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Dinesh Kumar
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Wilton, CT, USA, November 26, 2024 -- It isn’t often that John Dillinger, Marilyn Monroe, Babe Ruth and Abraham Lincoln all meet at the same place at the same time, but that’s exactly what will happen on Wednesday, December 11th, when items signed by all four luminaries will come up for bid in University Archives’ Rare Autographs, Manuscripts & Books auction, at 10am Eastern time.
A rare autograph letter signed by America’s Public Enemy Number One John Dillinger, a signed photograph of Albert Einstein, a check signed by Marilyn Monroe during the filming of the movie Some like It Hot, a Star baseball signed on the sweet spot by Babe Ruth in 1927, and an Abraham Lincoln signed Civil War draft call are just a few of the sale’s expected headliners.
All 519 lots in the catalog are up for viewing and bidding now on the newly redesigned University Archives website – www.UniversityArchives.com – as well as LiveAuctioneers.com, Invaluable.com and Auctionzip.com. Telephone and absentee bids will also be accepted.
“Our last auction of 2024 is perhaps our most impressive sale to date,” University Archives president and owner John Reznikoff said of Rare Autographs, Manuscripts & Books – Just in Time For The Holidays. He added, “The auction will be a great shopping opportunity. Need holiday gift ideas? Give your friends and loved ones unique historical gifts this holiday season.”
From U.S. Presidents, Early America, and World Leaders, to Art, Music and Literature, from Aviation/Space, Sports and Science, to Militaria, Civil Rights, and Entertainment, University Archives’ December 11th sale has most categories covered. “If we receive prompt payment, we will make every effort to ship items before Christmas and Hanukkah,” Mr. Reznikoff said.
Lot 218 is the two-page autograph letter signed by the outlaw John Dillinger, written from the Allen County Jail in Lima, Ohio on October 1, 1933, just a few days after he was arrested for armed robbery. The letter was addressed to his girlfriend, Mary Longnaker, urging her not to wait for him to get out of prison. Dillinger was busted out of his prison cell a few days later but was shot dead within the year. (est. $18,000-$25,000).
Lot 508 is the Star baseball by Spaulding signed on the sweet spot by Babe Ruth on June 5, 1927, the day he got two hits and a home run in a game against the Detroit Tigers. Ruth dedicated the ball to vaudeville actress Maud Ryan, a fellow entertainer. Ruth supplemented his income in 1927 by starring as a vaudeville performer and silent film star. (est. $10,000-$12,000).
Lot 466 is a photograph of Albert Einstein wearing his beloved scruffy leather jacket, probably taken by Lotte Jacobi, and signed by him as “A. Einstein, 1947.” The portrait is quite modern in its sensibility, with Einstein staring boldly at the viewer. Einstein presented the signed photo to Derek J. de Solla Price, the noted British physicist and historian of science. (est. $6,000-$8,000).
Lot 298 is a check (#37) signed by Marilyn Monroe dated Oct. 10, 1958, around the time of production of the classic film Some Like It Hot, co-starring Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. The check, showing Monroe’s large, bold signature, was drawn from the Colonial Trust Company, for $108.55, and made out to Dave Bernstein, “Caterer” (est. $3,000-$4,000).
Many of the marquee items in the sale come from an exceptionally large and robust array of U.S. Presidential memorabilia. Military commissions, circulars, ship’s passports, land grants, documents, autograph letters, and typed letters from Washington to Biden - many of them signed as President - will be offered. There are over a dozen Lincoln lots in the sale. Some are signed.
Lot 84 is a draft call signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, requesting the first part of a conscription quota, a levy of 2,406 troops from the 18th District of Pennsylvania. The draft call was one of the first signed by Lincoln and came just a week after the New York Draft Riots. The Union badly needed more soldiers following the Battle of Gettysburg. (est. $15,000-$20,000).
Lot 146 is a two-page letter signed by President George Washington on October 3, 1789. The circular, addressed to Governor of Connecticut Samuel Huntington, itemized key pieces of legislation enacted by the 1st session of the 1st U.S. Congress that year, to include the Judiciary Act, money for the federal budget, and the federal use of state militias. (est. $40,000-$60,000).
