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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 CruNPJqU7z5oTRyRdgtI7fdVWiaZSbkVUMFicDnjGV9sotsvjc1wCUNQhJnEY7Vf
 6graFdqPiAsTvywAnlUXwQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001005477-05-003797.txt : 20051104
<SEC-HEADER>0001005477-05-003797.hdr.sgml : 20051104
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20051104114552
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001005477-05-003797
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20051104
FILED AS OF DATE:		20051104
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20051104

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SOTHEBYS HOLDINGS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000823094
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-BUSINESS SERVICES, NEC [7389]
		IRS NUMBER:				382478409
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 NORTH WOODWARD AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 100
		CITY:			BLOOMFIELD HILLS
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48304
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2486462400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 NORTH WOODWARD AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 100
		CITY:			BLOOMFIELD HILLS
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48304

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BLAKENHAM MICHAEL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001249593

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09750
		FILM NUMBER:		051179093

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1334 YORK AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10021
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar123.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-11-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000823094</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SOTHEBYS HOLDINGS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BID</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001249593</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BLAKENHAM MICHAEL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>38500 WOODWARD AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 100</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BLOOMFIELD HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>48304</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Deferred Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-11-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>552</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>15.85</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Ltd. Voting Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>552</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>17502</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">One for One</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The deferred stock units were accrued under the Sotheby?s Holdings, Inc. 1998 Stock Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the ?Plan?) as a result of a partial or full deferral election with respect to stock compensation paid under the Plan.  These units will be settled 100% in Sotheby?s Holdings, Inc. Class A Limited Voting Common Stock (except that fractional shares, if any, will be settled in cash) after the reporting person?s termination of service on the Sotheby?s Holdings, Inc. Board.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Donaldson C. Pillsbury as Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-11-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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