Early Wheelchair and Thesis of Stephen Hawking Go Up for Auction

One of the earliest wheelchairs used by British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking sold for nearly three hundred thousand pounds, while a copy of his doctoral thesis brought in nearly five hundred and eighty-five thousand pounds.

Background

Born on January 8, 1942, as the eldest of four siblings, Hawking grew up in St Albans, England, during a global war. He lived a normal childhood and youth without showing early signs of being a child prodigy.

Context

Stephen Hawking spent a large part of his life using a wheelchair due to motor neuron disease, but he did not need one for the first part of his life. Memorabilia and personal items related to famous scientists often draw high prices at auctions long after their passing.