Science Autographs and Memorabilia Gift Ideas

IGOR SIKORSKY. Photograph inscribed and signed: "to Robert Succi/with best wishes of I. Sikorsky/March 22, 1971". B/w, 7¾x9¾ overall, image 7½x6½ (one surface). Russian-born aviation designer Igor Sikorsky (1889-1972), a pioneer in the advancement of the helicopter and naval aircraft, constructed and flew the first multi-motored airplane in 1913. In 1931, he built the first amphibian American Clipper, which pioneered transoceanic commercial flights. In 1939, Sikorsky developed the first practical American helicopter. His breakthroughs involving vertical flight were instrumental to the advancement of the helicopter; during both the Korean War (1950-1953) and the Vietnam War (1955-1975), the U.S. relied upon the helicopter for medical emergencies as well as for combat. Sikorsky's belief in the "process of intuitive discovery' led to his major achievements, including the development of the four-engine S-42 "Clipper" and the VS-300 helicopter. The recipient of the U.S. Presidential Certificate

GLENN T. SEABORG. Photograph signed: "Glenn T. Seaborg". Color, 8x10. Seaborg (1912-1999) was a co-recipient of the 1951 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work as co-discoverer of elements#94 Plutonium (in 1941), #95 Americium, #96 Curium, #97 Berkelium and #98 Californium. Later, he played a part in creating elements #99 Einsteinium, #100 Fermium, #101 Mendelevium and #102 Nobelium. In 1994, a new element (#106 Seaborgium) was named after him, the first time the honor has been bestowed upon a living person. Seaborg worked on the Manhattan Project developing the atomic bomb, but signed a letter to President Truman urging that the bomb be dropped on a barren island as a demonstration. He chaired the Atomic Energy Commission (1961-1971) and helped negotiate the nuclear test ban treaty of 1963. Lightly creased in upper left corner. Photographers stamp on verso (no show through). Fine condition.

LEE DE FOREST The vacuum tube inventor signs on this card with "Thanks for good wishes" Autograph Note Signed: "Melvyn R. Jarvis./Thanks for good wishes,/Lee de Forest". Black ink notations in bottom left corner in unknown hand. 5x3 card. De Forest (1873-1961) patented more than 300 inventions in wireless telegraphy, radio telephony, sound-on-film talking pictures, high-speed facsimile transmission, television, radiotherapy and related areas. One of his most important inventions was the vacuum tube that was used in radios and televisions. He titled his autobiography Father of Radio, but de Forest did not generally receive that recognition. He is regarded, however, as a major contributor to the development of broadcasting. Lightly toned and creased. Missing top left corner. Discolored along bottom and right edge. Mounting remnants and paper loss in all corners. Otherwise, fine condition.

CHRISTIAAN BARNARD 5x7 image in surgical scrubs Photograph inscribed and signed: "To Carl Davis/A very happy birthday/Chris Barnard". B/w, 4¾x6½. Dr. Christiaan Barnard performed the first successful heart transplant on December 3, 1967, when he led a team of 20 surgeons to replace the heart of Louis Washkansky. While Washkansky died 18 days later of double pneumonia resulting from damage to his immune system from the drugs used to prevent his body from rejecting the new organ, Barnard's operations were increasingly successful, with most patients living for several years after their surgeries. In 1974, he performed his 11th heart transplant. In this operation, unlike the earlier ones, Barnard did not remove the patient's damaged heart; instead, he joined the implanted donor heart to the patient's heart, thereby providing a "double pump" for the circulatory system. This technique had never before been used with a human being. Barnard, who had introduced open-heart surgery to his native South Africa and developed new designs for artificial heart valves earlier in his career, served as head of the cardiac unit of Groote Schuur Hospital until his retirement from surgery in 1983. Lightly creased.

ROBERT FULTON His scarce signature below the three closing lines of an autograph letter Partial Autograph Letter signed: "Robt Fulton", 1 page, 8x3. No place, no date. In full: "Getting your civilities to him or assistance in case of necessity while he continues in France will much oblige me your sincere friend". In 1801, Robert Fulton (1765-1815, born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania) was commissioned by Robert R. Livingston, U.S. Minister to France, to build a steamboat. After successful experiments on the Seine in France, Fulton returned to the United States and succeeded in building the first commercially successful steamboat. This boat, with the final name Clermont, steamed from New York to Albany and back between August 17 and 22, 1807. Thereafter, Fulton designed 17 steamboats, a torpedo boat and a ferry. Fulton's signature is scarce in any form! Irregularly cut edges. Left edge frayed. Toned at lower right edge. Multiple mailing folds. Lightly creased. Otherwise, fine condition.

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 DefenseInitiative. 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

THOMAS A. EDISON, CHARLES EDISON, HARRY F. MILLER, STEPHEN B. MAMBERT and J.W. ROBINSON Minutes of a 1922 Board of Directors meeting, largely relating to elect officers to hold office until the next regular annual meeting. Typed Document Signed: "Charles Edison" as Chairman of the Board, "Thos A Edison", "Stephen B. Mambert" and "H.F. Miller" as Directors and "J W. Robinson" as Secretary of Thomas A. Edison, Inc. on page stamped 88, 1¼p, 8x11, front and verso. West Orange, New Jersey, 1922 May 10. Pages 87 and 88 of a Corporate Minutes book. Headed: "MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF PHONOGRAPHS, LIMITED" This document relates to electing temporary officers to hold office until the next annual meeting. In 1926, inventor THOMAS A. EDISON would step down as President of Thomas A. Edison, Inc. to become Chairman of the Board. His second son, CHARLES EDISON, who had served as Chairman of the Board for a number of Edison companies, took over the presidency. Charles would later serve as FDR's Secretary of the Navy and Governor of New Jersey.

HEART SURGERY PIONEERS: CHRISTIAAN BARNARD, DENTON COOLEY and MICHAEL DEBAKEY The three surgeons signed these items, all beautifully framed together with black and white photographs and a biographical plaque! Comprises: (1) CHRISTIAAN BARNARD. Signature: "Chris Barnard", 4½x1½. Ink smudged at the upper portion of the "C". Fine condition. (2) DENTON COOLEY. Signature: "Denton A. Cooley MD", 4¾x2½. Dated 3.26-78 above signature. Fine condition. (3) MICHAEL DEBAKEY. First Day Cover signed: "Michael E De Bakey", 6¼x3½. FDC honoring the Crusade Against Cancer, 5-cent stamp affixed, postmarked Washington, D.C., April 1, 1965, FIRST DAY OF ISSUE. Lightly rippled at cachet. Fine condition. South African cardiothoracic surgeon 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. After Washkansky died, Barnard and his team persevered with their innovative surgical procedure.

LINUS PAULING. Photograph signed: "Linus Pauling". B/w, 5x7. Pauling (1901-1994) earned the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1954) 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 World War II, Pauling became an increasingly vocal critic of the arms race.) In 1962, he demonstrated outside the White House, then dined that evening with President and Mrs. Kennedy. Fine condition.