Latest news with #RRAuction
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Chamberlain hoped to ‘avoid worst' as Second World War loomed
Neville Chamberlain wrote 'I still hope we may avoid the worst' six days before the start of the Second World War, a letter has revealed. The former prime minister is infamous for his failed appeasement policy, which saw him offer Adolf Hitler numerous concessions to try to avoid war. Now a newly discovered letter suggests he clung on to the hope his strategy would pay off up until the moment Germany invaded Poland on Sept 1 1939. Writing to Captain William Brass, the Conservative MP, on Aug 26 1939, he said: 'I still hope we may avoid the worst, but if it comes we are thank God prepared for it.' Chamberlain's confidence in Britain's readiness for war would prove to be misplaced as within nine months the Nazis had captured swathes of Europe. More than 330,000 British Expeditionary Force troops had to be hastily evacuated at Dunkirk between May 26 and June 4 1940, to enable Britain to 'fight another day'. The day before Chamberlain's hopeful note, however, Britain had signed the Anglo-Polish military alliance, promising to support Poland if its independence was threatened. Hitler had originally scheduled his invasion of Poland for Aug 26, but when news of the Anglo-Polish pact reached Berlin, he temporarily postponed the attack by six days. Chamberlain's policy of appeasement saw Britain make no response to Hitler's annexation of Austria in March 1938, a move Winston Churchill warned at the time was a mistake. During a speech in the House of Commons, Churchill said: 'The gravity of the annexation of Austria cannot be exaggerated.' Hitler quickly moved on to trying to control the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia, and by Sept 1928 Chamberlain had flown to Hitler's holiday home to negotiate in person, to no avail. Chamberlain said at the time: 'How horrible, fantastic, incredible it is that we should be digging trenches and trying on gas-masks here because of a quarrel in a far away country between people of whom we know nothing.' The Munich agreement saw Chamberlain sign over the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia to Germany from Oct 1 1938, in exchange for Hitler giving up on plans for further expansion across Europe. Churchill called it a 'total and unmitigated defeat' and it failed to stop Nazi Germany annexing more Czech land, including Prague, and launching an invasion of Poland – which finally sparked war. Chamberlain lost the confidence of Parliament and resigned as prime minister in May 1940, when Churchill stepped up to lead the nation. The one-page letter, on 10 Downing Street letterhead and dated Aug 26 1939, has emerged for sale at RR Auction in Boston, US. It is tipped to fetch $20,000 (£15,000) because of its historical significance. An RR Auction spokesman said: 'Behind the scenes, British diplomats were still scrambling to avert war. Chamberlain hoped that deterrence, through strong alliances and military mobilisation, might still dissuade Hitler. 'At the same time, Britain was accelerating preparations – air raid precautions were being implemented across cities, reservists were being called up, and public morale was being steeled for the possibility of conflict. 'Thus Britain found itself in a state of grim resolve: committed to defending Poland, preparing for war, yet still clinging to fragile hopes that Hitler might yet be deterred. 'Within a week, however, those hopes would be extinguished as Germany launched its invasion of Poland on September 1.' The sale takes place on Wednesday. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Miami Herald
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Eisenhower's secret message announcing WWII victory in Europe up for auction
By Ben Barry President Dwight D. Eisenhower's top secret message announcing victory in Europe is set to fetch $30k at auction - alongside with other WWII artifacts. The sale - run by RR Auction - will take place on June 11, 2025. The top secret document signed by President Eisenhower, announcing allied victory in Europe, is expected to fetch $30k plus. Another document, written by President Eisenhower on June 13, 1944, stated he was looking forward to the "destruction of the Nazi military machine". The surrender negotiation document, signed by Reich President Karl Donitz and presented to allies by Col, Gen. Alfred Jodi, is expected to fetch more than $100k. Speaking about the historic documents, Bobby Livingston, Executive VP at RR Auction, said: "The Dönitz authorization represents one of history's most dramatic ideological reversals. "With Hitler dead, the Nazi 'fight to the last man' mentality-where every German was expected to die rather than surrender-was completely abandoned. "These generals suddenly faced an entirely different mission: save as many German lives as possible by negotiating time for millions to flee from the Eastern Front to Western lines. "While Eisenhower firmly rejected their request and demanded immediate surrender, the delay in announcing the capitulation created the crucial window that saved 1.5 million people. "This document captures that extraordinary transformation-from a regime demanding mass death to leaders desperately trying to preserve life." The post Eisenhower's secret message announcing WWII victory in Europe up for auction appeared first on Talker. Copyright Talker News. All Rights Reserved.
