Important Howard Hughes Artifacts to be Offered at Heritage!

DALLAS, TEXAS: Heritage-Slater Americana (HSA) will offer an important, selection of material belonging to billionaire industrialist and infamous recluse Howard Hughes in their upcoming Political Memorabilia & Americana Auction, to be held June 22 & 23, 2005 in Dallas, Texas.

"Offered here is a fabulous collection of Hughes memorabilia," said Tom Slater, Director of HSA, "most of it dating from the 1930s through the 1960s, before the adventurous aviator and billionaire businessman became the bizarre and obsessive recluse who died under mysterious circumstances."

"One of the choice photographs that we're offering," Slater said, "is a piece commemorating Hughes' round-the-world flight, which he completed on July 14, 1938, setting a new record for transcontinental flight. This photograph of Hughes and his flight crew is signed by all of them, and is a rare and desirable piece of memorabilia commemorating this exciting event. This piece will be especially exciting to fans of the recent Hughes biopic, The Aviator."

"Another interesting lot is the collection of telegrams exchanged between Howard Hughes and Katherine Hepburn during their two-year affair," Slater added. "Ranging in date from 1937 into 1939, this will be of interest to fans, as their relationship was supposed to have ended in 1938. There are several telegrams from 1939 in this lot, however, that might make historians reconsider that assumption. Making this lot even more exciting are two manuscript telegram drafts in Hepburn's own hand. This is a unique look into a very personal and intimate relationship."

"Perhaps the most spectacular item in this collection," Slater added, "is the 14-carat rectangular-cut Emerald ring, surrounded by 5-carats of cut diamonds, that Hughes gave to Terry Moore as a gift. It's believed that Hughes married Terry Moore in a secret ceremony in international waters off the coast of Mexico in 1949 - and never divorced her - although this has never been confirmed. What we do know is that the Hughes estate reached a settlement, for an undisclosed amount, with Moore in 1984. Whatever the legalities of their relationship, there's no doubt that this was more than a simple friendship. As an added bonus, this ring is accompanied by an audio CD, bearing a five-minute recording of Hughes and Moore discussing this very ring! Truly, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

"There's no doubt that Hughes was one of the most interesting and intriguing figures of the 20th-century," Slater concluded. "This archive of Hughes artifacts is a rare opportunity to peek behind the curtain and get a glimpse inside the mind of this complex and evocative figure."

The 1938 photograph bears a pre-auction estimate of $12,000-$15,000; the Hughes/Hepburn telegraphs are estimated at $25,000-$35,000; the 14-carat Emerald and diamond ring has a pre-auction estimate of $80,000-$100,000.

For more information about Heritage-Slater Americana auctions, and a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit HeritageAmericana.com. Heritage-Slater Americana is headquartered at 3500 Maple Avenue, Dallas, Texas, 75219-3941.

Potential consignors are invited to contact Tom Slater, TomS@HeritageGalleries.com, or by phone at 800-872-6467, ext. 441 or contact John Hickey at JohnH@HeritageGalleries.com, or by phone at 800-872-6467, ext. 264.