Clars has completed its September auction, which is always its strongest of the year, led by aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart.
Historic memorabilia, Old Masters art and high quality jewellery, decoratives and antiques all went under the hammer. But it was the Earhart offerings which most intrigued bidders.
The collection of her memorabilia comes to the block from three different consignors and all items have been privately held until now.
This collection includes 24 unpublished gelatin silver photographs and a pair of her Luxor No. 6 flying goggles. Earhart was reportedly wearing these goggles when she experienced her first crash in July 1921 in her Airster while learning to fly with instructor Neta Snook.
 The goggles' crashed, but their value's still flying |
They retained the cracked lens which was damaged on impact.
The goggles previously were owned by Barbara Englehardt, a Contra Costa County resident who got them from a friend around 20 years ago.
In the event, the goggles sold for $17,775 and the photographs for $13,509, giving a grand total of nearly $31,300.
The sale is a reminder of the interest still generated by Amelia Earhart. Nevertheless, this is by no means the greatest amount ever paid for a pair of her goggles.
In 2009, a pair of flight goggles which she wore whilst crossing the Atlantic in 1932 soared to a price of $141,600. Memorabilia and autographs connected to her and her fellow transatlantic pioneer Charles Lindbergh shows no signs of losing its value even after all these years.
