Sciences & Technology
In this letter, Champollion isn’t triumphant, he’s searching. From Abu Simbel’s hieroglyphs, he questions, deciphers, doubts. Ramses II, Ahmosis, Ergamenes: each name fuels his quest. A rare glimpse of a genius still learning, still passionate, still human.
History & Society
A rare 1893 prison letter by Charles Baïhaut, the only French official to confess in the Panama Canal corruption scandal. He defends his actions, denounces selective justice, and offers a unique firsthand view of one of France’s earliest political-financial crises.
Arts & Culture
This 1993 storyboard by James Hegedus captures two iconic Forrest Gump scenes, his mother’s parting wisdom and the famous “box of chocolates” moment. In them lies the film’s soul: life’s unpredictability met with grace, sincerity, and a mother’s lasting voice guiding Forrest’s journey.
Sports
In 1998, Pelé pens a candid letter blending surreal travel tales, critiques of post-Soviet chaos, and bold takes on Korean history, revealing the man behind the myth: curious, blunt, and unexpectedly political.
Sciences & Technology
In 1924, as Walter Chrysler launched the Chrysler Six, he paused to write his teenage son a warm, encouraging letter. Amid corporate ambition, this note reveals a father's quiet support at a pivotal moment, for both his company and his son’s future.
Arts & Culture
In June 1912, Monet, troubled by cataracts, painted fervently in Giverny and wrote a humble, emotional letter to Gustave Geffroy. Doubting his talent, he prioritized feeling over form. A touching postscript reveals his deep friendship with Georges Clemenceau.
Arts & Culture
In 2005, Paul McCartney wrote a heartfelt handwritten letter remembering John Lennon, his teenage friend, songwriting partner, and lifelong inspiration. Forgotten in an archive and found in 2017, it’s a rare and intimate glimpse into a friendship that shaped music history.
Explore real History through original letters and manuscripts, preserved, curated, and published weekly.
In this rare signed typescript, Einstein examines his decision to alert Roosevelt about the atomic bomb, expressing deep regret and reaffirming his pacifist beliefs. He ends by honoring Gandhi as a model of nonviolence and moral courage in the face of global destruction.
In a rare letter, Neil Armstrong thanks a teacher named Debbie and encourages her students, linking their pursuit of knowledge to the same spirit that took humans to the Moon—emphasizing that learning is both the key and the quest of human progress.
In a 1995 letter from Brazil, fugitive Ronnie Biggs candidly reflects on his role in the Great Train Robbery, admitting it was driven by greed. Stripped of bravado, his words reveal regret and offer a rare, personal glimpse into a notorious life lived in exile.
Apollo 16 astronaut Charles Duke penned a heartfelt note offering spiritual support to a friend, revealing his deep faith. Beyond his lunar legacy, this rare message shows the human side of a Moonwalker—compassionate, personal, and grounded in belief.
In 1904, Louis Lumière sent a handwritten postcard thanking a family for their portrait’s use—marking a turning point in visual culture. This rare item captures the birth of the photographic postcard and hints at the future of image sharing, a century before Instagram.
These original 1987 storyboards from Rain Man, signed by James Hegedus, capture a pivotal scene and helped shape a film that brought autism into public awareness. Rare and detailed, they reveal the emotional depth behind a cinematic milestone.
In 1850, Auguste-François Perrinon, a Black French abolitionist, penned a powerful plea celebrating freedom and denouncing slavery’s roots in ignorance and violence. His manuscript reflects the enduring fight for dignity and justice in post-abolition France.
Through 39 wartime letters to his sister, Captain Léon Rohlfs de Sussex shares his descent from Saint-Cyr cadet to a wounded, weary soul in the trenches of Verdun. His final note, written in pain, becomes a haunting witness to the human cost of World War I.
Taken in 1889, this rare albumen print captures one of the first images of the Eiffel Tower. More than a photo, it marks the dawn of modern Paris and the rise of a monument once scorned but now beloved worldwide.
This rare 1999 sketch, signed by Everest pioneer Edmund Hillary, echoes his legendary climb and lifelong dedication to the Sherpa people. One of only three known drawings, it reflects the quiet humility behind one of history’s greatest feats of endurance and generosity.
In 1972, Jean-Michel Cousteau demanded scientific integrity for a Sea Museum project, signaling the Cousteau family's early environmental activism. Their stance helped shape public ocean awareness—decades before marine preservation became a global cause.
In 1960, despite disliking autograph requests, actor Anthony Quinn made a rare exception for 16-year-old fan Kenneth Morris, signing a heartfelt reply. This small gesture captured a moment of connection and kindness amid Hollywood fame.