Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information
Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information

Clars Auction Gallery to Offer Amelia Earhart Collection

Clars Auction Gallery have announced they will be offering an important collection of memorabilia from famed aviator Amelia Earhart on Sunday, September 11th, as part of their September two-day fine arts and antiques auction. This collection comes to the block from three different consignors and all items have been privately held until now. This collection of memorabilia includes over twenty unpublished gelatin silver photographs and a pair of her Luxor No. 6 flying goggles.

The goggles that will be offered come with impressive provenance. Earhart was reportedly wearing these goggles when she experienced her first crash in July 1921 in her Airster while learning to fly with instructor Neta Snook. Sporting evidence of the mishap, the goggles are complete with a crack from the crash and will be offered with their original aluminum storage case. The July 1921 crash is written about by Snook in her book I Taught Amelia to Fly. A signed copy of her book will be offered with the goggles. The goggles and case were given by Snook to a relative who has consigned them to Clars. The pre-sale estimate on this lot is $20,000 to $40,000. However, if the unexpected price achieved on a pair of Earhart goggles at the Profiles in History auction in 2009 is any indicator, these goggles could likely go for much more.

Turning to the collection of unpublished photographs, the eighteen gelatin silver prints were a gift from Earhart to the consignor’s mother. Amelia Earhart taught the consignor’s mother to fly in the early 1930s in Northern California. Included in these rich historic images are photos of the famed Lockheed Electra 10E , the plane that was used for the fateful attempted circumnavigation with navigator Fred Noonan. There are also personal images of Earhart packing for this flight and getting her hair cut at a barber’s shop. Furthering these images as personal photos taken, the press photographers can be seen in the photos themselves.

In addition to this collection of eighteen prints, there are two very impressive photos of Earhart piloting the first bi-plane to be catapulted of an aircraft carrier and four photographs of Earhart racing cars on a racetrack. In addition to these, there is one more press photograph signed by Earhart which reads “To my friends of the radio audience.”

Clars has assigned a pre-sale estimate on each of the photos in this historic collection at $600 to $800.

The special collection of Amelia Earhart memorabilia will be offered as part of Clars major September sale which will include important fine art from American and European painters spanning the Dutch Renaissance to Contemporary. Among the artists to be represented will be Matisse, Dubuffet and Cathelin to name just a few. Sterling offerings will be extensive as will the Asian category, Japanese in particular. The finest antique furnishings and exceptional jewelry will round out this important sale.

Clars September Fine Art and Antiques Sale will be held on will be held Saturday, September
10th @ 9:30am and Sunday, September 11th @ 10am. Previews for this sale will be Friday, September 9th from 1pm to 6pm and 9am each auction day and by special appointment. A full catalog will be available online at www.clars.com prior to the sale.

Bidding for Clars auctions is available in person, by phone, absentee and live online @ www.clars.com, and through www.liveauctioneers.com. To register to bid and for more information, call Clars Auction Gallery at (888) 339-7600, or email: [email protected]. Clars Auction Gallery is located at 5644 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609.

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