Stephen Hawking's wheelchair, thesis for sale

[Still Waters 38,848]

Stephen Hawking was a cosmic visionary, a figure of inspiration and a global celebrity.

His unique status is reflected in an upcoming auction of some of the late physicist's possessions: It includes complex scientific papers, one of the world's most iconic wheelchairs and a script from "The Simpsons."

The online sale announced Monday by auctioneer Christie's features 22 items from Hawking, including his doctoral thesis on the origins of the universe, some of his many awards, and scientific papers such as "Spectrum of Wormholes" and "Fundamental Breakdown of Physics in Gravitational Collapse."

Thomas Venning, head of books and manuscripts at Christie's, said the papers "trace the development of his thought—this brilliant, electrifying intelligence."

https://phys.org/news/2018-10-stephen-hawking-wheelchair-thesis-sale.html

https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/hawking-christies-auction-intl/index.html

[AllPossible 380]

Interesting, I was actually looking for a new set of wheels

Edited October 22, 2018 by AllPossible

[Still Waters 38,848]

Quote

His wheelchair will be the last lot, with all proceeds going to the Stephen Hawking Foundation and the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-45944106

 

[Kittens Are Jerks 5,689]

I always have mixed feelings about such auctions. It would be nice if certain things were simply placed in a museum where everyone could have an opportunity to see them and learn more about the person and their life. At the same time, I can't object when an important cause benefits from the sale.

[Hankenhunter 2,433]

I aint buying the Stephen's chair till Howard Wolliwitz returns all the spare parts. 

Hank

/Still missing you Mr. Hawkins. Rest in peace genius guy.

[Aardvark-DK 255]

Should have been donated to a museum, not sold for profil....

[Almighty Evan 190]

6 hours ago, Aardvark-DK said:

Should have been donated to a museum, not sold for profit....

I was thinking this would be an ideal item for the Smithsonian, and just noticed people have been discussing exactly that since March:

 

[paperdyer 1,587]

12 hours ago, Aardvark-DK said:

Should have been donated to a museum, not sold for profil....

Maybe a museum will buy it or the buyer will donate it and get a double tax deduction it he has a good consultant.

[Eldorado 36,715]

A wheelchair used by the late Professor Stephen Hawking and a copy of his doctoral thesis have fetched almost £1m between them at auction.

The motorised chair - which had a pre-sale estimate of £15,000 - went for a whopping £296,750, with the proceeds donated to his foundation and the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

His 1965 Cambridge University thesis - Properties of Expanding Universes - attracted even bigger bids and eventually sold for £584,750.

Full report: https://news.sky.com/story/stephen-hawkings-wheelchair-and-thesis-sold-at-auction-11548690

(About 20 of the late professor's items - including a script for The Simpsons - were auctioned)