Pushing Boundaries: Ingenuity from the Paul G. Allen Collection

Pushing Boundaries: Ingenuity from the Paul G. Allen Collection tells the story of science and technology from pre-history to the present day through nearly 40 inspirational documents and objects. The majority of lots date from the 20th century, reflecting Mr. Allen’s most personal passions and serving as a testament to the rapid pace of technological innovation in living memory. The sale is led by Einstein’s letter to President Roosevelt which propelled the US into the nuclear age, and illustrates the significant impact that advances in science and technology have on our society. In addition, the sale offers the opportunity to acquire rare objects that honor the human drive to explore—such as a 16th century illuminated portolan chart, acclaimed oceanographer Jacques Cousteau’s pitch-book for the popular TV series ‘The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau’, and crucial artifacts from the Space Race, including astronaut Ed White’s spacesuit cover layer, the pilot’s in-flight logbook from Apollo 8—the first human spaceflight to reach the moon, and a  flown and annotated checklist from the first American spacewalk in June 1965, among many others.