NEW YORK (AP) — A letter that scientist Francis Crick wrote to his son about his Nobel Prize winning DNA discovery has been sold at a New York City auction for more than $5 million.
Christie’s auction house says the purchase was made by an anonymous buyer Wednesday. The price is more than $6 million when the commission is included. The pre-sale estimate was $1 million.
In the letter to his 12-year-old son, Crick describes his discovery of DNA’s structure as something “beautiful.”
A different sale, on Thursday, will feature the 1962 medal that Crick won.
It’s rare for a Nobel medal to come up at public auction. Heritage Auctions estimates that could bring at least $500,000.
Heirs of the molecular biologist are selling his possessions, in part, to benefit scientific research.
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Online:
Heritage Auctions: http://www.ha.com
Christie’s: http://www.christies.com
