One of the earliest pieces of Gandhi memorabilia known to exist

[Gandhi, Mohandas Karamchand, leader of India during the Indian independence movement (1869-1948)]. A pair of sunglasses, once owned and worn by Gandhi.

€ 45,000.00

Rimless sunglasses featuring octagonal hand-cut lenses, specifically made for Gandhi around 1910. Consigned to a Bristol auction in 2022 by a vendor who testified: "My Grandfather was born in 1910. From his young age, he was a Freedom fighter and he participated in many protests in India during the Independence era. In 1939 he was associated in non-violent protest in Rajkot along with Kasturba Gandhi and was arrested and in 1942 he also participated in the Quit India Movement along with Mahatma Gandhi and was jailed again. He also had close association with Mr Gandhi's secretary Mahadey Desai. Kasturba Gandhi (Gandhi's wife) gifted these frameless sunglasses to Gandhi during his trip to South Africa 1893-1912 ... Mr Gandhi and Mrs Kasturba Gandhi gifted these glasses to my grandfather as a gift in 1939-40 (not sure about the exact year) after his jail term for organizing a rally in Rajkot ... they were then passed down to me when my Grandfather passed away and have been in my possession ever since".

In a letter dated Nandi Hills, 28 April 1927, Gandhi wrote to his "dear Shankaran, Your letter is a tonic for me. You are realizing all my expectations ..." (Selected Works, vol. 4, Selected Letters, no. 56).

Two pairs of Gandhi's famous spectacles were sold at auction within the last few years, but these are the first sunglasses to be offered.