Heritage Auctions presents a selection of historical manuscripts and documents in their upcoming sale. One highlight is a letter that Albert Einstein sent to his friend Michele Besso. The two-page letter, accompanied by a four-page reply from Besso, includes the original envelope. An engineer and colleague, Besso was a close friend of Einstein and helped him develop many of his ideas about special relativity. Einstein’s signed letter, written in German, addresses issues associated with the unified field theory, also showing a handwritten equation. Several letters written by Einstein addressed to his assistant Ernst Straus will be included as well.
Signed documents from American leaders such as John F. Kennedy, George Washington, and William Henry Harrison are also available. Kennedy’s uncensored campaign notes, which were used as a form of communication with his staff while he suffered from laryngitis, are particularly highlighted. The 98 handwritten pages by Kennedy describe his campaign plans and philosophies. A presentation copy of the Constitution of the United States and a letter typed by Helen Keller are other notable lots. Interested collectors can explore the full listings and register to bid online on Heritage Auctions.
George William Frederick (George III) was the King of Great Britain and the King of Ireland until the union of the two countries in 1801. He continued to rule as the King of the United Kingdom until his death. Under George III, mahogany and ornate Chippendale furniture grew in popularity. One of the key lots in the upcoming Fine Furniture, Decorative Arts & Silver auction, presented by Hindman, is a George III-style brass mounted ebonized bracket clock from the 1790s. It has a signed dial and an eight-day, two-train movement with an original verge escapement. Another highlight is a gold, diamond, and sapphire cigarette case by Tiffany & Co. Cigarette cases remained popular through the 19th century until the mid-20th century.
The auction also showcases pianos made by Steinway & Sons. One of the available items is a walnut baby grand piano from the Estate of Naomi T. Borwell in Chicago, Illinois. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Bidsquare.
The upcoming auction of fine literature, offered by Doyle, will especially highlight a collection of books by Rudyard Kipling. This collection was formed by Joan and Oliver Twigg, who owned the Totteridge Rare Book Shop. Among the Kipling items in the sale are several works from his Jungle Book series, as well as a group of 16 matching illustrations by Maurice and Edward Detmold. These illustrations established the Detmold brothers as notable English book illustrators of their time.
Other early volumes include a first edition, first printing of William Faulkner’s Light in August. Initially, there were 11,000 copies of the book printed. In this version, the name “Jefferson” is printed instead of “Mottstown” on page 340. Other early books in the auction include the first English edition of The Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud, a signed first American (unauthorized) edition of Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller, and a copy of Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. View any of these items and register to bid at Invaluable.
Several pieces of diamond jewelry stand out in the upcoming Estate Jewelry, Art, & Collectibles auction, offered by Kodner Galleries. One of these, a platinum necklace, was made with over 100 emerald-cut diamonds. The necklace has a total weight of 60.50 carats and measures approximately 18 inches long. In addition to the available jewelry lots, this sale will also feature Russian decorative art. A Fabergé cameo glass vase and an enamel wine decanter are among these items. The decanter, made by Ivan Khlebnikov in the early 20th century, is shaped like a chicken with purple and light blue details.
A limited-edition bronze sculpture from Erté is also highlighted. Born Romain de Tirtoff, Erté helped lay the foundations of the Art Deco movement. The available piece, titled Prisoner of Love (Letter K), shows a nude woman tied by her waist to a pillar. Her arms are extended straight above her head and a smiling Cupid points his arrow from atop the pedestal. Ten abstract sculptures by Larry Mohr will be presented as well. These items come directly from the artist’s estate and use interlocking forms and sharp angles to create visual interest. View the full catalog and register to bid for these items on Bidsquare.
Michael Conrads is a postwar and contemporary artist whose work often explores complex geometrical patterns. He applies a broad variety of media to his works, including acrylic, oil paint, pastel, and pigment. The upcoming online auction, presented by Morton Subastas, offers a mixed media piece from Conrads titled Por La Vereda Tropical. The 2014 work shows overlapping palm fronds in light purple and green colors.
Charles-Guillaume Diehl’s thuya and rosewood furniture designed in the Boulle style has attracted attention at exhibitions around the world. Jules Mesnard describes Diehl’s approach: “…his work embraces all artistic furniture, from the 2-franc pin box to the big piece of furniture costing 70,000 francs.” Featured in this sale is a 19th-century cabinet by Diehl. The Louis XV-style wood veneer commode has a floral marquetry decoration. This sale also includes a selection of wines and spirits, including a bottle of La Tâche Domaine de la Romanée from 1997. Montblanc watches and pens, timepieces, carved ivory sculptures, and diamond and gold jewelry will be presented as well. Interested collectors can explore the full listings and register to bid online by visiting Bidsquare.
