iCollector.com is presenting online viewing of the September 14th, 2016 Auction from RR Auction. This auction catalog has over 900 lots available for viewing with an incredible array of autographs and artifacts available for bidding through the auctioneer. Among the highlights of this month’s sale are a special autograph sheet from Abraham Lincoln and his ‘Team of Rivals’ cabinet, a handwritten letter by the heroic Oskar Schindler, a massive signed photo of Charles Dickens, and a silver medal from the 1932 Los Angeles Summer Olympics. Join RR Auctions as they prepare to make history selling history in September 2016. RR Auctions is a globally recognized and trusted source for rare documents, manuscripts, autographs, and historic artifacts. They have achieved countless record setting prices in over 425 successful sales and have an international reputation through both media and private collectors.
Lot 19 presents the extraordinary autograph sheet of Abraham Lincoln and his cabinet. The full description of this historical piece is as follows and its estimated value is $25000 to $30000.
Ink signatures, “A. Lincoln,” “William H. Seward,” “S. P. Chase,” “Edwin M. Stanton,” “Gideon Welles,” “J. P. Usher,” “M. Blair,” and “Edw: Bates,” on an off-white 5.75 x 8.75 colorfully bordered sheet, headed, “Autographs of the President and Cabinet, 1864.” Nicely mounted, matted, and framed with an engraving of Lincoln and his cabinet and a small plaque to an overall size of 19 x 15.5. In very good to fine condition, with light soiling (primarily to the lower half of the sheet) and a repaired tear to the right side, affecting none of the signatures; Lincoln’s signature is pristine in every regard.
These special autograph sheets were produced for the famous Sanitary Fairs held during the Civil War for the benefit of sick and wounded soldiers. This example—one of few known—was purchased by Elisha N. Sill, a friend of famed abolitionist John Brown, at the Northern Ohio Sanitary Fair in February 1864. Lincoln and his cabinet members donated these autographs to be sold or auctioned at the fairs, and indeed the book Historical Sketch of the Soldiers Aid Society of Northern Ohio describes the fair, saying, ‘Several fine engravings adorn the walls, autographs of Lincoln are for sale here, and useful and fancy goods of every variety.’ The was later found inside Sill’s two-volume set of The American Conflict by Horace Greeley, which had been purchased by Lincoln scholar Judge Lewis D. Slusser about one hundred years ago. An exceedingly rare compilation of autographs, this is a truly remarkable piece of presidential memorabilia.
The feature handwritten letter from Oskar Schindler will be available for bidding at Lot 147.This incredible document is estimated in value at $120000 to $15000. The full description in the online catalog is as follows:
ALS in German, signed upside down at the top of the first page, “Schindler,” one page both sides, 8.25 x 6, Hotel Garni Preussischer Hof letterhead, no date but probably circa 1964. Letter to Itzhak Stern, in full (translated): “Many thanks for the friendly greetings, which I also received from your friend, Mr. Hollerthal! The short conversation was unfortunately overshadowed by the impressions that Mr. Hollerthal got from the Auschwitz event. Our friends in Los Angeles recorded their best wishes for the New Year on an ‘audio tape’ which made me very happy. Mr. Hollerthal will bring it to you as a contribution to the ‘Schindler Archive.’ My political television program has been delayed for two weeks due to the Innsbruck affair. After his television program, produced in Los Angeles, which included things that I witnessed during the war, Poldek Pfefferberg now has a chance to produce a motion picture. Please send my card from H. Hollerthal to Poldek PF. for Mr. Adams to read in L.A.” Inverted at the top of the first page, Schindler concludes: “Please send the above-mentioned letter of recommendation too. I could help him a lot in his work.” In fine condition, with scattered foxing.
A significant letter, this was penned to his friend Itzhak Stern, who had been an accountant at Schindler’s famous enamelware factory in Krakow; Stern is said to have typed the iconic list of Jewish workers known as ‘Schindler’s List.’ Additionally, he mentions Poldek Pfefferberg, one of Schindler’s employees who was saved from the Holocaust through his heroic actions. Pfefferberg moved to Los Angeles in 1950 and was Schindler’s greatest advocate in America, pitching his story to studios for decades before ultimately inspiring author Thomas Keneally to write Schindler’s Ark. Pfefferberg had previously approached Fritz Lang about the project in 1951, and on Pfefferberg’s initiative in 1964, Schindler received a $20,000 advance from MGM for a proposed film treatment of his story—neither film, however, came to fruition. With the additional mention of an “Auschwitz event,” this Schindler letter boasts ideal content in addition to its intrinsic rarity.
The full catalog is showing on iCollector.com up until September 14th, 2016. Interested bidders can contact the auctioneer through the website to discuss being part of the auction and placing bids. RR Auction carefully prepared this incredible catalog and look forward to sharing these treasures with collectors and historians around the world.