In a riveting turn of events, a piece of history is up for grabs as RR Auction presents a rare document signed by J. Robert Oppenheimer and 23 other contributors to the Manhattan Project. This historically-significant report sheds light on the development of the atomic bomb during World War II and has already ignited a bidding war, surpassing its $25,000 reserve price.
The document, a 200-page report titled “Atomic Bombs: A General Account of the Development of Methods of Using Atomic Energy for Military Purposes Under the Auspices of the United States Government,” was privately printed in August 1945. Authored by American physicist and Manhattan Project consultant Henry D. Smyth, the report captures the technical and administrative intricacies behind the creation of the world’s first atomic bombs.
Signed just two weeks before the Trinity nuclear test, the document features autographs from prominent figures like Oppenheimer, Fermi, Lawrence, Chadwick, Urey, and Rabi. General Leslie Groves contributed a foreword, dated August 1945. The report was released to the press on August 12, 1945, shortly after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
A testament to its historical importance, the Smyth report is in “very good to fine” condition, as attested by the auction house. As of now, the bidding has surpassed expectations, with the current highest bid standing at an impressive $35,433. The auction concludes on March 14, offering history enthusiasts a rare chance to own a piece of the Manhattan Project’s legacy.
Stay tuned as the race to secure this unique piece of history intensifies, and visit RR Auction to witness the culmination of this exceptional auction.
