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Lot 1449
THE BEATLES Beatles miscellany inc replica autographed photo, two rare Japanese issue song books for The Beatles and Paul McCartney & Wings, original Meet The Beatles book, The Beatles Story book 1967 -70 and 60's magazine cuttings along with an original 1968 George Harrison poster (small tear). Fair-generally good
Lot 501
HALIFAX TOWN Minute book for Halifax Town covering the period between 1958 and 64 together with a Ledger containing the Accounts and Balance Sheets for the Club between 1911/12 and 1920/21 and also contains Nominal ledger details for the period to 1929. The covers of this ledger are inscribed in gilt lettering "Halifax Town A.F.C " etc . These are valuable early records of the club who were formed in 1911. The minute book is also a fascinating insight into the way a smaller league club was run. A rare opportunity to obtain the original books of account of the Club. Generally good
Lot 530
FRANCE v ENGLAND 1931 Friendly played 14 May 1931 at Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes, Paris. Very Rare 12-page official newspaper style issue published weekly by the French Football Association (Organe Officiel de la Federation Francaise de Football Association) dated 21 May 1931. Includes extensive coverage of the match with central page full team line-ups listed. Has neat clear tape at spine for protection only. Generally good
Lot 531
FRANCE v SCOTLAND 1932 Friendly played 8 May 1932 at Stade de Colombes, Paris. Very Rare 8-page official newspaper style issue published weekly by the French Football Association (Organe Officiel de la Federation Francaise de Football Association) dated 5 May 1932. Includes central page team line-ups, pen pictures and match previews. Horizontal fold. Generally good
Lot 533
FRANCE v WALES 1933 Friendly played 25 May 1933 at Stade de Colombes, Paris. Very Rare 8-page official newspaper style issue published weekly by the French Football Association (Organe Officiel de la Federation Francaise de Football Association) dated 1 June 1933. Includes central page full team line-ups with match reports and further match action picture etc on the front cover. This was the first full International between the two nations. Has neat clear tape at spine for protection only. Generally good
Lot 537
FRANCE v WALES 1939 Friendly played 20 May 1939 at Stade de Colombes, Paris. Very rare 16-page official newspaper style issue published weekly by the French Football Association (Organe Officiel de la Federation Francaise de Football Association) Includes full programme style team line-ups and match previews with player pen pictures etc. This issue also the previews the France v Belgium Friendly played 18 May 1939 in Brussels. Has neat clear tape at spine for protection only. Generally good
Lot 538
FRANCE v WALES 1939 Friendly played 20 May 1939 at Stade de Colombes, Paris. Very rare 16-page official newspaper style issue published weekly by the French Football Association (Organe Officiel de la Federation Francaise de Football Association) Includes reviews for the game with pictures, reports and full team line-ups and also reviews the France v Belgium Friendly played 18 May 1939 in Brussels. Has neat clear tape at spine for protection only. Generally good
Lot 539
ITALY v ENGLAND 1948 Friendly played 16 May 1948 at the Stadio Comunale, Turin. Rare 20-page programme titled ''Tutto Su Italia-Inghilterra'' includes history of the previous Italy v England encounters (1933, 1934 & 1939) players pen pictures and team line-ups. Small piece missing bottom right of front cover. Generally good
Lot 785
CRICKET - F.R.BROWN Two quite rare Raphael Tuck and Sons Oilette postcards sent to Freddie Brown, England cricketer. Both have Egyptian themes and are dated 1934 , one was sent to Brown at his London home, the second being sent to him on the 1934 Martineau Tour. Previously laid down but condition is fair-generally good. As described
Lot 853
1982 FIFA WORLD CUP ENGLAND Rare 36-page programme for the group four matches played at the San Mames, Bilbao which included England v France, Kuwait & Czechoslovakia. Dated June 1982 and published in Bilbao. Titled ''Vascos en el Mundial'' (Basques in the World Cup) England played all three of their group games in Bilbao. Generally good
Lot 9225
ROLEX: A fine and rare Oyster Perpetual Explorer gent's stainless steel cased wristwatch, ref. 6098, serial 725612, with A296 chronometer rated automatic movement, rare black honeycomb dial and Mercedes hands with centre seconds, Phantom crown signed "Rolex Super Oyster", circa 1952, Rolex steel buckle to strap, also with loose original Rolex leather strap and steel buckle, case diameter 36mm. Rolex Archives show that 20 of this specific model were supplied to the Everest Research team including Sir Edmund Hillary, Charles Evans and Alfred Gregory when they went to the Tibet/China border on a research trip in 1952 to plan their first ascent of Everest the following year
Lot 9226
