“The Property of a Distinguished American Private Collector, Part IV” at <i>Profiles in History</i> on July 11
Los Angeles—CA—June 24th, 2014—The nation’s renowned auction house, Profiles in History, (www.profilesinhistory.com) has set July 11, 2014 (11 a.m. PST) to present the highly anticipated The Property of a Distinguished American Private Collector IV, the next auction of the series. Following the immensely successful Parts I, II, and III, the newest auction will represent a wide array of single lots, meticulously compiled groups and comprehensive archives.
“Our previous ‘Distinguished’ auctions have had enormous success, with sales results exceeding $11.5 million, “stated Joe Maddalena, President and CEO, of Profiles in History. “We have carefully assembled one our most comprehensive offerings, an amazing embodiment of tangible historical artifacts that are certain to capture the attention, and certainly the curiosity, of collectors worldwide.”
Among the 112 lots offered in the Profiles in History auction, worldwide buyers will have the occasion to possess such historical pieces as:
- Autographed letter signed by John Quincy Adams. While serving as a member of the US House of Representatives, Adams comments on the current war between Great Britain and China--a conflict with elements similar to those of the American Revolutionary War. Within, he invokes the hallowed words of the Declaration of Independence as he sides with the Chinese. “… all men are created equal… If the Lecturer has failed in showing the application of these principles to the vitals of the present issue between Great Britain and China… ” ($5000-$8000)
- One of the key highlights of the auction will be the Thomas Jefferson address signed as President to the Chiefs of the Cherokee Nation, 1806. The highly important manuscript signed (“Th: Jefferson”) of his Address entitled “My Friends & Children Chiefs of the Cherokee Nation” - a sterling example of Jefferson’s great eloquence following treaty negotiations for greater definition of the boundaries for the Cherokee Indians. Jefferson lauds the Cherokees on their accomplishments but sternly advises against further warring. Stressing peace and harmony, Jefferson’s words transcend time. ($150,000 -$250,000)
- An extraordinary archive featuring an array of Ernest Hemingway letters capturing some turbulent moments in his life insinuating that his debauchery would lead to his divorce from Martha Gellhorn. A significant collection of eight letters that reaches into the personal tumult of an iconic American writer who so influenced the world of literature. A literary genius, Hemingway was fraught with an array of personal problems that can be seen in the present archive, documents and a publication. ($12,000-$18,000);
- Samuel Langhorne Clemen’s (Mark Twain) handwritten autographed letter explaining in great detail the origination of his “Mark Twain” pseudonym. “…..but to state in a word, I took the name from the leadsman’s cry: it mean’s 2 fathoms, 12 feet….” ($5000 - $7000)
- Highly important typed letter signed from Orville Wright (“Wilbur and Orville Wright per O. Wright”) to Carl Dienstbach, a New York City musician and the U.S. correspondent for the German journal “Illustrierte Aeronautische Mitteilungen,” on “Wright Cycle Company, 1127 West Third Street, Dayton, Ohio” letterhead stationery, with Orville’s handwritten postscript added at the end of the letter. “…A good deal of doubt exist in Europe as to whether there is any truth in the reports that have been made concerning our flights of 1903 and 1904….” ($15,000 -$25,000)
Qualified bidders can participate in person, by telephone, submit absentee bids or participate online in real time from anywhere with Internet access across the globe. For more information, please visit www.profilesinhistory.com.
Auction Details:
July 11, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. PST
Location: Profiles in History Offices
26662 Agoura Road, Calabasas, CA 91302; Phone: 310-859-7701
About Profiles In History:
Founded in 1985 by Joseph Maddalena, Profiles in History is the world’s largest auctioneer & dealer of original Hollywood Memorabilia, historical autographs, letters, documents, vintage signed photographs and manuscripts. www.profilesinhistory.com
A SAMPLING OF THE AUCTION’S LOTS
- Robert E. Lee’s Autograph letter signed, 3 pages (9.62 x 7.87 in.; 244 x 200 mm.), Old Point [Virginia], 15 June 1831, to Mary Lee Fitzhugh Custis; with attached address overleaf addressed in R.E. Lee’s hand. Fresh out of West Point, the young and poor Robert E. Lee writes to his future mother-in-law just two weeks before he is to marry Mary Custis.
Auction Pre-Sale Estimate: $5,000 - $8,000
- [Sons of Liberty] Letter signed with secretarial signatures of Thomas Chase, William Lux, D. Chamier, Rob[er]t Alexander, and Rob[er]t Adair. One page, (13 x 8.25 in.; 330 x 210 mm.), Baltimore, [Maryland], 8 March 1766, to unnamed gentlemen. We firmly Unite with you for the Preservation of our Constitutional Rights and Liberties.
Auction Pre-Sale Estimate: $10,000 - $15,000
- From George Washington a Revolutionary War-Date letter signed as Commander-in-Chief (“ Go Washington”), 2 pages (13.12 x 8.25in.; 333 x 210 mm.), Head Quarters, Valley Forge, [1 May] 1778, the body of the letter in the hand of his secretary, Tench Tilghman, to Colonel George Baylor who had served, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, as Washington’s aide-de-camp (15 August 1775 - 9 January 1777)
Auction Pre-Sale Estimate: $15,000 - $25,000
- From Horatio Nelson the lot features two autograph letters signed twice (“Nelson and Bronte” and “Nelson & Bronte”), on a bifolium, 3 pages (8 x 7.75 in.; 225 x 198mm), 9 and 10 February 1801, to an unidentified confidant; A staggering pair of letters revealing Horatio Nelson’s despair upon learning of the future George IV’s interest in Lady Emma Hamilton.
Auction Pre-Sale Estimate: $6000 - $8000