Lot 61 is a circular signed by President Thomas Jefferson in 1803, addressed to an unidentified state governor. It announced the passage of the 12th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, in response to the Election Crisis of 1801, in which Jefferson and Aaron Burr both received the same number of ballots for President, causing a temporary deadlock. (est. $18,000-$24,000).
Lot 71 is a 12-page typed chapter from a young John F. Kennedy’s Harvard University senior thesis, with copious manuscript revisions. The heavily edited chapter, entitled “Influence of the Desire for Economy and General Disarmament Conference on British Armaments”, was later published as part of Kennedy’s best-selling book, Why England Slept. (est. $35,000-$50,000).
Lot 52 is a rare ship’s passport signed by the shortest-serving U.S. President, William Henry Harrison, during his month-long presidency. Signed by Harrison in advance as a blank, it was used by customs officials nearly a month after Harrison’s death from pneumonia on April 30, 1841, for a New Bedford whaling ship called Agate. It should finish at $90,000-$100,000.
Lot 387 is a three-page autograph letter in Spanish drafted by Fidel Castro on May 27, 1960 and addressed to Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev. Castro thanks Khrushchev for supporting “the revolution” and for securing the Cuba-Soviet Alliance signed three weeks earlier. The letter draft underscores how Cuba identified ideologically with the Soviet Union. (est. $20,000-$30,000).
Lot 432 is an 11-page autograph manuscript signed by the writer-philosopher Ayn Rand, being the draft of an upcoming editorial. The handwritten manuscript contains copious corrections and edits in Rand’s hand, and states: “The United States, at present, is a country without political ideology, without any intellectual movement, without direction or goal.” (est. $12,000-$15,000).
Lot 274 is a four-page autograph letter signed by “Mad Anthony” Wayne, dated July 19, 1780 and addressed to Commander-in-Chief George Washington. In the letter, Wayne outlines his military strategy for clearing out a nest of British and Loyalist supporters in New Jersey, which includes seizing a block house and confiscating much-needed livestock. (est. $9,000-$10,000).
Lot 207 is a seven-page autograph letter signed by aviator Charles A. Lindbergh dated March 11, 1937 and addressed to William E. Dodd, U.S. Ambassador to Nazi Germany. In it, Lindbergh expresses concerns about the state of European affairs but notes the difficulty of harnessing peace movements. Lindbergh had a pro-Nazi stance during World War II. (est.$7,500-$9,000).
Lot 423 is a four-page handwritten autograph letter signed by Charles Dickens, dated May 1, 1855 and addressed to Reverend Whitwell Elwin. In it, Dickens refers to an annual fundraising dinner for the Literary Fund, at which major public and literary figures exhort guests to make generous donations, which is where much of the Fund's money came from. (est. $2,000-$3,000).
Here is a link to the catalog on the University Archives website: https://www.universityarchives.com/auction-catalog/rare-autographs-manuscripts-books-just-in-time-fo_AY2IGEUZOW
University Archives has become world-renowned as a go-to source for rare items of this kind. It is actively seeking quality material for future auctions, presenting a rare opportunity for sellers. Anyone who has a single item or a collection that may be a fit for a future University Archives auction may call John Reznikoff at 203-454-0111, or email him at john@universityarchives.com.
For more information about University Archives and the online-only Rare Autographs, Manuscripts & Books – Just in Time for The Holidays auction slated for Wednesday, December 11th, starting at 10am Eastern time, please visit www.universityarchives.com. Updates are posted frequently.
About University Archives:
University Archives was founded in 1979, as a division of University Stamp Company, by John Reznikoff, who started collecting stamps and coins in 1968, while in the third grade. Industry-wide, Reznikoff is considered the leading authenticity expert for manuscripts and documents. He consults with law enforcement, dealers, auction houses and both major authentication companies. University Archives’ offices are located at 88 Danbury Road (Suite #2A) in Wilton, Conn. For more information about University Archives please visit www.universityarchives.com.
