Boston — RR Auction is proud to present The Lawrence Miller Collection with online bidding Friday, May 15 through May 21.

Dr. Lawrence E. Miller, an orthopedic surgeon and psychiatrist for more than 60 years, began collecting autographs in 1960 by writing to "the people that changed the world." In his quest for confirmation of political perspectives and historical relevance, Dr. Miller sought out and personally met many US presidents, foreign heads of state, and other famous dignitaries who gladly signed his books.

As his collection grew over the decades, he shared his long-time passion for reading and studying history with his family and friends. Dr. Miller routinely spoke to his four children and eleven grandchildren of the rich history and majesty of America as a way to ensure the passage of a legacy that highlighted his thirst for learning.

This specially curated sale features more than 500 lots from Dr. Miller's collection, highlighted by books signed by presidents including a George Washington signed copy of The Gleaner.

The extraordinary signed book from George Washington's personal library: The Gleaner, Vol. I, by Constantia [Judith Sargent Murray]. First edition. Boston: I. Thomas and E. T. Andrews, 1798. Hardcover bound in contemporary sheep with morocco labels and gilt rules on the spine, 348 pages. Boldly signed on the title page in ink with his ownership signature, "Go: Washington." Loosely laid in are several early 20th-century newspaper clippings covering the disposition of George Washington's personal library upon his death, and later sales of books from it. (Estimate: $80,000+)

John F. Kennedy rare privately printed As We Remember Joe, presented by the future president: "This book is for you with all my thanks—and Joe' s—Jack Kennedy"
Privately printed in an edition of 250. Cambridge, Massachusetts: University Press, 1945. Hardcover bound in red cloth with gilt lettering, 6.25 x 9.25, 75 pages. Signed and inscribed on a card affixed to the first free end page in fountain pen, "Dear Danny: This book is for you with all my thanks—and Joe' s—Jack Kennedy." (Estimate: $8,000+)

John Quincy Adams signed Orations and Correspondence volume presented to General John E. Wool. Unique 'sammelband' book containing several separately printed pamphlets, titled on the spine: Orations By and Correspondence of President John Adams, Presented to General Wool by John Quincy Adams. Hardcover bound in contemporary sheep with gilt spine titling. General John Ellis Wool served in the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, and—at age 77—the Civil War, making him the oldest active general officer on either side. (Estimate: $5,000+)

Among other highlights are documents by signers of the Declaration of Independence, including a Thomas Jefferson twice-signed letter. The Revolutionary War-dated one-page handwritten letter as governor, signed "Th: Jefferson," May 14, 1780. Letter to Colonel Anthony Walton White, "of the Virginia horse in South Carolina," in full: "I do myself the pleasure of transmitting to you the inclosed advice of Council and order in answer to your application to us. The board of trade inform me they have & shall immediately forward to the Southward such stores as will amount to about half the annual allowance." Jefferson addresses the reverse of the second integral page and adds his signature to the upper left. (Estimate: $6,000+)

In addition, the online offering includes a wealth of Supreme Court justices; and leading figures of world history. For more information, go to www.rrauction.com.

Amherst, MA — The Carle is proud to present ART in PLACE: Social Distancing in the Studio, an exhibition featuring inspiring artworks created by more than 20 of today's leading picture-book artists during the global pandemic. The online exhibition will go live on May 26. Each illustrator is sharing one artwork, a self-portrait taken in their studio, and a statement about their selection. The art ranges from drawings to film to sculptural objects, demonstrating the remarkable range and talent in the illustration field. The exhibition poignantly speaks to the many ways the creative community seeks comfort and hope during a difficult time.

Illustrator and author Mo Willems has co-organized the exhibition with Ellen Keiter, The Carle's chief curator. "Mo has been a long-time supporter of the Museum, and knew we had to close our doors in March. He approached us with the idea for the exhibition, feeling it was a way he and other artists could support our mission and the many people who are counting on picture books, especially at this time," says Keiter.

Among the award-winning artists are Beatrice Alemagna, Sandra Boynton, Ashley Bryan, Raúl Colón, Elisha Cooper, Carson Ellis, Marla Frazee, Michaela Goade, Katie Harnett, Vashti Harrison, Ryan T. Higgins, Will Hillenbrand, Hadley Hooper, Julie Morstad, LeUyen Pham, Amber Ren, Dan Santat, Peter Sís, David Small, Melissa Sweet, and Mo Willems.

In the invitation that he and Keiter sent to the artists, inviting them to participate, Willems said: "This is a terrible time. But we have Science and Art. Science will find the solutions. Art will provide the solace."

