Artfact Offers a Series of Rare Personal Items from American Heroes Including President John F. Kennedy, Ernest Hemingway, Mark Twain and Alexander Graham Bell

BOSTON--Today, Artfact, the world’s largest online live auction marketplace, announced that it currently has, exclusively online at auction, a line-up of items from some of America’s greatest heroes from across the spectrum of literature and science to politics. Run by the auction house, Profiles in History, this rare series of items is exclusively online at auction today on Artfact.com and include the following:

“Profiles in History is proud to announce an unprecedented variety of auction items for July”

The White House pen used to sign the Minimum Wage Bill by President Kennedy on May 5, 1961. This auction item also includes a black-and-white photograph of President Kennedy signing the bill while surrounded by Senator Pat McNamara, Congressmen Adam Clayton Powell, John McCormack, Alvin E. O’Konski, James Roosevelt, George Meany and Secretary Arthur Goldberg. Kennedy has inscribed in black ink, “For James Roosevelt – labor made this important advance possible – with esteem and warm regards John Kennedy.” Inscribed in white lettering on the clear acrylic body of this Esterbrook “bill signer” fountain pen reads, “THE PRESIDENT – THE WHITE HOUSE”.

Another item of great literary and historic significance is a superb first issue of one of the most important and influential books in American literature, Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” This first edition of Samuel Langhorne Clemens’s classic tale, critics regard “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” as his fictional masterpiece which paved the way for modern American literature. This copy has all of the agreed-upon first issue points for cloth copies: title leaf a cancel, with copyright notice dated 1884. This first edition is in the original gilt-and-black-stamped green pictorial cloth and is housed in a modern quarter morocco box. It is has an estimated price of $8,000 - $12,000.

Next is an item from the personal collection of Alexander Graham Bell and features his extraordinary historic aviation archive including a 217-page handwritten and extra-illustrated laboratory journal. Estimated to sell between $120,000 and $150,000, the archive includes more than 950 photographs documenting his early experiments, including the tetrahedral kites Bell used in his pursuit of manned flight.

The last two items for this sale include two rare pieces from Ernest Hemingway. The first is a three-piece matador uniform related to Hemingway’s last great work, “The Dangerous Summer.” Worn by the great Antonio Ordóñez, who was part of the central focus of the book, this matador uniform is accompanied by a sword purchased by Hemingway for his friend and editor A.E. Hotchner and a “lucky chestnut” that Hemingway carried around with him for 11 years before returning it to his friend one month before committing suicide. All items are accompanied by highly detailed provenance from Hotchner and have a total estimated value of $25,000 - $50,000.

The second Hemingway item features the author’s personal travel typewriter with its leather case. This is regarded by some as one of the most important literary relics of the 20^th century, having been used by the author to type his last great work. This Halda Swedish-made typewriter is fully functional and comes with its original leatherette case exhibiting somewhat tattered transportation stickers from both the American Export Line and the French Line. Both have crucial identification, in an unknown hand, marked “E.Hemi…” on American Export Line sticker, and “Hemingway” with destination of “Le Hav…” on French Line sticker — both being torn and scuffed from extensive travel. The typewriter was obtained from famed author A. E. Hotchner and is listed with an estimated price of $60,000 - $80,000.

“Profiles in History is proud to announce an unprecedented variety of auction items for July,” stated Lou Bustamante, creative director, Profiles in History. “Rarely do we get to see a line-up such personal and historically significant items from American luminaries including President John F. Kennedy, Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway and Alexander Graham Bell. As we reflect on the history and achievements of this nation, it’s critical for us to cherish and carry on the artifacts of some of our greatest legends.”

About Artfact

Artfact is the world leader in developing SaaS and ecommerce applications for the auction industry. Comprised of Auctionzip.com, Artfact.com, Invaluable.com and RFC Systems, Artfact is the world’s largest live auction marketplace, reaching over 30 million unique bidders a year, and serving more than 25,000 individual auction houses globally. Through Artfact’s web properties, more than 3 million visitors per month arrive at the virtual doorsteps of auctioneers with unprecedented access to search and buy from over 160,000 auctions each year with a combined value of over $25 billion. For additional information, visit www.artfact.com.

About Profiles in History

Founded in 1985 by Joseph Maddalena, Profiles in History is the world’s largest auctioneer & dealer of original Hollywood Memorabilia, historical autographs, letters, documents, vintage signed photographs and manuscripts. Born into a family of antiques dealers in Rhode Island, Joseph “Joe” Maddalena learned early on how to turn his passion of collecting historical autographs into a career. Upon graduation from Pepperdine, Joe pursued his passion to become a full-time dealer of historical documents, and opened his first office in 1985. Profiles in History has held some of the most prestigious and successful auctions of Hollywood memorabilia and own virtually every Guinness Book record for prices of original screen-used memorabilia. Highlights from their previous auctions include the “Cowardly Lion” costume from The Wizard of Oz ($805,000); Steve McQueen’s “Michael Delaney” racing suit from Le Mans ($960,000); From the history-making Debbie Reynolds Auction in June 2011, Profiles in History sold the Marilyn Monroe “Subway” Dress from The Seven Year Itch for $5.52M and the Audrey Hepburn Ascot Dress from My Fair Lady for $4.44M. In February 2012, Profiles in History arranged the sale of a pair of Judy Garland screen-used Ruby Slippers from The Wizard of Oz to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. In addition, Joe Maddalena is the star of Hollywood Treasure, which just ended its second season on Syfy. Hollywood Treasure takes viewers into the fascinating world of showbiz and pop culture memorabilia. For more information visit www.profilesinhistory.com

Contacts

Artfact
Artfact Media Relations
Darcy Sly, 617-213-0145
pr@artfact.com
or
Profiles in History
Nancy Seltzer & Associates
Nancy Seltzer, 323-938-3562
nseltzer@nsapr.com