Hitler's pencil gifted by lover on auction from June 6
An intriguing artifact from Hitler's history - a pencil gifted by his long-term lover Eva Braun on his 52nd birthday in 1941, four years before he died by suicide - will be auctioned. This unique piece that carries significance, tied to the German Nazi dictator's legacy, is set to be sold in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Here's more about this pencil and its historical context.
The pencil features inscriptions of Braun and the initials "AH"
While the fact that the pencil belonged to Hitler is itself a fascinating thing in the first place, the details inscribed on it make it more special and exclusive. The pencil features inscriptions of Eva's name on the side with the initials "AH" (Adolf Hitler). It is 8.5 cm long and offers a unique revelation of his personal life.
It's currently with a collector who bought it in 2002
Per reports, this historic pencil is currently with its owner, a collector who bought it during an auction that took place in 2002. It has been with the collector's family ever since and is now up for grabs. Reportedly, the pencil is expected to fetch around £80,000 i.e. Rs. 82 lakh in the auction ceremony by Bloomfield Auctions scheduled on June 6 this year.
'It unravels a hidden piece of history'
"The importance of Hitler's engraved personal pencil lies in the fact that it helps to unravel a hidden piece of history, giving a unique insight into Hitler's personal relationships, which he scrupulously kept hidden from the public eye," told the managing director of Bloomfield Auctions, Karl Bennett to The Independent. He's expecting bidders from around the world, particularly those who are professional collectors.
Eva Braun: Hitler's much younger beloved
Eva Braun was a German photographer who first met Hitler back in 1929 when she was a model and an assistant to Heinrich Hoffmann, the dictator's personal photographer. There was an age difference of 23 years between the two and reportedly, in 1935, the German dictator offered her an apartment in Munich to stay. They always kept their relationship under wraps.
The duo ended their life together
If reports are to be believed, the two married each other a few days before they dies by suicide in 1945 in a small bunker. Nazi politicians Paul Joseph Goebbels and Martin Bormann were eyewitnesses.
More items owned by Hitler to be auctioned
Per reports, Bloomfield Auctions is also planning to sell other items that were once owned by Hitler. This will include an original signed photograph of Hitler. Before this, they also sold Hitler's teapot in California. The auction will also include historic articles owned by other legends - a rare hand-written pardon by Queen Victoria dated 1869 for Irish rebels convicted of treason.
All items are authentic: Bennett
"It's with a lot of research, a lot of collaboration with the vendors of each of the items, that I can stand over as an auctioneer and give me confidence that what I'm telling people I'm selling is the actual item," shared Bennett with The Independent. "These items give us concrete ties to the past so that we can never forget," he added.
