NEW DELHI: A watch that melted during the
atomic bombing
of Hiroshima in 1945 has been sold for over $31,000 at an
auction
in Boston.
The watch, frozen in time at 8.15 am when the bomb was detonated, was recovered from the ruins of Hiroshima and sold alongside other historically significant artifacts, according to Boston-based RR Auction.
Despite the blast's impact, the small brass-tone watch's hands remained halted at the exact moment the B-29 Enola Gay dropped the "Little Boy" atomic bomb.
The auction house revealed that a British soldier, while on a mission to offer emergency aid and assess reconstruction needs in Hiroshima, found the wristwatch at the Prefectural Promotion Hall.
"It is our fervent hope that this museum-quality piece will stand as a poignant educational symbol, serving to not only remind us of the tolls of war but also to underscore the profound, destructive capabilities that humanity must strive to avoid," said Bobby Livingston, executive vice president at RR Auction.
"This wristwatch, for instance, marks the exact moment in time when history changed forever."
According to several reports, the winning bidder chose to remain anonymous.
Other items featured in the auction included a signed copy of former Chinese leader Mao Zedong's "The Little Red Book," which sold for $250,000 , a signed cheque from George Washington and Buzz Aldrin's Apollo 11 Lunar Module Prep Checklist, which sold for $76,533, according to RR Auction.
(with input from agency)
English (US) ·