A copy of Jeffrey Epstein’s black book sold Wednesday for $10,000 at Alexander Historical Auctions, nearly a year after the book failed to sell at its original auction in June.
The 64-page book of names and contract information, held by the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender who died in prison in August 2019, garnered plenty of media attention due to the nature of its contents.
Basil "Bill" Panagopulos, owner of Alexander Historical Auctions, told cllct the book included addresses and phone numbers that were not known to the public, though the names had already been disclosed.
Originally, the auction house expected the winning bidder would be motivated to buy the item to protect the contact information or prevent further affiliation with Epstein.
The original auction accepted bids by certified mail or courier, with Panagopulos promising no bidders’ identities would become public.
Gawker leaked a more well-known copy of an Epstein black book in 2015.
Panagopulos is no stranger to controversy, having previously auctioned off Hitler’s toilet and other Nazi-related pieces.
"I have no idea what this could go for," Panagopulos told cllct last year. "There's no precedent. But you never know how paranoid someone can be and how valuable that is. So, I'm gonna just sit back and see what happens."
A 2021 Business Insider story recounts the origins of the black book sold this week, dating back to the mid-1990s, when a musician came upon it walking down the street in New York.
Unaware of its significance—but noticing the names of famous people inside—she kept it and placed it in storage. In 2020, after Epstein’s death, the woman found the book in her storage locker, now aware of its provenance.
She assumed the item was a copy and listed it on eBay: “Jeffrey Epstein’s notebook, found on Manhattan sidewalk in late '90s.”
A graduate student won the book for $500, plus $20 shipping. That person, who wishes to remain anonymous, was the consignor.
Last year, Panagopulos told cllct he hadn’t reached out to any prospective bidders, except for Donald Trump.
"I called Mar-A-Lago," he said. "Once they said the call may be recorded, I hung up."
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture.