Christie's Groundbreakers: Icons of Our Time
L to R: Beck's annotated draft of the London Tube (Est. £70,000-100,000); J R.R. Tolkien's Merton College Desk (Est. £50,000-80,000)
Following last week's unveiling of Spike, the exceptionally preserved Caenagnathid dinosaur headlining Christie's inaugural Groundbreakers: Icons of Our Time auction, Christie's today reveals further highlights from the sale, taking place on 11 December 2025 at Christie's London, King Street.
Spanning disciplines from science and literature to music, film, and fantasy art, Groundbreakers: Icons of Our Time, brings together visionaries whose ideas and creations have shaped modern culture. This curated selection of 30 lots showcases defining moments of innovation — from the birth of digital computing to the dawn of cinematic science fiction and the foundations of modern gaming — with estimates for individual works ranging from £20,000 to £3,000,000.
Thais Hitchins, Head of Sale, Junior Specialist, Classics Department, says: “Groundbreakers spotlights those rare moments where imagination and innovation converge. From the earliest fossils that reveal the story of life on Earth to the creative sparks that redefined music, literature, and technology, these objects represent turning points in our collective story. We are truly excited to welcome the public to King Street from 6 December to see these groundbreaking pieces which resonate with so many of us.”
Highlights Include:
Harry Beck's annotated proof of his iconic London Underground map - the only known copy (Est. £70,000-100,000).
Alan Turing's On Computable Numbers: the Groundbreaking mathematician's work on the foundation of modern digital computing, introducing the concept of a 'universal machine' for the first time. (Est. £50,00-70,00).
Ayrton Senna's personal letters and photographs, offering a rare and comprehensive insight into the making of arguably the greatest racing driver the sport has ever known. (Est. £200,000–300,000).
Harry the Hammer: the original cover artwork for the first edition of Warhammer: an exceptional icon of fantasy and tabletop gaming (Est. £300,000-400,000).
Tolkien's Desk: owned and used by J.R.R. Tolkien during his tenure as Merton Professor of English Language and Literature at the University of Oxford (1945–1959), this desk is a material witness to the author's most productive and creative literary period, and coincides with the finalisation and proofing of The Lord of the Rings (Est. £50,000-80,000).
Groundbreakers forms part of Christie's London Classic Week, taking place from 2 to 11 December 2025. For the full auction calendar, please visit here.
Exhibition Viewing
Christie's London, 6–11 December 2025, ahead of the auction on 11 December.
About Christie’s
Founded in 1766, Christie’s is a world-leading art and luxury business with a physical presence in 46 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Asia Pacific, and flagship international sales hubs in New York, London, Hong Kong, Paris and Geneva. Renowned and trusted for our expert live and online-only auctions, as well as bespoke Private Sales, Christie’s unparalleled network of specialists offers our clients a full portfolio of global services, including art appraisal, art financing, international real estate and education. Christie’s auctions span more than 80 art and luxury categories, at price points ranging from $500 to over $100 million. Christie’s has sold 7 of the 10 most important single-owner collections in history, achieved the world record price for an artwork at auction, launched the first fully on-chain auction platform dedicated to exceptional NFT art and manages an investment fund to support innovative startups in the art market. Christie’s is also committed to advancing responsible culture throughout its business and communities worldwide. To learn more, browse, bid, discover, and join us for the best of art and luxury at christies.com or by downloading Christie’s apps. The auction house can also be found on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X.
