Doyle New York has announced an auction of property from the estate of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. on Sept. 13. The sale will offer more than 430 lots of memorabilia, custom made clothing, accessories, photographs, books, silver, furniture, artwork and decorations from Fairbanks’ Park Avenue home.
Included in the sale are a monogrammed Patek Philippe wristwatch, Tiffany cigarette case and lighter, and signed photographs of his former wife Joan Crawford and President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Born into Hollywood royalty, his father was the legendary film star Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. and his stepmother was "America’s Sweetheart" Mary Pickford – Douglas, Jr. entered the film world at age 13 and starred in such films as Morning Glory, Prisoner of Zenda and Gunga Din.
After the onset of World War II, Fairbanks was appointed by President Roosevelt as special envoy to South America, where he gathered intelligence about Germany’s activity there. Later, as part of an officer exchange program directed by Lord Louis Mountbatten, he trained with the Royal Navy, with a stint at the Commando Training School at Ancharry Castle, Scotland. Mountbatten forged a close friendship Douglas Jr.’s father, and had requested his assignment to the program. The two men’s lifelong friendship would ultimately extend to the entire Royal family.
Fairbanks returned home in 1943, and with the U.S. Navy, he played a role in establishing the Beach Jumper program, which specialized in naval deception and disinformation. After the war, he was the first director of C.A.R.E., which helped provide much needed food and supplies to a war torn Europe.
Fairbanks spent his later years acting in stage, film and television productions, traveling often to his beloved England and to Palm Beach.
The properties will be exhibited Sept 9-Sept 12 at Doyle New York, 175 E. 87th St. (212) 427-2730.
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