Pop culture, history, and politics led the sale in R&R’s February auction. With no downturn in the desire for Peanuts original artwork in sight, another piece sold big. A 1995 strip in Schulz’s not often used panoramic single panel format sold for $38,569, bringing the auctions largest result.

Another top performer was a piece signed by Neil Armstrong. Known as someone reluctant to sign autographs, his signature is heavily sought. The one offered by R&R was an exceptional example with impressive visual appeal. Taken by Armstrong on the lunar surface, it is unusually large, measuring 20 x 16”, has the rarely seen inscription “Tranquility Base”, and came with a large photo of Armstrong posing with the image. The photo sold for $19,790.

Within the political category, presidential signatures dominated. A 1783 military discharge baring George Washington’s signature sold for $13,915; an Abraham Lincoln military appointment for a prominent research surgeon realized $8,741; another Lincoln appointed signed prior to the Conscription Act was passed by Congress sold for $6,545; a large photo with an inscription from John F. Kennedy to congressman Daniel Flood brought $5,544; and a franking signature from John Adams to his son John Quincy Adams realized $4,357. 

Entertainment and sports memorabilia signatures sold well too. An 1806 letter from Napoleon Bonaparte to his sister sold for $8,159; a letter from proto-Beatle Stuart Sutcliffe to his girlfriend brought $9,975; a Beethoven album of his sonatas signed by all four Beatles sold for $8,833; a signed photo of Boris Karloff as Frankenstein’s monster realized $7,627; a baseball signed by Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig sold for $7,898.