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Dinesh Kumar
posted a blog.
A complete set of presidential signatures from Washington to Obama, two items signed by Babe Ruth (one graded GEM MT 10), an autograph letter in French signed by Pablo Picasso (PSA/DNA graded GEM MT 10), and a contract signed by both John Lennon and Yoko Ono Lennon will all come up for bid in University Archives’ online-only Rare Autographs, Manuscripts & Books auction on Wednesday, October 30th, beginning at 10 am Eastern time.
All 491 lots in the catalog are up for viewing and bidding now on the newly redesigned University Archives website – www.UniversityArchives.com – as well as LiveAuctioneers.com, Invaluable.com and Auctionzip.com. Telephone and absentee bids will also be accepted.
“One of the marquee items in our October 30th auction is Lot 89, a highly unique and once-in-a-lifetime set of presidential signatures from George Washington to Barack Obama, all signed as President, from 1789 to 2010,” said John Reznikoff, the president and owner of University Archives, adding that the museum-quality collection comes from a Dallas, Texas gentleman.
Mr. Reznikoff said the signed presidents set joins a great volume of exceptional presidential autographed material from other consignors. “A timely assortment up for auction just a few weeks ahead of the 2024 United States presidential election,” he said. Outstanding items of historical interest from the Science, World Leaders, Civil Rights, Religion, Art & Music, Aviation & Space, History & Military, and Sports categories will also pass the auction block.
The Washington-to-Obama set of presidential signatures consists of autograph letters signed, typed letters signed and signed letters, along with a variety of signed documents, all signed as President. There are very few complete sets of Presidential autographs signed as President, due mainly to the scarcity of William Henry Harrison pieces, as he served just one month in office.
Many of these sets reside in institutions and will never be offered to the public. It is likely that fewer than a dozen such sets exist in private hands, this one being one of the very best. In this way, a set of Presidential autographs signed as President is scarcer than a set of autographs from the Signers of the Declaration of Independence. The pre-sale estimate is $400,000-$500,000.
Lot 489 is a Babe Ruth signed ticket for the “R.I. Independent Amateur Softball Championship”, dated Sept. 2-7, 1941, held in East Providence, R.I., graded GEM MT 10 (est. $4,000-$5,000); while lot 488 is a Babe Ruth and Ted Williams signed ticket to a “Bachelor Party” for Crosby Turner, Jr., held in Pawtucket, R.I. on Aug. 13, 1941 and graded NM 7 (est. $3,000-$4,000).
Speaking of Babe Ruth, lot 468 is a 14 inch by 11 inch glossy photograph of George H. W. Bush as captain of the Yale baseball team, greeting Babe Ruth for an on-field ceremony in New Haven, Conn., on June 5, 1948, signed by Bush (“George Bush”) in blue pen (est. $300-$400).
Lot 134 is an autograph letter in French signed by Pablo Picasso, PSA/DNA graded GEM MT 10, on the reverse of a postcard depicting “Paix” [“Peace”], a reproduction of the original color lithograph Picasso produced for a peace conference held in Sweden in July 1958. He mentions his second wife Jacqueline and his children in the June 20, 1960 letter (est. $6,000-$8,000).
Lot 294 is a contract signed by both John Lennon and Yoko Ono Lennon, dated Sept. 11, 1975, relating to their production company, Bag Productions, which the couple established in the 1960s and which later produced the 1971 solo album Imagine. The contract outlines terms of ownership of many signed / unsigned lithographs, album covers and colophon pages (est. $5,000-$7,000).
Lot 447 is a 3-page autograph letter in German signed by Albert Einstein in which the scientist explores both his Unified Field Theory and General Relativity. The very long scientific letter, addressed to Einstein’s friend and fellow physicist Cornelius Lanczos, includes 12 equations in Einstein's hand, as well as humorous content relating to Sigmund Freud (est. $40,000-$50,000).
