Profiles in Science Fiction History
30. Apr, 2009 
5 Comments
Everyone else is talking up the Ackerauction over at Profiles in History.? I’ve signed up (tho I doubt I can afford to even offer an opening bid on anything…)
AND I HOPE THAT SOME WELL-INTENTIONED FAN BIDS ON AND WINS THE FIRST EVER HUGO AWARD
Some very cool stuff in there – SF porn even – but my favorite is this:
Forrest J Ackerman (as a boy) reading the very first issue of Amazing Stories.
So, so very much came to all of us as a result of the meeting pictured above – it’s like having a cave drawing of Og striking the first spark ever in the history of mankind!
I saw a copy of an e-mail from the fellow who bought the lot with Forry’s Retro Hugo in it. Sounded like he thought he acquired a Hugo given in 1946. Which, of course, he didn’t. Nor was Forry’s first Hugo (1953 vintage) in any of the lots that went to auction.
Thanks for the historical pointers Kevin.
I still think that it would be a nice thing if all of 4E’s Hugos were made accessible to “fandom” following the auction.
And on a related note – is it too early to suggest that one of the fan-oriented Hugos be renamed as the 4SJ award or some such?
If you’re talking about lot 700 (page 184), the “very first Hugo Award” entry is wrong, assuming it’s supposed to be in that picture. The Hugo trophy pictured there is one of Forry’s two 1946 Retro-Hugos. This is less critical to preserve than his first Hugo, because we already have copies in the Permanent Exhibit, consistent with current practice of committees making extras for display purposes.
I have no idea what lot 702 means by “first Italian Hugo Award,” unless it’s like lot 704 that talks of “Japanese Hugo Award” which is presumably a Seiun.
I cannot find a 1953 Hugo Award anywhere in the catalog. I hope this means the trophy has been preserved elsewhere. I’d like to see it put into the Permanent Hugo Exhibit, personally.