Exhibition viewers will be encouraged to share the art that they have been making at home during this difficult spring (using #CarleArtInPlace). ART in PLACE is the latest virtual offering from The Carle, and the first digital exhibition the Museum has organized. During its temporary closure, the Museum has been posting online resources for children and adults, all greatly in need of virtual options while they shelter at home. Field trips, collections tours, and inventive art and reading activities are all now available digitally. New content continues to be added on The Carle's Vimeo and YouTube channels and on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @carlemuseum. More information is at www.carlemuseum.org.

ART in PLACE has been made possible by the generous members and donors who support The Carle. Donations of any size are welcome and encouraged and can be made at www.carlemuseum.org/give.

San Marino, CA — The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens announced today that it has acquired the papers of Gilbert, Florence, and Leslee See Leong, members of two of the earliest and most prominent Chinese American families in Los Angeles: the Leong family and the See family. The See family's story was chronicled by novelist Lisa See (b. 1955) in her nonfiction memoir, On Gold Mountain: The One-Hundred-Year Odyssey of a Chinese-American Family.

The collection includes the papers of the Leong family, including Gilbert Leong (1911–1996), a major Chinese American architect in his time and one of the founders of East West Bank; his wife, Florence See Leong (1909–1989); and their daughter, Leslee See Leong (b. 1945), the current owner of F. Suie One Co., a highly regarded Asian antique store in Pasadena, California. The store was established in 1888 and is believed to be the oldest continually operating Asian antique business in the Los Angeles area.

The collection also contains materials from the See family, a small number of architectural drawings by Gilbert Leong, and drawings by the Chinese-born American painter, animator, muralist, and lithographer Tyrus Wong (1910–2016), famous for his contributions to animated films, including The Walt Disney Co.’s “Bambi” (1942). Among Wong’s works in the collection are drawings, calligraphy, homemade Christmas cards, and a set of hand drawn menus that he designed for the See family, who owned the Dragon’s Den restaurant near Chinatown.

Highlights of the newly acquired materials include portrait photos of Fong See, the patriarch of the See family, in Sacramento during the 1870s; a family portrait of him with his wife Letticie Pruett and their five children; and photos of the family on a trip to China in the 1920s and the passports they carried. In addition to family correspondence, there are photos of store merchandise from 1910–1920, business letters, and many photos of Fong See’s antique shops around Los Angeles.

“Fong See came to the U.S. in the 1870s,” said Li Wei Yang, curator of Pacific Rim collections at The Huntington. “He established himself at first in Sacramento by producing and selling fancy underwear for Chinese and American prostitutes. He later met and married Pruett, who encouraged him to pursue other enterprises. They eventually moved from Sacramento to Los Angeles and founded their antique store, F. Suie One Co.”

Many of the materials in the collection relate to the F. Suie One business, including a shipment manifest and other business records from the 1930s; business cards, boxes, and paper bags; photos of store branches across Los Angeles; and exterior and interior photos of F. Suie One Co. locations during the 1960s.

The collection also includes Leong family photograph albums, a few panoramic photographs of Chinese American weddings in the 1930s, and photographs of Gilbert Leong and Tyrus Wong.

The Huntington houses an array of materials for the study of the Pacific Rim. Geographical coverage is strongest for China, Hawaii, Japan, the Philippines, and California, with a current collecting emphasis on Japanese American and Chinese American history in Southern California. Previous acquisitions include the Hong Family Papers, donated in 2006, which contain the legal files of Y. C. Hong, one of the first Chinese American immigration attorneys in California and the United States. The Hong papers include immigration files related to Fong See’s journey to China in the 1920s to visit relatives and purchase antiques for his business.

“As scholars have shown more and more interest in studying the migration and ethnicities of individuals and communities along the Pacific Rim, The Huntington has increased its focus on collecting materials that support such research,” said Sandra L. Brooke, Avery Director of the Library at The Huntington. “The Gilbert, Florence, and Leslee See Leong archive fits perfectly with the Library’s collecting initiative and will provide scholars with excellent material for better understanding the Chinese American experience in both a regional and transpacific context.”

Philadelphia— Continuing its success with private collections and single-owner sales, Freeman’s achieved a 96% sell-through rate for its May 7 auction of The P.G. Wodehouse Collection of William Toplis. The house is pleased to add this strong sell-through rate for a single-owner collection to its list of recent single-owner sale successes.

