Gandhi: A great soul remembered

On this day in 1948...

At precisely 5.17pm in central New Delhi...

Four gunshots echoed across a garden of prayer.

There was blood. Smoke. Chaos.

Panic turned to anguish.

And in a moment of violence, a great soul was lost to the world.

Gandhi's tragic death on this day in 1948 was a loss felt on a global scale.

The world mourns its loss

The assassination of Gandhi shocked the world.

Just one year after his non-violent resistance campaign won independence for India, the 'Father of the Nation' was dead.

The Washington Post reported:

“It is Gandhi the saint who will be remembered, not only on the plains and in the hills of India, but all over the world. He strove for perfection as other men strive for power and possessions. Now he belongs to the ages."

Few people single-handedly change the course of history.

Gandhi was one of them.

He stands as one of the greatest figures of the 20th century.

A leader whose willpower brought freedom to millions.

And a spiritual man whose teachings still inspire devotion.

Gandhi's philosophy of non-violent protest has inspired millions of followers around the world.

A sacred relicAlbert Einstein wrote of Gandhi:

“Mahatma Gandhi's life achievement stands unique in political history... Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this walked the earth in flesh and blood.”

That's why Gandhi's memorabilia is unlike that of any other historic figure.

For many Indian collectors these are sacred objects of national importance.

The items he touched, held and left behind are rare relics.

This special book is one of them.

A humble book containing one of the world's most valuable and sought-after signatures.

Transformed into treasureIt's an original vintage paperback copy of Gandhi's biography.

Written by historian Carl Heat and published in 1944.

It's a humble copy, well-travelled and well-read over the years.

But inside is a page which transforms it...

From a simple book into a historic treasure.

Because it bears one of the world's most valuable autographs.

Personally signed and dated by Gandhi himself.

Gandhi's autograph transforms this book into a museum-quality relic of major importance.

From Gandhi's hands to yours

Gandhi signed this book on April 9, 1945.

His inscription gives you the exact moment he held it in his hands.

Two years before he achieved his goal of independence for India.

And less than three years before his tragic death.

Gandhi's autograph is also unusual because he has signed it twice.

Once in Gujarati and once in English.

That double signature makes a rare piece even rarer. And it broadens the appeal to both Western and South Asian collectors.

Make no mistake: this is a historic autograph of the highest calibre.

In a rare move, Gandhi has signed this book twice: once in Gujarati and once in English.

Highly rare. Highly valuable.

Since the start of this century, less than 10 books signed by Gandhi have appeared at auction.

For collectors, the opportunity to own one scarcely arises.

And the feverish market for his signature is driven by this rarity.

These recent sales clearly tell the story:• In 2019 a signed photograph dating from 1947 sold for $37,500. Almost four times the original estimate.

• In 2020 a brief handwritten note sold for £20,000. More than seven times the estimate.

• And in December 2022 a 1931 typed & signed letter sold for $20,160. More than five times the initial estimate.

So when you own Gandhi's autograph, you own a piece of history that bidders will fight each other for.

It's a trophy item for serious collectors.

And a piece with major investment potential for the future.