AMHERST, NH – After setting two auction records at R&R Enterprises earlier this year, coveted original artwork from Charles Schulz’s beloved Peanuts comic strip is still flying high at the New Hampshire auction firm. The company’s November sale was highlighted by an original 1966 daily strip featuring Snoopy in his first year as the flying ace. The strip realized $43,618, the top result among more than 1,500 lots.
Lending credence to the notion that bigger is indeed sometimes better was an extraordinary oversized Beatles photo. The 12 x 15 image, one of the largest known photos signed by all four members of the band, attained a healthy $16,969.
A wide range of presidential and historical items included an archive of correspondence from Zionist leader Max Nordau to his lover, Sara Hutzler, $13,269; a scarce signed photo of Red Baron Manfred von Richthofen, $12,650; an historically significant Revolutionary War letter from Signer and patriot John Penn, $10,453; a James Monroe ALS as president, $6,581; a Lincoln appointment signed two weeks after the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter, $6,032; an early legal document signed by Lincoln, $6,032; and a war-dated letter from Ulysses Grant to Generals Ord and Meade, $5,889.
Aviation and space standouts included Charles Lindbergh’s 1954 Air Force ID card, $10,453; a photo signed by both Wright Brothers during their 1909 European tour, $9,391; a letter of thanks to a NASA staffer signed by 14 Gemini astronauts, $5,899; an Apollo 11 photo signed by all three crew members, $5,328; and a photo signed by all seven of the original Mercury astronauts, 4,879.
Strong results among a distinguished gathering of notables in arts and letters included a letter from Voltaire mentioning the Genevese War, $11,191; a scarce signed photo of Tolstoy, $6,489; a military reunion dinner program signed by T. E. Lawrence and several others, $5,117; and a signed first edition of Gone with the Wind, $3,494.
Spirited, hotly competitive bidding led to a notably strong showing in the music category. An unusually fine Gershwin AMQS from Rhapsody in Blue sold for $8,638; a Paul McCartney letter from an early Beatles engagement at the Star Club, $8,435; a Sgt. Pepper album signed by John Lennon, $8,390; a page from the guest book of a London restaurant signed by all four Beatles and renowned artist Francis Bacon, $7,139; an unpublished compositional sketch by Antonin Dvorák, $6,489; a copy of the Wedding Album signed by Lennon and Yoko Ono, $6,021; a document confirming Lennon and Ono’s business partnership, $5,899; an acoustic guitar signed by the Eagles, $5,629; a vintage Alan Freed program page signed by Buddy Holly and the Crickets, $4,734; a guitar signed by five Rolling Stones, $4,734; and a Brian Epstein letter sending complimentary tickets to a Beatles show, $4,652.
Entertainment highlights included a Bruce Lee letter from his year of Green Hornet stardom, $7,223; a signed photo of Clark Gable in his Air Force uniform, $3,844; and a large and impressive example of Alfred Hitchcock’s trademark profile sketch, $3,494.
Top performers in sports included a Mickey Mantle model Louisville Slugger signed by the Mick himself, $3,486; and a scarce check signed by WalterJohnson, $3,397.
All prices above include the buyer’s premium. R&R Enterprises’ next auction begins on November 26 and ends on December 12. Bids are accepted online or via telephone, fax, or e-mail. For information or to consign to future auctions, visit the R&R web site at www.rrauction.com or contact Elizebeth Otto at elizebeth@rrauction.com.
