John Mollo's Star Wars Sketchbooks

Though Ralph McQuarrie came up with the original Star Wars paintings, John Mollo turned those dreams into a reality. Mollo was tasked with providing detail for every costume for the entire cast of Star Wars: A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back — a massive assignment that later won him an Academy Award. Mollo passed away last year, and his family is offering up for auction some of his original sketchbooks that provide personal insight into the creative process of a legend. Both custom bound volumes contain production diary entries, meeting notes, and working sketches of many characters from the original trilogy as well as other projects Mollo worked on during this time frame. The books are expected to fetch well over $100,000 each and provide a unique opportunity to own a part of cinematic history.

3D-Printed Mars Habitats

Created as entries for one of NASA's Centennial Challenges, these 3D-Printed Mars Habitats offer a few glimpses at how we might sustain life on the Red Planet. The winning submission uses a spider-like landing craft that creates a seal with the ground and a pressurized printing zone inside, lifting up only when the complete unit is done and moving to build the next. Like the second-place, egg-shaped structures, they're printed using materials that are either found or can be grown on Mars. All five finalists received a portion of the $100,000 prize, presumably to continue research into extraterrestrial living.

Stopover: Stockholm

Sip: Kvarnen
Walking into this famous bar is like taking a trip back in time. Opened in 1928, you won't find WiFi, televisions, or even music at this establishment. But you will find fantastic beers, food, and a glimpse into early 20th century Brussels that has been family run since it opened.

Recharge: Kavalleriet Cafe
Located inside the oldest industrial building in Stockholm, Kavalleriet offers coffee and baked goods with a side of history. Their name means "the cavalry", a nod to their location that once housed a bakery that supplied the military with fresh bread. Original arched ceilings and vintage tile floors form the backdrop for the cafe's selection of specialty drinks and fancy sourdough toasts.

Wear: Wings + Horns Swedish Merino Collection
Naturally breathable, moisture-wicking, and odor resistant, merino is a great choice for nearly any garment. And the Wings + Horns Swedish Merino Collection might be made from the best merino in the world. Both the lightweight jersey and heavier terry fabrics are made in the high-tech knitting hall of a family-owned, merino-focused mill in southwest Sweden. The former is used in the t-shirt, long sleeve tee, and henley, while the latter is found in the crewneck, trail shirt, and sweatpant, all three of which feature flatlock stitching for added comfort and durability. The entire collection is available now and is made in Vancouver.

Eat: Tjoget
Sip, eat, and get a trim under the same roof at Tjoget. This hipster-inspired location pulls your attention in three different directions with Linje Tio: a bar and restaurant with cuisine rooted in Europe and the Middle East - Hornstulls Bodega: a wine bar with a laid-back vibe - and Roy & Son: a barbershop whose roots reach back to the mid-20th century.

Eat: Ekstedt
Named for well-known chef Niklas Peter Ekstedt, this centrally-located, Michelin-starred eatery draws on his childhood in northern Sweden, cooking nearly everything using the power of fire, whether it be over the fire pit, in the wood-fired oven, or in the wood-powered stove.

Recharge: Kaffeverket
An exact translation of fika is "a coffee and cake break" but the Swedish have turned the term into a culture and Kaffeverket is one of the best spots to experience it. The cafe stays true to the saying with a variety of fine coffees, cappuccinos, and an eye-popping case of breakfast pastries. For a lighter start to the day, many of the baked goods are raw, gluten-free, or vegan and they also offer a selection Instagram-worthy chia pudding bowls. All of their dishes can be enjoyed inside the tile-lined dining room or on the outdoor terrace.

Eat: Riche
With a legacy that goes back more than a hundred years, at least one meal at Riche is a must. Its interior ignores the city's sleek minimalism and instead opts for the ornate chandeliers and red velvet finishes of an eccentric French brasserie. On the menu is a variety of traditional Swedish fare with a heavy Parisian influence. Their extensive wine list can be a little daunting so leave it up to their on-site sommeliers to find the perfect pairing for your Toast Skagen.

Sip: Presskluben
Located in the heart of Stockholm's theatre district, Presskluben boasts one of the largest Belgian beer collections in Europe. Drop in for a guided tasting, choose from over 800 Belgian brews, and stay for their seasonal menu featuring classic Belgian, German, British and Swedish cuisine.

Recharge: Drop Coffee
Flavor and sustainability take center stage at Stockholm's Drop Coffee. Co-owned by the Swedish Barista of the year, the shop is also Sweden's reigning roaster of the year, with organic beans sourced from Kenya, Ethiopia, Guatemala, and beyond. Stop in for a caffeine fix or stick around for lunch during the week or brunch on weekends.

Shop: Sneakersnstuff
Founded in 1999, this Södermalm store has been bringing the freshest kicks and apparel to the capitol for nearly two decades. Over the years, that experience has earned them the opportunity to do collaborations with Nike, Reebok, Puma, and more. Add in a solid selection of shirts, jeans, jackets, and accessories, and you have the store that put Sweden on the sneaker map.

Sip: Mikkeller Bar
If disappearing for an afternoon or evening of craft beer sounds like a great idea, look no further than Mikkeller's Stockholm location. Located in a small but cozy basement space, they offer 24 continually changing beers that range from hoppy to sour and barrel-aged stouts that can be paired with small plates and a selection of Danish open-faced sandwiches known as Smørrebrød.

