David Redden

Redden was born on January 23, 1949, in Canton, China (now named Guangzhou),{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O-IbsLucdJMC&pg=PA215|page=215|title=Charles Johnson in Context |author=Linda F. Selzer |publisher=University of Massachusetts Press |year=2009|isbn=978-1558497238}} where his father served as an American consul for the US State Department. Nine months later he and his parents were withdrawn by the State Department as the Red Army advanced on Canton and transferred to Haifa, Israel. His father eventually became American consul general in London and Rome, where Redden spent much of his youth and education, receiving his high school diploma from St. Stephen's School in Rome. He later graduated from the Art History program at Wesleyan University, where he participated in anti-Vietnam War demonstrations.

Redden began his auction career as a catalog trainee at Sotheby's in 1974. He initially joined the company in order to learn more about his passion, collecting. By 1975 he was an auctioneer.{{cite web|work=Forbes|author=Lynn Douglass |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lynndouglass/2012/07/03/legendary-auctioneer-david-redden-takes-the-podium-3/#cae24bf7d308|date=July 3, 2012|title=Legendary Sotheby's Auctioneer Talks Selling Duchess Of Windsor Jewels, Magna Carta}} Between his start at Sotheby's and the mid-1990s, Redden created numerous new auction categories for the company, including the specialty categories such as “space-memorabilia”,{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gFSoDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT150|page=150|title=The Collector's Voice: Critical Readings in the Practice of Collecting: Volume 4: Contemporary Voices |author1=Susan Pearce|author2=Rosemary Flanders|author3= Fiona Morton |publisher=Routledge |year=2016|isbn=9781351964098}} “baseball memorabilia, comic books, arcade machines, and computerized animation art.”{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/08/20/arts/arts-artifacts-for-one-born-to-sell-not-even-the-sky-s-the-limit.html|author=Rita Rief |date=August 20, 1995 |work=New York Times|title=Arts/Artifacts; For one Born to Sell, Not Even the Sky's the Limit}} Early in his career, in the late 1970s, he was appointed the director of PB-84, Sotheby's satellite auction house that focused on lower-priced items and unusual collecting categories. He later also became credited with developing the Internet strategy for Sotheby's in the late 1990s when he became chairman of Sothebys.com. Redden is best known as the manager and auctioneer for many of Sotheby's most celebrated live auctions. Redden served as a vice-chairman of Sotheby's{{cite web |url=http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-arts-and-culture/15302/treasure-trove|title=Treasure Trove |publisher=Tablet Magazine |author=Allison Hoffman|date=September 9, 2009}} from February 2000{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/04/nyregion/public-lives-he-s-auctioned-the-1776-declaration-twice.html|work=The New York Times |title=Public Lives; He's Auctioned the 1776 Declaration, Twice |author=James Barron |date=July 4, 2000}} to 2016, when he retired. He was also the Worldwide Chairman{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-auction-stamp/rare-british-guiana-stamp-sells-for-record-9-5-million-idUSKBN0ES32Q20140618|publisher=Reuters|date=June 18, 2014 |title=Rare British Guiana stamp sells for record $9.5 million|author=Patricia Reaney}} of Sotheby's Books and Manuscripts.{{cite news |url=http://observer.com/2015/12/one-of-the-greatest-libraries-of-judaica-heads-to-auction-at-sothebys/|title=One of the Greatest Libraries of Judaica Heads to Auction at Sotheby's|author=Daniel Grant |date=December 15, 2015|publisher=The Observer}}