Miami Herald
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Baseball signed by Pope Francis to fetch thousands at auction
By Ben Barry A baseball signed by Pope Francis is set to fetch up to $15,000 at auction during the conclave to decide the next pontiff. Randy Kaplan, a longtime collector from Long Island, New York, spent years trying to obtain "one of the rarest autographs in the world." During Pope Francis's 2015 visit to the US, Randy appealed to a high-ranking Vatican official, and a few months later, a package arrived from Vatican City. It contained a Rawlings Major League baseball signed by Pope Francis with the word 'Francisco' written across it in black ink. The package also contained two sets of rosary beads, a Vatican coin, and four glossy photos of Pope Francis with a printed signature. The souvenir is now on auction at RR Auction in Boston, Massachusetts, and is expected to fetch around $15k. Randy said, "The Pope is one of the toughest signatures on the planet to acquire. "I tried for years to get Pope Benedict to sign a baseball. The results were never positive." In addition to the baseball from Pope Francis, Randy has baseballs signed by 24 high-ranking Cardinals who are currently voting on who will be the next Pope. The post Baseball signed by Pope Francis to fetch thousands at auction appeared first on Talker. Copyright Talker News. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong's gold Omega moonwatch sells for record $2.2M at auction
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A new record has been set for the most paid at auction for an astronaut's timepiece. The 18-karat gold Omega Speedmaster that was presented to Neil Armstrong four months after he became the first person to walk on the moon in 1969, sold for a hammer price of $1.7 million on Thursday (April 17). With the auction house's fees included, the total price for the chronograph was $2,187,500 — $280,546.25 more than the previous record set in 2022 by a nearly-identical gold Speedmaster gifted to Mercury, Gemini and Apollo astronaut Walter "Wally" Schirra. The Armstrong watch also commanded the third most-ever paid for a space-related artifact, exceeded only by a Soviet-era Vostok 3KA-2 space capsule that sold for $2,882,500 in 2011 and the jacket that Armstrong's crewmate, Buzz Aldrin, wore aboard the Apollo 11 spacecraft, which went for $2,772,500 in 2022. "This watch, which my father liked to wear on special occasions, symbolizes one of the most remarkable achievements in the history of mankind," said Mark Armstrong, son of the late astronaut, in a statement released by RR Auction of Boston, Massachusetts. Related: Neil Armstrong: First man on the moon Half of the hammer price, or $850,000, will be donated to charitable causes Neil Armstrong believed in, as identified by his son. The unnamed consignor who placed the watch up for sale with RR Auction has also pledged a portion of the hammer price to the Wisconsin-based Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation, which helps shape future generations through scholarships that honor character and service. "A substantial portion of the proceeds from the sale will [further] the impact that [my father] and many other Americans made to humanity more than half a century ago," said Mark Armstrong. Like all of the astronauts who flew Gemini and Apollo missions, NASA issued Armstrong with an Omega Speedmaster Professional chronograph as part of his flight equipment. As the commander of the Apollo 11 mission, Armstrong left his Speedmaster inside the lunar module "Eagle" as a backup to a broken timer, leading to Aldrin becoming the first person to wear a watch on the lunar surface. The NASA-issued Speedmasters were not intended as gifts and, ultimately, the space agency transferred them to the Smithsonian, where Armstrong's flown-to-the-moon chronograph is now on display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. As a commemorative and a replacement, Omega created a set of 26 solid yellow gold Speedmaster Professional wristwatches, which were presented to Armstrong, Aldrin and their Apollo 11 crewmate Michael Collins, as well as other astronauts who had flown into space at the time, at a gala dinner hosted by the Hotel Warwick in Houston on Nov. 25, 1969. Each of the "Tribute to Astronauts" timepieces was engraved on its back with the recipient's name and missions, a number relative to when he flew into space and a quote: "To mark man's conquest of space with time, through time, on time." Armstrong was issued watch number 17. Numbers "1" and "2" were reserved for President Richard Nixon and Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, respectively. Omega later made more "Tribute" watches for Apollo 14 through Apollo 17 crews, as well as sold 976 pieces to the public (the retail version replaced the personalized info on the caseback with the phase, "the first watch worn on the moon"). Thursday's auction was held at the Royal Sonesta Boston Hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts, after eliciting 20 bids totaling $1,366,694 on RR Auction's website since March 24. "Hammer's