The craziest things sold at world auctions. Part 2

We continue to talk about auction eccentricities.

Banksy’s first drawing

 

 

The first work of the famous ghost graffiti artist was allegedly the album cover of the group Mother Samosa. In fact, its author is known: this is a resident of Bristol Robin Gunningham, who is suspected of being Banksy.

Gunningham did indeed design the album for the ska group Mother Samosa in 1993. He portrayed a clown walking down the street with a butcher’s knife in hand. The lyrics found on the inside of the cover are in a font similar to the one Banksy later used in his work.

Although the famous graffiti artist has repeatedly denied any connection with the Bristolian, this has not stopped those wishing to profit from speculating on the secret of the street artist’s identity.

So it happened with the cover of the music album, which was put up for auction. The reputation of the product was slightly spoiled by experts interviewed by the press. They regarded the authenticity of the image. Therefore, no one has bought it yet.

 

Famous physicist’s wheelchair

 

 

 

The personal belongings of British theoretical physicist and brilliant dreamer Stephen Hawking went to Christie’s in London.

His summer jacket was sold for $ 52,000, a copy of A Brief History of Time, signed by the author’s fingerprint, for $ 90,000, and his 1965 doctoral dissertation for $ 765,000.

Hawking’s wheelchair was among the items put up for sale. It was bought for $ 390 thousand.

 

The September 1966 Datebook

 

 

A New York physician paid $ 12,713 for the September 1966 Datebook, signed by John Lennon. The newspaper has a popular Lennon quote that the Beatles are better known than Jesus.

 

God letter

 

At Christie’s auction, value hunters fought for the God Letter, which theoretical physicist and Nobel Prize winner Albert Einstein addressed to the German philosopher Eric Gutkind.

Christie’s noted that the letter was written on January 3, 1954, a year before the scientist’s death, and it bears Einstein’s signature. In it, he talks about his attitude to the Bible and God.

The auction house emphasized that this letter reflects Einstein’s religious and philosophical views most integrally.

The scientist’s reflections were estimated at $ 2,892 million.

Action Comics #1, 1938

 

 

Back in the 1950s, a 9-year-old boy gave 35 cents for this 1938 comic. It was the first comic about the famous Superman. System of a Down drummer and comic fan John Dolmayan purchased the comic for $ 317,200.