<PAGE>


         As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 29,1997 
                                                   Registration No. 33-_________

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                           SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                    WASHINGTON, D. C.
                       __________________________________________

                                        FORM S-8
                                 REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                          UNDER
                               THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                       __________________________________________

                                SOTHEBY'S HOLDINGS, INC.
                 (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

    Michigan                                               38-2478409
(State or other jurisdiction of                       (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                      Identification Number)

                                500 North Woodward Avenue
                                        Suite 100
                            Bloomfield Hills, Michigan  48304
                        (Address of principal executive offices)

                     SOTHEBY'S HOLDINGS, INC. 1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                                (Full title of the plan)

                       __________________________________________

                                   William S. Sheridan
                                   c/o Sotheby's, Inc.
                                    1334 York Avenue
                                New York, New York  10021
                                     (212)  606-7000

     (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area 
code, of agent for service)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                       CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE



                                                      Proposed            Proposed 
                                                      maximum             maximum 
Title of securities to be    Amount to be        offering price per       aggregate           Amount of
    registered                registered              share (1)        offering price     registration fee

<S>                          <C>                 <C>                 <C>            <C>

Class A Limited Voting 
Common Stock                  6,000,000               $18.5625           111,375,000           $33,750

</TABLE>



(1) Computed, pursuant to Rule 457(c), solely for the purpose of calculating
    the registration fee based on the average of the high and low prices of the
    Class A Limited Voting Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock
    Exchange Composite Tape on August 26, 1997.    


<PAGE>




                                       PART II

                  INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

    The Registrant incorporates by reference:  (1) its Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996;  (2) its Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1997; and (3) its Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1997, each filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("the Exchange Act").  All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to
the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities
offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining
unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration
Statement and to be a part of this Registration Statement from the date of the
filing of such documents.  Any statement contained in a document incorporated or
deemed incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed
to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the
extent that a statement contained in this Registration Statement or in any other
subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement modifies or supersedes such statement. 
Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so
modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

         The response to Item 4 of the Registrant's Registration Statement on
Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on April 5, 1996, Registration Statement No. 33-302315 (the
"1996 Form S-8") is incorporated by reference. 


ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.  

    The response to Item 5 of the 1996 Form S-8 is incorporated by reference. 

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

    The response to Item 6 of the 1996 Form S-8 is incorporated by reference. 

ITEM 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

    Not applicable.


                                         II-1


<PAGE>


ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.

         EXHIBIT NUMBER

         5       Opinion of Miro Weiner & Kramer, counsel to the Registrant, as
                 to the legality of the shares.

         23(a)   Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

         23(b)   Consent of Miro Weiner & Kramer (included in Exhibit 5).

         24      Powers of Attorney.

ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS.

    The response to Item 9 of the 1996 Form S-8 is incorporated by reference. 

                                         II-2


<PAGE>

                                      SIGNATURES


    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on the 28th day of
August, 1997.

                                       SOTHEBY'S HOLDINGS, INC.
                                  


                                  By:  /s/ DIANA D. BROOKS
                                       --------------------------------
                                       Diana D. Brooks, President and Chief
                                       Executive Officer


    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated.

    SIGNATURE                          TITLE                    DATE

      *                            Chairman of the Board       August 28, 1997
-------------------------------
A. Alfred Taubman

      *                          Vice Chairman of the Board    August 28, 1997
-------------------------------
Max M. Fisher

      *                         Deputy Chairman of the Board   August 28, 1997
-------------------------------
Lord Camoys

/s/ DIANA D. BROOKS              President, Chief Executive    August 28, 1997
-------------------------------    Officer, and Director
Diana D. Brooks

      *                          Executive Vice President,     August 28, 1997
-------------------------------  Chief Operating Officer,
Kevin A. Bousquette                   and Director

/s/ WILLIAM S. SHERIDAN          Senior Vice President and     August 28, 1997
-------------------------------  Chief Financial Officer
William S. Sheridan


     *                                   Director              August 28, 1997
-------------------------------
Conrad Black

     *                                   Director              August 28, 1997
-------------------------------
Viscount Blakenham

     *                                   Director              August 28, 1997
-------------------------------
Walter J. P. Curley

     *                                   Director              August 28, 1997
-------------------------------
The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Gowrie

                                         II-3


<PAGE>


     *                                   Director               August 28, 1997
-------------------------------
The Marquess of Hartington

     *                                   Director               August 28, 1997
-------------------------------
Henry R. Kravis

     *                            Chairman, Sotheby's Europe,   August 28, 1997
--------------------------------       and Director
Simon De Pury                

/s/ PATRICIA CARBERRY             Vice President, Controller,   August 28, 1997
--------------------------------  and Chief Accounting Officer
Patricia Carberry                  


*By: /s/ WILLIAM S. SHERIDAN
    ---------------------------
    William S. Sheridan
    Attorney-in-Fact




                                         II-4

<PAGE>

                             SOTHEBY'S HOLDINGS, INC.

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



EXHIBIT
NUMBER                           TITLE OF EXHIBIT
-------                          ----------------

5         Opinion of Miro Weiner & Kramer, counsel to the Registrant, as to the
          legality of the shares.

23(a)     Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

23(b)     Consent of Miro Weiner & Kramer (included in Exhibit 5).

