Enormously popular English actress of the 1930s and '40s, specializing in historical heroines ("Nell Gwyn," "Victoria the Great"); returning to the stage in "Charlie Girl," she set a record with 2,062 performances over seven years. ALS, 2pp (single leaf), 5½" X 7", n.p., n.y. Addressed to Mr. Laade. Near fine. On heavy stock "Dame Anna Neagle, D.B.E." imprinted letterhead, Neagle apologizes for tardiness: "We had a postal strike which lasted almost two months and, there was such an accumulation of mail that everything has become hopelessly behind." Boldly penned in blue ink and signed in full on second leaf. Handsome later life example.
"Da Schnozz," beloved piano-playing comedian of vaudeville, Broadway, radio, film and television. On an irregularly, roughly 5½" X 4" oblong slip, the entertainer pens "To Donald / This is a / Pleasure / from Pal / Jimmy / Durante" large and bold in blue ballpoint. Very good. Four small inoffensive tape stains at the margins, slightly touching upon several letters. Undated, but circa 1960. Accompanied by a delightfully unusual 1963 Viennese 4-page pictorial film program (entirely in German) for "Spiel mit mir..." ("Billy Roses Jumbo"), 6½" X 9¼". This 1962 musical starring Durante, Doris Day, Stephen Boyd and Martha Raye. Front page features images of Day and Boyd with (of course) Jumbo, while centerfold consists of cast list and text and the rear page a montage of film scenes, including Durante. Near fine. A fun, unusual pair.
This unforgettably-voiced American comedian, singer, actress and dancer of film, stage and television won a Tony Award in 1964 for the musical "Hello, Dolly!" and was Oscar-nominated in 1967 for the film "Thoroughly Modern Millie." Large, bold signature in black fineline on a special heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p., dated 2 February 1969 at upper right on her hand. Fine. Accompanied by a near fine glossy 8" X 10" photograph, a charming full-length scene depicting Channing in gown in front of a bed; promotional shot for a 1972 "Dick Cavett Show" appearance. With original signature transmittal envelope.
"Ragtime" (1975) and "Billy Bathgate" (1989) were among this popular American novelist's many works of historical fiction. Document Signed, 1p, heavy stock 5" X 3", n.p., n.y. Near fine. Actual library catalogue card, single hole punched at bottom center, for Doctorow's 1975 bestseller "Ragtime." Doctorow signs boldly in black fineline at center, slightly smearing the last couple letters. Interesting and unusual bibliographical memento of the writer's best-known work.
She of the celebrated British acting dynasty -- daughter of Sir Michael, sister of Vanessa -- was a renowned actress of film, stage and television in her own right, recipient of two Golden Globe Awards and nominee for Tony, Emmy and Oscar awards. Large, bold signature in blue fineline, heavy stock 5" X 2 3/4" card, n.p., n.y. Fine. A prime example -- and accompanied by a fine unsigned 10" X 8" glossy photograph, a scene from her breakthrough 1966 film "Georgy Girl" showing her as a swinging Londoner in wedding dress and James Mason as her much older groom holding up a crying baby. A delightful pair.
This Baptist educator was a rising star in the world of university presidencies when he became fourth president of the unorthodox "Great Books" institution known as Frances Shimer Junior College in Mount Carroll, Illinois, in 1936, but his leadership was cut short by a brain tumor from which he died at age 50. TLS, 1p, 7¼" X 10½", Mount Carroll, IL, 3 September 1936. Addressed to Mary B. Day. Fine. On "Office of the President" college letterhead, the president, who'd been in office only about one week, writes this meaty letter to the librarian of Chicago's famed Museum of Science and Industry. At this time Shimer College was an all-female school, and he writes in part: "There is a tide in the education of a girl which, if missed, is perhaps permanently lost. At times it may seem to be unfortunate that we cannot halt nature's on-rushing development or retard it to suit our own convenience or the times in which we live. But in this instance nature is probably right. Growth will not wait.... Our ambition is to know each girl so thoroughly that each stage of growth is provided for by every opportunity for self development and by sympathetic guidance..." He goes on and on along these horn-tooting lines for several paragraphs. Boldly signed in full in ink at the close. Unusual and quite interesting.
