Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Revenues:
Auction and related revenues	$ 353,564	$ 269,801	$ 463,925	$ 365,428
Finance revenues	3,184	2,023	6,099	4,636
Dealer revenues	11,642	8,337	16,257	10,857
License fee revenues	1,270	1,129	2,711	1,834
Other revenues	135	120	385	534
Total revenues	369,795	281,410	489,377	383,289
Expenses:
Direct costs of services	26,293	21,159	35,212	28,030
Dealer cost of sales	8,312	6,527	14,255	8,315
Marketing expenses	3,296	3,251	7,836	6,216
Salaries and related costs	96,504	74,321	148,462	120,939
General and administrative expenses	40,258	32,376	73,384	63,619
Depreciation and amortization expense	4,241	4,081	8,342	8,452
Restructuring charges, net	2,226	(21)	2,268	98
Total expenses	181,130	141,694	289,759	235,669
Operating income	188,665	139,716	199,618	147,620
Interest income	547	385	3,137	738
Interest expense	(10,559)	(11,717)	(20,947)	(23,336)
Other expense	(765)	(933)	(369)	(872)
Income before taxes	177,888	127,451	181,439	124,150
Equity in earnings of investees, net of taxes	152	36	53	244
Income tax expense	50,806	41,248	51,837	40,332
Net income	$ 127,234	$ 86,239	$ 129,655	$ 84,062
Basic earnings per share - Sotheby's common shareholders (see Note 3)	$ 1.87	$ 1.27	$ 1.91	$ 1.24
Diluted earnings per share - Sotheby's common shareholders (see Note 3)	$ 1.81	$ 1.26	$ 1.85	$ 1.22
Weighted average basic shares outstanding	67,405	66,337	67,188	66,167
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding	69,491	67,041	69,252	66,972
Cash dividends paid per common share	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	$ 0.10	$ 0.10