Will Jones
(source: momentsintime.com)
For more than five decades, Gary Zimet has been connecting collectors to history in its purest form. His journey began with what he calls a “correspondence” with a notable American painter, which evolved into Moments in Time, a Los Angeles-based enterprise specializing in rare autographs, manuscripts, and historical memorabilia. “I just wrote him letters asking questions, and he always responded. I ended up trading some of his letters, and here I am, 51 years later,” Zimet recalls.
Under his ownership, Moments in Time deals with authentic historical materials. The company’s inventory spans political, scientific, literary, and entertainment figures, from Abraham Lincoln to Bob Dylan, Robin Williams, and Bruce Springsteen. Collectors can browse signed letters, vintage photographs, manuscripts, and personal artifacts that capture the zeitgeist of the personalities and eras they celebrate. The company offers a large selection of framed and unframed historic materials, including significant documents and letters.
Robin Williams’ Mork and Mindy Contract (source: momentsintime.com)
The appeal of these items, from his perspective, goes beyond monetary value. “Rare autographs offer the appreciation and unique satisfaction of holding an authentic piece of history in your hands,” he explains. His team, he notes, operates under stringent verification measures to confirm the authenticity of the items while offering a lifetime money-back policy for collectors. “We want to reassure them that they’re getting both investment value and historical significance,” he adds.
Bill Clinton Signed Photo to the People of Israel (source: momentsintime.com)
Some highlights of the collection capture pivotal moments in American as well as global culture. A contract marking Robin Williams’ rise to fame as Mork on Mork & Mindy offers a glimpse into the start of his career. A photograph of Bill Clinton, inscribed “To the People of Israel with gratitude for the ties that bind us”, speaks to the intersections of politics and policy in the country. In darker chapters of history, an album signed by John Lennon for Mark Chapman mere hours before his passing offers chilling context.
According to The Guardian, Zimet also possesses a copy of “Schindler’s List,” which the website describes as an exceedingly rare original and is claimed to be the only one to have come onto the market. For music enthusiasts, Bob Dylan’s handwritten lyrics for The Times They Are A-Changin’ are also present, standing as a testament to the enduring cultural footprint of the pop icon.
Zimet also brokers recently discovered treasures with broader historical resonance, including a handwritten letter by Malcolm X, known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. Each item, Zimet emphasizes, is treated with meticulous care, and the company actively sources materials that meet the precise interests and needs of collectors through a “want card” system.
Positioning himself as a dealer throughout his career, Zimet’s journey has brought him into contact with moments of extraordinary historical significance. From letters written by Richard Nixon to the parents of 2 students killed at Kent State, to an official copy of the 13th Amendment signed by Lincoln, his portfolio is intentionally curated to read like a living archive of history.
“I’ve had many memorable sales,” he says. “And it often becomes memorable because of the significance the items hold.” Yet, for collectors, the stakes, he notes, are far higher: the ability to touch history, literally, through ink and paper that once belonged to those who shaped it.
Moments in Time continues to thrive by bridging the past with the present, offering collectors not just memorabilia but tangible connections to the figures and events that define eras. For Zimet, the mission remains consistent: to facilitate the discovery, acquisition, and preservation of authentic historical artifacts, providing enthusiasts and investors alike a rare opportunity to hold history in their hands.