Hitler Souvenir Anyone?

From the New Zealand Herald (May 14, 2004):

What's in a name? Quite a lot of cash, if the name is Adolf Hitler.

Neil Duff from the Hibiscus Coast souvenired two items from the German dictator's bomb-shattered Berlin office in 1945. They were auctioned in Auckland yesterday by Dunbar Sloane.

One was a religious text book bearing his own "ex libris" bookplate, the other a typed thank-you card carrying his signature.

A private collector in the South Island bought the book for $8500. Its estimated selling price was $1200.

The book, God's Work and Luther's Teaching, was given to Hitler in 1933 by a Lutheran pastor who wrote a dedication.

The card - its estimated selling price was $3000 - went for $6500.

A printed card probably produced in bulk, it reads: "I express to you my sincere thanks for your greetings on the occasion of my birthday. They have afforded me great happiness."

Dunbar Sloane jnr said the auction house had taken no steps to authenticate the signature and had advertised the lot as "buyer beware".

The buyer, who made his bid by post, will not talk. He apparently has a sizeable collection of military memorabilia and does not want to publicise the fact.