OMEGA: A rare Speedmaster Professional gent's stainless steel chronograph wristwatch, reference ST.145022 (circa 1969), the screw-on case back inscribed "Flight Qualified by NASA for all Manned Space Missions", "The First Watch Worn on the Moon", calibre 861 manual wind chronograph movement, original steel bracelet and folding clasp with Omega emblem and signed 1175, Omega, no.29, case diameter 42mm, with boxes, guarantee booklet (handwritten notes for watch reference and movement number inaccurate), original retailers receipts and spare link
![[JAMES B. A. ‘JIMMY]’: (1915-2008) British Squadron Leader with the Royal Air Force. A Prisoner of War from 1940-45, James ma](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/57e05615-65d4-430a-bbbd-aa3000fe35d7/321175d3-57e5-4f70-a3ca-aa31016dff15/468x382.jpg)
Lot 332
[JAMES B. A. ‘JIMMY]’: (1915-2008) British Squadron Leader with the Royal Air Force. A Prisoner of War from 1940-45, James made numerous efforts to escape from various POW and Concentration Camps, most famously from Stalag Luft III in March 1944 as part of the ‘Great Escape’. A very large archive of letters, some documents, greetings cards, a few photographs, printed copies of emails etc., being correspondence written to Jimmy James (and in some cases his wife, Madge, too) by a very wide and extensive range of individuals including family, friends, colleagues, World War II enthusiasts, autograph collectors, school children and other members of the public etc., from all over Europe and the rest of the world including Canada, America and Australia, mainly dating from the 1990s – 2000s although also including some earlier correspondence from the late 1940s onwards, a quantity of the letters annotated by James with a brief note as to the nature and date of his reply, many of the letters making reference to the Great Escape and James’s other World War II activities and comrades, a few extracts including ‘Now I met the man [Patrick Leigh Fermor, a prominent member of the Cretan resistance during World War II] seven years ago in Greece. I wrote to him beforehand….and he invited us both to visit and we had an interesting hour or two there…..It was a pleasant reunion. I lent him my copy of your book “Moonless” [Night] and he said he was very impressed by your account…..’, ‘I wanted to ask if you would be willing to do an interview…..My own personal favourite film of all time is The Great Escape and, of course, this is probably Steve McQueen’s most famous film. I thought it would be really interesting to interview you about the differences between the film and the “real thing” – although as you said to me – most of them are obvious! Ideally I would like to watch the film with you and record your comments…’, ‘I am a big fan of the movie, Great Escape. Steve McQueen has always been one of my favorite actors. I think the movie does a great job of displaying the will and determination of the men who wanted to escape and return to fight again. The consequences in real life for many of the escapees was death. The Nazis were never very sympathetic. It is too bad that more of you could not have made it. The effort though was inspiring’, ‘I was wondering what is your opinion of the 1963 “The Great Escape” film? How accurate do you feel the film was and did you have a great deal of input with the actors and directors during the filming of the movie?’, ‘When I was twelve my father introduced me to the Great Escape. The first time I read Paul Brickhill’s book I was old enough to understand that what you and your fellow prisoners did was extraordinary, but as time went by and I read the book over and over again, I came to understand that what you did was not only extraordinary, but was a miracle buried under thirty feet of sand. The story of the Great Escape has taught me a sort of courage that is growing more and more rare every day. It was the sort of bravery that allowed you to finish digging your tunnel in Sachsenhausen even though you knew of the deaths of the fifty. I wanted to tell you that I am thankful…..I just thought you should know that sixty years later a teenage girl knows that the twenty-fourth of March is not just her birthday; it is a day when seventy-six men crawled out of a hole in the ground in triumph over their captors and showed the whole world what wonders men can work with bed boards, tin cans, and human ingenuity’, ‘Do you recall much about the relationship between Wings Day and Roger Bushell? They obviously worked closely together on escape activities, but did they spend much time socializing with one another? I get the impression that they really would not have chosen to be friends if circumstances had not thrown them together…..’ , ‘….the first half of the book [Moonless Night] was like reading about one big adventure……I couldn’t help laughing when I read about the early escapes…..and all the clever methods you invented to fool the guards…..The second half of the book however made very clear that war is sheer hell and nothing else…..Your description of life in Sachsenhausen and Flossenburg, the merciless, sadistic Gestapo and SS guards and the terrible deathmarches during the last chaotic months of the war really hit me. I admire you and the other allied POW’s for your courage, your will to survive and your ability to make the best of every situation’, ‘I am fortunate to have a substantial number [of photographs and autographs] from the war years, one of which I am particularly proud of is Roger Bushell which originated from his family…..I have a signed menu in my collection with Bushell, Day, Dodge, Long, Casey, Byrne and about 20 other equally well known personalities, signed just before the Dulag Whitsun Escape of ’41…..’, ‘Thank you so much for the signed copy of Moonless Night…..It must have been terrible being a prisoner of war for so long. With little food and bad conditions…..It is very hard to believe that this all really happened to people, especially how fifty people were killed including thousands of others by one mans madness’, ‘My husband’s great uncle was Leslie ‘Johnny’ Ball who escaped but unfortunately was shot. We have pictures of him but as you can imagine stories differ down through the family’, ‘I was going to write to you several weeks ago after we had watched with great interest both parts of “The War behind the Wire” on TV. Our friends….who run the Caterpillar Club phoned us to be sure we knew of the programme…..a friend saved us the article in the Radio Times – how well I remember the photo of you in RAF uniform – the same that Granny Kelly had in her sitting room…..We do admire the way you keep going on the lecture circuit & the educational visits with children to Sachsenhausen though it sounds as if it might be very draining for you both physically & emotionally…..’, ‘I have just bought the Radio Times today and have read the article in there about Bertram! Fantastic! We shall of course be watching The War Behind the Wire over the next two weeks’, ‘Dear Jimmy, I admire you, not only for what you did in the past, but also for today’s good work. With all your publishing and writing and reading you can reach so many of the younger generations who have no idea of what happened sixty years ago, of the heroism of British serving men and population, nor of the crimes of Nazism, of the victims and of those who fought the fascists. Congratulations for so much appreciation and well-deserved tribute!’, ‘Sarah, our daughter, is going to Nepal at Easter to stay with one of my former platoon commanders…….& is a former commanding officer [who] has been on television recently as he is the Private Secretary to Prince Philip and been giving evidence at the Princess Diana inquest…..’, ‘It was so nice to meet up again at Duxford and lovely to have a chat with you…..I quite understood that you were very tied up with book signing. I should imagine that the queues were longer than Tom, Dick and Harry all put together!’, ‘Thank you for sending the interesting document – you & your association are doing a good & necessary work - & extremely difficult too – I imagine to establish relations between USSR & England. I think they should teach Russian in all the schools. It is this language barrier which is such an obstacle. Who would have thought when you started to learn Russian as a POW that it wd. lead to such a good......OWING TO LIMITATIONS SET BY THE SALEROOM THE COMPLETE DESCRIPTION FOR THIS LOT CANNOT BE PUBLISHED - PLEASE CONTACT IAA DIRECTLY FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Lot 359
TOJO HIDEKI: (1884-1948) Japanese Prime Minister 1941-44, responsible for the attack on Pearl Harbor, which led to America entering World War II. An unusual set of three original 4 x 3 photographs, each depicting different views of the barracks in which prisoners, including Tojo, were held during the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal. One of the photographs is signed by Tojo, in both English and Japanese, with his name alone to the verso. Another of the photographs is annotated in an unidentified hand to the verso, 'Gallows where Tojo was hung. Note #13 on door!' Rare. Some very slight, minor age wear, otherwise VG, 3
Lot 380
HITLER ANGELA: (1883-1949) Austro-Hungarian elder half-sister of Adolf Hitler and the mother of Geli Raubal. The Fuhrer was extremely close to his half-niece, to the point of a possible sexual relationship with her, and was devastated when Raubal committed suicide in controversial circumstances at the age of 23 in Hitler's Munich apartment. An extremely rare A.L.S., Geli, on one side of a picture postcard depicting the Haus in der Sonne at Radebeul, n.p. (Radebeul, in the Meissen area of Saxony), n.d. (10th April 1936), to Hans Pant in Vienna, in German. Hitler commences 'You too might think about me!' and continues 'But I will make allowances for you in that respect', further writing 'Things are going very well with me: I hope that the same is true of you. Many kind regards and good wishes for a fine and happy Easter'. VG Johannes Pant had been a priest at the Vienna Men's Hostel where Adolf Hitler lived in 1909 and it is alleged that Pant arranged for the cover up at the funeral and burial of Geli Raubal in Vienna on 24th September 1931 less than a week after her suicide.
