Entertainment memorabilia and historical document auction house, Profiles in History, recently concluded their THE PROPERTY OF A DISTINGUISHED AMERICAN PRIVATE COLLECTOR PART II auction on May 31st, 2013.

The 247 lot auction consisted of many rare, autographed manuscripts, letters, and ephemera from literary, political, and entertainment fields. The sell rate of the auction was over 98% and the sales total with bp factored in was an impressive $3.07 million dollars.

A highly publicised letter written and signed by Marilyn Monroe in early 1960, (est at $30,000-$50,000) fetched $130,000 ($156,000 with bp). Other highlights noted below:

Lot #11: [Civil War – Union.] Fine group of (7) letters by important figures involved in the American Civil War on behalf of the Union. Est: $4,000-$6,000. Sold for $20,000.

Lot #104: Whitman, Walt. Autograph letter signed, 2 pages, (8.5 x 5.62 in.; 216 x 143 mm.), St. Louis, 4:12 pm, 2 January 1880, to John Burroughs, [Esopus-on-Hudson]. Est: $6,000-$8,000. Sold for $14,000.

Lot #145: Gandhi, Mohandas Karamchand. Typed letter signed, (“MK Gandhi”), in English, 1 page. Est: $4,000-$6,000. Sold for $16,000.

Lot #152: Marx, Karl. Autograph letter signed, in English, 1 page, (7 x 4.25 in.; 178 x 114 mm.), London, 2 June 1881. Est: $15,000-$25,000. Sold for $42,500.

Lot #161: Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. Autograph letter, in French, 2 pages, (7.75 x 6.5 in.; 197 x 165 mm.), Paris, 7 July 1770, to Madame [Louise-Rose], Comtesse de Benhier, née Rabaud de La Chaussade. Est: $6,000-$8,000. Sold for $25,000.

Lot #243: Monroe, Marilyn. Autograph letter signed (“Marilyn”), in pencil, 2 pages, (10.5 x 7.25 in.; 267 x 184 mm. Est: $30,000-$50,000. SOld for $130,000.