SOLD
6,000.00USDto floor+ buyer's premium
This item SOLD at 2013 Jan 30 @ 15:27UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT
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A chilling and evocative relic from the August 9, 1945 atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan, a church bell that remarkably survived the blast which was centered only about 2,600 feet away! The cast bronze bell measures 4 1/2" tall and 4 3/8" wide at its base. It is marked with the deeply indented words: "ANGELUS" and "NAGASAKI on one side, with Japanese characters likewise indented on the reverse. The clapper is present, as is a separated chain which once supported the bell. The bell bears multiple small black spots which cannot be removed, possibly indicative of soot-laden water or fire damage, and also a few traces of raised metal residue that did not originate from the bell, as if some tiny bits of molten metal had fallen upon this object. The bell is accompanied by an original notarized letter of provenance from Robert D. Stern dated May 14, 2001. Stern relates that he served in the Marines during World War II and was a member of the 2nd Marine Division Occupational Force which landed in Nagasaki on Sep. 23, 1945. He mentions that his assignments included security escort for military photographers in restricted areas. He adds: "...The bell in question was found by me in the ruins of a church. The church was located approximately half a mile northeast from ground zero...". Stern then describes the bell's markings. All of Stern's statements bear out, as the first official American presence in Nagasaki was on Sep. 16th when only an advance group of twelve men went ashore, followed by the Marines on Sep. 23rd. The Catholic church which most closely fits Stern's description was the Urakami Cathedral, located about 500 meters from Ground Zero. As the Assumption of Mary was soon approaching, the cathedral was filled with worshippers when the bomb detonated: all were killed and the church was totally destroyed. In 1959 the church was rebuilt and another French Angelus bell that survived the blast remains on display. For those not familiar, the ringing of the Angelus bell is a Christian call to prayer and to spread good will to all mankind. A more chilling yet hopeful reminder of the evil of war would be hard to find...
Auction Location:
860 Canal Street. Second Floor., Stamford, Connecticut, 06902, United States
Please note that lots purchased are subject to sales taxes where applicable unless a resale number is filed with us prior to the auction. Invoices not paid within thirty days of the date of invoice will incur a 1.5% per month late payment fee.
Buyer's Premiums:
| From (Incl.) | To (Excl.) | Premium |
| 0.00 |
Infinite |
22.5% |
Additional Fees:
Shipping Details:
Handling, shipping and insurance charges will be added to the invoice. Note: Large, heavy and bulky itmes are not shipped by the auctioneer. Client is responsible for arranging shipments for these pieces.
Shipping & Mailing
In most cases, shipping will be by USPS Priority (for domestic) and USPS International Express (for International), or UPS at our discretion, at a fixed rate of $12.00 and $35.00 respectively. If an item is unusually heavy, odd-sized, require special packing techniques or is otherwise out of the ordinary, there may be additional charges. Requests for alternative carriers will be accepted when practical with any additional expense billed to the customer. Combined shipping will be accommodated whenever possible. Insurance is always included and direct signatures will be required.
IMPORTANT: As noted in the Terms and Conditions of Sale, we no longer ship oversized or heavy material. These lots have been identified in the catalog with a short note at the end of the description. We reccomend the following shippers for this material:
Alexander Services
94 Franklin St.,
Stamford, CT 06901
Tel. (203) 324-4012
The UPS Store
65 High Ridge Road
Stamford, CT 06905
Tel . (203) 356-0022
Payment Details:
Payment is expected immediately upon, (but not before) receipt of invoice. Payments may be made via mail, phone, fax, or in person. We accept checks, money orders, Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal (payable to sales@alexautographs.com). All accounts are payable to Alexander Historical Auctions. Payment must be made in U.S. funds. Wire transfer details are available upon request. Please note that lots purchased are subject to sales taxes where applicable unless a resale number is filed with us prior to the auction. Invoices not paid within thirty days of the date of invoice will incur a 1.5% per month late payment fee.
Accepted Payment Methods:
- VISA
- Master Card
- Money Order/Bank Draft
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- See Payment Details
- Wire Transfer
1. This auction is conducted under the laws of the State of Connecticut.
2. This auction will begin at 11:30 AM Eastern time on Thursday, July 21 and Friday, July 22, 2011.
3. There is a 19.5% Buyer’s Premium charged on the final hammer price of each lot. An additional 3% (for a total of 22.5%) will be added to lots purchased live through the Internet via icollector.com.
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13. Payment is expected immediately upon, (but not before) receipt of invoice. Payments may be made via mail, phone, fax, or in person. We accept checks, money orders, Visa, Mastercard, American Express and PayPal (payable to sales@alexautographs.com). All accounts are payable to Alexander Historical Auctions. Payment must be made in U.S. funds. Wire transfer details are available upon request. Please note that lots purchased are subject to sales taxes where applicable unless a resale number is filed with us prior to the auction. Invoices not paid within thirty days of the date of invoice will incur a 1.5% per month late payment fee.
14. Handling, shipping and insurance charges will be added to the invoice. Note: large, heavy and bulky itmes are not shipped by the auctioneer. Client is responsible for arranging shipments for these pieces. Please see the page titled "Bidding Procedure" for contact information for reccomended shippers.
15. All autograph material in this sale is guaranteed genuine for the life of the original purchaser (unless otherwise stated or if contrary to other provisions of these terms). Any autograph item sold which is determined to be not authentic by two independent dealers or authenticators acceptable to both parties to the sale may be returned by the original buyer at any time for an immediate refund of the purchase price (only). Non-autograph items are guaranteed genuine for a period of twenty-one (21) days of receipt if determined to be not authentic by two independent dealers or authenticators acceptable to both parties to the sale. Any declarations of lack of authenticity by any party must be made in writing.
16. Items may also be returned if the catalog description differs significantly from the item’s actual state; such returns must be made within three (3) days of purchaser's receipt of the lot(s). All returned lots must be in the same condition as shipped. All items are in very good condition unless stated otherwise.
17. Any lot containing five or more items is not subject to return for any reason.
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