Lot 756

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Description:

HEINRICH HIMMLER PRESENTATION "DAS AHNENERBE" - A GIFT TO HITLER ON HIS FIFTIETH BIRTHDAY
A PRESENTATION OF THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE SS, GIVEN BY HIMMLER TO HITLER ON HIS FIFTIETH BIRTHDAY An historic hand-made and unique edition of Heinrich Himmler's "Das Ahnenerbe", given by Heinrich Himmler to Adolf Hitler on the occasion of Hitler's fiftieth birthday and later recovered by an American officer from Hitler's library at the shattered Berlin Reichschancellery. According to researcher Heather Pringle's The Master Plan Himmler's Scholars and the Holocaust", Himmler presented Hitler with a set of custom bound volumes which would artfully present Himmler and the SS contribution to the Nazi state. The gift book offered here was the highlight of that offering. This massive, impressive volume, approx. 62pp. 15" x 19 3/4", opens with the entire title of the work: "The Research and Teaching Faculty of Das Ahnenerbe" followed by the motto: "Werden Wesen Wirken". This copy is unique: the rear limitation page reads: "Published by the Research and Teaching Faculty of Das Ahnenerbe This Piece Carries the No. 1 Printed as a manuscript in limited edition by Klingspor, Offenbach A. Main". The covers are crafted from finely-grained ivory colored leather, the front cover embossed with concentric grooves surrounding the embossed title "Das Ahnenerbe" which itself is emplaced above a "black sun": a swastika with runic symbols surrounding it. The spine bears five double-hubs. The inside of the front and rear covers bear gold trim at the extreme edges. Printing on the hand-made paper pages was done by means of an engraved plate, mostly in two colors, some pages bearing more coloring. The volume is set within a silk-lined clamshell box which itself is covered in black and white cloth with a black leather label with gilt title. The lining is torn in a few places, otherwise the book and case are in faultless condition. The "Ahnenerbe" was the research division of the SS which sent archaeological expeditions world-wide to uncover a scientific basis for "Aryan" racial theories. Destination including Greece, Nepal, Spain, Scandinavia, and other countries in an effort to trace the lineage of the "Aryan" race then believed to exist in Germany. The "Das Ahnenerbe" research institute, pictured within the volume, was established to centralize and coordinate efforts to assemble racial data so gathered. The first four pages of the volume sets forth the mission statement of the organization, signed in type by Himmler, Berlin, Jan. 1, 1939. There follows a summary of the work of the organization broken down by subject, including language, culture, "Germanic influence", Indo-Germanic beliefs, including symbols, crests, and fairy tales, archaeological discoveries, architecture, biology, farming, astrology, and several other factors which would demonstrate how the best elements of each had been incorporated into the "Aryan" race. The text also states that over 23,000 locations in Greater Germany were researched for customs, beliefs, and forms of community to further bolster findings. The report notes that the considerable amount of people available to the SS and its institutions allows for anthropological research and valuable "race and environmental research". The volume closes with the announcement that there will be two annual congresses in Salzburg to review the organization's findings, sets forth what should be taught nationally and internationally, discusses a film and photography archive, and the purpose of research expeditions. The appendix shows the "Das Ahnenerbe" buildings, its organizational chart with Himmler at the top, and a two-page map showing foreign travels and excavations, all listed. Obtained from the son of the chief of staff, American Headquarters, Berlin Air Command, who served in that position from June to August, 1945. During this period, the officer had the opportunity to "liberate" several volumes from the Reichs Chancellery, specifically from Hitler's offices and those adjoining. This example is one of those volumes. With consignor's notarized letter of provenance. A highly importnant work setting forth the entire belief system of the SS and presented to its ultimate leader, Adolf Hitler.

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August 24, 2016 10:30 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

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$5,000 $9,999 $500
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