Lot 547

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Description:

A most significant Third Reich relic, a document folder removed from Adolf Hitler's Munich apartment and identified as being carried and used by him during the signing of the Anglo-German Declaration of 30 September, 1938, Neville Chamberlain's infamous "Peace for our Time" non-aggression pact, executed at Hitler's apartment one day following the "Munich Agreement" ceding Czechoslovakia's Sudeten region to Germany. The taupe leather or pigskin document folder, 19" x 14 1/2" (closed), is decorated around the edges of the covers with a repeating embossed pattern of oak leaves with a gilt border, and with an incised stationary swastika at each corner. The interior of the covers are fitted with white vellum blotters, the rear example bearing the embossed insignia of the "Sturmabteliung", or S.A. Interestingly, this latter blotter is detached from the folder, revealing the front page of the September 23, 1938 edition of the newspaper "Handwerks-Zeitung" (printed one week before the signing of the Anglo-German Declaration), with the name and address of the maker of the folder, "A. Cerisius, Marienstr. 7", typed upside-down in violet ink at bottom right. The blotter within the front cover is still in place, but has peeled away slightly along the top, making a similar underlying sheet of newspaper slightly visible. A taupe leather document divider is affixed within the spine, integral with the covers. Besides the detached blotter mentioned above, the folder shows extensive soiling and notable wear overall, with a 6" split to the bottom of the front exterior hinge and smaller splits at the top of the spine. Despite its relatively humble appearance, this folder bears a most interesting pedigree. It is accompanied by numerous documents attesting to its provenance, most importantly a typed D.S., 1p. 4to., [Irving, Texas, April 3, 1987], an affidavit signed by Gene Saur, stating that he inherited the folder from his uncle, Major B.J. Dorrity, and describing its origin, in part: "...This stationery folder was removed from Adolf Hitler's personal Apartment, #16 Prinzregentenplatz, Munich, Germany, by my uncle, former Major B.J. Dorrity, while he was stationed in the apartment in 1945. According to what he was told by Frau Anny Winter, Hitler's housekeeper, it was on this folder that Hitler and Chamberlain signed the historic 'Peace in our Time' agreement on September 30, 1938..." Saur further states that he has disposed of the folder and two additional relics retrieved by his uncle to noted relic dealer Ben Swearingen. Also present is a T.L.S., 1p. 4to., Lewisville, Texas, Jan. 27, 1989, from Swearingen, offering the folder to California doctor Calvin Schneider for $3,500 and surmising that the S.A. insignia within could indicate that it was presented to Hitler by that organization's chief, Viktor Lutze. This is accompanied by Swearingen's typed D.S., 1p. 4to., Lewisville, Jan. 28, 1989, confirming the sale of the folder to Schneider and restating the provenance described in Gene Saur's letter above. Additional provenance includes two T.L.S.'s in German to Swearingen, both 1p. 4to., Hannover, the first sent Sep. 9, 1987 by the Hannover regional government's regulatory office, confirming that the firm of A. Cericius did exist at 7. Marienstrasse, and the second sent by Hellmuth Cericius, confirming the existence and address of his father's firm and stating that it was destroyed by Allied bombs in 1943. Rounding out the collection is a photocopy of Swearingen's own catalog listing for the folder, laying out its appearance and provenance, with his handwritten postscript describing the Hannover letters listed above, as well as a newspaper clipping from the September 1, 1972 edition of the Dallas Morning News, presenting a feature on B.J. Dorrity and his souvenir's from Hitler's apartment, with a brief description of the folder incorrectly indicating that it was used in the signing of the "Munich Agreement", rather than the Anglo-German Declaration. Altogether, a thoroughly documented relic of Adolf Hitler with direct significance to his most momentous diplomatic coup.

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July 30, 2019 10:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000