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ListServe info
[NOTE: Leland Anderson sent this to me, but he is not on the list, so
replies directed at him will be meaningless. Nevertheless, the
information below may be interesting and informative -- Chip ]
Greetings from Denver!
My good friend Richard Hull informs me that there's a lot of misinformation
posted on your ListServe about the disposition by the firm of Boyle &
Anderson of the largest archives of correspondence, manuscripts, documents
and photographs in private ownership. I am uploading, below, the
descriptive information that has been sent to institutions and libraries.
The organizations mentioned have the following addresses:
Boyle & Anderson
2525 South Meade Street
Denver, CO 80291
Inquires will be entertained by U.S. Mail (no phone, fax, or e-mail).
Swann Galleries
104 East 25th Street
New York, NY 10010
The oldest and largest U.S. auctioneer specializing in rare books,
autographs, and manuscripts.
Sotheby's
1334 York Avenue
New York, NY 10021
The most prestigious auction house in the U.S.
BEGINNING OF UP-LOAD FILE
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Nikola Tesla Archive Disposition Status
I. Twenty-four lots of Nikola Tesla correspondence, manuscripts, and
documents, the largest in private ownership in the world. The range in
dates is from February 21, 1894 through October 31, 1942 (2-1/2 months
prior to Tesla's death). Some of the most significant and colorful items
in his career are represented, including a letter entirely in French (he
was fluent in six languages but letters other than in English are
exceedingly rare) to a woman admirer, a group of items announcing his
intention of entering the field of consulting engineership (1904), and a
46-line poem entirely in his own hand, "Fragments of Olympian Gossip,"
humorously 'observing' a number of scientists and philosophers who have
passed on such as Archimedes, Spinosa, Fermat, Newton and Kelvin.
This collection is being handled by Swann Galleries, New York City and will
be auctioned over a five-year period. Two auctions have taken place.
Columbia University has acquired five lots including the handwritten
statement in which Tesla announced, on his last day in Colorado Springs,
the reception of extraterrestrial signals.
II. Sixty bills and receipts for supplies and services provided to
Tesla from various vendors, 18 dated 1896-7 addressed to the Houston Street
laboratory in New York City and 42 dated 1899 addressed to the experimental
station in Colorado Springs. These were found in Tesla's office at
Wardenclyffe shortly before the transmission tower's removal. These bills
and receipts are most revealing in showing not only the details concerning
certain experimental work but also in fixing the dates. Three of the
Colorado Springs receipts are signed by Fritz Lowenstein who assisted Tesla
for a period there. This collection comprises the only known items
directly associated to Tesla while at the Wardenclyffe installation.
Included is a unique large sepia-print photograph en matte dated and signed
"Compliments from Nikola Tesla." Outside dimensions of print are 10-1/4 x
12-3/4 in. with a 7-1/4 x 9-1/4-in. print of Tesla seated. The date of
photograph is 1915 by Sarony, Tesla at the age of 59. The photograph is
framed under glass.
This collection is being handled by Sotheby's, New York City. The auction
is scheduled for December 4, 1996.
III. A complete set of photographs (750+) of and about Nikola Tesla and
his work, the largest in private ownership in the world. All photographic
images that have been published are contained in the archive including
images about Tesla's life and career, laboratories, apparatus,
celebrations, and commemorative events following his death. Captioning and
supplemental historical notes are included. It is not feasible to list the
photographs. They are contained in six 11 by 11-1/2-in. binders plus one
additional 13 by 15-in. binder, all having transparent envelope-pockets,
weighing 40 pounds total, and requiring two feet of shelf space.
This collection is being handled by Boyle & Anderson. Bidding provision
are available on request. It is suggested that any prospective bidder
examine the collection prior to placing a bid.
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END OF UP-LOAD FILE