Alexander Historical Auctions LLC
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Alexander Historical Auctions LLC 2015 Summer Auction Day 1 Tuesday - July 7, 2015 2015 Summer Auction Day 1 1: WATERCOLOR PAINTING OF A CHURCH BY ADOLF HITLER USD 15,000 - 20,000 WATERCOLOR PAINTING OF A CHURCH BY ADOLF HITLERAn original oversize watercolor painting by future dictator Adolf Hitler, 8 3/4"" x 11 1/4"" (sight), one of Hitler's Vienna street scenes depicting an exterior view of ""Maria am Gestade"" (English: ""Mary at the Shore""), a Gothic church and one of the oldest churches in the city. Hitler has painted a side view of the church, including the two side entrances, the alley way, adjoining buildings, and human figures which one rarely sees in his work. The painting is executed in a black ink wash with muted shades of orange, ochre, brown, red and ivory, the same colors and in the same style in a very similar work sold by us in 2013. The image is signed in ochre paint: ""A. Hitler"" at lower-left in block letters, as Hitler's works typically were. The colors, style, choice of subject and poor depth perspective are entirely consistent with Hitler's work. Indeed, Hitler took great liberties in this work, straightening the alleyway, narrowing the church's exterior walls, and placing buildings closer together. The human figures are virtually identical to those often seen in Hitler's paintings: elongated or amorphous figures poorly represented in every respect. Hitler painted this now de-consecrated church several times, from different perspectives. In very good condition. Set in a period (toned) mat and gold gilt frame with period hanger on reverse, from an Austrian consignor. Having handled many Hitler paintings in the past, we are confident that the style, signature...and the lack of trumped-up paperwork points to this piece as being completely genuine and certainly not one of the dozens of frauds and oils (!) to have reached the market over the past dozen years. Additional photos on request. NOTE: This lot is being re-offered due solely to the failed bid of JOHN ALLIOTT in our previous auction." 2: ADOLF HITLER, PAUL VON HINDENBURG, FRANZ VON PAPEN USD 6,000 - 8,000 ADOLF HITLER, PAUL VON HINDENBURG, FRANZ VON PAPEN SIGNED PHOTOGRAPHExtraordinary rare signed photograph, overall 22 1/4" x 18 1/4", boldly signed on the mount by ADOLF HITLER, PAUL VON HINDENBURG and FRANZ VON PAPEN, the first example we have ever seen signed by all three statesmen. The mounted photograph, b/w, 14 7/8" x 10 7/8" depicts the three statesmen on a balcony at the Berlin Opera House during the service observing the Nations Day of Mourning [Volkstrauertag] honoring the world war dead on Sunday, March 12, 1933. A contemporary note attributes the photograph to Russel Muth, 20th Century Fox's Director of Foreign Distribution in Europe, mentioning his daily access to Hitler. The pencil signature below the image on the lower left below the image is illegible. The photographic paper has a slight damage to the emulsion, without distracting from the historic importance, on the lower right corner, 2 1/2" x 2 1/2", which can be professionally restored. 3: GUEST BOOK OF THE S.A. FUHRERSCHULE - AND ERNST ROHM'S USD 3,000 - 4,000 GUEST BOOK OF THE S.A. FUHRERSCHULE - AND ERNST ROHM'S LAST VACATIONAn historic guest book maintained by the S.A. Fuhrerschule Dresden and likely signed by every student attending from July, 1931 until after the murder of Ernst Rohm in June, 1934. The book is comprised of consecutive chapters with most bearing an artistic cover page labeled with the class number and dates of attendance of every class at the S.A. Fuhrerschule from the third which convened in July, 1931 to the 27th class, which gathered on July 24, three weeks after the murder of Rohm and much of the S.A. hierarchy. Pasted in the book are four postcard photos of Adolf Hitler with a "graduating class", though in later classes he is absent. There are easily over 2,000 signatures (ink and pencil) in this book, with most students adding their rank in the S.A. and regional affiliation. Many of the students signed twice, upon their arrival at the school and at farewell parties. Undoubtedly, many dignitaries also signed - our cursory examination found ERNST ROHM (4), ALFRED ROSENBERG (2), HEINRICH HIMMLER (2), and KARL FREIHERR VON EBERSTEIN (2), but diligent research will certainly produce dozens of other important names. Of particular historic interest are the pages dedicated to the farewell party for the 27th Class, held at Tegernsee on June 8, 1934. On that same day, Hitler ordered Rohm to take a month's vacation to allow him time