Ayn Rand, Lenin, and Tolkien Autographed Works to Auction
Ayn Rand autograph manuscript original leaf from Atlas Shrugged
A signed leaf page by Russian-American writer and philosopher Ayn Rand from Atlas Shrugged, a limited edition first offprint of Nature signed by DNA co-discoverer Francis Crick, and a 1919 document written and signed at the Kremlin by Vladimir Lenin lead University Archives’ online Rare Autographs, Manuscripts, Books & Photographs auction on June 17.
The Ayn Rand autograph manuscript is an original leaf, page 409. The heavily edited manuscript features 80 words in Rand’s hand and describes Dagny Taggart watching John Galt’s plane take off from Galt’s Gutch. The page was saved by Rand’s assistant Barbara Brandon and has an estimate of $40,000-$50,000.
The first offprint of Nature, Vol. 171, from 1953, signed by Francis Crick and other molecular biologists involved in discovering and mapping DNA features three scientific papers including Crick’s co-written A Structure for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid, the first public announcement of a DNA model, and which includes a diagram of the double helix (estimate: $25,000-$30,000).
The Vladimir Lenin signed document, in his role as Chairman of the Defense Council, was written at the Kremlin in Moscow on June 20, 1919. Co-signed by Alexander Tsyurupa, the People’s Commissar for Food Supplies, the document (estimate: $20,000-$30,000) directed local authorities in Crimea to redirect cheese and canned fruits to sick children in northern Russia.
Other highlights include:
a J.R.R. Tolkien autograph signed letter dated November 17, 1957, to a California medical student and Lord of the Rings fan features Tolkien's denial that there is any underlying symbolism in his trilogy, especially of any political nature (estimate: $30,000-$40,000)
a Bruce Lee three-page signed autograph letter dated circa August 1964 to Bill Evans of Black Belt Magazine discussing the symbolism of the yin and yang seal of Bruce Lee’s martial arts school, the Jun Gang Fu Institute (estimate: $25,000-$35,000)
a signed Abraham Lincoln autograph letter written in Springfield, Illinois on February 16, 1842, to fellow attorney Garland Shelledy advising him how to present bankruptcy cases in federal court (estimate: $18,000-$25,000)
a two-page John Wilkes Booth autograph letter, signed and dated April 4, 1864, during a period when Booth began to crystallize plans to kidnap Lincoln, to an unmarried female admirer from the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans (estimate: $15,000-$20,000)
a signed Jack Kerouac autograph letter written in Marin County, California on August 16, 1947, to lifelong friend Edward White, Jr. mentioning several real-life inspirations for characters in On the Road, Visions of Cody, and Book of Cody (estimate: $13,000-$18,000)
The sale will also feature Part IV of the Yousuf & Estrellita Karsh Estate, including signed artwork and books presented to and retained in the personal collection of celebrity photographer Yousuf Karsh.