Lot 205 is an archive of 18 autograph letters signed by Hawaiian missionaries, circa 1846-1849. The correspondence written by members of the 8th Company of Missionaries of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions includes vivid descriptions of a surfboard and surfing, with pen sketches; volcanic eruptions; and coastal topography (est. $18,000-$30,000).
Lot 121 is an autograph document signed in full by George Washington (as “Mr. George Washington”). The document, dated circa 1773, pertained to a 1751 land survey of 445 acres that Washington had completed over 20 years earlier for a man named Richard Seymour on behalf of Washington’s older half-brother, whose name was Lawrence Washington (est. $12,000-$14,000).
Lot 403 is a one-page manuscript document in Russian boldly signed by Josef Stalin, then a member of the Revolutionary Committee, dated September 9, [1920], and pertaining to military preparedness during the ongoing Polish-Soviet War. In it, Stalin discusses artillery and troop movements in the days leading up to the decisive Battle of Neman River (est. $6,000-$8,000).
Lot 110 is an 8-page advance press copy of a printed speech draft signed by President Harry S. Truman, circa October 30, 1945. In the speech, Truman laid out his position on “reconversion” - the transition from a wartime economy to a peacetime one. Truman urged Americans to harness the spirit of collaboration formed during World War II to address challenges (est. $6,000-$8,000).
Lot 392 is a one-page autograph letter in Gujarati twice signed by Mohandas Gandhi. Gandhi wrote his older brother Laxmidas from South Africa on January 22, 1889, inquiring about mutual acquaintances. Gandhi signs the letter formally at the conclusion as “Mohandas Karamchand Pranam” and signs it “Gandhi” when writing out part of his brother’s name (est. $6,000-$7,000).
Lot 332 is a Civil War-dated one-page autograph letter signed by Brigadier General George Custer on April 6, 1864. Custer congratulated Captain R.R. Moffatt for his new “sabre shield” design for cavalry weapons, stating: “I am firm in the belief that the possession of it by our cavalry would give confidence and increases courage to those wearing it.” (est. $6,000-$7,000).
Lot 58 is a military commission signed by President Abraham Lincoln promoting a Connecticut native named Orson H. Hart to the rank of Captain and Assistant Adjutant General of Volunteers in Daniel Sickles’s newly mustered “Excelsior Brigade” of primarily New York-based volunteers. The document, dated May 19, 1862, has a pre-sale estimate of $6,000-$7,000.
Lot 20 is a scarce one-page autograph letter signed by James A. Garfield as President, dated June 15, 1881, just two weeks before he was shot by Charles Guiteau. In the letter, Garfield gives directions to a hotel-owner in the “summer colony” of Long Branch, N.J., where First Lady Lucretia Garfield was recuperating from a bout of malaria, and where Garfield himself later died (est. $5,000-$6,000).
Here is a link to the catalog on the University Archives website: https://www.universityarchives.com/auction-catalog/rare-autographs-manuscripts-books_E6Q0WAIS7L
University Archives has become world-renowned as a go-to source for rare items of this kind. It is actively seeking quality material for future auctions, presenting a rare opportunity for sellers. Anyone who has a single item or a collection that may be a fit for a future University Archives auction may call John Reznikoff at 203-454-0111, or email him at john@universityarchives.com.
University Archives’ offices are located at 88 Danbury Road (Suite #2A) in Wilton, Conn. For more information about University Archives and the 491-lot, online-only Rare Autographs, Manuscripts & Books auction scheduled for Wednesday, October 30th, starting at 10am Eastern time, please visit www.universityarchives.com. Updates are posted frequently.
About University Archives:
University Archives was founded in 1979, as a division of University Stamp Company, by John Reznikoff, who started collecting stamps and coins in 1968, while in the third grade. Industry-wide, Reznikoff is considered the leading authenticity expert for manuscripts and documents. He consults with law enforcement, dealers, auction houses and both major authentication companies. University Archives’ offices are located at 88 Danbury Road (Suite #2A) in Wilton, Conn. For more information please visit www.universityarchives.com. Updates are posted frequently.
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