THE P.G. WODEHOUSE COLLECTION OF WILLIAM TOPLIS
Comprising nearly 200 lots that included first editions, manuscripts, original art, sheet music, libretti, scripts, and much more, the comprehensive, albeit niche, collection elicited interest from Wodehouse aficionados worldwide.

DIGITAL MARKETING CAMPAIGN ATTRACTS NEW BIDDERS
As a result of a robust digital marketing campaign combined with direct outreach to Wodehouse societies and collectors around the globe, 40% of buyers in this auction were new to Freeman’s--a statistic that is consistent with the company’s average for online auctions in 2020. Aggressive and lengthy bidding wars erupted for many of the collection’s most covetable lots, driving selling prices far past their pre-sale estimates.

TOP LOTS: POCKET WATCH AND TYPESCRIPT
Most notably, Lot 177: P.G. Wodehouse’s Pocket Watch, which was elaborately engraved with the author’s monogram, sold for over ten times its high estimate to achieve $4,375. The sale was led by Lot 24: A corrected typescript of Do Butlers Burgle Banks, which featured extensive autographs revisions and annotations in pencil and red and blue ink by Wodehouse himself; the lot exceeded expectations to sell for $8,750.

SINGLE OWNER SALES: FREEMAN’S FOCUS
Selling works from private & corporate collections --whether as stand-alone single-owner sales or featured works within departmental auctions--is considered to be one of Freeman’s strongest areas of achievement.  Recent successes include The Collection of Robert J. Morrison; The Collection of Richard E. Oldenburg; The Collection of Victor Niederhoffer; The Jeff Hunter Collection; and The Collection of Dorrance “Dodo” H. Hamilton.

London — Christie’s Beyond Worlds: Fine Books & Manuscripts online auction, open for bidding from 14 May to 4 June, will present a collection of 12 drawings by Sir Quentin Blake, sold to benefit Comic Relief. The series, titled Imaginary Friends, has been created exclusively by Sir Quentin Blake to raise funds for Comic Relief and illustrate the imaginary companions people in isolation may dream of. Money raised by the drawings will go to charities in the UK and around the world that urgently need support to respond to the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.
 
Sir Quentin Blake commented: “When I was asked to make some drawings for Comic Relief I naturally thought of all those people isolated by lockdown, and I realised that I voluntarily spend quite lot of time on my own, with pen in hand, drawing imaginary friends (well, not always friends, actually).  What I have produced is a dozen imaginary friends whom I thought might be interesting.  I think my own choice would be the girl with the cocktail but I hope there may be imaginary friends here for all kinds of people on their own.”
 
The sale will also present a further selection of illustrations by Sir Quentin Blake to benefit Greenpeace and Survival International.

New York – Christie’s announces that Classic Week, a marquee series of sales featuring 19th-century European Art, Old Master paintings and sculpture, Antiquities, and Books and Manuscripts, will be offered across seven online sales. Bidding opens on June 2 and will close in rolling order from June 16-19. Several distinguished private collections will be offered this season including Ancient Art from the James and Marilyn Alsdorf Collection, Ancient Engraved Gems formerly in the G. Sangiorgi Collection Part II, and Selections from the Library of Lorenzo H. Zambrano: Latin Americana, Science, and Literature.

Standout objects across the sales include a Greek Bronze Corinthian Helmet, a rare first newspaper printing of the Star-Spangled Banner, the original art for Led Zeppelin's debut LP by George Hardie, a painting by Corot once owned by Renoir, and a strong group of rediscoveries including a portrait of Rembrandt by an anonymous artist in his studio.

The online viewing experience will feature enhancements including a relative size and scale viewer for all sales, as well as a virtual gallery view for European Art and Old Master Paintings and Sculpture sales.

SALES OVERVIEW:

ANCIENT ART FROM THE JAMES AND MARILYNN ALSDORF COLLECTION | Online 2-16 June
 
Christie’s is honored to be offering selected Ancient Art from the James and Marilyn Alsdorf Collection. Notable highlights include an Egyptian Painted Linen Mummy Shroud With A Portrait Of A Woman from the Roman Period, Circa 1st-2nd Century A.D.; a Roman Marble Figure Of Hygeia (Circa late 1st century B.C. to early 1st century A.D.); a Roman Marble Venus from 2ND century A.D.; a Roman Marble Bust of the Empress Crispina As Omphale from the Antonine Period (Circa late 2ND century A.D.); and a Roman Marble Portrait Head Of The Young Emperor Caracalla, Circa 196-204 A.D.