This lieutenant colonel served as an aide to Roosevelt during his first term, and used to partake in friendly sparring bouts with the president; unknown to him at the time, one of their matches in 1905 caused blindness in one of Roosevelt's eyes; not until October 1917, when Moore commanded the 310th Field Artillery at Camp Meade, Maryland, did he learn what had happened. He replied: "But could you ask for any better proof of the man's sportsmanship than the fact that he never told me what I had done to him, never told anybody else that I know of -- at least, it never got around to me till I saw in the papers the other day that he had said that he lost the sight of his eye while boxing with a captain of artillery who was his aide. He didn't name anybody then, but I knew that he must have meant me, for I happen to have been the only boxing aide he had who was in the artillery." Partly-Printed ADS, 1p, 7½" X 3", Washington, DC, 1917 May 24. Near fine. Usual perforated cancellation. Bank vignette at left. Check drawn on The Riggs National Bank, made out entirely in Moore's hand in black ink to N.F. Ramsey in the amount of $10 and handsomely signed -- just a few months before learning what his right hook had done to the Boss.
Blueblood American intellectual writer, playwright and novelist ("Burr," "Lincoln"). Document Signed, 1p, heavy stock 5" X 3", n.p., n.y. Fine. Actual library catalogue cards, single hole punched at bottom center, for Vidal's 1977 book "Matters of Fact and of Fiction: Essays 1973-1976." Vidal boldly signs in black fineline near the center, adding below the comment "Grandson of Okla's 1st / US senator, TP Gore." Thomas Pryor Gore (1870-1949) was indeed one of that new state's first senators, a Democrat who served from 1907-21 and again from 1931-37. Vidal himself tried to emulate his maternal grandfather and ran for the U.S. Senate as a Democrat in California in 1982, but lost. Interesting an quite unusual.
The popular long-time television talk show host was an entertainment mogul extraordinaire; among his many accomplishments he created "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy" -- whose iconic theme song he also composed. DS, 1p, heavy stock 5" X 3", n.p., n.y. Fine. Actual library catalogue card, single hole punched at bottom center, for Griffin's 1982 memoir "From Where I Sit: Merv Griffin's Book Of People," with all the usual card catalogue bibliographic data; Griffin signs large and bold in green fineline at center. Accompanied by a delightful, fine 10" X 8" glossy unsigned photograph -- a closeup of Griffin chatting with Roddy McDowall in the 1969 comedy adventure film "Hello Down There." A fun, unusual pair.
Mailer was the controversial tough guy novelist ("The Naked and the Dead"), political activist, essayist, and "New Journalism" advocate who won the Pulitzer Prize (twice) and National Book Award; Vidal was the blueblood intellectual writer, playwright and novelist ("Burr," "Lincoln"). In 1971 these two butted heads famously on "The Dick Cavett Show" over Vidal's rough review of a Mailer book. Pair of DsS, each 1p, heavy stock 5" X 3", n.p., n.y. Fine. Actual library catalogue cards, single hole punched at bottom center, for Mailer's 1991 book "Harlot's Ghost" and Vidal's sound recording of his fifth historical novel, the 1990 "Hollywood." Mailer signs boldly at center in black ballpoint, Vidal does the same in black fineline. Fun to see these two famed "frenemies" -- they did patch things up later -- arm in arm, autographically speaking.
The star Yankee pitcher of the 1920s and '30s, known as "Schoolboy," became one of the first players to enter sportscasting; elected to the Hall of Fame in 1969. TNS, 1p, 6" X 7", n.p., n.y. Near fine. On his personal imprinted letterhead, Hoyt writes a choice sentiment: "To a man who plays pro ball, and who actually loves the game, there is no feeling like that of being elected to the Hall of Fame. The biggest thrill of all, I guess." Boldly signed in full in blue ballpoint. Undated, but likely of 1980s vintage. Accompanied by a fine glossy 4" X 5" photograph, a black and white print of a head-and-shoulders portrait of Hoyt in uniform bearing a facsimile signature below.
Two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "Great River: The Rio Grande in North American History" (1954) and "Lamy of Santa Fe: His Life and Times" (1975) was equally at home with fiction and with history. ALS, 1p, 8½" X 11", Middletown, CT, 13 May 1976. Fine. Addressed to Arnold F. Gates (1914-93, noted Lincoln/Civil War scholar). Near fine. On "Wesleyan University" letterhead, Horgan graciously pens this long-time correspondent "Warm thanks for your kind congratulations on the Pulitzer Prize & your good feeling about the book itself. You have always been a good friend to my work and I am grateful...." Horgan had just been awarded the prestigious prize -- his second -- for his 1975 biography of Catholic Archbishop Jean Baptiste Lamy, first archbishop of Santa Fe and subject of Willa Cather's novel "Death Comes for the Archbishop." Handsomely penned in bold black ink. With original envelope, addressed in Horgan's hand.
