Science Autographs and Memorabilia Gift Ideas

CHARLES F. KETTERING He signs on this program titled: "Preview Ride of the General Motors Train of Tomorrow, Miami to West Palm Beach and Return" Program Signed: "C.F. Kettering/(Ket)", 8p, 6¼x9. Florida, 1948 February 24. "Preview Ride of the General Motors Train of Tomorrow, Miami to West Palm Beach and Return". In 1909, Kettering (1876-1958) and Edward A. Deeds set up the Dayton Engineering Laboratories Co., later known as Delco. Kettering developed the first electrical ignition system and the first self-starter for automobiles. He sold Delco to General Motors in 1916. In 1920 he became President and General Manager of the General Motors Research Corp., a GM division. For the next 30 years he led teams that developed improved motor fuels, shock absorbers, variable speed transmissions, safety glass and the refrigerant Freon. Kettering retired from GM in 1947. With Alfred Sloan, he endowed the Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research. Foxed, lightly stained and shaded. Mid-vertical fold. 2¾-inch diagonal striation. read more...

LINUS PAULING Image of Pauling making a gesture while apparently giving a speech Photograph signed: "Linus Pauling". B/w, 8x10. Dr. Linus Pauling (1901-1994) won the 1954 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his research into the nature of chemical bonding and its application to the structure of complex substances. In 1962, he received the Nobel Peace Prize for his campaign against nuclear testing (even though he had done military research during WWII, Pauling became an increasingly vocal critic of the arms race). That same year, he demonstrated outside the White House during the day, and dined with President and Mrs. Kennedy that evening. The chemist/pacifist is the only individual winner of two different Nobel Prizes. He founded the Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine in 1973 to study the prevention and treatment of diseases using vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin C. Minor surface creases (not seen head on). Fine condition. read more...

LUTHER BURBANK Luther Burbank sends a typed letter about the studying of Latin in school. Typed Letter Signed: "Luther Burbank", 1p, 8x5. Santa Rosa, California, 1923 March 9. To Miss Carol Barrington, Oakland. In full: "In reply to yours of March 7th , in my own opinion the study of Latin in school or college is in nine cases out of ten nearly wholly wasted time except for certain definite purposes. Not one in twenty who study it ever find it very much use to themselves in anyway. I have myself learned all the Latin that is necessary with plant names in botany just by seeing the position in which they are used. Respectfully yours," Luther Burbank developed the Burbank potato, which was introduced in Ireland to help combat the blight epidemic. He later developed improved varieties of cultivated plants, plums, berries, lilies, roses, tomatoes, corn, squash, the Shasta daisy and the Fire poppy. Lightly creased. Otherwise, fine condition. Framed in the Gallery of History style: 22½x17¾.. read more...

HIRAM P. MAXIM. Signature: "Hiram Percy Maxim/Hartford, Conn./July 10, 1930", 5½x1¼. Hiram P. Maxim (1869-1936) was the son of Hiram S. Maxim (1840-1916), inventor of an early machine gun. An inventor like his father, Hiram P. promoted the Maxim Silencer for firearms, then applied its principles to mufflers, air compressors and other machinery. Although Maxim's silencer was a permanent attachment to a rifle, it created a public era in an era of gangland violence. Many states and nations attempted to ban the silencer. Fine condition. Framed in the Gallery of History style: 15x23¾.   read more...

EDWARD SQUIBB Edward Squibb signs and fills out a check for $185 to him. Check filled out and signed: "E R Squibb, Treasurer" (of the Kings County Medical Society), 7x2¾. Brooklyn, 1866 December 19. Drawn on the Long Island Bank payable to "E R Squibb or order" for $185. Endorsed on verso: "E.R. Squibb". 2-cent revenue stamp affixed at upper left margin. Ink calculations (likely in Squibb's hand) at lower right margin of verso. In 1858, physician and pharmacist Edward R. Squibb (1819-1900) founded a chemical and pharmaceutical laboratory in Brooklyn. In 1892, the firm, which was dedicated to the production of consistently pure medications, became E.R. Squibb & Sons. Although he didn't live to see it, Squibb's lifelong crusade for safe, reliable pharmaceutical products became a reality with the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906, the year after his sons sold the firm. In 1989, Squibb, which had grown into a multinational operation, merged with Bristol-Myers. Today, Bristol-Myers Squibb carries 28 product lines with sales in the $20 billion range worldwide. Lightly creased. "X"-cut bank cancellations touch writing. read more...

