by Brooke Kennedy
It was a week of anticipation. After a successful box office run, Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer swept the Oscars winning Academy Awards across seven categories. Decades after its detonation and Oppenheimer’s death, all eyes were on the story of the atomic bomb and the man who facilitated its creation. And, that very same week, a report signed by the famous physicist sold at RR Auction for $53,594.
Written prior to testing of the first bomb at the Alamogordo ‘Trinity’ test site in New Mexico, this 200 page report contains a detailed account of the atomic bomb’s development through a technical and administrative lens. In addition to Oppenheimer, other contributors to the Manhattan Project including Harold C. Urey, Enrico Fermi, and Ernest O. Lawrence sign the front page.
American physicist, diplomat, and bureaucrat Henry D. Smyth penned the report, which was first released to the press on August 12, 1945, days after the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Due to its early release date, this is likely one of the first publicly available reports on its creation after years of secrecy.
“We’re honored to have facilitated the sale of such a significant artifact. This document not only represents a crucial chapter in scientific history but also serves as a poignant reminder of the ethical considerations surrounding technological advancement,” said Bobby Livingston when speaking with Fine Books Magazine.
Achieving a selling price that far exceeded its estimate was a letter written by John F. Kennedy’s assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald – ending with a high bid of $24,370. Addressed during his time as an expatriate in the Soviet Union, Oswald writes to his brother as he awaits his return to the United States. In part, “Well, I’ve been told that we’ll get our visa’s about the 1st of February if everything goes quickly. If we do get our visa’s we should arrive in the U.S. before the 1st of March. All of this of course may change any way the Soviets like it to change…I really do not trust these people, so I shall wait untill I’m in the U.S. before I become overjoyed…When we do leave we shall leave by plane from Moscow to N.Y. I really don’t know how I’ll feel to be back in the States.”
In The Mind of Oswald, Diane Holloway states that the letter ‘showed ambivalence about returning to America. He rarely admitted his feelings to anyone, probably to avoid criticism, and this comment shows how much he trusted his brother at this point. His brother was probably his only real confidante during this period…Whether this ambivalence was about his marital, political, financial or work potential in the United States was unstated.’
This letter served as Warren Commission Exhibit No. 313 and is illustrated in the Warren commission Hearings, Volume XVI.
Additionally for this event, RR highlighted the artistic stylings of original animation artwork from pioneering companies in the medium.
Disney completely shifted the world of animation by releasing the first ever full-length animated film, 1937’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. And from there the studio continued to innovate, releasing new critically acclaimed projects and bringing in new talent – including artist Mary Blair. Sold for $17,926, this vibrant piece by the concept master depicts two of Disney’s most iconic characters.
Alice in Wonderland is one of several Disney films that were heavily influenced by the art style of Blair. Captured in tempera, Alice is depicted perched atop a tree in the Tulgey Wood, joined by the mischievous Cheshire Cat with his toothy grin. The vibrant color palettes displayed in her work brought Disney’s films into a new era, characterized by bursting worlds of color. Due to her legacy, her concept work ranks among the most desirable of any Disney legend. In addition to the above piece, this month’s sale featured her artwork from Cinderella, Peter Pan, and The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad.
If you liked these numbers, RR Auction has plenty of events on the horizon to get your pieces in front of our enthusiastic buyers. Our list of upcoming events includes Art, Literature, and Classical Music, Olympics, and artifacts from the Revolutionary War. If you have anything that fits those categories, head to the button below to submit your photographs or give experts a call at 800-937-3880.
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