Auction results: January FAA, feat. Royalty, Jazz

RR’s January Fine Autographs and Artifacts auction featured two standout feature sections—Royalty and Jazz Photographs. There were several big wins for consignors. Here are the results.

In the Royalty category, a rare document signed by Mary, Queen of Scots—months before her execution for collusion to assassinate her cousin Queen Elizabeth I, who had imprisoned her—topped the royal-related item sales at $19,403.

The collection of vintage jazz/blues photographs gleaned from the era of The Hot Club of Belgium (1950s-60s) did very well, with several items garnering top dollar. The highest price achieved was for a performance photo of The Jazz Messengers, signed by all five of the band members, which sold for $20,016.

International press attention came for the number one item in the auction—a sealed cigar box, with cigars made exclusively for Fidel Castro, signed by Castro himself. After much back and forth bidding, the winning bidder took home the historic item for $26,950.

Top 10 items sold

Fidel Castro — signed cigar box, sold for $26,950 (shown above)

The Jazz Messengers — signed photo, sold for 20,016 (see more Jazz results here)

Mary, Queen of Scots — signed document, sold for 19,403

George Washington — signed letter, sold for $18,751

Thomas Jefferson — signed document, sold for $17,726

Frederic Chopin — signed document, sold for $16,114

Charlie Duke — flown schematic, sold for $11,861

Princess Diana — signed photo, sold for $9,781

Beatles: John Lennon signed “Rock ‘n’ Roll” album, sold for $9,499

Princess Diana — dress catalog, sold for $9,438

For the complete list of results from this auction, click here.