One of the world’s most extraordinary autograph collections including the signatures of Abraham Lincoln, Picasso, Frank Sinatra, Albert Einstein and Sigmund Freud is to go under the hammer in Newcastle.
Anderson & Garland Auctioneers will offer the unique autograph collection of the late Franz-Peter Bach, a dedicated German collector who spent decades acquiring signatures from some of the world’s most renowned figures, which also includes Sir Paul McCartney, Elvis Presley and Nikola Tesla.
Beginning in the 1980s, Bach pursued his passion by following music tours across Germany, attending prestigious swap meets in Hanover, and personally corresponding with celebrities to secure autographs. His dedication resulted in an extraordinary collection, carefully preserved in albums over many years.
Notable highlights include a sheet of paper signed by artists Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and sculptor Claes Oldenburg, dated December 5 1986, the opening night of The Tunnel nightclub in New York.
Also featured is a Frank Sinatra signed sheet, which Ole Blue Eyes signed at Wiesbaden Casino on December 12, 1951, which was also his birthday. Accompanying this lot is a photograph of Sinatra with Ava Gardner backstage at the event.
Another remarkable piece is a signed copy of Das Relativitäts-Prinzip – gemeinverständlich dargestellt (The Principle of Relativity – Presented in a Way That is Easy to Understand) by Alexander Pfluger, published in German in 1920. The title page is inscribed, signed and dated ‘Dein Lieben Anton, Albert Einstein 1924’ (yours affectionately or with love).
The collection also includes a signed first edition of A. Manteau’s Picasso 72 Lithographies (Lithographs), published in Brussels in 1956. The book is signed and inscribed in charcoal ‘pour Madame Qués, Picasso’ by the artist himself.
The auction house is offering a viewing of all lots on Tuesday March 4, from 10am to 3pm. The auction will take place on Wednesday 5 March. Bid online at www.andersonandgarland.com or visit us in person at Anderson House, Newcastle, NE5 1BF.
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