S: Is for Signatures that shape

"Sit down John, sit down" is a line from the musical 1776 and I couldn't help but sing it. At one point in time history to me was what was on a stage. If there was a play or a musical and history was involved I want to know it and went to the library and read to my hearts content. Yesterday I was at one of my favorite haunts in New York, Swann Galleries. Located at 104 East 25th (5th and 6th floor). I made it prior to the auction on Autographs which was held at 1:30. Tangible history made it's presence known by the signatures of those who shaped our country, fueled our dreams and propelled us forward. Here George Washington wrote four letters and even played the lottery. Yes it existed even back then. Thomas Jefferson, Ethan Allen, John Adams, Aaron Burr, Benjamin Franklin, Ulysses S Grant, Alexander Hamilton, General Sherman and of course John Hancock all became alive in their writings. Victor Hugo the poet of unrequited Love's manuscript was there to impart wisdom on those who could read French. Other writers were also represented like Collette, Jean Cocteau, Charles Dickens, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Papa Hemingway, Rudyard Kipling, Washington Irving, Harriet Beecher Stowe (Run Eliza run), George Bernard Shaw, Thornton Wilder, Sir Walter Scott and George Sands. I was a child again immersed in the world that these authors created. I was a young adult acting in the plays they had written and now full circle they were all in the room with me. Last year Darwin's life was on Broadway in "Inherit the Wind". How many children wanted to fly because of Amelia Earhart? Ms. Earhart gave girls everywhere the feeling that they too could soar. Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein all gave us visions and movements forward that shaped how we see things. Brahms, Liszt, Wager and Stravinsky had our ears, our passions and our flights into symphonic bliss.
THE APOLLO MOONWALKERS and a color photograph of the Earth, taken from the moon, signed by all twelve of the Apollo astronauts who walked on the moon. Estimated between $6,000-8,000 Signatures with mission numbers: Neil Armstrong, Apollo 11 * Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11 * Pete Conrad, Apollo XII * Alan Bean, Apollo XII * Alan Shepard, Apollo 14 * Edgar Mitchell, Apollo 14 * Dave Scott, Apollo 15 * Jim Irwin, Apollo 15 * John Young, Apollo X & Apollo XVI * Charlie Duke, Apollo 16 * Gene Cernan, Apollo XVII * Harrison Schmitt, Apollo 17. They definitely inspired Ron Howard and all those who echoed "One small step for mankind".
This collection is exquisite and inspiring and I am thrilled that I had a chance to be in it's presence before these pieces of paper disappeared like Houdini into the hands of collectors. I suggest if you get a chance go to Swann before October 15th. Wednesdays and Thursday's columns will be extolling the reasons why you should of and that is a F.A.C.T.