Items signed by Lincoln, Marilyn, Ruth, Apollo XI crew are in University Archives' Jan. 7th auction

WILTON, Conn. - Dec. 19, 2025 - PRLog -- A spectacular vintage press photograph signed by Marilyn Monroe, a vintage press photograph signed by Babe Ruth, an official NASA color portrait photograph signed by all three Apollo XI crew members, and an original oversized sepia-colored portrait photograph of Abraham Lincoln originally taken in 1860 are a few of the headliner lots in University Archives' online-only Rare Autographs & Books Including Lincoln & Space Exploration auction slated for Wednesday, January 7^th.

Notably, more than 20 lots in the sale are dedicated to Abraham Lincoln, including Lincoln autographed material, photographs, medals, currency, and ephemera, plus two autographed letters signed by Mary Todd Lincoln. Some of the highlights are described a little further down.

The auction, starting promptly at 10am Eastern Time, is filled with items in many categories. The catalog in its entirety – all 526 lots – is up for viewing and bidding now on the University Archives website, UniversityArchives.com, plus the popular platforms Invaluable.com, Auctionzip.com and LiveAuctioneers.com. Telephone and absentee bids will also be accepted.

"We're ringing in the New Year on January 7^th with an auction that showcases over 520 lots of exceptional historical items," said John Reznikoff, the president and owner of University Archives. He added, "The auction gives prominence to two outstanding, largely unreserved collections, among our other usual treasures. Collectors and institutions will be sure to find everything they are hunting for."

The largely unreserved collections include Part II of A Superb Space Collection, a particularly fine assortment of Space autographs and memorabilia assembled by a Texas gentleman; as well as Part IV of A Top-Notch Collection, curated by a sophisticated California connoisseur, who purchased rare and desirable autographed items from Charles Hamilton, Joe Rubinfine, Kenneth Rendell, and other legendary dealers. Each collection contains over 30 highly collectible lots.

Three lots in the sale relate to Marilyn Monroe, including Lot 331, the spectacular and gorgeous vintage press photograph signed by the starlet, PSA/DNA slabbed and certified authentic, as well as a 1950 check issued to her hair stylist, and a personally owned cordial glass, ex-Christie's. The presentation portrait photograph was taken by Frank Powolny, circa 1953, around the time that the film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes was released. It has a pre-sale estimate of $15,000-$20,000.

Here is a link to the catalog on the University Archives website: www.universityarchives.com/auction-catalog/rare-autographs-books-including-lincoln-space-exp_BT2O5X6FEC

To learn more, visit www.UniversityArchives.com.