Oakland Auction Sells Famed Amelia Earhart Items

OAKLAND (KCBS) – Several items related to famed aviator Amelia Earhart were put on the auction block Sunday in Oakland.

The items recently came to the attention of Marcus Wardell of the Clars Auction Gallery in Oakland. He was first contacted by a woman, who found 18 photographs of Amelia Earhart after going through some of her mother's items spared in a fire.

KCBS' Anna Duckworth Reports:

Then, another woman came to one of the gallery's free appraisal Thursdays.

"This lady came in with Amelia Earhart's goggles," said Wardell. "Neta Snook, who taught Amelia Earhart to fly, gave them to this consigner of mine."

Wardell said Earhart and Snook often flew in the Bay Area, particularly in and out of Oakland Airport.

"She flew out of the Oakland Airport on her first attempt on circumnavigation on March 17, 1937 and that did not succeed," Wardell said.

Other items on the auction block included negatives sent from a man in Cleveland. His grandfather was a professional photographer.

There was also a letter from George Putnam, Amelia Earhart's husband.

The weekend auction featured approximately 2,000 lots and is expected to be one of the largest of the year at Clars.

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