Incredible Finds: Mao Zedong’s Signed Menu Sells for Hefty Sum at Auction

A remarkable piece of history has recently found a new home, purchased by a fortunate buyer at the Boston-based RR Auction. This item wasn’t your run-of-the-mill artifact, it was a menu personally signed by the former Chinese leader, Mao Zedong, as well as several other influential Chinese statesmen.

The menu in question originated from a state banquet held in Beijing way back in 1956, and it fetched an impressive $275,000 (€255,500) at the auction. But this was no ordinary banquet – it marked the very first state visit of Prime Minister Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy of Pakistan to China.

What made the menu truly extraordinary was not just the prestigious occasion it honoured, but also the signatures of Mao Zedong and six other influential Chinese statesmen, including Premier Zhou Enlai. The banquet itself featured a magnificent array of dishes from both countries, including “Consommé of Swallow Nest and White Agaric,” “Shark’s Fin in Brown Sauce,” and “Roast Peking Duck.”

Bobby Livingston, the executive vice president at RR Auction, captured the sentiment perfectly, saying that holding a menu signed by Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai was akin to holding onto a piece of the past. He emphasized the historical and cultural importance of the menu, expressing that it tells a story of diplomatic engagement, cultural exchange, and enduring friendships that have lasted through the ages.

The auction didn’t just offer this extraordinary menu – it also presented a range of other remarkable items that fetched staggering prices. This included a fully operational World War II-era Enigma cipher machine, which sold for an impressive $206,253 (€191,600). Not to mention a check signed by the late Steve Jobs and a document signed by Thomas Edison for the Light Bulb patent, each selling for substantial sums.

But the collection of items up for grabs didn’t stop there. The auction also included a signed letter from Joseph Stalin, a signed endorsement by Benjamin Franklin, and even a check signed by RadioShack.

These items were not just artifacts of historical significance; they were pieces that told stories of a bygone era. Each one provided a unique glimpse into the lives and legacies of these iconic figures, making them more than just valuable collectibles.

The auction was not just a simple sale of items; it was a journey through time, brimming with remarkable pieces that brought history back to life. Each item sold was a treasure trove of history, a story waiting to be unravelled, and a piece of the past waiting to be reimagined.