Scrawls by tyrants, Beatles, up for auction

Anthony Gallagher says the collection, including the Bonaparte autograph, could fetch up to $200,000. Photo / Mark Mitchell

A rare collection of historical documents, featuring the autographs of Napoleon Bonaparte and Adolf Hitler among others, is to be auctioned in New Zealand.

The private collection is estimated to fetch between $150,000 and $200,000.

Auctioneer Anthony Gallagher, from Dunbar Sloane Auction House, said the price was dependent on what the collection's most valuable item, a page of notes written by Katherine Mansfield, fetched on the auction on November 24.

"Little by Mansfield comes to auction. Most is held by the Turnbull Library in Wellington and the Newberry Library in Chicago."

The manuscript, a collection of thoughts and observations written as Mansfield travelled to Cornwall, is expected to fetch between $80,000 and $100,000.

Two letters signed by Napoleon's contemporary, Navy officer Lord Nelson, valued at $25,000, are among the more expensive items on offer.

However, a signed copy of Hitler's Mein Kampf is expected to go for only $1000 to $2000.

"Hitler signed anything that was put in front of him," said Mr Gallagher.

He has already received inquiries from potential buyers overseas, but the museums are yet to show interest.

"We're testing the waters; there may be a part two."

The collection belongs to history buff and bookshop owner Des Schollum, who has spent 30 years collecting the historically significant documents.

"I get a buzz out of holding something held by a major historical person. It's a direct link with history," Mr Schollum said.

The collector, who still has 400 pieces in his private collection, buys through major European and United States auction houses and occasionally on the internet.

"You have to be careful with the internet and know what you're doing," he said.

After studying handwriting for more than 30 years, Mr Schollum said he knew the difference between a fake and a bona-fide signature.

A Beatles autograph, signed by all four members, is rare, according to Mr Schollum, because about 80 per cent of Beatles' autographs were in fact signed by the band's road manager, Neil Aspinall.

"He [Aspinall] used to collect all the autograph books from the crowds of girls and lock himself in a room and sign away."

The auction is set for Dunbar Sloane's Wellington auction house.