New Fine Autographs and Artifacts Auction

The latest lot sale held by RR Auction brings together quite the impressive collection of fine autographs and artifacts related to US Presidents and First Ladies. The auction started this January and the available items can be browsed online on the Boston based auction house website. The impressive amount of official documents and signed letters will certainly awe collectors, especially those who are passionate about American history.

One of the most valuable items in this collection is a letter signed by James A. Garfield dated on June 3, 1881 (one month before his assassination) which addresses the touchy subject of patronage. The two page letter measures 4.25 X 6.75 inches and was sent to Wharton Barker, a highly influential Philadelphia banker. As it turns out, Barker was the first person to support Garfield when he ran for president, as well as when he crafted the policy on international trade. The letter reads: “Since you were here, I have seen some people from Philadelphia who say there will be a great deal dissatisfaction if more people are brought into the Philad’a offices from other parts of the state—This, in connection with my embarrassment in reference to the names already sent to the Senate—leads me to think we had not better go in the direction named at least for the present. I will delay at any rate until Windom returns."

This document is in fine condition, apart from some old tape residue to the upper left corner on the second page. Apart from that, the letter also has some partial splitting to one fold. However, being such a rare item, it has been estimated at ovet $40.000. 

The lot sale also includes other impressive names, from Theodore Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and even Barack Obama. On top of that, it features items that range from letters, autographed pictures and even diaries. Anyone interested in the collectibles should browse RR Auction’s online catalogue and even check out their social media for constant updates on various events.

Olympic Memorabilia Auction from RR Auction

The Olympic Records and Rivals auction from RR Auction. More details can be found online at www.rrauction.com

Bonnie and Clyde memorabilia from RR Auction

This might come as a shock to most collectors, but it seems that Bonnie and Clyde memorabilia have never gone out of style. In fact, there is actually a very great demand for them as the notorious gangster couple seems to have left quite a significant mark not only in the American, but in world culture as well. As it turns out, RR Auction, the Boston – based auction house has an impressively vast experience in dealing with Bonnie and Clyde collectibles.

In a top 10 most expensive Bonnie and Clyde memorabilia ever sold, justcollecting.com mentions that eight of them have passed through RR Auction at some point. Some of the most impressive items in in this category are a cosmetic case that belonged to Bonnie Parker and a coin that belonged to Clyde Barrow. Both of these items were found in the couple’s death car during inspection. The cosmetic case was the only feminine touch object in the car and was kept by Texas Ranger Frank Hamer until RR Auction sold it for $26,400. The coin which was found in Clyde Barrow’s jacket pocket was retained by a posse member named Ted Hilton. After reaching another infamous outlaw, Paulie Castellano, the coin was sold for no less than $32,400.

However, the two most expensive and impressive items regarding the notorious duo that were sold by RR Auction are two weapons that used to belong to them: Clyde Barrow’s 1911 Army Colt .45 pistol and Bonnie Parker’s Colt Detective Special .38 Revolver. Both of these handguns were retained by posse leader Frank Hamer who was allowed to pick whatever souvenirs he wished from the gangster’s death car. It is believed that Clyde Barrow’s Colt was actually stolen from the federal arsenal in Beaumont, Texas. An interesting fact about Bonnie Parker’s Colt is that it was found taped on the inside of her thigh with white, medical tape as police officers would have never searched a woman that thoroughly back then. The handguns were sold by RR Auction for over $240,000 each.

Back in 2012, RR Auction had one of the most amazing Gangsters, Outlaws and Lawmen auctions that included most of these items. Even recently, the auction house had a chilling Bonnie and Clyde letter available for auction. The letter was addressed to a former gang member, Raymond Hamilton and it is said that it was written by Bonnie and signed by Clyde. This piece of private correspondence truly shows the nature of the couple’s relation with their gang members and just how ruthless they could be.

In any case, Bonnie and Clyde remain to this day very important icons and that is the main reason why every item even remotely related to them is so desirable in any collection. What can be concluded is that RR Auction has a knack for finding and selling this type of memorabilia. For additional details on their future auctions, you can check out their Facebook page and Twitter posts.

Great opportunity to bid on a unique NASA designed robot

This September RR Auction is giving everyone the amazing opportunity to bid on an extraordinary robot designed by NASA. The item is part of a much larger sale of Remarkable Rarities which also include other space – related collectibles. The auction will take place in two stages, one online lasting ten days and the other one will be a live auction taking place on the 26^th in Boston.

