Pawn Stars: Top 7 Super Secret Government Document Sales

Pawn Stars・2 minutes read

A collection of historical documents, including counterfeit WWII IDs and letters from Winston Churchill and Lindbergh kidnapping evidence, is evaluated and potentially sold at a pawn shop. The authenticity and value of each item are assessed by experts, with negotiations for sale ranging from $100 to $11,000, reflecting the interest and significance of these historical artifacts.

Insights

  • The OSS, a precursor to the CIA, was formed during WWII by Franklin D. Roosevelt and William Donovan, disbanded post-war by Truman, leading to the CIA's creation, indicating a significant shift in intelligence operations.
  • The documents found at the yard sale, including counterfeit German IDs and historical military papers, hold varying values, with expert authentication crucial in determining authenticity and worth, showcasing the importance of expertise in assessing historical artifacts.

Get key ideas from YouTube videos. It’s free

Recent questions

  • Are the OSS documents authentic?

    Yes

  • What is the value of the Churchill letter?

    $1,500 to $2,000

  • What do the Lindbergh case documents include?

    Ransom notes and kidnapper's house nails

  • What is the significance of the Revolutionary War officer's commission?

    Historical and valued at around $1,000

Related videos

Summary

00:00

Nazi spy documents: OSS, CIA, authenticity debated.

  • Counterfeit documents confiscated from a Nazi spy during World War II, allegedly from the OSS, inherited from the seller's grandfather, a WWII collector.
  • The OSS, precursor to the CIA, was created by Franklin D. Roosevelt and William Donovan during WWII, disbanded post-war by Truman, leading to the formation of the CIA.
  • The documents are possibly counterfeit German items, created to make spies appear legitimate, with a negotiation for sale starting at $8,000.
  • CIA authentication expert confirms the documents as counterfeit German IDs, possibly captured from German spies by the OSS.
  • Military documents signed by various presidents, detailing the career of soldier Lorenzo W. Cook, with a potential value of $10,000 due to the unique collection.
  • CIA authentication reveals one signature as a stamp, while the rest are authentic, increasing the collection's value to around $10,000.
  • Historical document related to the development of the atomic bomb by scientist Carol Loopsy, valued at $1,100 but negotiated down to $100.
  • Pentagon daily reports from the 1970s, covering Vietnam, Olympics, and terrorism, potentially valuable due to their content and origin from the Pentagon.
  • The documents feature Lieutenant Colonel Morgan's name on each page, raising concerns about their legality and ownership.

15:37

Historical Documents Shed Light on Past

  • The documents found at a yard sale are daily reports from the Federal Broadcast Information Service, detailing political information from foreign markets during the 1972 election.
  • These reports were used by the Psychological Operations Division at the Pentagon to influence public opinion positively towards the United States, particularly during the Vietnam War.
  • The documents are not classified and are legal to own, as they were public radio and television intercepts translated by the FBI.
  • The expert confirms the authenticity of a letter signed by Winston Churchill, declining to write a foreword for a book, estimating its value at $1,500 to $2,000.
  • The letter is on Churchill's personal stationery, with a flowing signature indicating it is genuine.
  • The letter discusses General Mark Clark's book "Calculated Risk," showing Churchill's refusal to write an introduction.
  • The pawn shop owner negotiates the sale of the Churchill letter for $800, considering its historical significance.
  • A collection of Lindbergh kidnapping case documents includes original ransom notes and nails from the kidnapper's house, suggesting a frame-up of Bruno Hauptmann.
  • The Lindbergh case evidence is deemed authentic by a museum administrator, highlighting the significance of Leon Hoys' involvement in the investigation.
  • The museum administrator acknowledges the historical importance of the Lindbergh case documents and expresses interest in determining Hauptmann's guilt or innocence based on the evidence.

30:39

"Unsolved Case Sparks Interest, Historical Document Sold"

  • The text discusses the innocence of Bruno Hauptmann in a case involving a ransom of $13,000, with various conspiracy theories and books published over the years trying to identify the true culprit.
  • A collector expresses interest in purchasing the material related to the case, but the seller is unsure of its value and eventually declines an offer of $11,000.
  • Another individual brings in a Revolutionary War officer's commission from 1778 to a pawn shop, where an expert identifies the document's historical significance and suggests it could fetch around $1,000 at auction.
  • After negotiation, the seller agrees to sell the commission for $350, having originally purchased it for $10, marking a successful transaction.
Channel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatar

Try it yourself — It’s free.