CHESAPEAKE CITY, Md. (PRNewswire) – On the eve of the 2018 midterm elections, Maryland auctioneers Alexander Historical Auctions has announced the Nov. 13-14 sale of some controversial historical items led by a book signed and inscribed by Chinese Chairman Mao Zedong. Absentee and Internet live bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.
The communist leader inscribed his 1942 book titled The New Democracy: “Let us unite with all democratic countries to conquer the Japanese-Italian-German fascism and to build a new world of peace and democracy. Mao Tse-Tung”. Mao inscribed the book (above) to a French nobleman fleeing the invading Japanese at Peking.
The Mao document is a rarity – only a few such signed pieces come to market every decade, and virtually none from this early date have even the slightest political content. The estimate is $150,000-$250,000, but auction prices for Mao’s items in the past have been much higher.
Also being offered Nov. 14 by Alexander Historical Auctions is a photograph of Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, inscribed and signed for 7-year-old Rosa Bernile Nienau, often called “Hitler’s sweetheart.” They grew close visiting at Hitler’s retreat in Bavaria and shared the same birthday (April 20). When it was discovered one of the Nienau’s grandmothers was a Jew, Hitler continued their friendship for years and refused all efforts to ban her from his company. Eventually the dictator gave in and the girl and her mother were instructed to keep away and remain silent.
In another lot, young Theodore Roosevelt threatens to brawl with an ex-Confederate general: “I was always ready to defend myself … and that moreover I would guarantee to do it, too.”
On the sidelines of the 2000 presidential election and in defense of his son George W., former President George H.W. Bush complains: “… I have gotten so I can’t stand Al Gore” (below).
“I’ve never seen such amazing – and shocking – pieces of history. In the current national and international political environment, they take on even more importance,” said auctioneer Bill Panagopulos.
Shocking content is not reserved for political leaders alone. A letter by Gen. George S. Patton to an injured friend complains: ” … a lot of Waffel Assed people who never take a chance live forever, and only have bad breath to contend with.”
Militaria is a central theme of the sale, with items from the Middle Ages to the Gulf War among the lots to be offered.
The nearly 1,500-piece auction also features hundreds of other important letters, documents, photographs and military relics. Among them is a letter by Harry Truman discussing his vote on an anti-lynching law and fearing it will spoil his travel plans; Ernest Hemingway urging an aspiring writer to avoid writing for newspapers; Marlon Brando’s personal signed and annotated script from The Ugly American; a large signed photo of Robert E. Lee; and a signed drawing of a pig done by Winston Churchill.
Alexander Historical Auctions may be reached at 203-276-1570 or email: 204045@email4pr.com.
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