The robot in question was specifically designed by NASA to test space suits, as using human subjects would have been dangerous. According to cnet.com, the human body is unable to withstand such low air pressures as the ones in outer space and that is precisely why it is necessary for astronauts to wear those space suits. However, back in the 1960s, with the space race in full bloom, NASA needed concrete information and accurate data regarding the space suits and this is basically how the Power Driven Articulated Dummy (PDAD) came to be created.

As reported by wired.co, the project lasted about two years, from May 1963 to July 1965, during which time two robots were built by scientists at the IIT Research Institute in Chicago. Out of the two dummies, one is currently owned and displayed by the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and the other one is going on the auction block in just a couple of weeks. Given that there were only two such androids ever created, it is understandable why the item is considered such a rarity and why it was estimated by RR Auction at an impressive $80,000.

The purpose of the robot was to test and see how the human body would act in a space suit. In order to gather relevant information, PDAD was designed to perform and replicate around 35 human body movements. As stated by space.com, the android weighs 230lbs and is adjustable in height. As it turns out, when building it, its designers had the average height of an American male in mind. This is why PDAD can go from 5 feet and 5 inches to 6 feet and 2 inches in height. The robot is covered in a 1/32 inch thick aluminum layer,, the head is made out of fiber glass and the facial part is removable in order to allow access to the connections on the inside.

In order to perform all the necessary movements to test the space suits, PDAD was equipped with a circulatory system of nylon tubes, as specified on engaget.com. Oil would flow through these tubes and allow the dummy to move.

Even though the idea of building such a robot and the way in which it was designed back in the 1960s are beyond innovative, the project did not manage to reach its final goal. The pressure was too much for that circulatory system so that the robot would move without leaking oil. The issue was attempted to be resolved by putting the dummy in a scuba wetsuit, but it seems that did not work, because in July 1965 the project was dropped and the funds were allocated to other research.

There is no doubt that RR Auction is giving collectors an amazing opportunity with this item. The robot up for auction is now missing a hand and forearm, has a few dents on the outer aluminum skin and part of its circuits are damaged. However, given that it is a one of a kind item, it is expected to be one of the stars in RR Auction’s lot.

Detailed information on PDAD can be found on RR Auction’s webpage. Interested collectors can also follow their Facebook https://www.facebook.com/rrauction/ and Twitter https://twitter.com/rrauction posts for upcoming auctions and amazing deals!

Remarkable Rarities: Elite 100 Preview Now at RR Auction

RR Auction has launched their online preview of a new auction they will be holding this September. This auction, titled Remarkable Rarities: Elite 100, opens for bids on September 15^th and features a number of incredibly rare and unique documents and artifacts from famous world figures throughout the ages.

The online preview can be found on their website and includes lots such as authentic documents from the foundling days of the United States to robot dummies from NASA.

Some valuable lots that are worth checking out include the following:

·         A rare letter written and signed by the first president of the United States George Washington, dated October 12, 1796 and in fine condition. The contents of the letter show Washington responding to comments about his historic presidential farewell address in which he stated the United States to strive to remain neutral in the world. He states that he is confident that Americans will choose a suitable second president, this being written after he had just rejected serving a third term despite overwhelming popular demand. This remarkable example of Washington’s prose and confidence in the American people is estimated to auction for an astonishing $150,000.

·         An incredibly rare photograph of President Abraham Lincoln reading a book with his 10-year-old son Tad. The photograph is mounted and signed by Lincoln himself. Due to the rarity of such a high quality photograph of Lincoln, this document is estimated to be worth $100,000.

·         A 1951 Bowman Jets, Rockets, and Spacemen original card set that comes with 20 original artboards, two one–cent wax packs and an original Jets, Rockets, and Spacemen uncut sheet of nine cards. This set has the highest GPA from PSA, the points given to distinguish the quality of the sets from one another --- 8.981! This is a remarkable opportunity to obtain such a high number of original artboards, collected one-by-one over the years. The set is estimated to auction for $100,000.

·         An amazing hydraulically powered robot dummy created by IIT Research Institute for NASA to use while testing space suits. The dummy is equipped with torque sensors on its joints to gather data on forces imposed on the human body by a pressurized suit. Only two were ever produced, the other robot dummy currently owned by the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. This large rare robot suit is estimated to auction for $80,000.

·         A custom-made grey and black two-piece suit created by noted Beatles tailor Douglas Millings, who designed the majority of the Beatles stage clothing from 1962 to 1966, this particular suit designed for John Lennon. This suit is estimated to auction for $65,000.