ANTIQUITIES | Online 2-16 June

Christie’s Antiquities sale features a strong selection of works from the ancient Mediterranean world dating from the Bronze Age through the 5th century A.D.  Comprised of over 150 lots, highlights include a beautiful Greek bronze Corinthian Helmet from the late 6th century B.C; a stunning Greek marble head of Apollo from the Hellenistic Period (Circa 2nd – 1st century B.C.), which was before acquired from the famed dealer Mathias Komor; a striking Egyptian Granite Head of Pharaoh Senusret III that was previously owned by the West Coast Asian art collector Avery Brundage; and A Greek Bronze Fulcrum Terminal from the Hellenistic Period (Circa 150 B.C.). We are especially honored to be selling the collection of Hanita E. and Aaron Dechter, a thoughtful collection of Greek vases and various Classical works of art including an Attic Black-Figured Lidded Neck-Amphora from the late 6th century B.C.

MASTERPIECES IN MINIATURE: ANCIENT ENGRAVED GEMS FORMERLY IN THE G. SANGIORGI COLLECTION PART II | Online 2-16 June

Christie’s is honored to offer Part 2 of Masterpieces in Miniature: Ancient Engraved Gems formerly in the G. Sangiorgi collection. The sale comprises 30 lots of important carved intaglios and precious metal rings from one of the most celebrated collections still in private hands spanning from the 7th century B.C. to the 16th century A.D. Subjects include a wide range, including Greek mythology, animals and Imperial portraiture. Highlights in this sale includes A Greek Yellow Jasper Ringstone with a Crocodile from Egypt (circa 2nd-1st century B.C.), A Roman gold and Sardonyx Finger Ring with a Nereid Riding a Hippocamp (circa 2nd-1st century B.C.), and a Roman Carnelian Ringstone with a Portrait of The Empress Sabina (circa 130 A.D.).

EUROPEAN ART | Online 2-17 June

The European Art department’s first online sale features a vibrant and diverse selection of 68 lots of paintings and sculpture with a range of attractive estimates from $10,000-250,000. A strong selection of Barbizon school works is headlined by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot’s La Rochelle - un coin de la cour de la commanderie ($80,000-120,000), a work by this most important forerunner to the Impressionist movement which was once owned by Pierre-Auguste Renoir. A particularly notable selection of Symbolist art includes Lucien Lévy-Dhurmer’s dreamlike Sérénade au clair de lune - Venise ($80,000-120,000) among other works by the artist, and a striking imagined landscape by Karl Wilhelm Diefenbach, Sphinx by the Sea ($25-35,000). A large Italianate landscape by Henryk Siemiradzki and studio, At the Fountain ($150,000-250,000), captures in typical detail for the artist the light and atmosphere of early summer. John Atkinson Grimshaw’s Thro' the Wood ($70,000-100,000) is a particular highlight of Victorian works offered in the sale, and a number of paintings presented capture the fashion and elegance of the Belle Époque, among them Victor Gabriel Gilbert’s At the Flower Market ($80,000-120,000). The sale also includes a beautiful group of marble sculptures, led by Pandora by Odoardo Fantacchiotti ($50,000-80,000).

Hamburg, Germany — At the moment the exponential curve is on the tip of everyone's tongue. However, Thomas Robert Malthus explained this important principle in his acclaimed essay on the growth of population as early as in the 18th century. This milestone in modern economics is just one of many sought-after object in the Rare Books Auction. The exponential growth in anticipation of the sale had been prolonged, as the current COVID-19 situation required a six week delay of the auction date. The auction has now been scheduled for July 6. The sale will be held in due consideration of all required distancing and protection measures. Consignments will be accepted until mid May.

INFLUENTIAL: The very rare edition of the important classic An essay on the principle of population, as it affects the future improvement of society by Thomas Robert Malthus is the first factually justified treatise on population growth and its social and economic consequences. The first work to seriously caution against the perils of an exponential growth had great impact on later thinkers like Charles Darwin, John Stuart Mill and Karl Marx. It will be called up with an estimate price of € 60,000.

GLOBAL: The same estimate of € 60,000 is tagged to Civitates orbis terrrarum und Urbium praecipuarum. The lavishly made six volume strong work by the theologian and publisher Georg Braun can be considered a fascinating addition to the famous world atlas Theatrum Orbis Terrarum by the Dutchman Abraham Ortelius. Together with the engraver Frans Hogenberg, who had made various maps by Abraham Ortelius in earlier projects, he realized more than 600 true-to-life city views and maps on a total of around 1,600 pages between 1572 and 1618. They show views of all large and then relevant cities in Europe, Africa, Asia and America.

