United Museum buys Edwards items
Manchester United Museum has purchased five of the items that belonged to England and United footballer Duncan Edwards at Graham Budd Auctions on Wednesday.
The auction of sports memorabilia included 42 items that were being sold by the daughters of Molly Leech – who was Edwards’ fiancée when he tragically died.
Among the items bought was the most thought-provoking item; his overnight bag that he had taken to Munich, which sold for £6,820. The Museum also bought two letters from the Dassler brothers, who founded adidas and Puma. The signed typescript letter from Adi Dassler, founder of adidas, dated 10 February 1958, reads: "Dear Mr Edwards, with our very best wishes for an early and entire recovery, we beg to hand you a little present, which we hope you will enjoy, yours very truly, Adi Dassler" fetched £2,232.
A signed typescript letter from Rudolf Dassler founder of Puma sportswear, dated 17 February 1958, signed by his son Armin A. Dassler, on behalf of his father 'Rudi' and wishing Duncan and his friends a quick recovery and happy return to their country, further stating "let's us hope and pray that you will soon regain your good condition. Please take some flowers as a sign of our hearty feelings towards you," realised £1,612.
A group of Manchester United weekly wages slips issued to Duncan Edwards in December 1957 and January 1958, detailing pay-days, other fees earned, gross pay, taxable pay, free pay and tax due to date, sold for £682. Interestingly, the largest weekly pay was for week number 37, 14 December 1957, where some additional 'talents fees' bumped up his weekly pay slip to £97, other weeks are more typically £19 to £28.
An original 1950s Daily Express news-stand poster advertising Henry Rose's feature article on Duncan Edwards of Manchester United and England was bought for £496.
Mark Wylie, Manchester United Museum curator, commented: “We already have a very good collection of items relating to Duncan’s career in our museum collection. We are delighted to have secured further unique and historic personal items owned by Duncan before his tragic death, and we are looking forward to displaying these in the Manchester United Museum at Old Trafford, helping us keep Duncan’s memory alive with each new generation of fans.”
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