A piece of the original silver-colored cloth from the fuselage of the Spirit of St. Louis signed by Charles A. Lindbergh, just days after the historic trans-Atlantic solo flight that instantly catapulted the young American pilot to lasting worldwide fame and recognition, comes up at an online sale by Lion Heart Autographs on June 15. The section of cloth, signed “Charles A. Lindbergh,” is of extraordinary rarity because no other examples signed by Lindbergh when he landed in Paris are known. It is estimated at $15,000-20,000.
Among more than 140 lots is a rare handwritten manuscript by Albert Einstein dealing with matter and cosmological structure and containing a variant of the central formula for his theory of general relativity ($60,000-80,000); a 1797 letter by Josephine Bonaparte requesting compensation for a Bolognese farmer whose hemp was confiscated by Napoleon’s army during the first campaign against the Papal States ($2,500-3,500); an order signed by Catholic monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella punishing adulterous behavior in 1492 and written at the same time as Columbus was exploring the New World, shortly after his discovery of America ($10,000/12,000): six ink drawings by President Ronald Reagan on a sheet of White House stationery including a horse’s head, a self-portrait as a cowboy and cartoon characters including Fu Manchu and Jiggs ($9,000-12,000) and ten telegrams regarding survivors and casualties of the Titanic ($3,000-5000).
The auction will take place online, partnering with Boston-based www.Invaluable.com, one of the world’s leading online auction platforms and www.eBayliveauctions.com, both of which offer live, real-time online bidding from around the world. Lion Heart Autographs is a New York based dealer in autographs and manuscripts focusing on art, history, literature, music, and science.
Charles Lindbergh signed fabric from the fuselage of the Spirit of St. Louis. All images courtesy Lion Heart Autographs
Rare manuscript written by Albert Einstein, Theory of Relativity
Signed order by Ferdinand & Isabella 1492
Example of one of ten telegrams sent after the sinking of the Titanic from survivors or relatives
Ronald Reagan doodles courtesy Lion Heart Autographs