For continuous updates on rare and historic documents and artifacts in upcoming and current auctions, please also follow RR Auction’s Twitter at https://twitter.com/rrauction and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RR_Auction

Royalty and Rock N’ Roll at RR Auction

A new “Fine Autographs and Artifacts” auction opened this month at Boston-based RR Auction, a trusted source for authentic and rare autographs. This auction features a variety of documents and historic artifacts that would appeal to a myriad mix of collectors. The vast selection of available items includes documents written by America’s Founding Fathers to the weapons commissioned by foreign royalty nearly a century ago.

All lots can be viewed in their organized and full-color virtual catalog. Several notable items from this auction include:

·         An authentic and professionally cleaned 1808 letter written by and signed by Thomas Jefferson: “Th: Jefferson.” This one page letter is addressed to Secretary of War, Henry Dearborn, concerning an “estimate of the blocks at N. York,” a likely reference to the expensive preparation for the Erie Canal project that troubled Jefferson due to the costs. This document is estimated to be sold at auction for $18,000.

·         A rare three page document signed by the two Spanish monarchs who sponsored Christopher Columbus’s voyages to the New World, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. The royal decree document is written in Spanish and signed “Yo el Rey” and “Yo la Reyna,” dated March 28, 1494. The decree, with an intact embossed seal, grants certain privileges to a Toledo citizen. This rare example of signatures from two influential historic monarchs is estimated to auction for $15,000.

·         A custom-made engraved Beretta Carcano M1891 Cavalry Carbine with a gold finish, one of the four guns commissioned in 1939 by Prince Amadeo di Savoia, Viceroy of Italian East Africa. The carbine, with a folding spike bayonet, is engraved with a beautiful gold rose and dragon. This weapon is estimated to auction for $5000.

·         A 1970s glossy photo autographed by music legend Bob Dylan: “To John, from Bob Dylan.” This photo will be recognized as the cover art from Dylan’s 1964 album The Times They Are a-Changin’. This rare vintage photo is estimated to auction for $3000.

Be sure to check out the item galleries on RR Auction’s website. This auction closes on August 10^th.  

For continued updates on rare and historic documents and artifacts in upcoming auctions, please also follow RR Auction’s Twitter at https://twitter.com/rrauction and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/rrauction/.

Local Olympic History Found at RR Auction

RR Auction has made a name for themselves as a source of authentic artifacts and autographs all over the world, but they are also becoming known for the light they shine on local histories with their auctions. Again this auction house is showing that they are a fantastic source for pairing collectors with famous historical mementos from their hometowns with the attention they are receiving in local newspapers across the country.

This July, RR Auction’s Olympic Memorabilia features a number of items that have history in cities across the United States. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote specifically on a gold-plated brass and aluminum replica torch signed by the late and great boxing legend Muhammad Ali. The torch, with a Georgian pecan hardwood handle, was lit by Ali in the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics.

The item at auction is not the exact torch used by the legend to spread the Olympic flame, but a replica. Several thousand were produced to be distributed as gifts. However, Ali certainly didn’t sign that many --- only a few. And one of those few has made it to RR Auction.

An accompanying photograph with this lot shows Ali with the torch.
Other impressive and rare Olympic items available throughout the next few days include:

·         A silver-colored brass and steel alloy 1952 Oslo Winter Olympics torch, estimated to auction for $75,000+.

·         The 1988 Calgary Olympics torch, constructed from aluminum with a maple handle, the handle decorated with pictograms and the ball at the bottom bearing the engraving “Citius, Altius, Fortius,” the Olympic motto. This torch is estimated to auction for $50,000+.

·         A rare gold medal from the 1908 London Summer Olympics, featuring an engraving of the image of St. George, England’s patron saint, slaying a dragon. This medal is estimated to auction for $15,000+.

·         A silver medal from the 1912 Stockholm Summer Olympics, engraved with the image of Ling, the founder of Swedish gymnastics, is estimated to auction for $20,000+ due to these medals’ scarcity.

·         A bronze medal from the 1960 Squaw Valley Winter Olympics Ice Hockey World Championship is estimated to auction for $4,000+.

There are many more examples of Olympic memorabilia for auction and the local history of American cities being featured on RR Auction’s website.

For continued updates on rare and historic documents and artifacts for auction, please follow RR Auction’s Twitter at https://twitter.com/rrauction and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/rrauction/.