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Police Guard Auction As First Edition of “mein Kampf” Goes for $250

December 13, 1936
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
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In the face of anti-Nazis’ protests a firs-edition copy of Hitler’s “Mein Kampf” was sold for $250 yesterday to the rare book department of Charles Scribner’s Sons at an auction guarded by police. It was said to be the first copy of the two-volume edition offered at public auction in the United States or Europe.

The name of the consignor was kept secret, but it was believed Scribner’s had itself offered the copy. David Randall of the rare book department said it was put up for sale so that its value could be determined. Two copies had been sold privately, he added.

Among these who had communicated with the Anderson Galleries, where the auction was held, demanding that it be withdrawn from sale were the anti-Nazi department of the American League against War and Fascism, the Jewish War Veterans of the United States, and many individuals, including the Rev. John Haynes Holmes, Prof. Franz Boas and Prof. Harry Schlochower.

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