Atlanta, GA — March 30, 2026 — Ahlers & Ogletree Auction Gallery is pleased to present property from the estate of Dr. Goodman Basil Espy III, a distinguished Atlanta physician, humanitarian, and lifelong collector whose remarkable holdings have been celebrated across multiple major auction platforms.
Dr. Espy (1935–2024), known as “G.B.” to family and friends, was widely recognized not only for his medical career, during which he delivered thousands of children and participated in international medical missions, but also for running more than 80 marathons, and for his decades-long passion for collecting objects that embodied history, culture, and storytelling.
Inspired at an early age by his mother’s antiques shop, Dr. Espy developed a deeply personal and wide-ranging collection over the course of his life, guided by curiosity and an appreciation for the narratives behind each object.
A Collection of Remarkable Breadth
Segments of Dr. Espy’s collection have already achieved national recognition through a series of high-profile specialized auctions, including a single-owner sale at Julien’s in 2019 and, more recently, American Greats: Vintage Sports and Hollywood from the Dr. G.B. Espy Collection at Christie’s, including an important Lou Gehrig New York Yankees jersey worn at his final home game at Yankee Stadium in 1939.
Property Offered by Ahlers & Ogletree
Ahlers & Ogletree is honored to present a distinct and complementary group of objects drawn directly from Dr. Espy’s estate. Many of these works remained within his personal environment and have not previously been offered publicly. The offering includes significant memorabilia, from items associated with Marilyn Monroe to rare scientific, historical, and political documents, demonstrating a collector drawn to objects with compelling provenance and cultural resonance. The works offered in this sale reflect a different dimension of Dr. Espy’s collecting interests.
Highlights include an important collection of Art Deco Bakelite radios; signed first editions of Gone With the Wind and To Kill a Mockingbird; paintings by William Aiken Walker; antique sterling silver yachting and golf trophies; important signed letters by Albert Einstein, Charles Lindbergh, Jefferson Davis, George Custer, Ty Cobb, and others; and a collection of fine jewelry by Tiffany & Co. Together, these objects provide insight into the broader aesthetic sensibility that defined his home and daily surroundings.
Lots of note include:
A signed and inscribed first edition, first printing, author’s presentation copy of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird with its original dust jacket, estimate $40,000-$50,000
A signed and inscribed first edition, first printing, author’s presentation copy of Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind, with original dust jacket and accompanying letter from the author, estimate $20,000-$30,000
A TLS by Albert Einstein on Hebrew Literary Foundation letterhead, dated May 31, 1940,
regarding the urgent need to support displaced Jewish scholars from Europe during the
escalation of World War II, estimate $10,000-$20,000
A Babe Ruth signed check dated April 9, 1946, estimate $4,000–$6,000
An ALS by Stonewall Jackson to George Gibson discussing consideration for a military appointment during the Mexican American War, dated October 6, 1847, estimate $3,000-$5,000
.
A Collector’s Philosophy
Throughout his life, Dr. Espy viewed himself not as an owner, but as a steward of history. As he once reflected, his role was to carry objects “from one point in time to another,” with the hope that future custodians would continue that legacy.
That philosophy is evident in the breadth of his collection, one that bridges disciplines, eras, and cultural narratives, united by a shared sense of story and significance.
About Ahlers & Ogletree
Ahlers & Ogletree Auction Gallery is a leading Southeastern auction house specializing in fine art, antiques, decorative arts, jewelry, and estate property. Based in Atlanta, the firm connects regional collections with a global audience of collectors through a robust schedule of live and online auctions.
Auction Information
The Estate of Dr. G.B. Espy
April 22 & 23, 2026
To bid on these lots, click here.
