131
THE FIREMEN AND THE FLAG, FIREFIGHTER-SIGNED SET
Currency:USD
Category:Everything Else / Other
Start Price:NA
Estimated At:15,000.00 - 20,000.00 USD
NOT SOLD (BIDDING OVER)
0.00USD+ applicable fees & taxes.
This item WAS NOT SOLD. Auction date was 2002 Nov 16 @ 10:00UTC-08:00 : PST/AKDT
<b>131. THE FIREMEN AND THE FLAG: FIREFIGHTER-SIGNED SET </b>An outstanding, important and excessively-rare collection of <b>seven</b> sequential color photographs, each 14" x 11", showing the now world-famous trio of New York City firemen raising the American flag above the still-smoldering wreckage of the two World Trade Center towers. The dramatic final image shows the flag raised above the ruins with the three firefighters standing at its base. Firefighters Johnson, McWilliams and Eisengrein have each placed their bold, black ink signatures in the photo's white bottom margin. In chronological order, the images show the Brooklyn-based firefighters George Johnson of Rockaway Beach, Dan McWilliams of Long Island (both from Ladder 157), and Billy Eisengrein of Staten Island (Rescue 2) removing the remnants of a flag from their makeshift pole, securing the flag to the lanyard, hoisting the flag and then securing the lanyard. On that fateful September 11th, 2001, photographer Lori Grinker of the renowned agency Contact Press Images, left her Brooklyn apartment and glimpsed the flames emanating from the twin towers. She began photographing the disaster as she made her way by foot across the Williamsburg Bridge and thence downtown. Shortly after 3:00 PM, Grinker was standing in front of the shattered windows on the second floor of Two World Financial Center when the three firefighters walked into view and proceeded to raise the American flag over the ruins. These photographs give a perspective of the event different than the image taken by Hackensack Record photographer Thomas E. Franklin. Indeed, Grinker's powerful images explicitly depict the utter devastation at the scene, with at least five destroyed fire trucks and rescue vehicles amidst the rubble, and other firemen probing the wreckage. The final four photographs show the determined firefighters alone as they raise the flag (see identical set, next lot). This historic collection of images is the only such sequential set showing a scene which has become a defining moment in America's history. This portfolio is strictly limited to a set of thirty, twenty-five sets signed and dated by photographer Lori Grinker and with only <b>five</b> sets signed by the firemen. Our set is #2/30. These high-quality digital prints are protected by individual acetate folders, and are contained within a green silk and leather archival slipcase with gold lettering. The collection also includes a letter signed in type by attorney William Kelley of The Bravest Fund attesting to the authenticity of the firefighter's signatures. Both the firefighters and the photographer have agreed to donate 60% percent of the proceeds of Alexander Autographs' sale of this set to The Bravest Fund, a charity founded by the firefighters in these photographs. The fund is dedicated to benefiting members of the FDNY, NYPD, EMS and Port Authority Police that suffer career-ending injuries or death, including those affected by the terrorist attacks on September 11th but not covered by existing benefit programs. Alexander Autographs is also pleased to donate the usual seller's commission to this fund.<b> </b>Only one sale of a signed photo of the firemen signed exists, fetching approximately $80,000.00 at Christie's earlier this year.<b>$15,000-20,000</b>
Auction Location:
United States
Previewing Details:
Tuesday, November 12. 2002 through Thursday, November 14, 2002, 11:00 am EST – 4:00 pm EST
Location: Alexander Autographs, 100 Melrose Avenue, Suite 100, Greenwich, Connecticut
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<p>2.) This auction will be held in two parts. Part I (Lots 1-527) will begin at 1:00 PM Eastern Time on Saturday, November 16, 2002. Part II (Lots 600-1550) will begin at Noon Eastern Time on Tuesday, November 19, 2002. However, you may bid at any time prior to the sale dates.
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