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Ghosts of Genius: Steve Jobs, Howard Hughes Artifacts to Ignite Historic Auction
Explore personal items from Steve Jobs, Howard Hughes, and more in Julien's "Spotlight: History & Technology" auction.
June 18, 2024
History unfolds not just in grand pronouncements and sweeping narratives, but in the quiet hum of everyday moments. Julien's upcoming "Spotlight: History & Technology” auction is not a mere display of objects; it is a resonant echo chamber of the 20th century, a chronicle whispered through the belongings of cultural icons and technological titans who dared to rewrite the script.
Feel the spirit of Steve Jobs, the visionary co-founder of Apple, by acquiring his iconic navy-blue pin-striped suit, immortalized in the 1984 Macintosh computer release marketing photograph. As you gaze upon his taupe and white striped suit, you’ll instantly become a silent observer of a momentous occasion in Silicon Valley history. These garments are fragments of the technological revolution, meticulously woven into tangible form.
Lot #2
A stamped brass card certifying that Howard Hughes is a sponser of the campaign for "Safety on The Highways," from the California Association of Highway Patrolmen - 1953.
Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity from Profiles in History.
2 x 3 inches
PROVENANCE Lot 96, "The Howard Hughes Auction," Profiles in History, July 23, 2020
Journey back in time with personal items from Howard Hughes, the enigmatic aviator and business magnate who defied gravity with his imagination. His drafting chair, a stoic sentinel to the creation of groundbreaking aircraft like the H-1 Hercules, hums with tales of ambition and ingenuity. A vintage Hawaiian shirt – a relic of a bygone era ahead of its casual Friday time – exudes the magnetism of a man who danced to the beat of his own drum. These artifacts invite you to peer into the kaleidoscope of a man who shattered the boundaries of what was thought possible.
Lot #1. PEARL HARBOR | ORIGINAL BATTLESHIP WEST VIRGINIA LIFE RING
The auction's magnetism extends beyond the realm of personal effects. Witness a unique photo album commemorating the fifth anniversary of the People's Republic of China, hand-signed by Mao Zedong himself. This extraordinary artifact is a gateway to a pivotal moment in Chinese history, a potent symbol of the enduring power of cultural exchange.
As we delve into the forgotten corners of history, we encounter an artifact of profound significance: an original life preserver ring from the USS West Virginia, a haunting echo of the Pearl Harbor attack that propelled America into World War II. This relic stands as a solemn memorial to the sacrifices made on that fateful day, a testament to the unwavering human spirit in the face of unimaginable darkness.
Lot #6
A unique photo album commemorating the fifth anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949 by Chairman Mao Zedong (Mao Tse-tung) – hand signed in black ink by Zedong and gifted to Raiko Damyanov, Vice President of the Bulgarian Council of Ministers in 1954.
The album is inscribed in Bulgarian on the front endpaper:
"To the Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Raiko Damyanov, in honor of the fifth anniversary of the creation of the PRC – October 1954."
Following this are several pages exhibiting half-tone photographs of Damyanov during a previous visit to China, with a mounted woven silk portrait of Vladimir Lenin shown opposite an image of Damyanov shaking hands with Zedong, which Zedong has signed in ink to the lower right.
Photos and items Included:
A chinese woven silk portrait of Vladmir Lenin; Damyanov shaking hands with Zedong (Signed by Zedong); Zedong viewing a cultural heritage display, with Nikita Krushchev in the background; Damyanov reading a speech on an airport tarmac; Damyanov posing with an unidentified person near the ocean shore; Damyanov posing with a number of unidentified persons near the ocean shore; the group with one of the stone camels that line the Sacred Way (Shendao) leading to the Ming Dynasty Emperors Tombs; and the group touring a shipyard.
The album is believed to document a Soviet delegation, lead by Nikita Khrushchev, that visited Beijing in October of 1954.
7.5 x 9.5 inches
The auction reaches its crescendo with a glimpse into the personal journal of astronaut Wally Schirra, a window into the soul of a man who dared to kiss the heavens. His words transport us to the nascent days of NASA's Mercury space program, a time of audacious exploration and unwavering resolve. Schirra's journal is a paean to the extraordinary courage and unwavering resolve of those who ventured into the unknown, paving the way for future generations of space explorers.
Julien's "Spotlight: History & Technology” auction is a voyage through the annals of time, an opportunity to forge a connection with the visionaries, pioneers, and heroes who sculpted our modern world. It is a chance to become a custodian of history, to hold in your hands the tangible echoes of the moments that defined a century. Register and bid in this portal to the extraordinary.
