Thesis signed by Hawking, auction of a wheelchair in London

London (AFP) – A copy of Stephen Hawking's doctoral thesis, signed with a trembling hand, was unveiled on Tuesday, constituting the highlight of the British Physicist's new personal effects auction in London .

One of Hawking's wheelchairs, one of the first editions of his best-selling book "A Brief History of Time" marked with an inch footprint, as well as the scenario of the first one. one of his appearances in the television series "The Simpsons" are also among the 22 lots on sale at Christie's Auction House.

The collection highlights the genius, determination and sense of humor of Hawking, who died in March at the age of 76 after spending all his life trying to break through the secrets of the world. ;universe.

Hawking published his thesis in 1965, two years after the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a form of motor neuron disease that would eventually leave him paralyzed.

His first wife, Jane, typed the 117 pages, but he added two handwritten signatures and the words "This thesis is my original work" at first, as well as several mathematical equations inside.

The copy, one of the five originals of the thesis titled "Expanding Universe Properties", constitutes the auction's most expensive product, valued between £ 100,000 and £ 150,000 (128,000 – $ 191,000, 112,000-168,000 euros).

When the document was put online last year by the University of Cambridge, where Hawking spent his career, it was so popular that the website collapsed.

Another highlight of the auction is a red leather wheelchair used by Hawking from the late '80s to the mid-'90s, driving himself a joystick priced at £ 10,000 to £ 15,000.

"He was known to be a very dangerous driver and he crashed against Prince Charles," said AFP Thomas Venning, head of Christie's books and manuscripts.

– Feast of the time traveler –

He noted that the items offered for sale by the family revealed "the progression of his illness but also the way he overcame it".

"This goes from some of his really important science to fun things that reflect his bizarre personality," he said.

Hawking has his own copies of some of his most important scientific papers, including his seminal works of 1974 that predicted black holes to release radiation estimated at between £ 3,000 and £ 5,000.

But there is also an invitation that he sent to a party held several years ago, a fun experiment to see if time travelers would arrive. The price is between £ 100 and £ 150.

While Hawking's health condition was deteriorating, he could no longer write and a copy of "A Brief History of Time" dating back to 1988, priced at £ 2,000 to £ 3,000, is marked with "no damage". a fingerprint on the inside page.

The auction also contains a 2009 production script for "The Simpsons", the American hit series in which Hawking has appeared several times, estimated at between £ 2,000 and £ 3,000.

His lines, which he programmed into the computer he was talking to after losing his voice, are highlighted in yellow.

Venning said the auction has already attracted a lot of interest, which will take place online from October 31 to November 8.

"It was someone with whom people were connected around the world," he said.

"It will be a range of people (who will bid) but what they will have in common is a passion for science, and there will be people who will be inspired by Stephen Hawking's story."

Other items include medals and awards, as well as an aviator jacket that Hawking wore in a 2016 documentary.

The items are only a small selection from Hawking's archives, which his family gives to the nation instead of paying the estate tax, although there is still no details about the location where they will be stored.

Proceeds from the auction will go to the family, although money raised from the sale of the wheelchair will be donated to the Motor Neurone Disease Association and the Stephen Hawking Foundation.