Skip to main content

This auction has ended. View lot details

You may also be interested in

Own a similar item?

Submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

A Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor gifted engraved wrist watch with letters and photographs image 1
A Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor gifted engraved wrist watch with letters and photographs image 2
The Golden Age of Hollywood
Lot 223

A Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor gifted engraved wrist watch with letters and photographs

14 May 2019, 13:00 PDT
Los Angeles

US$2,000 - US$3,000

Own a similar item?

Submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

How to sell

Looking for a similar item?

Our Popular Culture specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.

Find your local specialist

Ask about this lot

A Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor gifted engraved wrist watch with letters and photographs

Comprising a 14 karat gold and diamond wristwatch, the oval dial with Roman numerals and framed by 32 round diamonds approximately 0.60 carat, gross weight 32 grams, length 6.5 in., manual movement, inscribed, "Robbie / With our appreciation / and good wishes / Elizabeth and Richard / Burton." Together with 1 Autograph Letter Signed ("Richard B."), 4 pp recto, 4to, Geneva, Switzerland, July 20, 1974, and 1 Typed Letter Signed ("Richard"), 2 pp recto and verso, 8vo, New York, June 23, 1974, on Plaza Hotel stationery, to Loretta Robertson, with one original autograph transmittal envelope. Loretta Robertson became friends with Richard Burton when her mother, nicknamed Robbie, became his private nurse during his extended stay in the hospital to abstain from alcohol. Robbie had previously been a caregiver to Elizabeth Taylor's mother, Sara, and was gifted this wrist watch by Taylor and Burton as a token of their love and appreciation. Loretta drove her mother to the hospital every day and thus was able to spend time and get to know Burton during his hospital stay. Together they shared a warm, albeit brief, friendship. Burton's letters to Loretta are playful and funny and full of private jokes; she was 22 years old and he enjoyed teasing her. His beautifully written missives are also honest and forthcoming when he writes: "I miss you more than alcohol which I am still sternly eschewing." Together with a 1 p typed note to Loretta's mother thanking her for caring for Sara Taylor; an 8 x 10 in. signed photo of Burton inscribed, "Robbie! / You are the worst nurse / I've ever known! I / wouldn't take anybody / else though. / Much love / Richard B."; 4 personal snapshots of Burton alone and with Robbie and Loretta; an appraisal of the wrist watch dated December 30, 1971; and a 2 pp typed document chronicling the consignor's story of the lovely experience of getting to know a side of Richard Burton to which few people were privy.
9 x 12 x 3 in.

Additional information

Bid now on these items

An Omega Pocket Watch Engraved to Spencer Tracy from Joan Crawford Date: c. 1937

Gary Moore: A Gibson Les Paul Standard Electric Guitar, known as 'Stripe', 1959,

Marianne Faithfull: Two Passports and a Selection of Personal Ephemera, Qty

Bernie Krause (b. 1938) Day & Night in Gombe, 2025

Marianne Faithfull: A diary, a large collection of archival notes and lyrics, and other personal items, Qty

Marianne Faithfull: A Selection of Personal Books, with inscriptions, Various publishers and dates, Qty

Marianne Faithfull: A large collection of personal correspondence, Various dates, Qty

Marianne Faithfull: A Large Collection of Photographs, some professional and some personal,

Marianne Faithfull: A Large Annie Leibovitz campaign poster of Marianne Faithfull for GAP, 1990,

Anita Pallenberg (Italian, 1942-2017): Work on paper, titled "Babylon", 1994, 2

Marianne Faithfull: a Dyptich by Giuseppe Romeo, titled "Falsehood I" and "Falsehood II", Paris, 1995-96, 2

Carrie Fisher (1956-2016): Her personal trunk, Gifted to Marianne Faithfull,

Marianne Faithfull: Two paintings, one by Thierry Bisch, titled 'Butterflies', 2003, and undated, 3