Property originally owned by Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Born Douglas Elton Ulman on December 9th of 1909, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. was the son of Mary Sully, a cotton heiress, and Douglas Fairbanks, the silent film era swashbuckling idol. Though he never intended to be an actor, the role came naturally to him. He was signed by Paramount Pictures at the age of 13 and appeared in over 100 films throughout his prolific career. He was mentored by Charlie Chaplin who encouraged his fledgling talent and remained friends with the great thespians Sir Laurence Olivier and Sir Richard Harrison. His career advanced with his relationship and marriage to the young starlet Lucille Le Sueur, better known as Joan Crawford. Married in 1929, they became the "it" couple of Hollywood. They divorced four years later as their interests grew apart and she was reported to have had an affair with Clark Gable. Fairbanks later married Mary Lee Hartford, former wife of Huntington Hartford, heir to the Great Atlantic and pacific Tea Company. They remained together until her death in 1988, and had three daughters: Daphne, Victoria, and Melissa. In 1991, he married for the third time to Vera Lee Shelton who workd for the QVC Network and they remained together for the rest of his life. His film credits include but are in no way limited to: Catherine the Great, Gunga Din, Little Caesar, Prisoner of Zenda, Sinbad the Sailor, Scarlet Dawn, The Rage of Paris and Ghost Story. He made many television appearances and hosted his own anthology series from 1953 until 1957 entitled "Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Presents". The actor's star can be seen at three places on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for motion pictures, radio and television. In addition to his numerous film, television and stage credits, Fairbanks, never one to sit idly by, became involved in varied businesses as well as practicing in the arts of painting and sculpting. He also gained many honors through his military service. He was an officer for the United States, commissioned by the President himself, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He was the President's special envoy for a Special Mission to South America in 1940 before becoming a lieutenant in the Navy and was later promoted to the rank of captain in 1954. While in service he was awarded the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit with V for Valor, the British Distinguished Service Cross, the French Legion of Honor and the Croix de Guerre with Palm. During World War II he also headed London's Douglas Voluntary Hospital, an establishment taking care of war refugee, and remained a devoted Anglophile his entire life. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and often entertained her and Prince Philip while in London. The Queen actually created an honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1949. Fairbanks died in 2000 in New York City at the age of 90. He is buried with his father in the famed Hollywood Forever Cemetery. His remarkable life remains a legend to this day, exhibited in a small part by the coverage of his passing on the front page of the London Times.

PATEK PHILIPPE. A RARE 18K GOLD CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH

SIGNED PATEK PHILIPPE & CO., GENEVE, MOVEMENT NO. 863690, CASE NO. 642408, REF. 130, MANUFACTURED IN 1945

Details

PATEK PHILIPPE. A RARE 18K GOLD CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH
SIGNED PATEK PHILIPPE & CO., GENEVE, MOVEMENT NO. 863690, CASE NO. 642408, REF. 130, MANUFACTURED IN 1945
Cal. 13 nickel-finished lever movement, 23 jewels, silvered matte dial, applied gold Breguet numerals, two subsdiary dials for 30 minute register and constanT seconds, outer ring calibrated for tachometer, circular case, fixed lugs, the back inscribed Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Christmas, 1945, case, dial and movement signed
33mm diam.

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Lot Essay

With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with engraved back in 1945 and its subsequent sale on June 6th of the following year.

Patek Philippe produced the reference 130 with simple chronograph from 1934 until approximately 1964. The present example further impresses with its desirable provenance.

The reference 130 is illustrated in Patek Philippe in America, Reference Guide by J. Reardon, Vol. 1, p. 37.

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