As an auctioneer Redden's sales included two first printings of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, the Collections of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor,{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/sothebysbiddingf00lace|title=Sotheby's : bidding for class|first=Robert|last=Lacey|date=1998|publisher=Little, Brown & Co|isbn=0316511390|edition=1st|location=Boston|oclc=38107251}} the Empress Josephine's copy of Redoute's Les Liliacees containing the original watercolors,{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/11/15/arts/auctions.html|title=Auctions|last=Reif|first=Rita|work=The New York Times |date=15 November 1985 |access-date=2018-09-16|language=en}} the Estate of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis; a series of popular auctions for the Walt Disney Company; the largest, most complete, and best preserved Tyrannosaurus rex fossil ever recovered{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/local/wp/2014/04/08/how-the-field-museum-played-dead-before-the-auction-of-the-t-rex-sue/|date=April 8, 2014 |newspaper=The Washington Post |title=How the Field Museum Played Dead Before the Auction of T-Rex Sue}} known as “Sue”;{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hj0bDgAAQBAJ&pg=PA131|page=131|title=Curators: Behind the Scenes of Natural History Museums |author=Lance Grande |publisher=University of Chicago Press |year=2017|isbn=9780226389431}} the most valuable coin ever sold, the 1933 Double Eagle;{{cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=--QCAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA67|title=Treasures So Rare |author=John Taylor |publisher=New York Magazine |date=April 18, 1988|pages=67–68}} the Bay Psalm Book, the first book printed in America;{{cite news |url=http://www.toledoblade.com/Books/2013/09/18/Nation-s-oldest-bookmay-yield-divine-sum-Copy.html|publisher=Toledo Blade |title=Nation's oldest book may yield divine sum Bay Psalm on display today goes to auction |author=Mackenzie Carpenter |date=September 18, 2013}}{{cite web |url=https://www.liveauctioneers.com/news/top-news/antiques/worlds-most-expensive-book-auctioned-for-14m-in-nyc/|publisher=Live Auctioneers |title=World's most expensive book auctioned for $14M in NYC |date=November 27, 2013}} the world's most valuable stamp, the British Guiana 1¢ Magenta;{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wmfJDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA19 |page=19 |title=The One-Cent Magenta: Inside the Quest to Own the Most Valuable Stamp in the World |author=James Barron |publisher=Algonquin Books |year=2017|isbn=9781616207175 }} Albert Einstein's manuscript on Special Relativity,{{cite web |url=https://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/17882/title/At-Sotheby-s-Auction--Space-Sells--Einstein-Doesn-t/|publisher=The Scientist |title=At Sotheby's Auction, Space Sells, Einstein Doesn't |author=Billy Goodman |date=April 15, 1996}} a moon lander (still on the moon), three returned space capsules, and the first sale of luna rocks brought back from the Moon;{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/31/science/space/31moon.html|title=After 17 Years, a Glimpse of a Lunar Purchase|last=Chang|first=Kenneth|work=The New York Times |date=31 March 2010 |access-date=2018-08-19|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/12/nyregion/space-artifacts-of-soviets-soar-at-a-7-million-auction.html|title=Space Artifacts of Soviets Soar at a $7 Million Auction|last=Martin|first=Douglas|work=The New York Times |date=12 December 1993 |access-date=2018-08-19|language=en}} the manuscript of Magna Carta now in the National Archives;{{cite web |url=https://jewishaction.com/tribute/the-custodian/|publisher=Jewish Action |date=Winter 2017 |title=The Custodian|first=David|last=Olivestone}}{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7151152.stm|title=Magna Carta copy sold for £10.6m|date=December 19, 2007 |publisher=BBC}} two of the greatest book sales of the 20th century, the library of H. Bradley Martin and the Garden Ltd. Collection;{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1989/06/06/bound-for-auction-h-bradley-martins-30-million-collection/492ca788-1841-4218-b98a-fa4c7a62a639/|title=Bounf for Auction: H. Bradley Martin's $30 Million Collection|date=1989-06-06|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=2018-09-16|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/09/08/arts/auctions.html|title=Auctions|last=Reif|first=Rita|work=The New York Times |date=8 September 1989 |access-date=2018-09-16|language=en}} the Nelson Bunker Hunt sale of Ancient Coins,{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1990/06/20/hunt-brothers-strike-gold-in-auction/29c3201c-0150-4928-904e-bb1fa23b62a3/|title=Hunt Brothers Strike Gold in Auction|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=2018-09-16|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}} the Four Battleflags of the Revolution,{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/15/nyregion/15flags.html|title=Remnants of Revolution, $17 Million|last=Collins|first=Glenn|work=The New York Times |date=15 June 2006 |access-date=2018-09-16|language=en}} the George Catlin Native American portraits collected in the 19th century by Benjamin O'Fallon,{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2004-12-03-0412030265-story.html|title=Field Museum art sold for $17 million|first=Stevenson|last=Swanson|website=chicagotribune.com|date=3 December 2004 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-07}} and the Bomberg Talmud from the Valmadonna Library.{{Cite news|url=https://jewishaction.com/tribute/the-custodian/|title=The Custodian|date=2017-12-08|work=Jewish Action|access-date=2018-09-16|language=en-US}} Several books have been written about his sales including Tyrannosaurus Sue by Steve Fiffer,{{Cite book|title=Tyrannosaurus Sue : the extraordinary saga of the largest, most fought over T. rex ever found|first=Steve|last=Fiffer|date=2000|publisher=W.H. Freeman|isbn=0716735121|location=New York|oclc=43555249}} Illegal Tender by David Tripp,{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/illegaltendergo00trip|title=Illegal tender : Gold, greed, and the mystery of the lost 1933 double eagle|last=Tripp|first=David|date=2004|publisher=Free Press|isbn=0743245741|location=New York|oclc=55078138}} and The One-Cent Magenta by James Barron.{{Cite book|title=The one-cent magenta : inside the quest to own the most valuable stamp in the world|last=Barron|first=James|isbn=9781616205188|edition= First|location=Chapel Hill, North Carolina|oclc=953707635|date = 2017-03-07}}