Stay: Hotel Skeppsholmen
Situated on one of Stockholm's smallest islands, Hotel Skeppsholmen is housed in a historic landmark building from 1699. The former home of Sweden's Royal Marines is full of authentic details that have been adorned with the best contemporary Scandinavian furnishings. While its park-like surroundings feel like a countryside villa, you won't have to go far to experience the best of the city. Both the Museum of Modern Art and the Swedish Museum of Architecture along with numerous boutiques and waterfront eateries are just a short walk away.

Shop: Papercut
This Södermalm shop stocks a well-curated assortment of books, magazines, films, albums, and other gifts, both international and Swedish. With a focus on art, design, and fashion, it's one of our favorite stores in town and a great place to pass the time on a rainy day.

Recharge: Gast Cafe
A sibling of Kaffeverket and Kvarteret, this Hötorget-area cafe serves up outstanding coffee, as well as sandwiches, soups, and salads in an unpretentious environment. Bonus points for the sharable, Pac-Man-inspired logo.

Shop: Nitty Gritty Store
Serving the Stockholm community with well-considered clothing, footwear, accessories, and body care since 1991, Nitty Gritty is the city's fashion hub. Brands such as APC, Comme De Garcons, and Common Projects share the welcoming-yet-minimalist space that lets each product speak for itself.

Shop: Snickarbacken 7
Snickarbacken 7 is located in a building that once held stables in the late 1800s. Today, it's part cafe, concept store, and art gallery. The store sells pottery, jewelry, coffee supplies, and more while the cafe serves breakfast and lunch and is integrated with an exhibition space which features contemporary art for sale from Swedish and international artists.

Photos: Zach Jenkins / Uncrate

Hunter S. Thompson Letter Archive

Made up of 182 letters, including handwritten, typed, signed, telegrams, and postcards, as well as three drawings, this Hunter S. Thompson Letter Archive is a treasure trove of writing from the storied author. The vast majority of the letters, dated from 1955 to 1974, are from Thompson to childhood Paul Semonin, and show the evolution of his signature Gonzo style, as well as recounting his time in Big Sur, the writing of The Rum Diary, and his time with — and beating by — the Hell's Angels that inspired the book of the same name. Of historical importance is a famous letter written the day of JFK's assassination, which was only partially published, along with 24 of the other letters, in The Proud Highway: The Saga of a Desperate Southern Gentleman 1955-1967. As a whole, the lot represents a one-of-a-kind look into the inner workings of one of the last century's greatest authors.

License To Kill Rolex Submariner Watch

Worn by Timothy Dalton's stunt double during the filming of License To Kill, this Rolex Submariner Watch is a wearable piece of Bond memorabilia. Notably, the watch was featured during a car chase scene in Mexico, during which 007 takes a tanker truck up onto its left-side wheels to dodge an incoming missile. The lot includes photos of the cast and crew on location in Mexico, paperwork from Rolex, a book about the making of the film, and a certificate of authenticity from EON Productions.

CeramicSpeed Driven Chainless Drivetrain Concept

Traditional chain and derailleur systems have been around for nearly 100 years. In the name of efficiency, the CeramicSpeed Driven scraps them completely. Developed in partnership with the University of Colorado's Mechanical Engineering department, this new system uses 21 CeramicSpeed bearings to transfer torque from the front ring through the drive shaft and onto the 13-speed rear cog. As a result, it eliminates all eight points of friction within a traditional chain drivetrain, reducing friction by 49% and letting the power from every pedal transfer to the road more effectively.

Soviet Spy Cameras

Digital technology has rendered film (mostly) obsolete, and modern surveillance has done the same to old-fashioned espionage. Thus this auction of Soviet-era spy cameras is a treasure trove of outdated-yet-timeless hardware. Ranging in age from 75 to 30 years old, most of the cameras still work, with examples including a gum pack-sized Minox Riga, a camera hidden in a dinner jacket, a camera disguised as an umbrella, and even a camera hidden inside... a camera. The auction will be held on July 12 and run by Aston's of England.

Below The Surface

When the River Amstel was drained for the building of a metro line, archaeologists got an exceedingly rare look into Amsterdam's past via the objects they found in the riverbed. Below The Surface is an online catalog of those objects. Varying greatly in size, age, and condition, these 11,279 items tell the story of this centuries-old port city through the lens of things either thrown away or lost to time. And while these objects, taken from Damrak and Rokin, seem to go on forever, their photographs represent just a sliver of the 700,000 total items pulled from the mud.

Dieter Rams Auction

Dieter Rams created some of the most iconic products of all time. Should you want to build a collection of them, you can scour eBay, EBTH, and everywhere else, or you can visit The JF Chen Collection Auction. Presented by Wright, the auction includes over 130 works from Rams and his colleagues. From sofas and lounge chairs to audio equipment and clocks, many of his most famous works will be available starting at Noon on July 12.

New US Dollar Concept

There are plenty of reasons for Americans to be envious of other countries. One of the easiest to remedy is our bland currency. The work of designer Andrey Avgust, this concept takes the US Dollar in a bold new direction. It tackles every bill in circulation — 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 — and replaces it with one made from multiple layers of transparent polymer. High-resolution graphics on the front and back play off one another thanks to the translucent nature of the material, and a unique PGP encrypted QR code for every bill makes counterfeiting nearly impossible.