Items from Vincent van Gogh, Marilyn Monroe Set for Profiles in History Auction Today

Profiles in History run by Joe Maddalena is proud to announce The Property of a Distinguished American Private Collector Part lll. The third installment of this highly coveted collection is set to be auctioned worldwide today, December 19th. The Property of a Distinguished American Private Collector Parts l and ll were blockbuster sales with a distressed letter from Vincent van Gogh selling for $336,000 and an internationally sought after Marilyn Monroe letter addressed to Lee Strasberg in which she wrote about the phycological toll Hollywood has taken on her. The letter written in pencil was estimated to sell between $30,000-50,000 and sold for $156,000.

The Property of a Distinguished American Private Collector Part lll promises 217 additional lots of historical letters and first edition manuscripts from history, literature, science, medicine and art. The correspondence includes a letter penned by Abraham Lincoln (estimate $30,000-50,000) discussing his political strategy four years before winning the Presidency; An important letter signed by Commander-In-Chief George Washington (estimate $20,000-30,000) directing the defense against General Howe's retreat from New Jersey; A hand written note by Jackie Kennedy (estimate $4,000-6,000, pictured below) attacking a Time magazine article that gives a favorable spin on the Presidential primary campaign of one of JFK's opponents; An autographed letter signed by Ronald Reagan (estimate $8,000-12,000, pictured above) on his personal letterhead embossed with the Presidential Seal, to his daughter, Patti Davis. After reading unfavorable statements made by Patti concerning family failures for her yet-to-be-published biography, Reagan reaches out with this letter. A signed letter by Ernest Hemingway (estimate $6,000-8,000) laying claim that the climate of Key West and its tropical beer inspired him to write For Whom the Bell Tolls, his best novel for which he won the Pulitzer; A stunning cache of love letters from Douglas MacArthur (estimate $30,000-50,000) to his first love and first wife. The largest archive of MacArthur letters ever to be sold at auction and with staggering content revealing extraordinary details of his personal life and a fascinating letter by Wilbur Wright (estimate $30,000-50,000) months before his death validating the Wright brothers' claim to being the first men to fly.

Other extraordinary items include William Shakespeare's First Folio edition of The Tempest and The Two Gentlemen of Verona (estimate $15,000-25,000), very nearly the first and last plays Shakespeare ever wrote providing an extraordinary overview of his literary development; A rare first edition of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace (estimate $10,000-15,000); A Thomas Jefferson manuscript document dated 31 August 1790 (estimate $6,000-8000) in which he inventories his goods bound for Monticello as the new American government moves from New York to Philadelphia; A remarkable and very rare autograph manuscript signed by Thomas Paine (estimate $40,000-60,000); An extraordinary archive of George III, King of Great Britain letters (estimate $40,000-60,000) of exceptional historical importance regarding peace negotiations with America after the War of Independence. There will also be additional letters by Alfred Nobel, Malcolm X, Mark Twain, Margaret Mitchell, Albert Einstein and others.

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

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