Lot 199

The Search For Amelia Earhart! "The entire ship's force felt confident... but to no avail."

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The Search For Amelia Earhart! "The entire ship's force felt confident... but to no avail."

Estimate: $300 - $400

Current Bid: $140

(4 Bids)

June 17, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
Wilton, CT, US

Description:

Amelia Earhart
U.S.S. Colorado, near Howland Island, July 21, 1937
The Search For Amelia Earhart! "The entire ship's force felt confident... but to no avail."
ALS

A lengthy autographed letter from sailor Robert Morris, who was stationed aboard the U.S.S. Colorado during its search for Amelia Earhart. 3pp, 8" x 10", [near Howland Island], U.S.S. Colorado, July 21, 1937. Addressed to his mother and written aboard the ship, Morris describes receiving the order to join the search and asserts their diligence, but to no avail. Accompanied by its original mailing cover featuring a diagram of the Colorado's route, with printed caption below in part: "Enroute Howland Island… Searching for Miss Amelia Earhart and her navigator, Capt. Fred Noonan, who were forced down." Letter exhibits moderate mailing creases and scattered soiling throughout, with expected weathering to envelope. Else, very good.

In part:

"I was over in Honolulu long enough to get all the presents that I wanted to get. I came back to the ship about 10.00 in the morning and heard that the commanding officer had received orders to leave early the next morning in search of Miss Earhart in the vicinity of Howland island. The aviators abroad, the ship, and the ships company searched the entire area. The entire ships force felt confident that a diligent search had been carried out but to no avail.
…Since we got down that far I wish that we could have went on over to Australia. Indications are that the fleet may go to Australia next year but the Colorado will be in the yards so I will miss out on the trip."

The U.S.S. Colorado was on shore leave in Honolulu starting on the 1st of July, but this was cut short the following day so that they could join the search for Earhart. Official search efforts lasted until July 19th, just two days before Morris wrote this letter.

The last voice transmission received on Howland Island from Earhart indicated she and Noonan were flying along a line of position running north-to-south on 157–337 degrees, which Noonan would have calculated and drawn on a chart as passing through Howland. Beginning approximately one hour after her last recorded message, a nearby ship undertook an unsuccessful search north and west of Howland Island based on initial assumptions about transmissions from the aircraft, and Earhart's account of weather conditions. The U.S. Navy joined the search and over about three days sent available resources to the search area.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 8" x 10"
  • Medium: ALS

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000