ILLUMINATED: With the Latin Book of Hours for the use of Troyes, made in France around 1480, a complete and richly illuminated Livre d'Heures from the Champagne region will be called up. The fine borders are teeming with fanciful grotesques and delightful birds. It is estimated at € 30,000.

FEUDAL: Gustav Klimt's only monograph, published during his lifetime, was made in form of a rare and lavishly printed portfolio under the direction of the artist from 1908 to 1914. It is a tremendously extravagant overview of works by the acclaimed representative of the Vienna Secession. The estimate is at € 25,000.

WORLD-FAMOUS: A complete first edition of Hartmann Schedel's prestigious Liber chronicarum will enter the race with the same estimate of € 25,000. The most comprehensive book project of its time is one of the most richly illuminated incunabula of all.

SURREAL: The first edition of the important catalog Le surréalisme en 1947 by André Breton with a total of 25 works by Marcel Duchamp is a contemporary document that "is both a visual and haptic demonstration object of Surrealism" (Lang). This masterpiece of book art is estimated at € 16,000.

LIBERAL: Fernand Léger's painters book with Paul Éluard's poem Liberté j'écris ton nom is an homage to freedom. During the German occupation of France, Paul Éluard expressed his yearning for freedom with this poem in 1942. Shortly after his death it inspired his friend Fernand Léger to make these joyful and gaudy illustrations that were released in an edition of just 200 signed copies in 1953. The bidding race for this colorful work in Leporello fold will be opened with an estimate price of € 15,000.

EXPLORATIVE: The Russian travelogue Puteshestvie Kapitana Billingsa (The Voyage of Captain Billings through Chukchi Country) from 1811 by the navigator and admiral Gavril Andreewich Sarychev may be available for € 10,000. It delivers account of the journey of Captain Billings to the northern Siberian Chukchi people and is one of the very rare complete copies of the first edition with the precious map of the Bering Strait. The work is part of a rich private collection of more than 100 books about journeys and expeditions to the polar region from the 16th to the 20th century, among them works by Olaus Magnus, Adam J. von Krusenstern, William Edward Parry and John Ross.

CRITICAL: The second revised edition of the monumental political work Das Kapital by Karl Marx will be called up in form of a very rare dedication copy for "Mr. Coelho". Compared to the first edition from 1867, this edition from 1872 was thoroughly revised by Marx and increased with numerous additions. The significant copy must have been dedicated to the Portuguese philologist and educational reformist Francisco Adolfo Coelho (1847-1919), who was part of a group of young Portuguese intellectuals with a fancy for the revolutionary tendencies of those days. Together they pursued the goal of changing Portugal's path in science and culture. However, a little capital will be necessary to acquire this fascinating copy with its moderate estimate of € 10,000.

FINALLY, the range of offers is completed by a Luther Bible in Low German and old coloring from 1574 (estimate: € 20,000), as well as by the first edition of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's drama "Götz von Berlichingen" from 1773 and a decorative complete copy of Friedrich Bertuch's famous twelve volume strong Children's Encyclopedia which was released from 1798 to 1830 under the title Bilderbuch für Kinder (both estimated at € 8,000).

Chicago — Potter and Potter's mid-spring event conjured up both international attention as well as breathtaking sales results. After a long day of spirited bidding, 95 lots realized between $1,000-3,999; 17 lots realized between $4,000-$6,999; and 6 lots broke the $7,000 mark. Prices noted include the company's 20% buyer's premium.

Materials from magician Johnny Thompson, the Las Vegas illusionist best known as The Great Tomsoni, stole the show and delivered top shelf results.
•    Lot #470, Thompson’s engraved cups and balls used for his version of the classic sleight-of-hand trick, was estimated at $2,000-4,000 and topped off at an astonishing $14,400. This set was illustrated in The Magic of Johnny Thompson and was noteworthy as their form was based on cups endorsed by his close friend, Charlie Miller.
•    Lot #468, Thompson’s “Great Tomsoni” costume for his Las Vegas magic act, made $6,000 on its $2,500-5,000 estimate. This lot included a custom tailored jacket, a white dress shirt, cummerbund, white bow tie, custom-tailored pants, a satin ribbon/sash, patent leather boots, as well as a number of top hats, props, and a large cloth suitcase.
•    Lot #474, Thompson’s maroon cloth egg bag illusion was estimated at $500-750 and scrambled its way to $6,000. It was used for his performance of the venerable egg bag effect, in which an egg, placed in the bag, vanished and reappeared repeatedly, even when the bag was in the hands of an audience volunteer.
•    Lot #480, Thompson’s Mora Balls and net with mold realized $2,880 on its $200-400 estimate. These items were used for the magician's signature version of this trick in which the spheres traveled from one hand to the other, with a see-through handkerchief held by two spectators being used as a table.
•    Lot #585, a set of The Great Tomsoni and Company hand lettered signs in uniform metal frames scored $1,920 - nearly ten times their high estimate.

