Three weeks later, the landscape would drastically change. Japan would bomb Pearl Harbor, and America would be drawn into the war on the side of Britain. It was the help Churchill had long desperately sought, and Franklin Roosevelt wished to provide, but could not because of strong isolationist sentiment in America. Once America was attacked, its people were isolationist no more. However, Churchill remained concerned. He and Roosevelt had long agreed that the top priority was to defeat Germany, but Churchill feared America would shift its attention to Japan, again leaving England to face Germany alone. So, he took off for America to meet Roosevelt. Item 11 is a photograph signed by Churchill, taken onboard the HMS Duke of York as Churchill sailed for America shortly after Pearl Harbor to seek Roosevelt's reassurances. His goal would soon be achieved, Roosevelt sharing his English counterpart's priorities. Standing next to Churchill in the photo is his daughter, Mary, in military uniform, and Admiral Sir John Tovey. $12,000.
F. Scott Fitzgerald's life was filled with ambition, contention, tragedy, and all sorts of attributes that make for less than peace and contentment. He and his over-the-top wife, Zelda, burned brightly, and flamed out. Fitzgerald rarely had quite enough money to support their lifestyle, while she rarely had the mental balance. Fitzgerald hit the big time in 1920 with his first novel, This Side of Paradise. It enabled them to live well, and socialize with the great literary figures and celebrities of the roaring 20s. In 1924, the Fitzgeralds headed for Europe, to allow Scott a bit more peace to work on his next novel, which would be The Great Gatsby. Most of that time was spent in France, but the family, which included their son and only child, Scottie, visited Italy. From there, Scott wrote home to his mother, with whom he remained close, with a picture postcard. It is a personal picture on the card, Scott, Zelda, Scottie and his governess, seated in an automobile, and it shows that his mother was concerned with Scott's psychological well-being. On the front, above the picture, Scott has written in red ink, "This is the sun - not melancholy." An arrow points from the caption to the image of Scott. Evidently, Scott is trying to reassure his mother of his happiness, and if there was a happy time in Fitzgerald's troubled life, this was probably it. Item 2. $14,000.
The Raab Collection may be reached at 800-977-8333. Their website is www.raabcollection.com.
