NEW YORK CITY — Christie’s December 13 sale of printed books and manuscripts realized a total of $5,425,625, achieving 75 percent by lot and 81 percent by value. Selling in a standalone sale ahead of the various owner auction, Albert Einstein: The God Letter realized a total of $2,892,500 and set a world auction record for an Einstein letter after a four-minute bidding battle between two clients on the phones. The bid was won by books and manuscripts senior specialist Christina Geiger.

Einstein’s single most famous letter on God, his Jewish identity and man’s eternal search for meaning was written on January 3, 1954. This private, candid letter was addressed to Eric Gutkind, whose book, Choose Life: The Biblical Call to Revolt, had been published the year before.

Other great results in the printed books and manuscripts sale were achieved for a collection of original printing blocks for the first editions of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, which realized $81,250 against an estimate of $20/30,000, Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, which realized $162,500, and the rare true first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, which achieved a world auction record for Harry Potter and more than doubled its high estimate, realizing $162,500. For information, 212-636-2000 or www.christies.com.