Auction of "Politically Controversial" Letters and Documents Revealed on Eve of U.S. Elections

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Oct 30, 2018, 08:40 ET

CHESAPEAKE CITY, Md., Oct. 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- On the eve of the 2018 mid-term elections, Maryland auctioneers Alexander Historical Auctions have announced their November 13-14 sale of some very controversial historical letters.

Photograph of Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler inscribed and signed for Rosa Nienau, often called "Hitler's sweetheart". The pair, who grew very close visiting at Hitler's retreat in Bavaria, shared the same birthday. When it was discovered she was a Jew, Hitler continued their friendship for years until the girl and her mother were finally ordered to stay away. Offered at auction November 13, 2018 by Alexander Historical Auctions, Chesapeake City, MD www.historyauctioneer.com

Mao Zedong 1942 signed book "The New Democracy". The communist leader inscribed and signed the cover: "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 to a French nobleman fleeing the invading Japanese at Peking. Being offered at auction November 14, 2018 by Alexander Historical Auctions, Chesapeake City, MD www.historyauctioneer.com

Offered in the sale will be an extraordinarily rare signed inscription by Mao Tse-Tung on the cover of his 1942 book "The New Democracy" Mao writes in broad brush strokes: "Let us unite with all democratic countries to conquer the Japanese-Italian-German fascism and build a new world of peace and democracy. Mao Tse-Tung." 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…" And in a never-before publicly seen piece, Adolf Hitler inscribes a warm photograph showing him with a charming little girl…whom, incredibly, the dictator knew to be a Jew.

Auctioneer Bill Panagopulos commented: "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."

The Mao document is a great 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 pre-sale estimate is $150-250,000, but Mao's auction prices in the past have been much higher.

The controversial Hitler photo is inscribed to Rosa Nienau, who had a Jewish grandmother. She and Hitler grew very close, so much so that the dictator refused all efforts to ban her from his company. In the end, he gave in and the girl and her mother were instructed to keep away and remain silent.

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…while blindfolded!

Bidding will be available live, by telephone, and at the auctioneer's catalog link. Bidding is also available at websites invaluable.com and liveauctioneers.com. Alexander Historical Auctions may be reached at 203-276-1570, email: [email protected], website: www.historyauctioneer.com

Media Contact:
Bill Panagopulos
203-276-1570
[email protected]

SOURCE Alexander Historical Auctions