Remarkable Rarities Auction Totals More than $1,000,000, Chairman Mao Signed ‘Little Red Book’ Sells for $250,000

_{by Brooke Kennedy}

This past February, RR Auction held a special Remarkable Rarities event to highlight items we consider the best-of-the-best in every category. Our consignors partnered with us to sell their personal treasures, culminating in an overall sales result of $1,152,538.

International Relations

A signed edition of Chairman Mao Zedong’s ‘Little Red Book’ drew the highest bid of the evening – fetching $250,000. Mao originally signed the book in October 1966 for the wife of Sharifuddin Pirzada, Foreign Minister of Pakistan, during a visit to Beijing.

At the time, Sharifuddin was the first statesman to visit China after the beginning of the Cultural Revolution. When the foreign minister and his wife arrived in Beijing for their meeting, they were treated to a banquet and soon met by the Chairman. Sharifuddin’s wife presented Mao with the book, where he signed next to his frontispiece portrait. The authenticity of the book is bolstered by a photograph taken at the moment of signing.

Pakistan would serve as a bridge of communication between the United States and China, aiding in the rebuilding of diplomatic relations. In a video, Rafat Pirzada, son of Sharifuddin Pirzada, reflects on the importance of the meeting and what the book represents, “The red book signed by Mao…[is] a testament…that this is where it all started from…right there in November 1966 in Beijing.”

Very few Mao signed items – let alone copies of his book – have gone to market, as he often only signed for foreign dignitaries.

Presidential Finances

In the collector sphere, presidential checks remain highly valuable, especially early examples. Our bidders were in luck, as a George Washington signed check was one of the featured lots, selling for $135,473. Additionally, PSA/DNA graded both Washington’s and Wolcott’s signatures as “MINT 10.”

The check pertains to a land transaction between the 1st U.S. president and Colonel Israel Shreve, who fought alongside Washington at the Battles of Brandywine and German town, and wintered at Valley Forge. Col. Shreve leased a 600-acre section of Washington’s land for a five year term, and offered to purchase that tract of land. Washington agreed, offering him the entire tract for $4,000 in Pennsylvania currency. The sum represented on the check was the first of Shreve’s payments for the property, made several weeks late.

Oliver Wolcott, Jr., Secretary of the Treasury and Alexander Hamilton’s successor was the recipient, and it is just one of two checks Washington signed as president to be put on the market.

A Musical Masterpiece

Considered one of the greatest symphonic soundtracks of all time, the Star Wars films were elevated by the work of John Williams. Given only six weeks to create the score, Williams ended up with 88 minutes of music, which translated to about 800 pieces of sheet music. After recording with the London Symphony Orchestra, the score was sent to be edited at Samuel Goldwyn Studios by Lionel Newman, Head of the Music Department, and Len Engel, music supervisor. What resulted was an iconic soundtrack that captured the world that Lucas had created, and introduced a new fixture in pop culture.

As thanks for helping to bring the project together, Williams gave Engel his handwritten sheet music for the film’s opening title track. Used in the post production stage, the manuscript contains Williams’s handwritten music notes along with instruments and directions: “Maestoso,” “6tpts,” “4 troms,” and “Stg.” Prominently featured in the center is an inscription, “To Len – In appreciation for a treasured friendship – John.” By the auction’s end, the manuscript achieved its consignor a stellar price of $49,290.

In reflecting on their friendship, Engel’s step grandson said in a letter of provenance, “Len became a working partner with Williams on all of his movies, taking them from the composer sheets to the finished product ready for distribution…This sheet music was gifted in appreciation of their working together on the Star Wars films.”

There’s still plenty of events on the horizon at RR. Deadlines are approaching for the following auctions: Art Literature and Classical Music, Olympics, and Steve Jobs and the Apple Computer Revolution. Have an item that would fit these categories? Give our professionals a call at 800-937-3880 or click the button below to submit photos to our authenticators.