Other notable auctions include: The Barry Halper Collection of Baseball Memorabilia,{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/24/sports/plus-baseball-memorabilia-nary-a-picasso-but-oh-for-the-mick-s-last-bat.html|title=Plus: Baseball -- Memorabilia; Nary a Picasso, But oh, for The Mick's Last Bat|last=Popper|first=Steve|date=1999-09-24|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-12-07|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} The Washington-Lafayette Cincinnati Medal,{{Cite web |last=Jewell |first=Mark |date=December 12, 2007 |title=A hero's medal to be sold |url=https://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-commercial-appeal/20071209/281736970112954 |access-date=February 28, 2024 |website=The Commercial Appeal |via=PressReader.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/28/world/americas/28iht-28lafayette.8516706.html|title=Lafayette's ancestor to auction his famous medal from George Washington|last=Collins|first=Glenn|date=2007-11-28|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-12-07|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} James Naismith's manuscript for The Rules of Basketball,{{Cite web|url=http://www2.kusports.com/news/2010/dec/10/original-naismith-basketball-rules-set-go-auction-/|title=Booths purchase original Naismith basketball rules at auction for more than $4 million|date=2010-12-10|website=KUsports.com|language=en|access-date=2018-12-07}} The Guidon (flag) from the Battle of Little Bighorn,{{Cite web|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2010/12/detroit_institute_of_arts_sell.html|title=Detroit Institute of Arts sells U.S. flag from Custer's Last Stand for $2.2 million|first=Andrew|last=Glockner|website=MLive.com|date=11 December 2010 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-07}} Robert Kennedy's copy of The Emancipation Proclamation signed by Lincoln,{{Cite web|url=http://artdaily.com/news/43341/Robert-F--Kennedy-Owned-Emancipation-Proclamation-Goes-for--3-7-Million|title=Robert F. Kennedy-Owned Emancipation Proclamation Goes for $3.7 Million|website=artdaily.com|access-date=2018-12-07}} and Treasure from the SS Central America.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/12/08/nyregion/gold-auction-is-canceled-by-sotheby-s.html|title=Gold Auction Is Canceled By Sotheby's|last=Reif|first=Rita|date=1999-12-08|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-12-07|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}

