This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2017
The 1994 OJ Simpson murder saga captivated a nation starting the second the white Ford Bronco pulled onto Interstate 405. As one of the most famous men in America, it was inconceivable that the loveable Hall of Fame running back, actor, and celebrity could possibly have committed the acts he was accused of perpetrating.
The Trial of the Century that followed the murder of Simpson’s ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman was among the most incredible events in American history. Over 100 million people tuned in to watch the delivery of the verdict, an unprecedented number. America was divided, as large swathes of the population proclaimed Simpson’s innocence, while equal numbers were certain of his undeniable guilt.
This book, If I Did It, was slated to be released by ReganBooks in 2006. It told the story, from OJ Simpson’s perspective, of his relationship with Nicole Brown. It includes a chapter dedicated to a hypothetical scenario about the events that transpired on the night of her murder if OJ had committed the heinous act. However, thanks to an earlier civil suit filed by the family of Ron Goldman, as well as public backlash, publication of this book was halted after 400,000 copies of the book were printed, but not sold. Virtually every one of these books was destroyed, and the manuscript was later released by the Goldman family under the title If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer.
Chapter Six of this book, starting on page 135, tells the story of Simpson’s hypothetical murder scenario, starting with a night out at McDonald’s with Kato Kaelin. What follows is chilling and disturbing, as Simpson describes the brutal murder of Nicole and Ron with the assistance of his fictitious friend “Charlie”. This rare book is at times terrifying and compelling, leaving as many questions open-ended as it does answered.
The front cover of this book is completely taken over by a picture of OJ from his trial, glancing over his right shoulder. “IF I DID IT” is printed on the bottom of the cover, with “If” in white letters and the remainder in a deep, blood red. The back cover features photographs of Simpson and Brown, Simpson’s mug shot, a picture of Ron Goldman, and an image from the slow speed chase on Interstate 405. Opposite of the cover page is an author’s note that simply reads, “If I did it, this is what happened.”
Given the sensitive and disturbing content of the book, it is not surprising that the book was never released and the original copies were destroyed. However, according to legend, a small number did survive where one reportedly lives at News Corporation (the original publisher) and one was auctioned off on eBay in 2007 for a stated amount of $65,000. The winner of this lot will clearly possess a rare piece of history regarding events that captured the imaginations of nearly every American in the 1990s.