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Hawking's thesis, wheelchair to be auctioned by Christie's
Online bids for the late Professor Stephen Hawking's 22 items being sold can be placed between Oct. 31 and Nov. 8.
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Stephen Hawking is pictured during a visit to Cape Finisterre, some 90-kilometers from Santiago, northwestern Spain, on Sept. 25, 2008. (AFP/Miguel Riopa)
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signed copy of Stephen Hawking's PhD thesis will be sold at an auction along with other personal items at Christie’s "On the Shoulders of Giants" online sale.
The thesis, which was written by Hawking in 1965 and caused Cambridge University’s website to crash when it was first published online, is only one of 22 items of Hawking’s being sold by Christie’s.
Hawking’s daughter was quoted by BBC as having said that Christie’s was helping the late physicist’s family manage his “unique and precious collection of personal and professional belongings.”
Online bids for the 22 items being sold can be placed between Oct. 31 and Nov. 8.
Lucy also said that through the auction, people would be able to “acquire a memento of our father’s extraordinary life.”
Read also: Stephen Hawking: a brief history of genius
Other items, including medals, awards, scientific papers, the script for one of Hawking’s appearances on The Simpsons, a wheelchair and a book bearing Hawking’s thumbprint as a signature are also being auctioned.
His wheelchair will be the last lot to be under the hammer and all proceeds will be put into the Stephen Hawking Foundation and Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Hawking had been Britain’s most famous modern day scientist and a genius who dedicated his life to unlocking the secrets of the universe.
“We hope to be able to offer our father’s archive to the nation through the Acceptance in Lieu process as we feel it is a huge part of his legacy but also of the history of science in this country.” Lucy added, referring to a scheme that allowed those who were liable for inheritance tax to pay it with heritage property.
Hawking, who was a famous Cambridge theoretical physicist and known for his extensive research into the structural makeup of black holes and quantum research, passed away on March 14, aged 76. (acr/kes)
