Autographs and Memorabilia to be Auctioned at Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions

Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions are delighted to announce their Autographs and Memorabilia and auction, which will be take place on the 1st December (2pm) at Bloomsbury House, 24 Maddox Street, London.

Of particular note is a page torn from an autograph album (pictured) featuring a sketch of Charlie Chaplin as 'The Tramp' with iconic bowler hat and moustache. The page is signed and annotated, "The best I can do. However, my very best wishes, Charlie Chaplin" and is also signed by other members of the Chaplin dynasty, (pictured, Lot 79, Est: £700-£1,000).

Another auction highlight is a letter signed by author Mark Twain using his real name 'S.L. Clemens’ addressed to Mrs Wylie Smith in Glasgow. The letter regards his famous diatribe with Mary Baker Eddy, founder of the 19th century religious movement, Christian Science. Twain and Eddy had an on-going dispute which began in 1907 after Twain’s Christian Science was published. Twain’s Christian Science was a scathing book that harshly criticised Eddy. Despite his critique, Twain was fascinated by Eddy a highly influential woman for her time. In the letter Twain describes Eddy as, “a tramp stealing a ride on the lightning express” and an, “ignorant village-born peasant woman…She has no more intellect than a tadpole. Until it comes to business...then she is a marvel!" The letter includes the original mailing envelope postmarked, “Redding, Aug. 8, 1909” and is estimated at £1,000-1,500 (Lot 187).

For collectors with a keen interest in politics, a highlight of the sale is a photograph of politicians and statesmen including Winston Churchill at the first Council of Europe meeting in Strasbourg in 1949. This photograph is signed by Winston Churchill, Harold Macmillan and Henry Hopkinson and is estimated at £1,000-1,500 (Lot 281).

Historical highlights include a letter signed by polar explorer Ernest Shackleton addressed to Cyril Longhurst, the Secretary of the British National Antarctic Expedition. The letter, dated 17 January 1901, details arrangements for the National Antarctic Expedition (1901-3) also known as the Discovery Expedition after the ship Discovery. The expedition had been many years in preparation and had objectives which included scientific and geographical discovery (Lot 370, Est: £3,000-£5,000). Elsewhere an ink signature by Guy Gibson, the Commanding Officer of the Royal Air Force, famous for leading the Dam Busters raid in 1943 is estimated at £1,000-£2,000 (Lot 310). Gibson, who was awarded the Victoria Cross, completed over 170 operations before his death at the age of 26.

Another key highlight is an autograph letter signed by American artist and sculptor, Gutzon Borglum addressed to his collaborator Jesse Gove Tucker which discusses Borglum's most famous work at Mount Rushmore and includes a sketch of the project. This carries an estimate of £2,000-3,000 (Lot 1).