The Cartier luxury jewelry house was founded with the belief that “not everything in the contemporary world is machinism and mass consumption.” This concept was maintained throughout the 20th century, as many Cartier designs drew inspiration from nature, animals, and flowers. Highlighted in the upcoming Jewelry Online auction, presented by Doyle, is an 18-karat gold bangle bracelet from Cartier. The piece is signed and the inner circumference is slightly more than six inches.
Another featured item is a butterfly pendant-necklace by Angela Cummings and Tiffany & Co. In 1967, Cummings began designing for Tiffany & Co. She became one of the company’s most prominent designers and a leading figure for jewelry design in the 1980s and 1990s. Inspired by nature, her works often incorporate ginkgo leaves, shells, feathers, spiderwebs, and flowers. Another Tiffany & Co. item available in this sale is a gold tie bar and money clip. Beyond the jewelry pieces, the auction also includes furniture and collectibles. Explore the full catalog and register to bid on the Doyle website.
Giovanni Battista Piranesi was a leading Italian printmaker in the 18th century. An ardent lover of Roman architecture, Piranesi produced many etchings of the city, from prisons to architectural ruins. He helped pioneer the rediscovery of Roman remains and was a key figure in the development of the Neoclassical style. The upcoming April Eclectic Auction, presented by Garth’s Auctioneers & Appraisers, will offer two prints of Rome by Piranesi. They show the Trevi Fountain and the Roman Capitol, respectively.
A Gibson Les Paul Deluxe guitar will also be highlighted in this auction. Named after the jazz guitarist and inventor Les Paul, this piece was created to compete with Fender’s Telecaster. The available piece has a left-handed gold top. Also offered is a John Roger sculpture showing a group of people playing checkers. Titled Checkers Up At The Barn, the artist’s wife served as a model for the woman watching the game. Browse the full catalog for this sale and register to bid on Invaluable.
The first day of the upcoming Fine Furniture, Decorative Arts, and Silver event, presented by Hindman, brings to auction over 250 pieces from various countries. Representing Russia is a 20th-century letter opener made of gold and several different gemstones. Jade decorates the bottom half of the nine-inch-long letter opener, while a bulldog sits on the top.
From France comes a pair of porcelain ginger jars by Camille Le Tallec. A notable 20th-century Parisian craftsman, Le Tallec’s clients included Queen Elizabeth II and King Mohammad V of Morocco. Another French piece is a carved walnut armoire dated between 1860 and 1870. Two cherubs kiss on the top of the armoire, and a carved sheet joins the couple to other seated figures. Rounding out the event’s featured lots is a rock crystal skull. Its headdress is made of lapis lazuli, coral, and turquoise. Interested collectors can view each lot and register to bid on Bidsquare.
The 3rd Thursday Discovery Auction, presented by Witherell’s, will include almost 250 pieces of jewelry, decorative arts, and collectibles. Among the highlighted lots are seven 22-karat gold bangles and a ruby necklace. The latter item has a double chain and a clasp studded with rubies, emeralds, and enamel.
Several bronze sculptures will also be available, including a piece by Loet Vanderveen that shows three giraffes running in a line. Vanderveen’s sculptures often focus on capturing the motions of African animals. A pair of bronze figures created by Robert X. Holmes is also presented. His classical training in engineering later proved to be useful in his career as a sculptor. Both of these works are signed by their respective artists. For more information, visit Witherell’s.
The Hammerman luxury jewelry brand was established in New York City following World War II. In the 1950s, the Hammerman brothers patented a breakthrough design for a bracelet that doubled as a watch and manufactured the world’s first fully electronic watch a few years later. In the upcoming Fine Jewelry and Watches sale, offered by Hampton Estates Auction, a 12-inch Hammerman diamond and pearl necklace can be found. The total weight of the necklace’s diamonds is approximately 22 carats.
Also included is an 18-karat rose gold Patek Philippe Calatrava watch. Patek Philippe SA was founded in 1839 by Antoine Norbert de Patek and François Czapek. Almost a century later, the Calatrava watch was introduced. The available lot comes with a detached band and a gold buckle. The dial is signed “Patek Philippe” with rose gold stick markers and includes a small sub-dial at six o’clock. Rolex watches and Hermès bracelets will also be presented. To view the entire collection and register to bid, visit Bidsquare.
