Enigma codebreaker Alan Turing's papers auctioned (BBC) {funds needed SOON to donate to museum}

[eppur_se_muova]

Papers published by World War II codebreaker Alan Turing are expected to fetch about £500,000 at auction later.

The Manchester University scientist, who killed himself in 1954, created a machine at Bletchley Park to crack messages in the German Enigma code.

Last year, the then prime minister Gordon Brown gave him a posthumous apology for the "appalling" treatment he received for being gay.

The documents will go under the hammer at Christie's in London later.

Turing, who has been called the "father of the computer", published only 18 papers in his short career.
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more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-11818182


Auction begins at 1400 GMT. Google has made a donation to try to keep the papers for a museum in Bletchley Park, but funds are still (so far) inadequate.

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. Failed to make the reserve price

Fresh hope for Alan Turing campaigners after papers fail to sell at auction

A set of papers belonging to Bletchley Park codebreaker Alan Turing were put up for auction today but failed to reach their reserve price.

Campaigners had launched an appeal fund to buy the papers and keep them in the UK amid fears they would be snapped up by a foreign buyer.

The campaign fund was boosted by a $100,000 donation from Google but the total fund reached only £73k - well short of the expected price of £300,000 to £500,000.

However, when the auction started, bidding stopped at £240,000 and the lot was withdrawn from sale after failing to reach the reserve price. Campaigners are now hoping they can negotiate a sale with the owner of the papers.

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1371953_fresh_hope_for_alan_turing_campaigners_after_papers_fail_to_sell_at_auction

[eppur_se_muova]

2. Thanks for update. nt