24        Powers of Attorney.
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 9547}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "SOTHEBYS HOLDINGS INC", "cik": "0000823094", "assigned-sic": "7389", "irs-number": "382478409", "state-of-incorporation": "MI", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-34623", "film-number": "97672704"}, "business-address": {"street1": "500 N WOODWARD AVE STE 100", "city": "BLOOMFIELD HILLS", "state": "MI", "zip": "48304", "phone": "3136462400"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "301 MERRITT 7", "city": "NORWALK", "state": "CT", "zip": "06851"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 29,1997 
                                                   Registration No. 33-_________

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                           SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                    WASHINGTON, D. C.
                       __________________________________________

                                        FORM S-8
                                 REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                          UNDER
                               THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                       __________________________________________

                                SOTHEBY'S HOLDINGS, INC.
                 (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

    Michigan                                               38-2478409
(State or other jurisdiction of                       (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                      Identification Number)

                                500 North Woodward Avenue
                                        Suite 100
                            Bloomfield Hills, Michigan  48304
                        (Address of principal executive offices)

                     SOTHEBY'S HOLDINGS, INC. 1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                                (Full title of the plan)

                       __________________________________________

                                   William S. Sheridan
                                   c/o Sotheby's, Inc.
                                    1334 York Avenue
                                New York, New York  10021
                                     (212)  606-7000

     (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area 
code, of agent for service)
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

                                                      Proposed            Proposed 
                                                      maximum             maximum 
Title of securities to be    Amount to be        offering price per       aggregate           Amount of
    registered                registered              share (1)        offering price     registration fee
Class A Limited Voting 
Common Stock                  6,000,000               $18.5625           111,375,000           $33,750
(1) Computed, pursuant to Rule 457(c), solely for the purpose of calculating
    the registration fee based on the average of the high and low prices of the
    Class A Limited Voting Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock
    Exchange Composite Tape on August 26, 1997.
PART II

                  INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

    The Registrant incorporates by reference:  (1) its Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996;  (2) its Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1997; and (3) its Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1997, each filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("the Exchange Act").  All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to
the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities
offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining
unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration
Statement and to be a part of this Registration Statement from the date of the
filing of such documents.  Any statement contained in a document incorporated or
deemed incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed
to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the
extent that a statement contained in this Registration Statement or in any other
subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement modifies or supersedes such statement. 
Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so
modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

         The response to Item 4 of the Registrant's Registration Statement on
Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on April 5, 1996, Registration Statement No. 33-302315 (the
"1996 Form S-8") is incorporated by reference. 

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.  

    The response to Item 5 of the 1996 Form S-8 is incorporated by reference. 

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

    The response to Item 6 of the 1996 Form S-8 is incorporated by reference. 

ITEM 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

    Not applicable.

                                         II-1
ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.

         EXHIBIT NUMBER

         5       Opinion of Miro Weiner & Kramer, counsel to the Registrant, as
                 to the legality of the shares.

         23(a)   Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

         23(b)   Consent of Miro Weiner & Kramer (included in Exhibit 5).

         24      Powers of Attorney.

ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS.

    The response to Item 9 of the 1996 Form S-8 is incorporated by reference. 

                                         II-2
SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on the 28th day of
August, 1997.

                                       SOTHEBY'S HOLDINGS, INC.
                                  

                                  By:  /s/ DIANA D. BROOKS
                                       --------------------------------
                                       Diana D. Brooks, President and Chief
                                       Executive Officer

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated.

    SIGNATURE                          TITLE                    DATE

      *                            Chairman of the Board       August 28, 1997
-------------------------------
A. Alfred Taubman

      *                          Vice Chairman of the Board    August 28, 1997
-------------------------------
Max M. Fisher

      *                         Deputy Chairman of the Board   August 28, 1997
-------------------------------
Lord Camoys

/s/ DIANA D. BROOKS              President, Chief Executive    August 28, 1997
-------------------------------    Officer, and Director
Diana D. Brooks

      *                          Executive Vice President,     August 28, 1997
-------------------------------  Chief Operating Officer,
Kevin A. Bousquette                   and Director

/s/ WILLIAM S. SHERIDAN          Senior Vice President and     August 28, 1997
-------------------------------  Chief Financial Officer
William S. Sheridan

     *                                   Director              August 28, 1997
-------------------------------
Conrad Black

     *                                   Director              August 28, 1997
-------------------------------
Viscount Blakenham

     *                                   Director              August 28, 1997
-------------------------------
Walter J. P. Curley

     *                                   Director              August 28, 1997
-------------------------------
The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Gowrie

                                         II-3
*                                   Director               August 28, 1997
-------------------------------
The Marquess of Hartington

     *                                   Director               August 28, 1997
-------------------------------
Henry R. Kravis

     *                            Chairman, Sotheby's Europe,   August 28, 1997
--------------------------------       and Director
Simon De Pury                

/s/ PATRICIA CARBERRY             Vice President, Controller,   August 28, 1997
--------------------------------  and Chief Accounting Officer
Patricia Carberry                  

*By: /s/ WILLIAM S. SHERIDAN
    ---------------------------
    William S. Sheridan
    Attorney-in-Fact

                                         II-4
SOTHEBY'S HOLDINGS, INC.

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT
NUMBER                           TITLE OF EXHIBIT
-------                          ----------------

5         Opinion of Miro Weiner & Kramer, counsel to the Registrant, as to the
          legality of the shares.

23(a)     Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

23(b)     Consent of Miro Weiner & Kramer (included in Exhibit 5).

24        Powers of Attorney.