Lot 488

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Description:


Original glass plate positive of the controversial image by Heinrich Hoffmann of what was at the time purported to be an ecstatic 25 year-old Adolf Hitler in Munich's Odeonsplatz on Aug. 2, 1914 - the day after Germany declared war on Russia. The 6 x 4 in. glass plate, according to our consignor as originating from Hoffmann's studio, show's Hitler at about 1 in. above the bottom edge and 3 in. from the left edge in a sea of celebrating people. Hoffmann left a blank circle at upper-right where he inserted a blow-up of Hitler when the photo was printed. This is likely a photograph taken by Hoffmann of his original negative, created for reproduction purposes. In his 1974 memoir, Hoffmann tells a story about a day in 1930 when Hitler stopped by his studio, noticed a photo from the August 1914 series, and told Hoffmann that he had been in the crowd. Hoffmann couldn't find him in any of the plates, sent Hitler to a cafe, then found it on a plate that had been sorted out for destruction. Then he called up the cafe and had Hitler come back to see the photo. Hitler was overjoyed. On the day before the election of the Reich president (Hitler vs. Hindenburg, Thälmann and others), the Illustrierter Beobachter published the picture with Hitler for the first time, with the enlargement of his face. The caption read: 'Adolf Hitler, the German patriot. When on 1 August 1914 tens of thousands of deeply moved Munich citizens listened to the last notes of the band, suddenly the German anthem washed over the square. In the midst of the crowd stood with shining eyes -- Adolf Hitler.' The photo has always drawn doubtful comments, some believing that Hoffmann very skillfully added Hitler to the crowd. SOLD WITH: two larger glass plate positives, each 9.25 x 7 in. and both also published, depicting artworks showing Hitler speaking before Hindenburg and making a forceful speech before a group of followers. The last plate is stained in one place, else very good.

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October 28, 2020 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