jerry Thomas. How to Mix Drinks, or the Bon-Vivant's Companion, Containing Clear and Reliable Directions for Mixing All the Beverages Used in the United States…
![<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 16:</b> [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of <i>Sense and Sensibility,</i> the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/9a74d9ff-42dd-46a1-8bb2-b636c4cec796.png "<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 16:</b> [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of <i>Sense and Sensibility,</i> the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.")
![<b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> John Donne. <i>Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death.</i> London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/8caddaea-4c1f-47a7-9455-62f53af36e3f.jpg "<b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> John Donne. <i>Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death.</i> London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.")
