New Atlas

Computers Audio available

Is this art? AI-generated portrait fetches over $400,000 at auction

Rich Haridy October 28, 2018

Last week, the first ever work of AI-generated art to be sold by a major auction house fetched US$432,500. The work, entitled Portrait of Edmond Belamy, sold for 45 times its estimate, however many in the AI art community are frustrated such a basic example of algorithmic art achieved this success.

This piece of AI-generated art sold at Christie's auction house for $432,000

Wearables

James Bond's Rolex Submariner is up for sale

David Szondy October 25, 2018

One of the last Rolex watches worn by superspy James Bond is going up for auction. One of two Submariner dive watches used during the filming of the 1989 thriller Licence to Kill, the vintage timepiece is expected to fetch £60,000.

The watch was worn by Timothy Dalton's stunt double during the filming of Licence to Kill

Motorcycles

Bonhams' Barber Museum Auction: 13 amazing motorcycles, two helmets and some gloves

Mike Hanlon October 10, 2018

The Barber Museum Auction held last weekend saw some remarkable motorcycles cross the auction block, some with great celebrity and movie provenance. The results were puzzling, and raise some interesting questions about celebrity provenance, whether it always applies, and whether it wears off.

Bonhams' Barber Museum auction saw some remarkable motorcycles sold, some with media and celebrity provenance, but ...

Computers

Rare book containing the world’s first computer algorithm earns $125,000 at auction

Matt Kennedy July 25, 2018

A rare 175 year-old book containing the world's first computer algorithm by Ada Lovelace – mathematician and daughter of Lord Byron – has been sold at auction in England for £95,000 (US$125,000).

Ada Lovelace and the signed faceplate of the book

Automotive

James Bond's iconic GoldenEye Aston Martin DB5 up for sale

David Szondy May 23, 2018

One of the most recognizable cars of all time will be up for auction when Bonhams features James Bond's Aston Martin DB5 at its Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale on July 13, 2018. It's expected to sell for between £1.2 million and £1.6 million (US$1.6 million to $2.1 million).

The Aston Martin DB5 up for auction was featured in the Bond movie GoldenEye

Music

George Harrison's first electric guitar tops the bill at Music Icons auction

Paul Ridden May 4, 2018

On May 19, music lovers and collectors will get their chance to snag a treasure trove of memorabilia linked to rock and pop icons. Among many items of clothing, handwritten song lyrics and instruments once owned by rock's greatest stars is an gem of a find that's not been seen in public since 1965.

George Harrison's Hofner Club 40 electric guitar: Lot 550, estimate $200,000 - $300,000

Science

Wernher von Braun's 1950's "Man Will Conquer Space Soon!" archive up for auction

David Szondy April 18, 2018

Wernher von Braun's archive of signed technical drawings, schematics, orbital diagrams, and mathematical calculations related to his efforts to sell an ambitious space program to the American public is the centerpiece of the Space and Aviation Auction at Boston-based RR Auction through April 19.

The Man Will Conquer Space Soon! auction includes signed technical sketches by rocket technology and space ...

Pets

Top architects in the dog house for charity event

Adam Williams April 11, 2018

Man's best friend is finally getting some architect-designed digs, courtesy of well-known firms, including Zaha Hadid Design and Studio Octopi. The dog shelters will be sold at auction to raise money for Britain's Blue Cross animal charity.

The DW Kennel was designed by Denizen works, Cantifix and Arrant Land. It holds 2,000 tennis ...

Collectibles

For sale: 28-ft-long, 155 million-year-old carnivorous dinosaur skeleton

Mike Hanlon March 25, 2018

At 8.7 meters (28.5 ft) long and 2.6 meters (8.5 ft) high, and with a price tag somewhere north of US$1.5 million, this 155 million-year-old skeleton is not for everyone, but it is certainly one of the most impressive and imposing artifacts of natural history ever to go to auction.

This beast, believed to be from the Allosaurus family, originally called the Eastern Bighorn Mountains in ...

Automotive

Ashton Kutcher's "That 70s Show" Samba Van could break Volkswagen world record

Mike Hanlon March 21, 2018

The 21-window Volkswagen Samba bus from the popular television sitcom That 70s Show (1998 to 2006) is heading for auction at Barrett-Jackson's Palm Beach Auction on Saturday, April 14, 2018 and the world record for a Volkswagen at auction might well fall.

In the last 26 months, Volkswagen Samba vans just like this but without any hit television ...