The highlights of the science, sci-fi and technology auction year

[dufus]

A fascinating pictorial cornucopia of landmark books, manuscripts, scientific apparatus, technological marvels and mementoes of yesteryear that sold at auction during 2019.

 

Each January, we produce our highlights of the previous science and technology auction year. The aim is to offer insight for technologically-well-informed people into the remarkable artefacts of science, technology and science fiction that come to market each year, and on the investment potential of these items.

 

Curating this listing is the best job of the year, a labour of love of science and technology that seeks to record the incredible objects thrown up by ever-increasing educational levels and awareness of our rich scientific heritage. Objects that once went into landfill are now finding their way to the auction block, and onwards to a global audience that does appreciate them.

 

This year we’ve included science fiction artefacts sold at auction, significantly increasing the size of the market, and substantially increasing the fascination at what we bought in 2019.

 

Perhaps the most telling of sci-fi artefacts in 2019 was the $1.152 million sale of Darth Vader’s mask and helmet from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Recent sales of sci-fi movie memorabilia suggest the trend has yet to fully play out, and science fiction memorabilia is definitely on the rise.

 

So too are scientific manuscripts and artefacts – the market in 2019 was much stronger than in previous years.

 

Please note that all prices are listed in USD, and those which sold in a foreign currency have been converted to USD at the prevailing exchange rates on the day of sale. Links to all auction descriptions, online digital copies of the documents and high resolution images are included in the article.

 

 

$36,000 | Klingon' Disruptor from ‘Star Trek: The Original Series’

 

December 17, 2019 | Los Angeles

 

From Star Trek: The Original Series, this Klingon Disruptor Pistol is one of the most sought-after of Star Trek memorabilia items. The Disruptor has been attracting prices in the region of $40,000 to $50,000 for many years, with a similar item selling for $48,800 in December, 2018.

 

 

 

 

$22,500 | History of Manned Spaceflight Book containing Hundreds of Signatures

 

Dallas | November 16, 2019

 

his is quite an amazing assemblage of aerospace autographs, based around a First edition, Hardbound, 544 page copy of History of Manned Spaceflight by David H. Baker, but clearly the work of an avid collector who carried the book all over the United States to have it signed by any relevant celebrity in the field of aerospace. The book has been signed by countless astronauts, cosmonauts, scientists, Star Wars & Star Trek Actors and quite possibly more. The full identity of all of the people who have signed this book has not been catalogued, but it appears to have the signature of nearly every American astronaut and notables such as Dr. Stephen Hawking (thumbprint), Brian Jones & Bertrand Piccard,

Chuck Yeager, Paul MacCready and more. There’s a game to be had trying to recognise who all the signatures belong to on the auction description hi-res page reproductions.

 

 

 

 

$31,741 | Extraterrestrial steel

 

London | May 24, 2019

 

The Muonionalusta meteorite impacted in northern Scandinavia about one million years BCE. The first fragment was found in 1906 and around forty pieces are known today, of which this is one. Modern cutting has highlighted the meteorite's octahedrite crystalline fingerprint in three dimensions, resulting in a 13.1 kg cube with 4¾ inch (12 cm) sides. This dense iron-nickel sculpture is in effect, extraterrestrial steel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$31,960 | Reconstruction of a 'Pumpkin' Test Bomb

 

Köln | November 9, 2019

 

The early training/test bombs for the culmination of the Manhattan Project with the 1945 atom-bombing missions were designed to be the same shape, size, and weight of the atomic bombs ("Little Boy" and "Fat Man"). These bombs were called "pumpkins" and were used at Wendover Air Field for the initial bombing training/practice by the B-29s modified to carry the bombs, and to test fuses for the bombs.

 

The pumpkin bombs were 300 x 100 x 120 cm, and weighed 310 kg, (the trolley weighed 60 kg), exactly the same shape, size and weight as the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 and Nagasaki, on August 9, 1945.

 

Now this is only a replica, and not one of the originals. Watch for parts of the original Little Boy atomic bomb later on this list.

 

 

 

 

 

full list