NEW YORK, NY.- After five auctions, 404 lots sold, almost 30 records set, and $105,266,766, the largest sale total in history for memorabilia, Christie's marked the 250th anniversary of the United States with the last chapter in what has already been a record-breaking series of sales. The Jim Irsay Collection Auction Series ended today, with the final lot of the final auction, The Jim Irsay Collection: Icons of History. The last lot was a fitting crescendo to an epic run: the original working manuscript of Alcoholics Anonymous, also known as the “Big Book,” in honor of its place in history as the book that began the 12-step recovery movement. It sold for $2,393,000, to a non-profit that manages the house of one of the two authors of the book, the late Bill Wilson. “It's coming home!” shouted Sally Corbett-Turco, after placing the winning bid on behalf of Stepping Stones Foundation - The Historic Home of Bill and Lois Wilson, where Ms. Corbett-Turco is the Executive Director. “The Stepping Stones Foundation is grateful that the manuscript is returning home to be the centerpiece of Stepping Stones collection,” Corbett-Turco said. “Just as Lois Wilson hoped, the manuscript will be available for future generations of people in recovery to see and be inspired. They will experience it in a place deeply connected to its history and meaning.”

All of the proceeds of the sale of the working manuscript of Alcoholics Anonymous, will be donated to philanthropic causes close to the heart of Jim Irsay, the late philanthropist and owner of the Indianapolis Colts. When the sale the book was first announced in June, Jim Irsay's daughters, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt, and Kalen Jackson, said: “[Dad] acquired The Big Book to preserve and protect it, but also to continue sharing its knowledge with the world. Now it's time for the next chapter in the life of the book, and we will honor our dad's commitment to helping others by donating 100 percent of the proceeds of its sale to philanthropy that was close to his heart. The new owner of The Big Book will become its steward for the future but also will be providing significant funds to a great cause.”





The Irsay Icons of History sale was 100 percent sold by lot, and 173 percent hammer and buyer's premium against low estimate. The top lot in the sale was a letter from George Washington to Thomas Jefferson transmitting a draft copy of the Constitution for Jefferson's review (price realized: $2,759,000). Other important results included the noted Stone Copy of the Declaration of Independence, the most accurate of all early facsimiles of the Declaration (price realized: $2,027,000) and a pair of tickets to Ford's Theatre, stamped for the night of Lincoln's assassination (price realized: $330,200). In all the sale included 67 lots of rare objects documenting many transformative moments in the history of the nation, spanning its birth to the dawn of the 21st Century.

The Head of Sale, Peter Klarnet, said: “We are honored with the opportunity to conclude these historic Jim Irsay Collection sales on the eve of the 250th anniversary of American Independence. The market for important Americana remains strong and robust—a fitting tribute to the documents that make this nation a beacon of hope for freedom around the world.”