BOSTON, MA.- A unique piece of 20th-century history is set to go under the hammer. Boston-based RR Auction has unveiled a treasure trove of autographs and artifacts for its annual Remarkable Rarities sale. One item, in particular, stands out among the one hundred extraordinary lots - a signed book that serves as a testament to the dawn of the atomic age, featuring the signatures of luminaries like Albert Einstein, J. Robert Oppenheimer, Niels Bohr, and a host of other Nobel Prize winners and nuclear researchers.

The "Atomic Energy in the Coming Era" by David Dietz, a sixth printing edition published in 1949 by Dodd, Mead & Company. The book, a hardcover with its original dust jacket, spans 184 pages and represents the intellectual and scientific revolution that shaped history. However, what truly makes this volume a priceless artifact is that it is adorned with the signatures of 49 visionaries, representing the who's who of 20th-century physics.

This extraordinary roster includes no less than 14 scientists who received the Nobel Prize in Physics or Chemistry for their monumental contributions to the field. These luminaries, alongside pioneering nuclear researchers, military personnel, and key Manhattan Project organizers, have left their indelible marks on the annals of history.

The significance of this signed book becomes even more apparent when one considers the weight of their achievements. Albert Einstein, for instance, needs no introduction, having famously kickstarted the American atomic bomb project with his historic 1939 letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Other luminaries include Robert Millikan, who determined the electron's charge; J. Robert Oppenheimer, who directed the atomic bomb project at Los Alamos; and Ernest O. Lawrence, the inventor of the cyclotron used in Los Alamos.

The Manhattan Project, a top-secret wartime initiative that led to the development of the atomic bomb during World War II, had its key figures represented in this historic tome. Notable names like Leslie R. Groves, the head of the Manhattan Project, and Vannevar Bush, a key figure in its establishment, have left their marks on the book's pages.

The book also contains signatures from individuals involved in every facet of the atomic bomb's development. From those who worked on isotope separation leading to U-235, like Harold Urey, to those who played pivotal roles in the bomb's actual deployment, such as Carl Spaatz, who directed the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Author David Dietz initially inscribed the book to Kenneth E. Crouch, an accomplished autograph collector, newspaperman, and historian. Subsequently, Crouch is thought to have actively pursued and collected the additional signatures. The book has remained in the current consigner's collection for approximately 15 years, marking what is believed to be its debut appearance at auction.

"These autographs are like pieces of a puzzle, each telling a unique story within the larger narrative of the Manhattan Project. Together, they create a vivid picture of a defining moment in human history," said Bobby Livingston, Executive VP at RR Auction.

In the words of philosopher Bertrand Russell, "From the scientific point of view, the atomic bomb embodies the results of a combination of genius and patience as remarkable as any in the history of mankind." This extraordinary compilation of autographs bears witness to the incredible fusion of intellect and determination that brought forth the atomic age.

Among other Mahattan-related artifacts is a collection of three copper spheres prototypes created to hold uranium - along that includes photos and documents, Niels Bohr's Gold 1957 'Atoms for Peace' Award and two Danish Medals, and a Robert Oppenheimer signed condolence letter on the death of Albert Einstein.

Additional highlights include rare printings of Alexander Hamilton's Federalist Papers and Thomas Jefferson's Notes on the State of Virginia; a first edition of the Lincoln-Douglas Debates signed by Abraham Lincoln; Harry Houdini's personally-owned escape act props; custom-engraved revolvers presented to J. Edgar Hoover; rare Albert Einstein autographs; and Apollo 17 moonwalker Gene Cernan's flown EVA cuff checklist.

Online bidding for the Remarkable Rarities auction is underway, with the live auction scheduled for September 23.