Lot 383
HITLER ADOLF: (1889-1945) Fuhrer of the Third Reich 1933-45. An unusual D.S., A Hitler, two pages, folio, Munich, 26th March 1933, in German. The partially printed document, completed in typescript, is a Tenancy Agreement ('Miet-Vertrag') made between Hugo Schuhle and the Reich Chancellor Adolf Hitler for the former's property at 16/II Prinzregentenplatz in Munich, stating that the apartment comprises the complete second floor, nine rooms, a kitchen, four bedrooms, two bathrooms, as well as basement and attic rooms, and is leased to Hitler from 1st April 1933 for a term of five years at a yearly rent of 4593 Mark and 60 Pfennige (the monthly rent being 382.80 Pfennige), stipulating, in part, that if the rent is not paid on time, within five days after the due date, the landlord is entitled to terminate the contract with a three day notice period, and that the tenant is liable for all damages, that subletting is not permitted and that the tenant undertakes to comply with the special house rules. In an addendum it is agreed that the landlord will pay the costs for the installation of new washbasins in the bathrooms and kitchen and that the installation of a telephone is permitted. Signed by Hitler in blue fountain pen ink at the conclusion (his signature a little light in places) and countersigned by Schuhle. Two large red indelible pencil annotations run diagonally across the text to both pages, one only very slightly affecting Hitler's signature. Documents relating to Hitler's personal and domestic life are rare. Some very light, minor age wear and one neat split to the left edge of a fold, not affecting the text or signature, otherwise VG Adolf Hitler moved into his luxury apartment on the second floor of Prinzregentenplatz 16 in Munich in 1929 and continued to live there until 1934 when he became Fuhrer. After that, whilst keeping the apartment, he spent most of his time in Berlin or at his Berghof residence. On occasions Hitler did use the Munich apartment for high level diplomatic meetings, inviting Benito Mussolini there on 25th September 1937 whilst attempting to gain the Italian's support for his plan to annex Austria to Germany, and meeting British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain there on 30th September 1938 following the signing of the Munich Agreement.
Lot 385
HITLER ADOLF: (1889-1945) Fuhrer of the Third Reich 1933-45. A bold, dark fountain pen ink signature ('A Hitler') and date, 1st January 1939, in his hand to the verso of a folding oblong 12mo stiff light brown card, evidently a place card used at the Fuhrer's personal New Year's Eve party, featuring an original pen and ink illustration, heightened in watercolour, by Hitler to the inside opposite his signature, the image depicting a huntsman in traditional German attire, with a rifle over one shoulder, blowing a horn. Several deer and rabbits can be seen running away from him and in the background a lake and forest can be seen. The huntsman is followed closely by a winged cherub holding a bowl of fruit. The recto bears the red ink name Hermann Esser. An extremely rare form of Adolf Hitler's signature enhanced by a wonderful original illustration and an excellent association. Neatly inlaid, about EX Hermann Esser (1900-1981) German Journalist and the de facto deputy of Adolf Hitler in the early stages of the Nazi Party (NSDAP). Adolf Hitler celebrated New Year's Eve with a party at his Berghof residence near Berchtesgaden on 31st December 1938, signing the present place card soon after midnight. The menu for the dinner included broth, sprats or eggs, vegetables and salad and, following the formal congratulations from the guests and his staff, the Fuhrer participated in an ancient Teutonic ceremony in which molten lead was poured into a small basin of water and the shape it assumed supposedly determined the future. A similar place card signed by Hitler and used for Hermann Esser's wife was sold by International Autograph Auctions in our 21st February 2019 auction (Lot 300, hammer price £9500)
Lot 56
TURPIN BEN: (1869-1940) American Silent Film Comedian. A good, rare vintage signed and inscribed 10 x 13 photograph of Turpin in a head and shoulders pose smoking a cigar. Signed in bold white fountain pen ink to the image and dated Beverly Hills, California, 2nd December 1932 in his hand. Some slight creasing to the edges and corners and with a small tear to the upper edge, otherwise about VG
Lot 9
MOTOR CYCLING: A printed 4to official programme for an International Road Race Meeting at Donington, 30th & 31st August 1980, individually signed to the inside pages by various motorcycle racers comprising Barry Sheene (Grand Prix World Champion 1976 & 1977), Ron Haslam (TT Formula One World Champion 1979), Dave Potter, Graeme Crosby, Mick Grant, Roger Marshall, Randy Mamola, John Newbold (rare; tragically killed at the young age of 29 after a collision with Mick Grant) and Jeff Sayle. Most are signed to colour images depicting the subjects racing their motorcycles. Some age wear, scuffing and small tears to the outer covers, G
Lot 90
MILLER GLENN: (1904-1944) American Musician and Bandleader of the Swing Era, especially popular during World War II. An excellent bold black fountain pen ink signature ('Glenn Miller') on a small 12mo card. Together with a rare unsigned printed 8vo programme for a performance by The American Band of the Allied Expeditionary Force conducted by Glenn Miller at the Queensberry All-Services Club in London on Tuesday, 12th December 1944. One very small file hole to the upper left corner of the programme and an extremely minor, neat split to the upper edge of the central fold, otherwise VG to EX, 2 The present programme represents one of the very final public performances by Glenn Miller, occurring just three days before the plane he was flying on from Great Britain to Paris disappeared over the English Channel on 15th December 1944.