Important broadsides and advertising posters from two centuries of entertainers and troupes took several of the top slots in this extraordinarily successful sale.

•    Lot #363, a handsome, framed poster promoting Harry Kellar’s Latest Theosophic Wonder, sold for $7,200. It featured Kellar in a scene from his performance of the Morritt Cage illusion.
•    Lot #365, a broadside for Maskelyne & Cooke’s Marvellous Entertainment from the Egyptian Hall, London, made $6,600. This c. 1880 lithograph featured highlights from the troupe's spooky show including spirit cabinet and table lifting effects, a ghostly manifestation, and a dancing, decapitated skeleton.
•    Lot #341, a c. 1920 broadside promoting The Great Carmo. The Colossus of Mystery realized $5,760 on its $400-800 estimate. This handsome bust portrait featured the circus impresario and illusionist Harry Cameron (1881-1944) in a green turban, with two prominent hoop earrings.
•    Lot #196, a Professor Herrmann advertising flyer printed in London and dated 1873 achieved $2,280 on its $250-350 estimate. This piece promoted Herrmann’s daily program at Egyptian Hall, as well as Alexandre Osmann, the Celebrated African Wizard.

This sale's noteworthy selections of magic themed notebooks and scrapbooks were also best sellers.
•    Lot #311, an 1880s-era scrapbook of magic, ventriloquist, and thought-reading materials, made its way to $5,280. This collection was likely gathered by magician and ventriloquist Sidney Oldridge, and included a variety of printed documents related to variety entertainments in London in the late Victorian era.
•    Lot #246, a signed, c. 1908 notebook of secrets from Harry Houdini’s collection sold for $9,000 - three times its high estimate! This personal diary was filled with notes, diagrams, and descriptions of magic tricks and apparatus in two different hands.
•    Lot #185, Horace Goldin’s trick/illusion idea notebook realized $5,040 on its $800-1,200 estimate. Its author, stage magician Hyman Elias Goldstein (American, 1873-1939), rose to international stardom with his versions of the sawing a woman in half illusion.

Outstanding ephemera examples with ties to some of the most popular magicians of the past two centuries also delivered eye-popping results.
•    Lot #224, an important Harry Houdini typed signed letter regarding spiritualism sent to the editor of the British Journal of Psychical Research delivered $7,200 on its $1,500-2,500 estimated. Dated June 24, 1924, this note addresses his ongoing crusade against, and research into, the subject of spiritualism.
•    Lot #531, a Vincent Price signed “Les Sorcery” script cover and related ephemera was estimated at $100-150 and soared to $1,140. This lot included a framed script cover page, inscribed: For John [Thompson] gratefully and affectionately/Vincent.; a full copy of the same script; a promotional folder and a program for the stage version; 13 color Kodak snapshots; and “Les Sorcery” spoof coloring book.
•    Lot #537, a photograph of Dai Vernon, inscribed and signed to Johnny Thompson, beat its high estimate five times over, realizing $6,000. It was signed, To ‘Tomsoni’/a very wonderful friend and a truly superlative artist with a beautiful assistant ‘Pam’/with admiration/Dai Vernon/March 25th 1989.

Century spanning magic books, souvenirs and awards, and personal effects closed the loop on this memorable event.
•    Lot #154, Chung Ling Soo’s c. 1915 only known wig with an attached braided pigtail was estimated at $3,000-6,000 and landed at $10,200. This fully provenanced rarity consisted of a flesh colored cloth skullcap with an attached human hair ponytail braid measuring nearly a yard long.
•    Lot #446, one of 50 presentation copies of the deluxe first edition of Teller and Todd Karr's House of Mystery: The Magic Science of David P. Abbott was estimated at $500-700 made $5,760. This two volume set was published by The Miracle Factory of Los Angeles in 2005. This particular copy was presented to Johnny and Pam Thompson and signed by Teller, Todd Karr, and Katlyn Breene, with an additional personal inscription by Teller.
•    Lot #332, a Magic Circle commemorative cast brass magic mirror, produced in England in 2005 by David G. Burder, traded hands at $1,560 - almost eight times its low estimate. It was one of fifty issued for the centenary of the Magic Circle and was decorated with zodiac symbols surrounding a magic lantern at its center.