This Virginia artist joined the U.S. Forest Service in the early 1930s and helped launch the "Smokey the Bear" campaign in the late '30s -- now the longest running public service campaign in history; he portrayed Smokey in literally hundreds of promotional pieces that encouraged conservation of natural resources and fire prevention. Color PS, heavy stock glossy 6" X 4", n.p., n.y. Near fine. Full color postcard reproduction of Wendelin's 1989 painting "Dear Smokey..." depicting the beloved bear leaning against a shovel alongside his mailbox reading a child's letter as two cubs clamber atop the mailbox, a wooded setting featuring lake, campers and ranger's cabin in the background. Wendelin signs boldly in black fineline in a lighter area at lower left. Accompanied by a high-quality glossy 10" X 8" photograph, a 1979 black and white image showing Wendelin and his wife standing alongside a costumed "Smokey the Bear" figure seated at a desk overflowing with fan mail, leaning back and reading a letter. (Inkstamped on verso "Smokey Bear Headquarters U.S. Department of Agriculture.") Fine. A most unusual photograph, possibly unpublished.
This Virginia artist joined the U.S. Forest Service in the early 1930s and helped launch the "Smokey the Bear" campaign in the late '30s -- now the longest running public service campaign in history; he portrayed Smokey in literally hundreds of promotional pieces that encouraged conservation of natural resources and fire prevention. Signed Color Print, 16" X 10¼" (under cream matte, overall dimensions 20" X 16"), n.p., n.y. [ca. 1991]. Fine. Printed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and titled "'High Five' for fire prevention," this print depicts a wooded outdoor scene, a red fire engine in the right foreground driving toward the viewer. One firefighter leans out the passenger window to give a "High Five" to Smokey Bear, who of course stands center foreground, holding a shovel in his left hand and returning the "High Five" with his right. At left foregound is a large pine tree, with a couple of bear cubs clambering up and watching the fire engine, while other wildlife (squirrel, raccoon, cardinal) hang about. At lower left, across part of the red fire engine, Wendelin signs large and bold in black fineline. A handsome piece. The number printed is not stated or generally known, but sources involved in its production indicate that Wendelin signed only a modest number of them. A superb rendition of this beloved character, in flawless condition. Uncommon and most handsome, this is a choice bit of American firefighting history.
Nicknamed "Poet of the Sierras," this boisterous frontiersman, California adventurer, gold miner and one-time horse thief turned literateur, drawing attention by his Western ways and garb; his books include "Pacific Poems," "Songs of the Sierras," "Life Among the Modocs" and others. "With yours / from / Joaquin Miller" and interesting squiggle boldly penned in brown ink on a 2¼" X 1¼", slip, n.p., n.y. Very good. Lightly age toned; neatly tipped to center of heavy stock 5" X 3" card. A handsome example, accompanied by a printed 6½" X 9¼" sepia-tone portrait (The Mentor Association, 1916), a dramatic romanticized head-and-shoulders artist's rendering of the white-bearded Miller in old age. Fine.
This Virginia artist joined the U.S. Forest Service in the early 1930s and helped launch the "Smokey the Bear" campaign in the late '30s -- now the longest running public service campaign in history; he portrayed Smokey in literally hundreds of promotional pieces that encouraged conservation of natural resources and fire prevention. Color PS, heavy stock glossy 6" X 4", n.p., n.y. Fine. Full color postcard reproduction of Wendelin's 1989 painting "Dear Smokey..." depicting the beloved bear leaning against a shovel alongside his mailbox reading a child's letter as two cubs clamber atop the mailbox, a wooded setting featuring lake, campers and ranger's cabin in the background. Wendelin signs boldly in black fineline in a lighter area at lower left. This signed image has been affixed via acid-free clear photo corners to the upper left of an 18" X 24" unsigned color poster celebrating the 50th anniversary of Smokey the Bear and published by the "Friends of Smokey" in Capitan, New Mexico in 1994. Large printed image of a Wendelin rendering of a seated Smokey as a cub leaning against a charred tree trunk and plopping a Forest Ranger's hat atop his head, one paw and one foot swathed in white bandages. Very good. Original single horizontal and vertical mailing folds; a number of small expert archival mends on verso. An appealing pair.