Lot 94
LENNON & ONO: LENNON JOHN: (1940-1980) English Musician, a member of The Beatles & ONO YOKO (1933- ) Japanese-American Artist & Singer, wife of John Lennon 1969-80. A rare printed 8vo copy of Beatles Biografie issued by The Beatles fan club in the Netherlands, October 1968, the text in Dutch and featuring brief biographies of each of the Fab Four and a timeline of events relating to the band from 1956-68 and also featuring a few illustrations and images, signed to the verso by both John Lennon and Yoko Ono individually, each with their names alone in blue inks to a clear area. Some light foxing, a very slight vertical fold to the centre and minor age wear, G According to information provided by the vendor, the signatures of John Lennon and Yoko Ono on the present brochure were obtained in person during the couple’s famous Amsterdam Bed-in. With the knowledge that their marriage in 1969 would be a well-covered press event, Lennon and Ono took the opportunity to promote world peace, spending their honeymoon in the presidential suite of the Hilton Hotel in Amsterdam from 25th – 31st March. The couple invited the world's press into their hotel room every day to talk about peace with signs over their bed reading "Hair Peace" and "Bed Peace".
Lot 119
SCHMIDT JOSEF: (1904-1942) Austro-Hungarian Tenor. A rare vintage signed postcard photograph of Schmidt seated in a half length pose. Signed in bold black fountain pen ink to the image and dated 20th February 1936 in his hand. Signed photographs of Schmidt are rare as a result of his untimely death at the age of 38. About EX
Lot 173
WREN CHRISTOPHER: (1632-1723) English Architect. A.L.S., Chr. Wren, one page, small 4to, Whitehall, 6th September 1705, to Mr. Kenneth Carrington. Wren states that he received his correspondent's letter when he returned from a journey and continues to remark 'if Mr. Walters wrote to you to returne Mr. Francis mony, I suppose he meant to make up Six pound ten & he told me soe. I canot understand what Sr Richard Newman means by not Sealing the Loafe; it was soe agreed at Mr. Courtney chambers & Mr. Walters undertook for Sir Richard he should do it when he came next to Towne, & we also looked upon him as transacting every thing for him, as he hath don all along for him' Wren further states 'I cannot imagin he would counterman the leter when he had wrote to Sr Richard in your behalf… I know not if intended sincerely, & I am apt to think too well of the Sincerity of others, often I should have suspended.' And in concluding asks Carrington to explain a little further what Mr. Rochley did at the Assizes. With integral address leaf addressed to Carrington at Barnsley, near Doncaster, Yorkshire and bearing a good, small red wax seal. A sizeable area of paper loss at the base of both leaves has been repaired without any loss of text. Autographs of Wren are rare, and autograph letters particularly so. A clean, boldly and attractive penned example, G Following the recent devasting fire which affected Notre-Dame, IAA Ltd will be donating the commissions received from the sale of this lot to the Paris cathedral's restoration fund.
Lot 175
REYNOLDS JOSHUA: (1723-1792) English Painter. Ink signature ('J Reynolds') and three additional lines of text in his hand, on a piece irregularly clipped from the conclusion of a letter. Five further partial lines of text appear to the verso, seemingly referring to a picture which cannot be sent away immediately. Rare. Some light, minor staining and age wear, about VG
Lot 176
TURNER J. M. W.: (1775-1851) English Painter. A rare illustrated A.L.S., with his initials J M W T, one page, 12mo, n.p. ('at home'), 9th January n.y. ('1/2 past 1 Thursday night'), to [Andrew] Geddes. Turner informs his correspondent that the Council have fixed the date of Friday 19th, 'so I hope you will or can make the [dinner, at this point in the letter Turner has added a small illustration of a knife, fork and spoon] for Tuesday….' With integral address leaf in Turner's hand, again signed by him with his initials ('JMWT'; a little smudged) in the lower left corner of the address panel and bearing the remnants of a small black wax seal. A charming letter enhanced by Turner's small original drawing. Together with an A.L.S., Adela Geddes, three pages, 8vo, Brunswick Gardens, Campden Hill, 17th December 1869, to a gentleman [Rev. C. W. Furse]. Geddes announces 'At last I am happy to be able to fulfil my promise and enclose you the note from our friend Turner' and continues 'It really is a valuable memento; as he so very rarely took the trouble to write an answer to any of our invitations', further adding 'In my search for this one I came upon another written with pencil upon the back of my own note, and he has absolutely sealed this one. I am happy you are to be the possessor of it, as like myself you are a true lover of this great man'. Also including a pale blue envelope headed in an unidentified hand 'To be preserved' and further annotated 'A note of J. M. W. Turner R.A. to Mr. Geddes. Given to the Revd. C. W. Furse Decr. 1869 by the widow of Mr. Geddes'. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, generally VG, 3 Andrew Geddes (1783-1844) Scottish Portrait Painter & Etcher, elected as an associate of the Royal Academy in 1832. Husband of Adela Geddes (1791-1881) from 1827, the youngest daughter of the miniaturist Nathaniel Plimer (1757-1822).
