A remarkable collection of autographs, including notable figures such as Chinese leader Mao Zedong, Jamaican musician Bob Marley, and South African activist Nelson Mandela, has recently sold for over £78,000 at auction. The auction, held at Dawsons in Maidenhead, Berkshire, saw Mao Zedong’s signature command the highest price of £22,000. Other highlights included a signed first-edition poetry book by The Doors’ Jim Morrison and a piece signed by Deng Xiaoping, the former Chinese leader known for his pivotal role in opening China to the world stage, both fetching £6,000 each.
The collection, amassed over decades by a dedicated German collector starting in the 1980s, also featured a card signed “with love from” all four members of The Beatles, which sold for £5,500. Peter Mason from Dawsons described the assortment as a “unique collection” that provides a nostalgic glimpse into an era before selfies dominated autograph hunting.
Proceeds from the auction will be directed to charitable causes in the collector’s home country, as announced by Mr. Mason.