to plot Rohm's murder. Rohm in turn publicly announced his departure for reasons of health, but that night attended this graduation party at Tegernsee - just across the lake from Bad Wiessee where he would be murdered three weeks later. The first page shows the date and location of the affair, with a rendering of the lake and mountains, and at the top of the following page is a 4" long, bold pencil signature by Rohm, clearly written in anger and defiance. A few of Rohm's staffers or hangers-on also seem to have signed, as well as the class members who attended the party at Tegernsee. Six weeks later, on July 24, the 27th Class of the Fuhrerschule of the S.A. met in Munich. In this book, the class artist painted a swastika and the symbol of the S.A. surrounded by flames in a bowl atop a pedestal. The pedestal is engraved: "From the ashes of treason there rises the Fuhrer's S.A.". Rohm had been executed...and no doubt dozens of the signers of this book met the same fate. This book has apparently been in a fire, as the pages are partially browned and quite brittle from exposure to high heat. Of course, Dresden was destroyed by firebombing which would explain the damage. Nevertheless, virtually all of the signatures remain legible. An important historical object and a critical research asset. Bid Live Online at LiveAuctioneers.com Page 1 2015 Summer Auction Day 1 4: ADOLF HITLER INSCRIBES A PHOTO TO THE ADMIRAL WHO WOULD USD 5,000 - 6,000 ADOLF HITLER INSCRIBES A PHOTO TO THE ADMIRAL WHO WOULD SEIZE A LATVIAN PORT - THE DAY AFTER THE CAPTURE1889 - 1945) Fuhrer of Germany and Nazi Party Leader, Hitler's bloody rise to power, his military seizure of most of Europe and North Africa and his genocidal racial policies culminated in suicide in his Berlin bunker as Russian troops approached. Excellent, oversize presentation signed photo and frame, the photo measuring 8 1/2" x 12 1/4" (too large for the two types of presentation frames typically used by Hitler), a Heinrich Hoffmann image showing Hitler in an uncommon three-quarter length side view, his arms crossed beneath his chest. At bottom, Hitler inscribes the photo:"to fleet commander Admiral Boehm in commemoration of the occupation Memels Adolf Hitler 23/March 1939" Only the night before, Boehm had headed the task force which had occupied the Lithuanian port, surrendered under German pressure and the last territory Hitler would gain without the use of force. The photo bears a couple small corner creases and slight damping to the date, else very good. It is presented in a silver frame with a filigree design at top enclosing Hitler's "A H" initials. This is a high-quality frame, measuring 9 3/4" x 13 3/4", bearing a bronze easel stand which fits into a recess in the wood backing, and a hanging loop, also with recessed fitting. The engraving and manufacture are period. As Hitler had no frame that would accommodate a photo of this size, the frame was likely obtained specifically for this image, and the opening on the frame is minutely larger than the photo. HERMANN BOEHM (1884-1972) commanded various torpedo boats during World War I. As commander of the German flagship GRAF SPEE, Boehm directed the occupation of Memel following the port's surrender by Lithuania on March 22, 1939. After the invasion of Norway in April 1940, he was made the commander of German naval forces there, being promoted to General Admiral on April 1, 1941. 5: ADOLF HITLER USD 2,500 - 3,500 ADOLF HITLER(1889 - 1945) Fuhrer of Germany and Nazi Party leader, Hitler's bloody rise to power, his military seizure of most of Europe and North Africa and his genocidal racial policies culminated in suicide in his Berlin bunker as Russian troops approached. Rare partly-printed D.S. on his personal correspondence card with raised gold national eagle and swastika, 7 3/4" x 4 3/4", Berlin, December, 1937, in German. In full: "Hearty wishes for Christmas and the New Year" to which Hitler adds in his own hand: "from Adolf Hitler". Fine. Hitler sent thousands of examples of this card with a blue facsimile signature, but authentically-signed examples such as this one are especially rare! 6: ADOLF HITLER USD 1,500 - 2,000 ADOLF HITLER(1889 - 1945) Fuhrer of Germany and Nazi Party leader, Hitler's bloody rise to power, his military seizure of most of Europe and North Africa and his genocidal racial policies culminated in suicide in his Berlin bunker as Russian troops approached. Good content typed D.S., 1p. large 4to., "Fuhrer Headquarters", Feb. 18, 1942. Hitler promotes ERNST RUPP (1892-1943) to the rank of generalmajor and discharges generals Bremer and Schmid-Dankward from active service.