The 20-month old son of noted aviator Charles Lindbergh was kidnapped on March 1, 1932 and found dead over two months later on May 12, 1932. Bruno Richard Hauptmann was arrested for the crime and his trial lasted from January 2 to February 3, 1935. Found guilty of the crime, Hauptmann was put to death April 3, 1936.
At the young age of four years old, future children’s author Maurice Sendak became aware of the kidnapping, having seen the gruesome front page photo of the baby’s remains on the first edition of the Daily News newspaper. This left a lasting imprint on the cartoonist and storyteller, leading to a lifelong concern over the vulnerability of children and a lasting fascination with the Lindbergh case.
Sendak's worry as a young child that he too might be kidnapped manifested itself in his 1981 book Outside Over There, which told the story of a young girl who rescues her baby sister who had been kidnapped by goblins. Sendak paid homage to the famous ladder used in the Lindbergh baby kidnapping in the opening pages of Outside Over There with a similar ladder being carried and used by the story’s goblin characters.
Through his friendship with Sendak, Hake’s Americana & Collectibles founder Ted Hake learned Sendak had been collecting items related to the trial. During a June 1981 visit, Sendak explained that Outside Over There was inspired by his childhood fear of being kidnapped like the son of Charles Lindbergh.
Sendak related that he was too young to understand that kidnapping poor, unknown children from the streets of Brooklyn, New York wasn’t a profitable venture for any criminal. However, his obsession only deepened with the sensationalism surrounding the 1935 trial. In fact, Sendak told Hake during his visit that one of his most wanted items was one of the miniature wooden ladders created and sold by an enterprising Flemington, New Jersey local to trial visitors looking for a souvenir.
It took Hake nearly 30 years, but Sendak got his ladder in 2009.
When Sendak passed away at the age of 83 in 2012, part of his vast collection was entrusted to Hake’s Americana & Collectibles. In their most recent auctions, Hake’s has found great success with items from the Sendak Collection, something that is sure to continue in the current auction, where in addition to Sendak’s impressive Disney Collection, Hake’s is also offering items he collected in relation to the Lindbergh Trial.
These items include the aforementioned souvenir ladder (the only example Hake’s has seen in our 48 years), news service photos used in the publishing of the 1974 book Scapegoat: The Lonesome Death Of Bruno Richard Hauptmann by Anthony Scaduto, a rare Wanted poster relating to the search for the Lindbergh child, reward fliers with examples of the handwriting from the ransom note, Sheriff’s pass for Hauptmann Trial admittance and a Press ribbon badge featuring an image of the Lindbergh Baby. This press ribbon badge is very rare and the only known example in existence.
Hake’s Americana & Collectibles Auction #211 is now online with another staggering selection of more than 200 collecting categories represented. This auction is comprised of nearly 3,000 items and will close on Tuesday, March 18, and Thursday, March 20, 2014. For additional information, contact Hake’s by phone at (866) 404-9800 or by email at hakes@hakes.com.
And be sure to check out Hake’s Facebook page for updates and sneak peeks!
