Press Release

Wilton, CT -- Two manuscripts signed by Albert Einstein, both pertaining to his seminal Unified Field Theory; a baseball signed by former U.S. President Woodrow Wilson; and a JFK and Jackie co-signed 1963 Christmas gift are just a few top lots in University Archives’ online-only Rare Autographs, Manuscripts & Books auction scheduled for Wednesday, November 19th.

The auction, starting promptly at 10am Eastern Time, is filled with wonderful holiday gift ideas. The catalog in its entirety – all 497 lots – is up for viewing and bidding now on the University Archives website, www.UniversityArchives.com, plus the popular platforms Invaluable.com, Auctionzip.com and LiveAuctioneers.com. Telephone and absentee bids will also be accepted.

“The November 19th auction contains over 490 lots of outstanding historical material,” said John Reznikoff, the president and owner of University Archives. “Featured are two notable and largely unreserved collections, starting with Part I of A Superb Space Collection, a particularly fine assortment of space autographs and memorabilia assembled by a Texas gentleman, over 40 lots.”

Also up for bid will be Part III of A Top-Notch Collection, curated by a sophisticated California connoisseur, who purchased rare and desirable autographed items from Charles Hamilton, Joe Rubinfine, Kenneth Rendell, and other legendary dealers (over 40 lots). The auction will also include the usual assortment of exceptional signed items from U.S. Presidents, Science, Space, Music, Civil Rights, World Leaders, Literature, and many other popular collecting categories.

Lots 447 and 448 are autograph manuscripts by Albert Einstein, representing original working drafts of what would eventually become parts of “A Generalization of the Relativistic Theory of Gravitation” (1945). The two pages - offered separately in back-to-back lots – are both related to Einstein’s Unified Field Theory. Together, the pages represent a combined 440+ words and 29 equations in Einstein’s hand and show extensive edits. Each lot is estimated at $20,000-$30,000.

Lot 159 is a vintage Spaulding No. 1 baseball signed by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, Vice President Thomas Marshall, House Speaker Champ Clark, and a handful of U.S. Congressmen, later sold at a World War I fundraising benefit auction hosted by the Red Cross, circa 1917-1918. The ball, from the collection of Steven Forbes, should find a new home for $15,000-$20,000.

Lot 79 is a John and Jackie Kennedy co-signed 1963 Christmas gift - an engraving of an Andrew Jackson statue near the White House - signed and presented to family and close friends in the weeks leading up to Christmas, which sadly JFK himself would not celebrate. The print was gifted to Joan Braden, a close Kennedy Family friend who also worked on JFK’s campaigns. It carries a pre-sale estimate of $4,000-$5,000.

Lot 455 is an autograph manuscript penned by Sir Isaac Newton, circa 1690s-1710s, featuring over 350 words in his hand. Newton’s non-scientific writings concentrated on theological studies, and this heavily edited draft is no exception. The manuscript fragment examines the continuity between Judaism and Christianity. It has a pre-sale estimate of $30,000-$40,000.

Lot 308 is Bob Dylan’s signed and handwritten lyrics to Just Like a Woman, a song featured on his seventh studio album, “Blonde on Blonde.” The lot comes with a certificate of authenticity from Jeff Rosen, Dylan’s tour manager, plus a PSA COA. The estimate is $40,000-$50,000.

For more information about University Archives and the online-only Rare Autographs, Manuscripts & Books auction scheduled for Wednesday, November 19th, visit www.universityarchives.com.

For more information about University Archives and the online-only Rare Autographs, Manuscripts & Books auction scheduled for Wednesday, November 19th, visit www.universityarchives.com.

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