Lot 189
GRIS JUAN: (1887-1927) Spanish Painter, closely associated with Cubism. A rare A.N.S., with his initials J. G., one page, small 8vo (feint ruled graph paper, slightly irregularly torn to two edges), n.p., n.d. (marked in an unidentified hand as received on 14th May 1918), in French. The note states 'The 3 pencil drawings that accompany the paintings are not included on the invoice while we wait for more to come so that you can make a broader choice'. With an official purple ink stamp and manuscript insertions to the lower edge. About VG The stamp on the present note is typical of that applied to the correspondence of the famous art dealer Pierre Rosenberg who represented Juan Gris as well as the other Cubist artists Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque.
Lot 198
LOWRY L. S.: (1887-1976) English Artist. An excellent signed colour 4 x 6 postcard, being a reproduction of the artist's painting Old Church and Steps (1960). Signed ('L. S. Lowry') in bold black ink with his name alone to the lower white border. Signed reproductions of Lowry's work have become increasingly rare in recent years. About EX
Lot 222
NOBEL ALFRED: (1833-1896) Swedish Chemist, Inventor & Philanthropist. Known for his invention of dynamite, Nobel bequeathed his fortune to institute the Nobel Prizes. An extremely rare A.L.S., A Nobel, two pages, 8vo, Brussels, 17th October 1895, to Oscar Ljungstrom, in Swedish. Nobel writes concerning the development of a ball sledge and other apparatus, stating, in part, ‘It is hard for me to believe that they in America have not made any attempts in this direction about which you first and foremost have to be informed. With this, I will not say the task cannot succeed although until now it has failed but there is a big saving of time, work and money with the knowhow of what others have done before. In pure mechanical direction, many very ingenious persons are working. The piece of the engine can be directed to make it good enough but it is maybe not necessary as the combustion possibilities are highly significant, which is shown in explosions in the mine, even without marsh gas’ and concluding ‘My coal engine is principally very interesting. It opens a new horizon. I know it is now in good hands’. A letter of good scientific content. Some light overall age toning and a couple of minor stains to the text, not affecting the legibility of the letter, an area of paper loss to the lower corner of the first page and a few neat splits at some folds and a few extremely minor pinholes to some corners, about G Oscar Ljungstrom (1868-1943) Swedish Archivist at the Urban Engineering office in Stockholm. Brother of Fredrik Ljungstrom (1875-1964) Swedish Engineer & Inventor who was mentored by, and later collaborated with, Alfred Nobel. The present letter is written a little over a month before Alfred Nobel signed his last will and testament at the Swedish-Norwegian Club in Paris. In his will the chemist set aside the bulk of his estate to establish the Nobel Prizes, to be awarded annually without distinction of nationality.
