Louis Vuitton soccer ball, signed Nike sneakers among gifts to NYC mayors up for auction

NEW YORK – An auction is offering buyers the chance to own a piece of New York nostalgia. Gifts given to New York City mayors through the years are being offered for sale to the highest bidder.

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In a series of online auctions titled “Gifts to the City,” New York is giving buyers the opportunity to take home items — ranging from jewelry and sports memorabilia to a paperweight and cake slicer — from the city’s municipal archives.

The items are sorted according to the mayor to whom they were gifted. Among the items for sale from Ed Koch’s tenure is a signed original painting by Peter Max, depicting the Statue of Liberty. The art includes a handwritten inscription to Mayor Koch on the back. The original offer for the painting was $50, but the bidding had reached $15,200 by Nov. 23. Bidding for the item closes Dec. 11.

Original painting by artist Peter Max depicting the face of the Statue of Liberty. Includes a hand written inscription on the back to Mayor Koch by the artist.

David Dinkins served as the 106th Mayor of New York from 1990-1993. The items from his tenure for sale include a paperweight gifted to Dinkins by Diana Ross and a T-shirt and hat that read: “Racism is an illness. Are you sick?”

T-Shirt: Racism is an illness. Are you sick?

The commissioner of the NYC’s Department of Records, Pauline Toole, told WNBC that this auction is the first of its kind in 37 years.

The most unusual item for sale may be a Louis Vuitton soccer ball, which was given to Mayor Rudy Giuliani in 1998 to commemorate the World Cup. Initially posted for $600, the bidding on the ball reached $1,575 on Nov. 23. Bidding for the item closes on Dec. 11.

A Louis Vuitton socer ball to commemorate the 1998 World Cup. The ball comes with a strap.

Giuliani was also gifted a basketball signed by the members of the New York Knicks in 1999, which is available for bids until Dec. 4.

Michael Bloomberg is the most recent mayor whose gifts appear in the auction, having served three terms from 2002-2013. Among the items offered from Bloomberg’s tenure are a silver Tiffany cake slicer and a pair of Nike Air Force 1 sneakers autographed by Ice-T and Fab 5 Freddy in 2008.

Nike Air Force 1 sneakers autographed by Ice-T and Fab 5 Freddy. The OGs of hip hop and the big screen autographed this pair of sneakers. The sneakers are believed to have been presented to Mayor Bloomberg by Ice-T and Fab 5 Freddy in 2008 at a City Hall press conference.

When asked about the sneakers by The New York Times, Bloomberg responded, “So that’s what happened to those sneakers.”

Mayors are not allowed to take the gifts with them when they leave City Hall, because the gifts are considered to be property of New York City, The New York Times explained. The Department of Records and Information Services is responsible for the more than 185,000 cubic feet of items that have accumulated for the last 400 years.

The auction is taking place entirely online, with the lowest prices starting at $20. The money raised will help fund the preservation of more valuable items that are not up for sale, including old blueprints or the 1957 home plate from Ebbetts Field, WNBC reported.

A Louis Vuitton socer ball to commemorate the 1998 World Cup. The ball comes with a strap.

Beaded embroidered Elephant pillowcase.

Chinese art, as pictured, gifted to Mayor Dinkins.

Commemorative Dublin City Seal in a box.

Marble base Pen set. This was a gift from the Queens Botanical Garden Society 1990 in honor of Arbor day.

Clear apple paperweight Given to Mayor Dinkins as a gift by Diana Ross as a memento at a Friar’s club party. The item is marked with a Friar’s Club logo.

Susan Wagner High School penant.

A drawing of Mayor Ed Koch, with matting, by Miriam Troop.

2008 Beijing Olympics commemorative coins in original box

Decorative sliver platter with leaf design. Label indicates it’s from Egypt.

A Japanese poster of Samurai. Gifted to Mayor Dinkins.

T-Shirt: Racism is an illness. Are you sick?

A framed copy of The Village Voice featuring Mayor Koch on the cover. The lead story is Mayor Dearest: An Exclusive Preview of Mayor’s Koch’s memoirs.

This is a beautiful glass bowl that is in very good condition. Gifted to Mayor Bloomberg.

Resistol cowboy hat given to Mayor Bloomberg to commemorate the Country Music Awards held in New York City. In original box.

Tiffany & Co. desk clock with inscription: Hospital for Special Surgery Discovery to Recovery, 2005. In original packaging.

A 25 inch string of pearls gifted to Mayor Bloomberg.

A small Waterford cut glass vase gifted to Mayor Bloomberg.

A trophy to commemorate the 1994 World Cup.

A Republic of San Marino stamp book and Artistic and Monumental Guide Book.

A Turkish platter gifted to Mayor Dinkins.

New York Yankees Wall Clock.

Poster Lou Rawls parade of stars benefit.

A FIFA banner that says Founded 1904. Good condition.

Original painting by artist Peter Max depicting the face of the Statue of Liberty. Includes a hand written inscription on the back to Mayor Koch by the artist.

Tiffany cufflinks and tie clip. Intrepid Air and Space Museum. In original box, very good condition.

This picture was taken in May 1983 when Ed Koch hosted Saturday Night Live. Picture is from City Hall.

A Tiffany & Co. cake slicer featuring a sterling silver handle and stainless steel slicer. This item was for the Museum of the City of New York groundbreaking in 2006.

Tiffany globe cufflinks. Some tarnishing, but in fair condition. Comes with traditional Tiffany pouch, but not the original box.

Pewter Quaich with Celtic design is in pristine condition and the box contains authentic Scottish whiskey. This was presented to Mayor Bloomberg by the Argyll and Bute Council.