First Edition De Magnete Sells for $61,440 at Auction

A rare copy of William Gilbert's 1600 scientific text fetched the high price at a Christie's sale in New York.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Geography

Gouache-painted illustration of an antique leather-bound book on a display plinth, evoking the historical value of foundational scientific literature. — A first-edition copy of William Gilbert's 1600 scientific text, De Magnete, sold for $61,440 at a Christie's auction in New York. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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A first edition copy of William Gilbert's influential 1600 book, De Magnete, sold for $61,440 at a Christie's auction in New York on October 13, 2026. The volume was listed as Lot 61 during the Fine Printed Books, Manuscripts, and Science sale.

Why it matters

The sale highlights the enduring value of foundational scientific literature among collectors. This copy features a provenance dating back to the Signet Library in Edinburgh before passing through several public auctions.

The volume measures 28.2 by 18.4 centimetres and was previously sold at Sotheby's in 1960 and Christie's in 2014. It was originally published in London.

The players

William Gilbert

He was an English physician and natural philosopher who authored the foundational 1600 text on magnetism.

Christie's

This is a British-founded fine art auction house that conducts high-profile sales of rare books and manuscripts worldwide.

Signet Library

Located in Edinburgh, this historic institution housed a significant collection of books including this volume.

The details

The book was offered as part of a curated sale of printed books and manuscripts. It holds a significant history as a former piece of the Signet Library collection in Edinburgh.

1600: De Magnete was originally published in London.
April 11, 1960: The book was sold at a Sotheby's auction.
December 14, 2014: The book was sold at a Christie's auction.
October 13, 2026: The book sold for $61,440 at Christie's in New York.

The Big Picture

This sale follows the market pattern established by the 2014 Christie's auction of De Magnete. The transaction updates the valuation figure previously set for this specific historical volume.

For rare book collectors and science enthusiasts, this sale provides a concrete metric for the current market appetite for foundational scientific texts. It demonstrates how historical provenance influences the final valuation of early printed research materials.

The takeaway

Collectors interested in rare scientific works should note how provenance, such as the Signet Library connection, elevates the value of historical editions. Monitoring auction results for similar 17th-century texts helps determine long-term investment trends in the field.