Microfilmed records of auction catalogs dating back to 1733 are currently being made by Sotheby's, numismatic auction house in London, England, according to Dr. A. N. Munby. Dr. Munby is librarian at King's College, Cambridge, and editor-in-chief of the microfilm project. He said, "I would like to see certain collectors able to purchase certain groups of catalogs that will suit their needs. But that would be far in the future.

"We eventually hope to make this financially possible, but there are not sufficient funds at the moment," Dr. Munby concluded.

First catalogs to be microfilmed are dated between 1901 and 1945, numbering about 5,000 catalogs. Catalogs are microfilmed at a reduction of 20 on 16 millimeter film.

Before the microfilm project, the best available set of Sotheby catalogs was reportedly in the British Museum, though it is not entirely complete.