According to Gabe Fajuri, President at Potter & Potter Auctions, "To call our May magic auction a resounding success would be a gross understatement. With a near-perfect sell-through rate at prices that were some 40% above the high estimates, we saw new collectors from around the globe participating at unprecedented levels. The love for Johnny Thompson has been evident to us based on the response we have received from happy customers, and the never-ending popularity of Harry Houdini was on display full force on auction day. The sheer amount of bidding slowed the pace of the auction considerably, making what would have been a shorter sale last nearly ten hours. The online audience watching the live video stream - something we view as a necessity in these uncertain times, where salerooms have no live bidders - undoubtedly contributed to the more leisurely pace, and also the bolstered bottom line."

Coral Gables, FL – An important collection of 37 original British patent letters pertaining to Thomas Edison’s invention of the light bulb and the birth of incandescent lighting, dating from 1878 to 1884, is the expected headliner in an Internet-only auction ending May 14th at 8 pm Eastern time by One of a Kind Collectibles. Bidding is open now, at www.OAKauctions.com.

The historical significance of Edison’s inventions, and the 37-patent archive that documents their development in Europe, cannot be overstated. The man who said that genius was “one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration” saw his sweat pay off handsomely, as all of humankind was pulled out of the nighttime darkness and into increased productivity, albeit a little less sleep.

“This is one of the most historic science archives to ever come to market, representing the very dawn of electric light,” said David Gindy of One of a Kind Collectibles. “These patents comprise the European holdings of Edison’s archive, to include his patent in 1879 for the light bulb, only the most valuable patent ever granted, and the 1880 patent relating to the incandescent lamp.”

The archive also features patents for Joseph Swann, the English inventor also working on the light bulb at the same time; and George Westinghouse’s Chesbrough patent of 1878, which he used to get the contract to illuminate the Columbian Exposition, as chronicled in the film Current Wars. All 37 patents are being offered as a single lot. The minimum bid has been set at $10,000.

The rest of the auction – around 150 lots in all – is no less impressive, and features items in a wide range of categories, to include historical, presidential, science, sports, aviation, art and literature. The names in the sale are also impressive and wide-ranging, such as Abraham Lincoln, George and Ira Gershwin, Muhammad Ali, Bruce Lee, Albert G. Spalding and Rain in the Face.

Lincoln is always a big attraction with collectors. A letter written and signed by Lincoln on Jan. 5, 1861 – after his victory as president and before his inauguration – has a minimum bid of $500. The letter, on a 6 inch by 3 inch sheet, is in response to an autograph request from an “R. M. Green”. “I herewith send you my autograph which you request,” Mr. Lincoln very kindly wrote.

A milestone agreement from the early days of professional baseball, signed by Albert Spalding, also has a minimum bid of $500. The 1883 document agrees to telegraph scores of the Chicago Ball Club (of which Spalding was a part owner), in-game, to their many fans nationwide. In a sense, the agreement documents one of the earliest examples of a nationwide sports “tele-cast.” Spalding, a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, was a pitcher, team manager and executive.

An archive of material from James Yimm “Jimmy” Lee – martial arts legend Bruce Lee’s friend, student and certified instructor – has a minimum bid of $200. The archive contains rare Kung-Fu books written by Jimmy Lee, a signed photo of him breaking bricks and, most important, a 1964 letter in which Lee recounted Bruce Lee’s victorious fights over Wong Jack Man and G. Fu Man.

George and Ira Gershwin’s signed contract to write the musical scores (songs and lyrics) for the 1937 RKO movie Shall We Dance, starring the brothers’ friends Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, two pages in mint condition and signed in bold ink by both men on page 2, has a minimum bid of $100. It would be George and Ira’s final collaboration; George died from a brain tumor in 1937.

Albert Einstein is another name that’s hugely popular with collectors. A letter typed and signed by the renowned theoretical physicist, in German, carries a minimum bid of $500. The letter, to Einstein’s friend Dr. Isidore Held, is dated Feb. 5, 1939 and discusses an upcoming meeting to talk about a situation involving Dr. Rudolf Ehrmann, at one time Einstein’s personal physician.

