Lot 714

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Description:

HEINRICH HIMMLER''S EYEGLASSES, WORN AT THE TIME OF HIS SUICIDE
A chilling relic of the Third Reich, the remains of the eyeglasses worn by Reichsfuhrer-SS HEINRICH HIMMLER at the time he committed suicide by cyanide on May 23, 1945. The glasses were made of natural tortoise shell and time and exposure to air has caused the frames to largely disintegrate, but the lenses, arms, nose pads and portions of the lens frames remain. Also present are two original 5" x 6 1/2" b/w photos, one showing a plaster death mask taken from Himmler''s face with the atypical glasses and an eyepatch worn by him as a disguise of sorts, the second photo showing the glasses themseles. The photos were prepared in conjunction with a post mortem examination of Himmler''s body undertaken by four British and South African medical officers at Luneburg two days after the suicide. At some time thereafter, the glasses came into the possession of Dr. John St. George Glyn of Capetown, one of the four men present at the examination. Also included with the lot is a copy of a letter of provenance for Himmler''s post mortem report written on Dr. Glyn''s personal correspondence card in which he notes: "Report on the identification of the body of Heinrich Himmler conducted in a small house in Luneburg...The original is by Capt. Bond...". He also lists the names of the four men participating, noting that he was present as "Laboratory Assistant". Dr. John St. George Glyn (b. 1916) served as a sergeant and medic in a force of South Africans under British command. He initially served in Finland and in England, then landed with British forces on D-Day. Following Himmler''s autopsy, Glyn worked tirelessly in saving the lives of prisoners liberated at Bergen-Belsen. Our consignor is a direct descendant of Dr. Glyn. The family history was also presented on the 2009 South African television version of "Who Do You Think You Are?", a genealogical research program. During the program, Dr. Glyn''s life is discussed quite extensively, and his participation in the Himmler post-mortem examination is affirmed. Also filmed is a British Army nurse who served with Dr. Glyn from 1944 and who was invited to view Himmler''s body nearby. Glyn''s presence at the post-mortem is further corroborated on the Imperial War Museum''s catalog listing for Himmler''s death mask.

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September 14, 2017 11:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
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