CHRISTIAAN BARNARD. Comprises: (1) TLS: "Chris Barnard", 1p, 7½x10. University of Cape Town, South Africa, 1970 December 11. To Paul P. Hartunian, Belleville, N.J. In full: "Thank you very much for your very nice letter and for the wonderful gift. You are so kind to say all these nice things about me, and I am pleased that you enjoyed by (sic) biography, 'One Life'. I am sending, under separate cover, a surgical instrument [present] and hope that this is what you have been looking for. I would like to take this opportunity of wishing you a happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year." On message portion of an air letter with rubber stamped return address: "Surgical Research/Department of Surgery/University of Cape Town Medical School/Observatory, Cape Town." Lightly creased. Chipped at lower blank edge, tip of lower corner missing. Fine condition. (2) The surgical scissors sent by Dr. Barnard, seven inches long, curved at edge. Christiaan Barnard (1922-2001) performed the world's first heart transplant at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town on December 3, 1967. The patient, 53-year-old dentist Louis Washkansky, lived 18 days before succumbing to rejection of the new heart. read more...

EDWARD TELLER This color 5x7 photograph is signed by the Manhattan Project scientist depicted Photograph signed: "Edward Teller". Color, 5x7. Edward Teller (1908-2003), often referred to as the "Father of the Hydrogen Bomb", was born in Hungary and educated in Germany before fleeing the Nazis. He worked on the Manhattan Project, which developed the atomic (fission) bomb, but was already looking forward to the even greater power which might be unleashed by nuclear fusion. Teller influenced U.S. Presidents of both parties with his advocacy of nuclear weapons, nuclear energy, and the Strategic Defense Initiative. Teller made headlines in 1954 when he testified that he, personally, did not trust nuclear physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer enough to renew his security clearance. As a result of this hearing, Oppenheimer, another one of the pioneering scientists behind nuclear weapons, had his United States security clearance revoked. In his memoirs, Teller observed: "I deeply regret the deaths and injuries that resulted from the atomic bombings, but my best explanation of why I do not regret working on weapons is a question: What if we hadn't?" Label on verso (no show through). read more...

NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS IN CHEMISTRY Signatures of 10 winners of 11 Nobel Prizes in Chemistry, sign a First Day Cover. (Frederick Sanger won twice!) First Day Cover signed: "Christian B. Anfinsen", "Derek Barton", "A. J. P. Martin", "F. Sanger", "P. Karrer", "G. Herzberg", "Luis Leloir" "RJW Norrish", "Giulio Natta" and "Harold C. Urey", 6½x3½. In all 10 signatures. FDC with a cachet honoring the 100th anniversary of the National Academy of Science, postmarked 1963 October 14, 5-cent stamp affixed, FIRST DAY OF ISSUE. Winners of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry who have signed here include HAROLD UREY (1934), PAUL KARRER (1937), A. J. P. MARTIN (1952), FREDERICK SANGER (1958 and again in 1980!), GIULIO NATTA (1963), RONALD G. W. NORRISH (1967), DEREK BARTON (1969), LUIS FEDERICO LELOIR (1970), GERHARD HERZBERG (1971) and CHRISTIAN ANFINSEN (1972). Lightly creased and worn at corners. Pencil note (unknown hand) on verso. Otherwise, fine condition. read more...

BEN FRANK Note signed "Thank you and good Luck" by actor Ben Frank on a letter Autograph note signed "Thank you/and good/Luck/Ben Frank" in black ink. With photocopied signature on front and blue and black notations on verso, all in unknown hand. 8¼x11. Signed on a photocopied June 27, 1984 letter from Leonard E. Goodall, President of the University of Nevada of Las Vegas, with a letter from Todd Axelrod, Executive Director of the American Museum of Historical Documents, on verso, both requesting a contribution to the museum from Frank. Frank (1934-1990, born in New York City) had starring roles in the films Don't Answer the Phone (1980), Death Wish 2 (1982) and Hollywood Zap (which he also co-produced, 1986). He has guest starred in more than two dozen TV series, mostly crime dramas. Lightly toned and creased. Show-through from letter on verso touches signature. Staple holes in upper left corner. Folded twice and unfolded. Otherwise in fine condition. read more...