Press Release

Wilton, CT, USA, February 6, 2024 -- Marilyn Monroe’s signed Connecticut driver’s license from 1958, three lots dedicated to Albert Einstein (a two-page autograph letter signed and a one-page scientific manuscript, both handwritten in German, plus a vintage photograph from 1923), and a Steve Jobs signed release authorizing the audio use of his 1988 NeXT demonstration, are just a few of the items up for bid in University Archives’ next online-only auction planned for Wednesday, February 21st.

The Rare Signed Manuscripts, Books, Photos & Relics auction will start promptly at 10:30 am Eastern time. All 469 lots in the catalog are up for viewing and bidding now – on the University Archives website: www.UniversityArchives.com – as well as the platforms Invaluable.com, Auctionzip.com and LiveAuctioneers.com. Telephone and absentee bids will also be accepted.

“The February 21st auction features our usual dazzling array of important autographs, historical documents, rare books, artwork, photographs, relics, sports memorabilia, currency, exonumia, and scripophily,” commented John Reznikoff, the president and owner of University Archives.

Mr. Reznikoff added, “Fully one-third of the catalog is dedicated to U.S. Presidents, in particular Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan, and John F. Kennedy. We also have a very strong selection in the entertainment, Old West, military, art, music, literature, international and sports categories.”

Lot 285 is Marilyn Monroe’s Connecticut driver’s license, boldly signed by her as “Marilyn Monroe Miller,” and PSA/DNA slabbed and certified authentic. The circa July 28, 1958 license (which has no photo) gives the actress’s birthday, height, and address in Roxbury, Connecticut, where she lived with playwright husband Arthur Miller from 1956-1961 (est. $30,000-$40,000).

Lot 431 is a two-page autograph letter signed by Einstein and written in German to his youngest son Tetel, explaining that he fled Europe in September 1933 because “there were plans for my assassination.” Einstein’s shocking revelation modifies preconceptions about assassination as being the fate of only presidents, politicians, or Civil Rights leaders (est. $30,000-$40,000).

Also offered in the February auction is lot 430, a one-page autograph manuscript in German by Einstein, relating to his development of the Unified Field Theory (est. $30,000-$40,000); as well as lot 429, an interesting vintage photograph of Einstein dedicated in an unknown hand in Hebrew, most likely dating from Einstein’s 1923 trip to modern day Israel (est. $3,000-$4,000).

Lot 432 is the Steve Jobs signed release authorizing the use of audio of his NeXT demonstration in November 1988 as part of an educational series relating to computers and information technology. Exciting demos like these later became a hallmark of Jobs’s Apple products marketing machine. PSA/DNA slabbed and graded GEM MINT 10. (est. $30,000-$40,000).

Lot 84 is a handsomely displayed Abraham Lincoln signature (boldly signed as “A. Lincoln”) on a leaf of “Executive Mansion” stationery, displayed with an etching of Lincoln in a gilt frame. Ex-Goodspeed’s Book Shop (est. $8,000-$10,000).

For more information about University Archives and the 469-lot, online-only Rare Signed Manuscripts, Books, Photos, & Relics auction scheduled for Wednesday, February 21st, at 10:30 am Eastern time, please visit www.universityarchives.com. Updates are posted frequently.

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