Stolen 'Adolf Hitler's gold bookmark' recovered in US

London, Nov 27 : US police officers have arrested a man who tried to sell a stolen gold bookmark that reportedly belonged to Adolf Hitler.

The 18-carat artefact, which had been missing since it was stolen six years ago, is engraved with a message to the German Nazi leader from his wife Eva Braun, reports the Telegraph.

The bookmark is engraved with a portrait of Hitler as well as an imperial eagle and swastika, and its inscription indicates that Braun gave it to Hitler to console him after German forces surrendered at Stalingrad in 1943.

It reads "My Adolf", the loss was "only an inconvenience that will not break your certainty of victory. My love for you will be eternal, as our Reich will be eternal. Always yours, Eva. 3-2-43."

The bookmark was recovered after a Romanian named Christian Popescu attempted to sell it to an undercover agent for 65,000 pounds.

Officers arrested Popescu and seized the ornament in a swoop on the car park of a Starbucks in Bellevue, Seattle as the agent handed over the money.

The bookmark was among several items stolen from an auction house in Madrid, Spain, six years ago. At the time, some antiquities experts questioned its authenticity, and it was valued at between 8,000 pounds and 11,000 pounds.

Popescu was due to appear in court in Seattle on one count of sale or receipt of stolen goods.

ANI