# Peter Batkin

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**Peter Joram Batkin** (11 April 1953 – 12 January 2018) was an English auctioneer known for his activities in Russia. He sold the book collection of the spy [Kim Philby](/source/Kim_Philby) and was instrumental in the creation of the space memorabilia auction market.[1][2][3]

Batkin, who was of Russian descent, attended [St Marylebone Grammar School](/source/St_Marylebone_Grammar_School) from 1964 to 1971 before starting his career in [Sotheby's](/source/Sotheby's) as a porter; he was to remain with the company from 1973 to 2000, ending his time there as a Director[4] and at one time was the company's "man in Russia".[5] According to Art Historian Michel Strauss, Batkin was "an expansive and generous man, immaculately and exotically dressed in a pin-striped suit, bow tie and two-tone shoes" who was "regularly sent out to Russia to make connections with museum and government officials..."[6] He was a familiar sight in the dining clubs of London, was a [Freemason](/source/Freemasonry) and was a member of [The Eccentric Club](/source/Eccentric_Club), the latter paying tribute to him as "a true gentleman and a caring soul."[7] His reputation as a cigar smoker is immortalised in a painting hung in the St James, London cigar specialist JJ Fox's.

Very proud of his Jewish heritage, Batkin was a member of [Belsize Square Synagogue](/source/Belsize_Square_Synagogue) in London. He lived in [Wembley](/source/Wembley) with his wife, Judith Madeline Kellermann.[1] After retiring from the art world Batkin developed his long-running interest in film-making, working on an exposé on corruption in marathon running. With his wife and son, he also started a commercial cleaning firm, Bespoke Cleaning.[7]

Peter Batkin died in January 2018 after suffering a stroke. He was survived by his widow Dr Judith Kellermann and their children Tobias and Alice.[7]

## References

1. Getzels, Rachael. ["Ex-Sotheby's auctioneer who sold Cambridge Five spy ring library on life behind the Iron Curtain"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180129080658/http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/ex-sotheby-s-auctioneer-who-sold-cambridge-five-spy-ring-library-on-life-behind-the-iron-curtain-1-1869138). *Hamhigh.co.uk*. Archived from [the original](http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/ex-sotheby-s-auctioneer-who-sold-cambridge-five-spy-ring-library-on-life-behind-the-iron-curtain-1-1869138) on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.

1. ["Peter Batkin"](https://www.thetimes.com/article/peter-batkin-obituary-rkz3cp3km). *[The Times](/source/The_Times)*. 30 January 2018.

1. ["Tributes paid to colourful character who was Sotheby's art expert : Peter Batkin was best known for helping to recover a collection of long-lost Impressionist masterpieces from post-Soviet Russia"](https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/tributes-paid-to-colourful-character-who-was-sotheby-s-art-expert-1.456743). *Thejc.com*. 13 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.

1. [Peter Joram Batkin](https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/zQaiehLgNU2A_7v2PT8DAFltGBI/appointments) on the [Companies House](/source/Companies_House) database

1. [Michel Strauss, *Pictures, Passions and Eye: A Life at Sotheby's*](https://books.google.com/books?id=LaSKAgAAQBAJ&dq=peter+batkin+sotheby%27s&pg=PT154), Halban, (2013) - [Google Books](/source/Google_Books) ISBN 9781905559688

1. Strauss, Michel (12 December 2013). *Pictures, Passions and Eye: A Life at Sotheby's*. Halban.

1. [Obituary for Peter Batkin](https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-jewish-chronicle/20180119/281702615127847) - *[The Jewish Chronicle](/source/The_Jewish_Chronicle)* -19 January 2018

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Peter Batkin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Batkin) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Batkin?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.