Lot 259
WRIGHT BROTHERS: WILBUR (1867-1912) & ORVILLE (1871-1948) American Aviators who invented and built the world's first successful airplane and made the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight on 17th December 1903. An exceptional and extremely rare vintage signed sepia 8.5 x 6.5 photograph by both Wilbur and Orville Wright individually, and further signed by their sister Katharine Wright (1874-1929, American Teacher who became an international celebrity when she accompanied her brothers on trips to Europe), the historic and engaging image depicting Wilbur Wright flying a Wright Model A aircraft above farmland at Pont Long, near Pau, France, in early February 1909, as several farmers accompanied by livestock and carriages look upwards. Photograph by the Daily Mirror of London and bearing their printed credit to the lower border of the photographer’s mount. Signed by Wilbur, Orville and Katharine Wright in dark fountain pen inks with their names alone to a light area at the base of the image. Photographs of this fine quality signed by both of the Wright Brothers are highly desirable and extremely rare and the present example is even more so for the addition of Katharine Wright’s signature. Attractively matted and framed and glazed in a wooden frame to an overall size of 15.5 x 14. About EX Wilbur Wright had travelled to France in 1908 in order to give flying demonstrations and on 14th January 1909 settled at the elite resort town of Pau where he was given access to a large flying field with the task of training three Frenchmen to fly. It was at this time that Wilbur Wright wore a black leather motorcyclist’s jacket for flying in cold weather – the first instance of a leather aviation jacket being worn. The first of over sixty flights took place at Pau on 3rd February 1909 and, missing his family, Wilbur invited his siblings Orville and Katharine to join him. The flights drew much attention and many famous people came to watch Wilbur fly at Pau, including King Alfonso XIII of Spain and King Edward VII of England. The latter monarch was there to witness Katharine making her second flight on 17th March (her first had taken place at Pau on 15th February) and, vigorously waving his hat and cheering as she and Wilbur flew overhead, the King proclaimed Katharine to be the ‘ideal American’.
Lot 262
ROBINSON WILLIAM LEEFE: (1895-1918) British Pilot, the first to shoot down a German Airship over Britain during World War I. Victoria Cross winner for his actions in attacking the airship on 2/3 September 1916. Robinson was the first person to be awarded the Victoria Cross for action in Great Britain. Rare dark fountain pen ink signature ('W. L. Robinson R.F.C.') on a small oblong 12mo piece, very slightly irregularly trimmed and neatly mounted to a card. Autographs of Robinson are rare in any form as a result of his untimely death at the age of 23 having contracted Spanish flu, probably as a result of the conditions he was kept under whilst a Prisoner of War from April 1917 - December 1918, during which time he also made several escape attempts. G
Lot 275
MANGLES ROSS: (1833-1905) British Civil Servant with the Bengal Civil Service, Victoria Cross winner for his actions during the Indian Mutiny, 30th July 1857. Mangles is one of only five civilians to have been awarded the Victoria Cross. A rare A.L.S., Ross L Mangles, one page, 8vo, Pirbright, Woking, 4th December n.y., to Mrs. Thurlow. Mangles writes, in full, 'The book you refer to is called “The Unknown Life of Christ” by Ivan Nottovich (sic). I will try and get you some stamps.' Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG The Unknown Life of Christ was actually written by Nicolas Notovitch and published in 1894. Notovitch, a Crimean-Jewish adventurer, claimed to be a Russian Aristocrat, spy and journalist. His book centred around a personal belief, based on a document he had seen at the Hemis Monastery, that Jesus had left Galilee and travelled to India to study Buddhism and Hinduism before returning to Judea. Modern scholars consider Notovitch's claims that Jesus travelled in India to be a hoax.
Lot 280
DODGE J. B. 'JOHNNIE': (1894-1960) American-born British Army Major of World War II, known as 'the artful dodger'. A prisoner of war from 1940-45, Dodge was a close friend of Wings Day and participated in the Great Escape from Stalag Luft III in March 1944. Dodge created diversions, such as choir singing, during the preparations in order to help mask the noise involved in digging the escape tunnels. An extremely rare War date A.L.S., John Dodge, one page, 8vo (feint squared graph paper removed from a notebook and with small torn perforations to the upper edge), n.p. [Dulag Luft], 28th August n.y. (1940), to Major [Theodor Rumpel]. Dodge states that yesterday the doctor had given him Rumpel's kind message 'about my staying up here for the present' and adds 'I want you to know how much I [a]ppreciate this gesture on your part - and also the walks', concluding by remarking 'The more I see of this place, the more I admire the way it is run'. A letter of extraordinary association. Two file holes to the left edge, only affecting one letter of the text, otherwise VG Theodor Rumpel (b.1897) was the Kommandant of Dulag Luft from 1939-41 and had previously been a flying ace of World War I credited with five victories. Described as aristocratic, engaging and courteous, Rumpel was not regarded as a Nazi and held no sympathy or loyalty towards Hitler. However, he was the Luftwaffe's best intelligence officer and spoke English to an exceptional level. Maintaining a spirit of chivalry, Rumpel was always attentive to the prisoner's needs, as illustrated by the present letter.