Privately, Redden sold Gilbert Stuart's Lansdowne Portrait of George Washington to the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery,{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2001/02/23/smithsonian-battles-to-keep-prized-portrait-of-washington/2eeb7ac2-d261-4714-a6cc-39312af4a5c5/|title=Smithsonian Battles to Keep Prized Portrait Of Washington|date=2001-02-23|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=2018-09-16|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}} the papers of Martin Luther King Jr. to the city of Atlanta and the nine Forbes family Fabergé Imperial Easter Eggs.{{cite news |url=http://archive.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/06/09/sothebys_to_auction_mlk_papers/ |title=Sotheby's to auction MLK papers: Sale will benefit the King estate |author=Adam Goldman |publisher=Associated Press |date=June 9, 2006}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB107592636655320757|title=Russian Oil Tycoon Buys Faberge Eggs From Forbes Clan|first=Brooks| last=Barnes|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=2018-08-19|language=en-US}} He was also involved in the discovery of the missing first half on the manuscript for Huckleberry Finn.{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/07/21/Divided-manuscript-of-Huck-Finn-reunited/8231711691200/|title=Divided manuscript of 'Huck Finn' reunited|website=UPI|language=en|access-date=2018-12-07}} Upon his retirement, Redden was the longest-serving auctioneer in Sotheby's history.{{cite web |url=https://www.abaa.org/booksellers/details/david-redden |title=David Redden |publisher=Antiquarian Booksellers of America |access-date=March 20, 2018}}

In the 1990s Sotheby's and Christie's colluded on auction commissions and other business practices. Redden, who had no prior knowledge of the crime, was the first staff member at either Christie's or Sotheby's to speak out publicly decrying the criminal activities of the leadership of the two firms.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mrhr5BYvXkYC&q=christopher+mason+redden&pg=PT302|title=The Art of the Steal|last=Mason|first=Christopher|date=2005-05-03|publisher=Penguin|isbn=9781440627828|language=en}}

Redden performed in the following films:

• Jane Austen in Manhattan
• Gossip Girl: Season 3, Episode 3 "The Lost Boy"
• A Late Quartet
• W.E.{{Cite web|url=http://www.niagarafallsreporter.com/calleri4.10.12.html|title=Niagara Falls Reporter|website=www.niagarafallsreporter.com|access-date=2018-08-19}}

Redden has served as chairman of the following boards: Scenic Hudson, Black Rock Forest, which has created the David Redden Conservation Science Fund which awards grants to scientists of all ages and supports lectures and seminars;{{cite news |date=October 26, 2016 |url=http://www.chroniclenewspaper.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20161026/NEWS01/161029970/Black-Rock-Forest-Consortium-opens-ADA-accessible-nature-trail|publisher=Chronicle Newspaper |title=Black Rock Forest Consortium opens ADA-accessible nature trail}}{{Cite web|url=https://blackrockforest.org/files/blackrock/content/2020_david_redden_conservation_science_fund_small_grant_guidelines.pdf|title=David Redden Conservation Science Fund Small Grants for Scientific Research at Black Rock Forest|last=Terlizzi|first=Katie|date=January 2020|website=BlackRockForest.org|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222014253/https://blackrockforest.org/files/blackrock/content/2020_david_redden_conservation_science_fund_small_grant_guidelines.pdf |archive-date=2019-12-22 |access-date=February 16, 2020}} The Olana Partnership,{{cite web |url=http://artdaily.com/index.asp?int_sec=11&int_new=78515#.WpBXla6nHIU|publisher=Art Daily |title=The Olana Partnership announces appointment of new President |author=Sean E. Sawyer}} the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum,{{cite web |url=https://www.riverkeeper.org/riverkeeper-mission/volunteer-leadership/advisory-board/david-redden/|title=Our Advisory Board & Councils: Advisory Board - David Redden|publisher=River Keeper}} the American Trust for the British Library,{{cite web |url=https://www.bl.uk/press-releases/2017/december/elizabeth-i-mary-queen-of-scots-letters-donated|publisher=The British Library|title=Queen Elizabeth I Letters donation announced by British Library |date=December 19, 2017}}{{cite web |url=https://www.guidestar.org/profile/04-2673426|publisher=Guidestar |title=The American Trust for the British Library}} and St. Stephen's School in Rome, Italy. He also served on the boards of the Hudson Highlands Land Trust, the Chelsea Square Conservancy, Friends of Hudson River Park, Madison Square Boys & Girls Club, and the Theater Institute at Storm King. While serving as Chairman of Scenic Hudson,{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=23OFBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA52|page=52|title=Mightier Hudson: The Spirited Revival of a Treasured Landscape |author=Roger Stone |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|year=2012|isbn=9780762784844}} he led $50 million in preservation efforts and land acquisitions. He and his wife have donated conservation easements over a portion of their Storm King Mountain property to the Hudson Highlands Land Trust.{{Cite web|url=https://www.recordonline.com/news/20170110/land-trust-40-acres-to-be-preserved-in-cornwall-cornwall-on-hudson|title=Land trust: 40+ acres to be preserved in Cornwall, Cornwall-on-Hudson|last=Randall|first=Mike|website=recordonline.com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-17}} For many years he was a sought-after auctioneer for charity benefits.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/12/business/yourmoney/at-charity-auctions-doing-good-while-doing-well.html|title=At Charity Auctions, Doing Good While Doing Well|last=Peers|first=Alexandra|date=2006-02-12|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-12-08|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}

