Wonderful vintage semi-glossy 4 x 5.5 full-length photo of Gandhi wearing a dhoti and sandals and posing with the commander of the S.S. Pilsna, G. Suppin, on his return journey to India on December 26, 1931, signed in fountain pen, "M. K. Gandhi." In fine condition. Accompanied by a full letter of authenticity from PSA/DNA.
Six months after the signing of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, Mahatma Gandhi arrived as the sole representative of the Indian National Congress to the Second Round Table Conference in London on September 12, 1931. Over the next three months, Gandhi issued several claims in relation to the ongoing constitutional reforms in India—Congress alone represented political India; the dalit, or ‘untouchables,’ were Hindus and not minorities; and that there should be no separate electorate for Muslims—all of which were rejected by the attending delegates. Unable to reach an agreement, Gandhi returned to India aboard the S.S. Pilsna on December 14, 1931, and was arrested in Bombay shortly after the New Year for ‘good and sufficient reasons.’ Of the scant few Gandhi signed photos we have handled, this is the most boldly signed—certainly one of the finest examples to ever appear at auction.
*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.
