August 2014 Auction Ends Thursday, August 28th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/28/2014
Excellent Clyde Tombaugh autograph letter signed and initialed ''CWT'', dated 27 June 1980 and written on a photocopy of a page from the book ''The Solar System Vol. III'' to which Tombaugh contributed. Letter reads: ''Dear Mr. Robinette: Thank you for your kind remarks. It was the amount of shift in the six-day interval that told me instantly that the object was nearly a billion miles beyond Neptune's orbit. It was a tremendous thrill. -- CWT.'' He then draws an arrow to the title of the book to refer Robinette to further information: ''From Chapter two of [''The Solar System''] / See this (in some university library) for a detailed account of my extensive planet search and discovery of the 9th planet, Pluto. I am the author of Chapter 1 in Vol. III. I was born 4 Feb 1906 on a farm near Streator, Illinois, about 100 miles SW of Chicago. I do not believe anything in Astrology. Since the beginning of this occult pseudo-science, the Zodiacal signs have shifted westward by almost two sign-widths from the constellations of stars with the same names -- due to the Precession of the Earth's Equinoxes. Period=25,800 years. It is amazing that gullible people will pay money for such worthless bunk.'' Signed ''Clyde W. Tombaugh''. Letter, measuring 8.5'' x 11'' on one page, has two folds from mailing, else fine condition. Includes original postmarked envelope with Tombaugh's return address in Mesilla Park, New Mexico.
Astronomer Clyde Tombaugh Autograph Letter Twice-Signed -- ''...I do not believe anything in Astrology...gullible people will pay money for such worthless bunk...''
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