CSK Chairman Nic McElhatton, who joined as a porter in 1984, opened his speech by saying: "So 40 years ago on this very day, the hammer fell on the first ever sale in this building under the banner of Christie's. And that hammer falling set the ball rolling on an extraordinary and successful journey for this auction house."
Established in 1975 when the auction house acquired the Old Brompton Road auctioneers Debenham Coe, CSK held their first sale at the site on March 4, offering dolls, toys, miniature furniture, children's books, automata, musical boxes, talking machines and records.
More than 18 sales took place in the first month alone, including auctions of militaria, textiles and Dinky Toys. Today, it is the busiest saleroom in the UK, open seven days a week and holding over 100 sales a year.