down at $1.7 million," said the auctioneer to a round of applause. "Ladies and gentlemen, friends, thank you, thank you, thank you for being here and being a part of history at $1.7 million." The winning bidder was not identified. Related stories: — Microscopic Apollo 11 moon dust sells for $500K at Bonhams auction — The Apollo program: How NASA sent astronauts to the moon — NASA's Apollo moon rocks still thrill scientists 50 years later The Armstrong watch was part of RR Auction's semi-annual space-themed sale, which included another astronaut's gold Omega Speedmaster. The chronograph gifted to the late Apollo 14 lunar module pilot Edgar Mitchell sold for $142,663.75 with the 25% buyer's premium. Other "Tribute to the Astronauts" gold Speedmasters have sold over the last five years for $150,000 to $375,000 at auction. The wristwatch presented to Apollo 11 command module pilot Michael Collins commanded $765,000 in 2022. Among the larger category of space artifacts and memorabilia, the Armstrong watch now sits between Aldrin's flown Apollo 11 inflight coverall jacket and the personal Rolex GMT-Master chronometer that Mitchell flew aboard Apollo 14, which sold for $2,163,199 in 2024. Other examples of seven-figure sales have included a protective pouch that held the bagged, first lunar sample collected by Armstrong ($1,812,500 in 2017); the Soyuz TM-10 descent module ($1,652,500 in 1993); and a prototype Bulova chronograph that became the second type of wristwatch worn on the moon during the Apollo 15 mission in 1971 ($1,625,000 in 2015). Follow on Facebook and on X at @collectSPACE. Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Twitter bird logo from SF headquarters sells for over $34K in auction
The Brief The iconic Twitter bird sold for over $34K at an auction ending on Thursday Other items sold included other technological antiques, such as Steve Jobs-signed Apple memorabilia and a first-generation iPhone The total price of sold auctioned items amounted to over $1.3M SAN FRANCISCO - It's officially the end of an era. The iconic blue bird that once sat atop of the headquarters of Twitter, Inc. on San Francisco's Market Street has been sold, fetching a price of a little over $34,000 in an auction ending on Thursday. RR Auction, a Boston-based auction house that sells rare and collectible items, held their Steve Jobs and the Apple Revolution Auction, opening on Feb. 27. The bird, nicknamed "Larry" after NBA Great Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics, was first mounted on the former Twitter headquarters in 2012 and stayed for over a decade until the social media website's rebranding in 2023. "This Twitter sign is more than a massive piece of memorabilia; it's a symbol of how fast our world is changing," Bobby Livingston said. Livingston serves as the executive vice president of RR Auction. "Getting your hands on something like this means owning a piece of the era that reshaped our global communication landscape," Livingston added. By the numbers The items sold at the auction totaled over $1.3 million, with the Apple-1 Computer with Accessories fetching the highest price at $375,000. Other items sold were a Steve Jobs-signed 1976 Apple Computer Company Check No. 5 at a little over $112,000, a "rare" 4-gigabyte Model Apple iPhone-First Generation sold for around $87,500, a Steve Jobs-signed 1976 Computer Company Check at $62,500, and an Apple Lisa Computer with 'Twiggy' Drives, selling for nearly $57,000. Additionally, the Apple-1 computer is reportedly fully functional and the 4-gigabyte iPhone fully sealed in its original packaging. "What's special about this auction, including the Twitter sign, is how it captures the spirit of innovation that drove tech giants like Steve Jobs. It's not just memorabilia—it's a part of history that shaped how we communicate today," Livingston said. The backstory Twitter was renamed "X" in 2023, when tech mogul Elon Musk bought the company. A slew of changes to the app have been made, and not without controversy. For a brief period, former verified accounts lost their "blue checkmark" that authenticated their identity, including late celebrities like Kobe Bryant and Anthony Bourdain. Several layoffs were made to staff, some journalists saw their accounts being briefly suspended, and some advertisers have left the platform over concerns about hate speech. Controversial accounts have seen their accounts reinstated, such as Alex Jones, a far-right radio host who pushed the conspiracy that the 2012 Sandy Hook mass shooting was a hoax. More recently, the block feature has been modified, allowing blocked accounts to see tweets from users that have blocked them, but cannot interact with them. Previously, blocked users could not see any tweets or posts from those who've blocked them. Solidifying the rebranding from Twitter to X, a bright and flashy "X" sign was put on top of the headquarters, a move that angered neighbors, saying the white lights were too bright. Other memorabilia and items were previously auctioned in the early days of X, including furniture and equipment, and professional kitchen items. The Source RR Auction