In 2017 Redden was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The physical decline has prevented Redden from completing the editing of his very extensive Private Diary of a Sotheby’s Auctioneer.  In 2019 his family created the David Redden ALS Fund to benefit research and treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at Columbia University.{{Cite web|url=https://www.giving.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/david-redden-als-fund|title=David Redden ALS Fund|date=2019-12-20|website=Office of Development|language=en|access-date=2020-02-17}}

In October, 2022 Redden, now completely paralyzed by ALS, volunteered to be the subject of a long term experiment in mind control of machines.  A stent packed with electrodes developed by Synchron Corporation was inserted into Redden´s brain in an eight hour operation involving twelve surgeons.  A month later the stent was operational and training began.  So far as of February 2024 there have been a hundred training sessions, resulting in Redden being able to control a computer through thought alone.{{Cite news |last=Robinson |first=Natasha |date=August 26, 2023 |title=Brain powered: control a computer with your thoughts |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/weekend-australian-magazine/brain-powered-control-a-computer-with-your-thoughts-using-synchrons-stentrode-technology/news-story/387d23813ba25510ae2472650c873ac3 |access-date=February 28, 2024 |work=The Weekend Australian |pages=17–18}}  

In 2022, the J. Paul Getty Trust announced the acquisition of Redden´s auction related papers, including his Diary. They are under seal until 2034.{{Cite web |title=Getty: Resources for Visual Art and Cultural Heritage |url=https://www.getty.edu/news/sothebys-auctioneer-david-redden-donates-archive-to-getty-research-institute/ |access-date=2022-03-17 |website=www.getty.edu}}   

In 1978 Redden married Jeannette Andreasen, currently a Commissioner of the Palisades Interstate Park.{{Cite web|url=http://www.njpalisades.org/pipc.html|title=Palisades Interstate Park Commission {{!}} Palisades Interstate Park in New Jersey|website=www.njpalisades.org|access-date=2018-12-08}} They have two children, Stephen and Clare.

Redden died from complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York, on May 11, 2024, at the age of 75. He was diagnosed nine years prior to his death.{{cite web|title=David Redden, Who Brought Ingenuity to the Auction Block, Dies at 75|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/21/business/david-redden-dead.html|date=May 21, 2024|last=Gabriel|first=Trip|publisher=The New York Times|access-date=May 21, 2024}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Redden, David}}

Category:1949 births

Category:2024 deaths

Category:People from Guangzhou

Category:Sotheby's people

Category:Wesleyan University alumni

Category:American auctioneers

Category:American philanthropists

Category:Deaths from motor neuron disease