Lot 359

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Description:

THE RENOVATION OF HITLER''S "BERGHOF" AS PHOTOGRAPHED BY HEINRICH HOFFMAN
Excellent archive of 140 original 8" x 10"b/w photographs, all depicting the renovation of the Berghof, German Fuhrer Adolf Hitler''s residence at Berchtesgaden. The photos comprise a very detailed record of the progress of the renovations during a visit by Hitler on May 14, 1936, and were almost certainly taken by his personal photographer, HEINRICH HOFFMANN (1885-1957). The photos cover nearly the entirety of the interior and exterior appearance of the house during this visit, and depict numerous examples of finely carved wood trim, plumbing, doors and windows, although the house has not yet received the elaborate furnishings, wood paneling and artwork that would later come to define it. Of the images presented here, the most interesting are twelve which depict Hitler himself, including close-ups of him examining the interior of the house, looking out over the valley from the balcony, and arriving and departing by car with his entourage, as waving crowds look on. Unusually, these views show Hitler dressed in civilian clothes, wearing a fedora and doubled-breasted suit, with a national eagle lapel pin, rather than the uniform which he almost always wore during public appearances following his election as chancellor of Germany in 1933. Each photo is printed on period-correct Agfa Brovira photo paper, and bears ink numerical inscriptions at upper left and right. Many also bear additional ink inscriptions identifying the scene, and giving the above-listed date of their capture by Hoffmann. Some show slight soiling and bumping, else very good. The Berghof was originally constructed as a much smaller chalet called the "Haus Wachenfeld", which Hitler purchased in 1933 with proceeds from the sale of his manifesto "Mein Kampf". In 1935-1936, architect Alois Degano was hired to modernize and expand the house, adding a large terrace and completely refurbishing the interior, with such features as cembra pine paneling, a telephone switchboard room, a library, a projection booth and screen, and an automated picture window which could be raised and lowered to reveal sweeping views of the surrounding Alps. Views of the "Haus Wachenfeld" are scarce, but original photographs depicting the renovation process itself are even more rarely seen. Present with the collection is a period archival case for a book, in which an American GI, the uncle of our consignor, brought these photos back to the United States at the end of the war.

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September 13, 2017 11:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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$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