Lot 281
DAY HARRY 'WINGS': (1898-1977) British Second Lieutenant of the Royal Marines during World War I (being awarded the George Cross for an act of bravery two days before the armistice) and later a pilot with the Royal Air Force during World War II. A prisoner of war from 1939-45, Day was involved in the first mass escape of World War II in June 1941 and later planned and organised the Great Escape from Stalag Luft III in March 1944 with Roger Bushell. An extremely rare War date A.L.S., H. M. A. Day, one page, 4to, n.p. [Dulag Luft], 22nd November n.y. (1940), to Major [Theodor] Rumpel, in pencil. Day writes, in full, 'On behalf of all the P of W's in this camp I wish to thank you for your very generous gift to us. I hope very much that your wife is continuing to make a good recovery from her illness'. A letter of extraordinary association. Two file holes to the left edge, not affecting the text or signature, VG Theodor Rumpel (b.1897) was the Kommandant of Dulag Luft from 1939-41 and had previously been a flying ace of World War I credited with five victories. Described as aristocratic, engaging and courteous, Rumpel is known to have dined and enjoyed drinks in his private quarters with Day, the senior British officer at Dulag Luft, and also provided him with a cat for companionship (although Day had requested a kitten and famously named the cat 'Ersatz', the German for 'substitute'). The noted Prisoner of War researcher and founder of the Colditz Society, Michael Booker, has observed that the present letter illustrates that Day and his Escape Committee were 'easing the guards into a false sense of security' and that Rumpel, the leading intelligence officer within the Luftwaffe, was also 'grooming the prisoners for any potential collaborators'.
Lot 291
DOWSE SYDNEY: (1918-2008) British Flight Lieutenant with the Royal Air Force during World War II. A Prisoner of War from 1941-45, Dowse was held at Stalag Luft III in Sagan and participated in the Great Escape of March 1944. He was amongst the last of the escapers to be re-captured and was transferred to Sachsenhausen concentration camp where, with Jimmy James and several other members of the Great Escape, he again escaped through a tunnel in September 1944. The personal Royal Air Force Ex-Prisoner of War Association card issued and belonging to Dowse, the partially printed oblong 12mo card completed in another hand with his name and confirming his life membership and number (1839). Signed ('S Dowse') by Dowse in blue ink at the base. Rare. About EX
Lot 292
JAMES B. A. 'JIMMY': (1915-2008) British Squadron Leader with the Royal Air Force. A Prisoner of War from 1940-45, James made numerous efforts to escape from various POW and Concentration Camps, most famously from Stalag Luft III in March 1944 as part of the 'Great Escape'. An extremely rare War date A.L.S., Bert, on one side of a partially printed Kriegsgefangenenlager (Prisoner of War Camp) correspondence card, Stalag Luft I, (Barth), 8th July 1940, to his sister Betty James in St. Albans, in pencil. James asks how his sister is and informs her 'We are now starting a garden outside our window, having just purchased a packet of radish seeds! We being a Fleet Air Arm Lieutenant and the officer Air Gunner with whom I share a room', adding that it is raining hard and concluding 'Cheerio old girl, don't work too hard'. Hand addressed by James to the verso and again signed ('B. A. James, Pilot Officer') in the return address panel, also adding his prisoner number ('2263') in his hand. With several official cancellations. A small tear to the centre of the top edge, not affecting the text or signature, and with some light age wear, otherwise about VG The present letter was written just over one month after James had been taken prisoner following his capture after the Wellington bomber he was flying on was shot down over the Netherlands on 5th June 1940. The air gunner to whom James refers to in the present letter was the American-born rear gunner Bill Webster, a fellow crew member on the Wellington bomber that was shot down.
Lot 293
JAMES B. A. 'JIMMY': (1915-2008) British Squadron Leader with the Royal Air Force. A Prisoner of War from 1940-45, James made numerous efforts to escape from various POW and Concentration Camps, most famously from Stalag Luft III in March 1944 as part of the 'Great Escape'. An extremely rare War date A.L.S., Bertram, on one side of a partially printed Kriegsgefangenenlager (Prisoner of War Camp) correspondence card, Stalag Luft III, 30th August 1942, to Miss. Helen Morell, in pencil. James states that he was very glad to have received his correspondent's letter and continues 'Please offer my congrats to Edward on his marriage. There is no chance of my doing the same in the present circumstances!' James further writes 'We moved to our new camp here in April after 21 months at the other place. This is much bigger & on the whole an improvement. Has been filling up pretty steadily & we now have 8 in a room. There are about 700 officers & 1800 sergeants, nearly all RAF. Two King's [School, Canterbury, where James had been educated] chaps here….'. Hand addressed by James to the verso, also adding his name and rank, as well as his prisoner number ('2263'), in his hand to the return address panel. With several official cancellations. A very light vertical fold to the centre and with some extremely light, minor age wear, otherwise VG
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