A limited-edition copy of the iconic photograph of Muhammad Ali standing over a fallen Sonny Liston during their 1965 rematch, signed by Sports Illustrated photographer Neil Leifer (#16 of 350), has a minimum bid of $200. The photo is signed and inscribed by Leifer to Arthur Cooper, GQ Magazine’s editor-in-chief for over twenty years and a huge promoter of both Ali and Leifer.

Rain in the Face was one of the most feared and respected Native American warriors of the late 19th century. The Hunkpapa Lakota Indian is believed to have delivered the death blow to Gen. George A. Custer at the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876. An original half-length cabinet photo of Rain in the Face in a jacket and tie, signed on the reverse in pencil, has a minimum bid of $500.

Napoleon Bonaparte needs to introduction, especially not to collectors who diligently seek out items signed by the French general. A lengthy letter written and signed by Napoleon, in French, dated March 29, 1802, in which he transmits numerous military orders across four pages on two adjoining sheets has a minimum bid of $200. The letter is on Consul de la Republique letterhead.

An autograph book containing the signatures of many luminaries, mostly from the Civil War era, has a minimum bid of $200. The signers include presidents John Quincy Adams and Millard Fillmore, Charles Sumner, Wendell Phillips, William Cullen Bryan, William H. Seward, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Horace Greely. Also included are Civil War passes and currency.

A vintage photograph of three of the men who helped raise an American flag atop Iwo Jima’s Mount Suribachi in World War II, has a minimum bid of $200. The photo, signed in fountain pen by all three men, shows the soldiers holding and examining a tattered second flag. The photo, in fine condition, is archivally matted and framed to an overall size of 15 ¼ inches by 13 ½ inches.

A certificate of heroism and appreciation pertaining to the worst airship disaster in U.S. history – the USS Akron, which went down in flames in April 1933, killing 76 people – has a minimum bid of $100. The document, given to Sgt. Joseph Forsythe of the New York police, is signed by many of aviation’s most famous figures, including Charles Lindbergh and Eddie Rickenbacker.

One of a Kind Collectibles Auction was founded in 1994. The firm is dedicated to autographs, art, documents, philatelic, coins, currency and fine collectibles. To receive a free catalog, call 1-800-570-7273, or fill out the form that’s on the company website: www.OAKauctions.com.

One of a Kind Collectibles Auction is always accepting quality consignments for future auctions. To consign a single piece or an entire collection, you may call toll-free, 800-570-7273, or e-mail to consign@oneofakindauctions.com. They offer quick turnaround and immediate cash options. To learn more, or to register and bid now for the May 14th auction, visit www.OAKauctions.com.

New York — This rare working manuscript takes us back to Nashville in the early months of 1966, when Bob Dylan, at the height of his powers, was writing his seventh studio album, Blonde on Blonde.

Here we see the outpouring of fevered creativity that lay behind the classic album, as he penned out ideas for Most Likely You Go Your Way in four typed lines of text at the bottom of the page: “you say disturb me & you don’t deserve ǀ well honey sometimes you lie ǀ you say you’re sorry…… ǀ well I’ll go at last…let you pass”. It was these lines which formed the kernel from which Most Likely grew, with the page being then filled with another 11 lines of handwritten lyrics as Dylan developed the song. The combination of typescript and manuscript is typical of Dylan's mid-60s drafts.

Most Likely was to become one of the album’s most memorable songs and a stalwart of Dylan's live performances, most notably serving as the opening and closing number in his 1974 tour with The Band (recorded as Before the Flood).

What gives this manuscript exceptional interest, however, is the presence of a second, abandoned song alongside the draft of this well-known piece. Typed over twelve lines across the top half of the page, the song contains a repeated refrain about “running with the devil”, before ending in a fragmentary state after some twelve lines with the words: "It's just me and you .. Far from home/ there we were far from calvery".

Estimated at £12,000-15,000, the manuscript is offered as part of Sotheby’s online sale of English Literature, History, Children's Books and Illustrations, open for bidding from 5-12 May.

Elsewhere in the sale, further highlights include: a letter from Winston Churchill to Squadron Leader Neville Duke, following a tragedy at the Farnborough Air Show causing the death of 29 people (est. £6,000-8,000); a silver cigarette case presented by Winston Churchill to his driver during a visit to Canada in 1929 (est. £3,000 - 3,500); an original unpublished watercolour for the character of “The Drunkard” in The Little Prince (est. £10,000-15,000); and location notes relating to Stanley Kubrick’s legendary unfinished film on Napoleon (est. £10,000-15,000).