University Archives is ringing in the New Year with a new sale!
Rare Autographs & Books Including Lincoln & Space Exploration will showcase over 520 lots of exceptional historical items. The auction gives prominence to two largely unreserved collections: Part II of A Superb Space Collection, a particularly fine assortment of Space autographs and memorabilia assembled by a Texas gentleman (30+ lots); as well as Part IV 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 (30+ lots).
U.S. Presidents
Lot 53 is a Thomas Jefferson signed and personally owned book, Vol. IV of Plutarch’s Morals (London: Printed for W. Taylor, 1718), from Jefferson’s library, and with provenance from U.S. Senate clerk Lewis Henry Machen. Not seen at public auction since 1829, the Jefferson owned volume is signed with a “T” on the “I” leaf on pg. 193, and also features a 12-word holographic inscription on the first extant page. Jefferson took inspiration from the famous Greek moral philosopher when drafting the Declaration of Independence.
Abraham Lincoln
Over 20 lots in the sale are dedicated to Abraham Lincoln, including Lincoln autographed material, photographs, medals, currency, and ephemera, and with two autographed letters signed by Mary Todd Lincoln.
Lot 82 is a Mary Todd Lincoln autograph letter signed, dated May 20, 1870 in Eger, Bohemia, in which the widowed First Lady laments her financial insecurity. Lincoln had just heard about the recent U.S. Senate decision to reject her pension request, an action she characterized as “injur[ing] & defraud[ing] the widow & orphans of the great & good man, who loved & served his country so well.” Lincoln was granted a $3,000 pension two months later, in July 1870.
Lot 87 is an Abraham Lincoln autograph note signed, dated January 11, 1863 in Washington, D.C., granting permission to a Virginia woman named Mrs. Rebecca Rust to visit her husband, a Confederate prisoner of war, in Rock Island, Illinois. Rebecca Rust later recounted in her memoirs that Lincoln’s generosity in extending her the visitor’s pass changed her perspective.
Lot 88 is a phenomenal 8pp autograph letter signed dated April 15, 1865 in Washington, D.C., written by a barkeeper and possible Ford’s Theatre musician named G.W. Watson. In it, Watson recounted an eyewitness account of Lincoln’s assassination as told to him by Benjamin Butler’s private secretary Wesley R. Batchelder. The remarkable letter describes the event in vivid detail, complete with two pen illustrations, one depicting the President’s theatre box, and one showing Booth’s escape route. Watson dramatically ends the letter: “God speed the hang-man.”
Lot 91 is an Abraham Lincoln oversized sepia-colored photograph after Alexander Hesler, measuring 13” x 16.” The original portrait photograph was taken on June 3, 1860 in Springfield, Illinois just a few weeks after Lincoln was nominated as Republican Party presidential candidate. The amazing detail in the large photograph makes it seem like the future president is in the room!
Space
The Space & Aviation category includes over 60 lots in the sale, ranging from autographed material, photographs, and ephemera, to artwork, space-flown relics, and deaccessioned NASA equipment.
Lot 202 is an official NASA color portrait photograph signed by all three Apollo XI crew members, ca. 1974, and pre-certified by space expert Steve Zarelli.
Lot 239 is an Endeavour STS-111-flown Hasselblad 203S space camera, with a 70mm body and NASA Class I flight hardware, complete with a view finder, power winder, IR remote, and manual winder. The Space-flown photographic equipment comes with a data module as well as a 70mm film magazine flown on Atlantis, Columbia, Discover, and Endeavour missions. Extremely scarce in private hands!
Lot 239, Endeavour STS-111-flown Hasselblad 203S space camera
Science
Lot 490 is an Isaac Newton autograph manuscript fragment comprised of nine lines (85+ words) in both Latin and English. In it, the scientist delves into a religious discussion of the relationship between God and Jesus.
Literature
Lot 434 is an Ernest Hemingway boldly signed limited first edition copy of A Farewell To Arms (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1929), signed by the author on the limitation page. The book comes from the personal collection of fellow writer Owen Wister, Jr. of The Virginian fame.
Lot 456 is an 11pp autograph manuscript signed by Ayn Rand, being a heavily edited draft of what would become her July 22, 1962 “Ayn Rand Column” published in the Los Angeles Times. The draft entitled “The Cold Civil War” includes 900+ words with additional copious emendations, and comments on the intersection of Kennedy-era politics and the economy. In part: “Such is the nature of that ‘cold civil war’ … While every social group is destroying every other, the government waits on the sidelines, merely playing favorites and growing. No matter who loses any particular battle, only totalitarian statism can win that war.”
Entertainment
Three lots in the sale relate to Marilyn Monroe, including Lot 331, a spectacular and gorgeous vintage press photograph signed by the starlet, PSA/DNA slabbed and certified authentic, as well as a 1950 check issued to her hair stylist, and a personally owned cordial glass, ex-Christie’s. The presentation portrait photograph was taken by Frank Powolny, ca. 1953, around the time that Gentlemen Prefer Blondes was released.
Lot 331, Marilyn Monroe PSA SP
Sports
Lot 514 is a Babe Ruth signed PSA/DNA Type II vintage press photograph by baseball photographer Charles M. Conlon, capturing one of the most famous pictures of the “Sultan of Swat” at home plate during his Yankees era. The Ruth signed photo comes with a miniature Ruth Louisville Slugger baseball bat, 16.25” long.
These are just some of the memorable lots in our January 7, 2026 sale.
We hope you can join us!
