Atomic bomb report signed by Oppenheimer being auctioned off

By Dean Murray via SWNS

An atomic bomb report written weeks before the bombing of Japan and signed by Robert Oppenheimer is to be auctioned.

The historic document detailing the development of the atomic bomb, penned in 1945, is set to go under the hammer at the Boston-based RR Auction. It is estimated to fetch over $20,000.

The United States dropped an atomic bomb city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, with the second dropped on Nagasaki on 9 August. These bombings led to Japan's surrender and the end of World War II.

The report, written prior to the testing of the first bomb at the Alamogordo 'Trinity' test site, has a preface by the author, American physicist Henry D. Smyth, dated July 1, 1945.

RR Auction says: "What makes this document truly extraordinary is not only its content but also the signatures adorning its cover—24 of the most eminent minds behind the Manhattan Project, including luminaries such as J. Robert Oppenheimer, Enrico Fermi, Ernest Lawrence, James Chadwick, Harold Urey, and Isidor I. Rabi."

Titled "Atomic Bombs: A General Account of the Development of Methods of Using Atomic Energy for Military Purposes Under the Auspices of the United States Government, 1940-1945," the report serves as a comprehensive overview of the scientific and administrative journey leading to the creation of one of humanity's most formidable weapons.

Of particular significance are the signatures gracing the cover, obtained by Nellie V. Sanderson, Gen. Leslie Groves' War Department secretary. These distinguished individuals were approached during their visits to Groves, adding a personal touch to this historic document.

Among the notable signatories are Enrico Fermi, renowned for creating the world's first nuclear reactor; J. Robert Oppenheimer, the visionary physicist who directed the Los Alamos Laboratory; Ernest Lawrence, Nobel laureate and pioneer of the cyclotron; James Chadwick, discoverer of the neutron; and Harold Urey, a Nobel Prize recipient and expert in isotope separation.

Also included in this esteemed list are Richard C. Tolman, John H. Manley, Samuel T. Arnold, Gen. Kenneth D. Nichols, Robert F. Bacher, Adm. William R. Purnell, Adm. William S. Parsons, Samuel K. Allison, Adm. Frederick L. Ashworth, Gen. Thomas F. Farrell, Col. Elmer E. Kirkpatrick, William Shurcliff, Col. Franklin T. Matthias, Isidor I. Rabi, James B. Conant, George L. Harrison, and Stafford L. Warren, each contributing significantly to the project's success.

Oppenheimer's contributions extend beyond the pages of history, with the events immortalized in Christopher Nolan's 2023 film 'Oppenheimer.' The movie has garnered widespread acclaim during this year's awards season, with nominations at the Oscars and various prestigious film awards.

The auction, part of RR Auction's Fine Autograph and Artifacts event, will conclude on March 13.