RR Auction Presents Gene Cernan’s Apollo 17 EVA-3 Cuff Checklist, Dr. Niels Bohr’s Atoms for Peace Award, and More

The upcoming Remarkable Rarities sale from RR Auction features 100 rare autographs and artifacts related to modern human history. The auction will start at 1:00 PM EDT on September 23, 2023.

Leading the sale is the Apollo 17 EVA-1 cuff checklist worn by Commander Gene Cernan during his last outing on the lunar surface in 1972 (lot #6070; estimate: USD 300,000 – $400,000). This exquisite Apollo item was exposed to the lunar environment for seven hours and 12 minutes, and its pages are still engulfed with gray lunar dust. The checklist includes 25 spiral-bound double-sided pages, each sized 3.5 inches by 2.5 inches. It comes with the original Velco wristband. 

A collection of medals awarded to Danish physicist Dr. Niels Bohr, including the prestigious Atoms for Peace Award will be available in this auction. Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, Bohr’s major contribution was in the field of theoretical atomic and nuclear physics, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1922. 

The medals offered in this sale include Bohr’s historic gold Atoms for Peace Award, his Danish Golden Medal of Merit with Crown, and his Danish Galathea Medal in Silver. The auction house notes that the Atoms for Peace Award was presented to Bohr in 1957 by former United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The front of the gold medal features allegorical figures and the reverse displays a symbol representing an atom. The medals come to auction with a presale estimate of $250,000 to $300,000.

Another noteworthy lot in this sale is a rare book authored by Thomas Jefferson (lot #6006; estimate: $100,000 – $150,000). This first edition of notes on the State of Virginia was written in the year 1781. It was rectified and enlarged in 1782. The book is signed by fellow Virginian founding father Edmund Randolph and comprises 391 pages including 32 pages of supplementary pamphlets. Besides a personal handwritten table of contents and annotations, there is an interesting Civil War-dated handwritten note by Randolph’s grand-niece, on the rear flyleaf of the book.

This auction also presents assorted vintage items from Apple, Walt Disney Studios, and other companies. A section of the catalog is devoted to items signed by German-born theoretical physicist Albert Einstein, considered to be one of the most influential scientists of all time. This includes a signed photograph and newspapers along with autographed letters. 

Additional lots of interest include:

• The first emoticons NFT: The Smiley 🙂 and Frowny 🙁 by Professor Scott E. Fahlman (lot #6075; estimate: $250,000 – $300,000) 
• An excessively rare autograph letter signed on Theorem of Circles and Quarrel of Utrecht (lot #6041; estimate: $175,000 – $200,000) 
• An Abraham Lincoln-signed, first edition copy of the Lincoln-Douglas Debates (lot #6014; estimate: $100,000 – $150,000) 
• Edgar Hoover’s Colt pocket positive revolver (lot #6053; estimate: $100,000 – $150,000) 
• An oversized FBI raid badge prototype from Hoover (lot # 6055; estimate: $50,000 – $60,000) 

Established in 1976, RR Auction is a leading auction house with headquarters in Boston. It is a trusted source for historical artifacts, rare autographs, sports memorabilia, space exploration items, and more. RR Auction’s in-house experts and third-party authenticators ensure watertight authentication. Every month, RR Auction conducts at least two auctions, one an 800+ item fine autographs and artifacts auction, and secondly, a specialty auction focused on a single subject.The Remarkable Rarities sale from RR Auction will begin at 1:00 PM EDT on September 23, 2023. To view more information or register to bid, visit Bidsquare.