University Archives held its last auction of the summer on August 27, 2025. Neither last-minute summer travel plans nor back-to-school preparations interfered with the auction proceedings. Hundreds watched – and thousands of absentee bids were executed – during six frenzied hours of online, absentee, and phone bidding. Rare Autographs, Manuscripts & Books featured Part I of a Top-Notch Collection, comprised of several hundred largely unreserved lots from a California connoisseur. Items from this sophisticated collection were acquired from Charles Hamilton, Joe Rubinfine, Kenneth Rendell, and other legendary dealers. Regulars and newcomers, look out for Part II of a Top-Notch Collection, coming your way in our next auction tentatively scheduled for October 8, 2025.
Music, U.S. Presidents, U.S. Politics, Science, and World Leaders categories performed extremely well in our August sale. These are some highlights.
Music
Lot 255 was Bob Dylan’s handwritten and signed lyrics to “A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall,” a song featured in his 1963 second studio album. Dylan has inscribed all five stanzas of the song on a sheet of Holmenkollen Park Hotel Rica stationery from Oslo, Norway, ca. 2013. The lyrics, accompanied by a COA from Dylan’s manager Jeff Rosen, sold for $53,125 including the buyer’s premium, reaching well above the high estimate. Dylan lyrics are scarce: between 2018 and 2025, University Archives has handled less than ten Dylan signed and handwritten lyrics. These included: “A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall,” “Like A Rolling Stone,” “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” “Blowing In the Wind,” “Tangled Up In Blue,” “Subterranean Homesick Blues,” and “Mr. Tambourine Man.” The lyrics have sold between $30,000 – $110,000 depending on the song.
U.S. Presidents
Lot 127 was a George Washington signed letter dated February 20, 1790, addressed to a state governor, possibly North Carolina state governor Alexander Martin. In it, President Washington transmitted an Act of Congress regarding import laws, shipping procedure, and tax collection districts in North Carolina. The letter featuring a gorgeous presidential signature exceeded the high estimate, exchanging hands for $46,875 including the buyer’s premium.
Lot 83 was Volume I of Washington Irving’s 5-part biography, Life of George Washington (New York: G.P. Putnam, 1860), personally owned and signed by future First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln sometime in 1860, when her husband announced his intention to run on the Republican Party presidential ticket following the success of his Cooper Union speech. Ex- Lincoln Family Library; Louise and Barry Taper Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. The Lincoln autographed volume sold for 30% over the high estimate, or $11,250 including the tip.
U.S. Politics
Lot 285 was an extraordinary illustrated journal kept by an unidentified author/artist, ca. 1862-1864, satirizing Civil War-era politicians, military commanders, literary figures, activists, and entertainers. Featuring 50+ original vividly hand-colored drawings, the 98pp journal commenting on the Emancipation Proclamation, Republican politics, fiscal policy, and other social issues sold for over the high estimate, or $9,375 including the buyer’s premium.
Lot 285, Detail, Civil War-Era Illustrated Journal
Lot 244 was a manuscript document signed by James Wilson, Robert Morris, Timothy Pickering, and other important Philadelphia merchants, ca. January – May 1795, being a subscription list pledging money for road construction. The civic-minded subscribers pledged in amounts ranging from £2 to £10 to build an extension of the North Road, a 70-mile stretch from Mt. Pocono to the New York State line. The signed document sold for $20,000 including the buyer’s premium – more than double the high estimate.
Science
Lot 425 was a 2pp autograph letter signed by Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell, dated December 3, 1856, being a recommendation letter for his Cambridge University friend, Isaac Taylor, Anglican canon at York. This letter, highlighting an interesting intersection between Science and Religion, garnered over its high estimate, selling for $12,500 including the tip.
Lot 416 was a 1p typed letter signed by Thomas Edison, PSA/DNA slabbed and graded Gem Mint 10. The letter includes one of the most superb signatures we’ve seen, featuring Edison’s unmistakable umbrella paraph. The Edison signed letter sold for $2,375 including the buyer’s premium.
World Leaders
Lot 107 was a 2pp autograph letter signed by Queen Lili’uokalani, the last sovereign of the Kamehameha dynasty of the Kingdom of Hawaii, dated November 19, 1903, from Washington, D.C. In the letter addressed to her business agent Joseph Oliver Carter, Queen Lili’uokalani mentioned that Prince Kalaniana’ole had enjoyed a cordial meeting with President Theodore Roosevelt. Queen Lili’uokalani was in Washington, D.C. unsuccessfully lobbying the U.S. government to restore her government. This remarkable letter sold for 70% over the high estimate, or $8,750 including the buyer’s premium.
Lot 107, Queen Lili’uokalani ALS
Lot 244 was a 2pp autograph letter signed by a 16-year-old Princess Elizabeth, future Queen Elizabeth II, dated April 18, 1943. In it, Elizabeth praised members of the 4th Battalion of the Grenadier Guards, whom the Princess had reviewed a few days before in what was her first solo royal appearance. The letter sold for over five times its high estimate, or $3,250 including the tip.
These were just a few of the spectacular lots offered in our August sale.
Our next auction is tentatively scheduled for October 8, 2025.
We hope you can join us!
