Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 12-12-2007 07:10 PM
Bonhams's December 4 Books and Manuscripts auction held in New York included Wernher von Braun's doctoral dissertation, Design, Theoretical and Experimental Contributions to the Problem of the Liquid-Fuel Rocket:
quote:The German military considered the dissertation so instrumental that the work was given a cover name "Regarding Combustion Experiments," which was to appear in any graduation publications and on Von Braun's diploma. After passing his dissertation defense, the original typescript was secured by the military, as it was considered too dangerous to remain within the university archives.
Pre-auction estimates said the document would sell for $30,000. They were close:
quote:An interesting 166-page document in German written by Dr. Wernher von Braun as his doctoral dissertation in 1934 brought heated bidding... These papers sold above estimate, bringing $33,000.