This bureaucratese critic par excellence was actually a businessman, writer, educator, civil servant, politico and even tongue-in-cheek 1992 presidential candidate (for the APA = Apathy Party of America) who came to fame with his 1972 "When in Doubt, Mumble: A Bureaucrat's Handbook" and several similar titles (such as "Fuzzify! Borenwords and Strategies for Bureaucratic Success"). Signed Original Drawing, heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p., n.y. Fine. On an actual library catalogue card for his most famous book "When in Doubt, Mumble," Boren signs twice ("James H. Boren / Jim Boren") in black ballpoint at left, and at right draws a comic little character -- apparently Boren's image of inanely smiling bureaucratic ineptitude personified, what appears to be a lit fuse in front of him. On the verso, Boren draws this lit fuse squiggle again and explains its meaning: "My symbol for a Mmumble. JB." [sic] This item has been matted (with verso note visible on mat verso) in red (overall dimensions 10" X 8"). The ultimate Boren memento for fans of Boren's bureaucratic burlesque (with its motto: ""When in charge, ponder... When in trouble, delegate... When in doubt, mumble") and its founding figure, Laurence C. Peter of "Peter Principle" fame, who wrote the introduction to "When in Doubt, Mumble"! Incredibly unusual.
This Virginia artist joined the U.S. Forest Service in the early 1930s and helped launch the "Smokey the Bear" campaign in the late '30s, making him the iconic figure he is today -- now the longest running public service campaign in history; he portrayed Smokey in literally hundreds of promotional pieces that encouraged conservation of natural resources and fire prevention. Two items celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the iconic bear: First, a Signed Postal Cover, 6½" X 3½", cancelled in Washington, DC on 9 August 1994 and with "USPS. Philatelic Center" as part of cancellation. At upper right are the 20-cent "Smokey" stamp, 4-cent "Forest Conservation" stamp and 5-cent John Muir Conservationist" stamp. Fine. Large printed cachet at left proclaims "Happy Birthday, Smokey!" and shows a candleless birthday cake noting "50 Years Preventing Forest Fires 1944-1994." Below this, Wendelin signs boldly in black fineline and inkstamps "Stamp Designer" in blue beneath his signature. Wendelin designed all three of these stamps -- "Forest Conservation" in 1958, "John Muir" in 1964 and "Smokey" in 1984. Second, an unsigned color poster, 12¼" X 16½", n.p., n.y. [1994]. Very good. Faint edgewear, with a few expert archival mends on verso. Handsome reproduction of a Wendelin painting showing a full-length Smokey standing in a beautiful forest setting with lake in background, affixing a poster ("Remember -- / Only you can / PREVENT FOREST FIRES / 1944 [Smokey head] 1994") to a wooden stand in the forest next to a burnt-out tree trunk as bear cubs and other wildlife surround him to watch. Caption along lower margin reads "50 YEARS ...and still going!" Poster verso bears ownership signature of Jean Pablo, U.S. Forest Service historian and close friend of Wendelin. Accompanying this handsome pair is a pristine original 8-page 8vo leaflet of the funeral program handed out at Wendelin's memorial service in 2000.
The left-handed New York Giants first baseman, nicknamed "Memphis Bill," was voted most valuable player in 1930 and the last person to bat .400 in the National League; as Giants manager, he helped the team earn three pennants. PS, 3½" X 5½", n.p., n.d. Near fine. Postcard pristine, though fineline ink adhesion is typically a bit speckled. Gold Hall of Fame plaque postcard, with his neat, usual "Wm H (Bill) Terry" in black fineline across the top.
The only astronaut to fly in the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs as well as the first to enter space three times was this original "Mercury Seven" figure, who flew the Mercury-Atlas 8 mission in 1962, a Gemini flight in 1965 and an Apollo flight in 1968. Photograph Signed, 5" X 6¼", n.p., n.y. [1961]. Very good. Lightly age toned. Newspaper portrait, an artist's head-and-shoulders portrait of Schirra in space suit with curving Earth and circling space capsule in background. Along the collarpiece (neckline) of the space suit, Schirra signs boldly in blue ballpoint. Undated image, though text on verso makes clear this was published in 1961. Unusual and dating from the earliest years of his NASA career.
