Lot 765

AMERICAN COUPLE GAIN AUTOGRAPHS THROUGH HOAX

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AMERICAN COUPLE GAIN AUTOGRAPHS THROUGH HOAX

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Estimate: $60 - $80

Current Bid: $30

(1 Bid)

by Alexander Historical Auctions LLC
June 27, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Timed Auction
106 East Main Street, Suite 103
Elkton, MD, US 21921

In 1975 a Philadelphia family, the Colbert's, were revealed to be the creators of a hoax in order to receive genuine autographs from notables such as Henry Kissinger, Fidel Castro, and Yasir Arafat. They would write to their targets and explain that they just had a newborn whom they had named after the recipient of the letter and would request a few lines of counsel for their new bundle of joy. The couple had no such child. This intriguing lot consists of T.L.S.s and an A.L.S. from various historians and politicians ARTHUR M. SCHLESINGER (1917-2007) American historian and politician, founder of the Americans for Democratic Action. Pulitzer Prize winner in 1946 for his book ‘The Age of Jackson', WILLIAM MANCHESTER (1922-2004) American author and historian, awarded the National Humanities Medal and the Abraham Lincoln Literary Award, and ADLAI STEVENSON III (1930-2021) American politician, son of Presidential democratic candidate Adlai E. Stevenson. Schlesinger writes a T.L.S., 1p. 8vo., New York, Nov. 26, 1974, to Robert Colbert, in part: ‘...I could not have been more surprised and complimented by your decision to name your new son after me...I will send him a few handwritten words of counsel...' The letter to ‘Arthur Colbert' is included, A.L.S., 1p. 8vo., New York, Dec. 10, 1974, and reads in part: ‘...you will live most of your life in the 21st century...things may change around us, certain values remain constant. Honesty...kindness...compassion...loyalty...devotion...understanding...' Manchester writes a T.L.S., 1p. 4to., Connecticut, Nov. 28, 1974, In part: ‘...Today you are 44 days old...As of this month I have published ten books, and if I am lucky, one or two of them will still be around to be read by your generation...The only constant factor in life appears to be change...But some things never change. Among these are love, truth, honor, trustworthiness, kindness, civility, loyalty, and courage...' Stevenson writes a T.L.S. on United States Senate letterhead, 1p. 8vo., Washington, D.C., Oct. 3, 1974, in part: ‘...I have never been so complimented. I rather think that the young man will go through life named, as he should be, for my father who was a great man – not me...' Stevenson also signs the accompanying envelope. This lot is accompanied by a newspaper clipping from the ‘Philadelphia Inquirer' titled ‘Yasir Arafat? Nossir, Arafat! It's a hoax' and dated Feb. 11, 1975. The clipping details the hoax and focuses on their latest victim, Yasir Arafat whom the couple targeted after his speech at the U.N. Six pieces, fine.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000