Marilyn Monroe's First Film Contract and Columbus’s 'Discovery' Letter at Christie's
Christie’s is presenting its Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts including Americana, online October 5-19, featuring significant books and manuscripts.
Leading the sale is the earliest obtainable edition of Christopher Columbus’s letter to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, announcing the 'discovery' of the American continent by a modern European. This 'Epistola de Insulis Nuper Inventis' from 1493 has an estimate of $1,000,000-1,500,000.
Other important printed highlights include:
- a first edition of Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations
- a 'Noble Fragment' leaf from the Gutenberg Bible
- Marilyn Monroe and Greta Garbo's first film contracts
Also going under the hammer is what is believed to be the only contemporary color photograph of the Trinity atomic tests in private hands, and a fine selection of 18th century maps of the east coast of North America sold on behalf of the Glastonbury Historical Society.