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THE WILL H. HAYS COLLECTION OF SIGNED BOOKS AND PHOTOGRAPHS
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58 GRABHORN PRESS Grabhorn Series of Rare Americana. San Francisco: The Grabhorn Press, 1932-1937. 20 vols. (Complete) Various sizes, cloth, most in dust jackets. In reprinting these works, it was the Grabhorns’ aim to make scarce and significant texts on the American experience available at a reasonable cost. Several with prospectuses laid in. Fine. Very rare as a complete set. $2,000-4,000
59 JOHNSON, ANDREW Document signed, 1p., vellum, 20 June 1866. Appointing Charles H. Roys as Major. Signed as President. Countersigned by Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton. 19 1/2 x 16 inches. $300-500
60 LAKESIDE CLASSICS A set of 55 volumes. Edited by Milo Milton Quaife, Dale Morgan, Doyce B. Nunis, Jr. et al. Each with illustrations, including maps (many folding). Chicago: R.R. Donnelly and Sons/The Lakeside Press, 19282004. 8vo, cloth-backed boards, gilt titles to spines, top edges gilt, some in original plastic wrapping. First editions, first printings. Considered the longest running series of Americana, these books have never been sold in the primary market, as they were given by the publisher to employees of the Lakeside Press as Christmas presents. Every 25 years the color of the binding was changed: red (1928-1952), brown (1978-2002), sea green (2003-present). The present set contains the complete collections of two generations of Lakeside Press employees, with 25 red titles (28 volumes) and 25 brown titles, with the latter in mint unwrapped condition. It also contains two unwrapped sea green titles. Brown and green titles in mint condition; edgewear and fading to red volumes with pencil inscriptions to spine; some fading to gilt on red titles; otherwise a very fine set. $800-1,200
61* (LAND GRANT, INDIANA) A group of four land grants for property in Indiana signed for Presidents James Buchanan (3) and Andrew Jackson (1) by their secretaries. Each 9 1/2 x 16 inches. Property from the Estates of Will H. Hays, Sullivan, Indiana, and Will H. Hays Jr., Crawfordsville, Indiana $150-250
62* (LINCOLN, ABRAHAM) GREELEY, HORACE Greeley’s Estimate of Lincoln. An Unpublished Address by Horace Greeley. Compiled by Charles T. White. Hancock, New York: Herald Printery, 1932. Thin 8vo, 3/4 blue morocco over marbled boards. One of 100 number copies printed for Charles T. White, of which this is number 10. Inscribed by White to limitation page. With autographed letter signed by Greeley, New York, October 27, 1857. 1 p. To an unknown recipient. Laid into page opposite title page and secured with blue paper strip. Pertaining to a speaking engagement. With two engraved illustrations tipped in. Rebacked; letter creased in quadrants with some loss at the folds; otherwise fine. Property from the Estates of Will H. Hays, Sullivan, Indiana, and Will H. Hays Jr., Crawfordsville, Indiana $200-400
62A* (LINCOLN, ABRAHAM) NUYTTENS, PIERRE An engraved inscribed bust portrait of Lincoln by Pierre Nuyttens. Edition 193/250. After the famous photograph portrait taken by Alexander Gardner in 1863. With inscription on matte reading: “To my good friend Will Hays with sincere regards William Boyd Thompson Dec. 25th, 1921.” Together with a signed original wood engraving of Lincoln by Timothy Cole. Property from the Estates of Will H. Hays, Sullivan, Indiana, and Will H. Hays Jr., Crawfordsville, Indiana 16 x 11 inches. $300-500
63 (OREGON) LEE, D. AND J. H. FROST Ten Years in Oregon. By Daniel Lee and Joseph Frost. New York: published for the authors, printed by J. Collard, 1844. 12mo, full mottled calf, red spine label. With folding map featuring Vancouver Island and engraved title vignette. First edition, first issue. The journal of two Methodist missionaries, covering their journey from Liberty, Missouri, to the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Containing an appendix of “Specimens of Indian Dialects,” a meeting with renowned frontiersman, Daniel Boone, who was at that time age 85, and numerous references to their financier, John Jacob Astor. Rubbing to boards; minor browning to pages; foxing to endpapers; otherwise fine. $100-200 66
64 SHERMAN, WILLIAM TECUMSAH Autographed letter signed. 1 p. New York, December 23, 1889. Directing a certain individual to a section of his memoires that relates General Johnston’s famed surrender at Bennett house. Signed “W. T. Sherman.” Creased in thirds on lined paper; 1/4 inch separation at top fold; otherwise fine. 9 x 5 1/2 inches. $300-500
65 TURNLEY, PARMENAS T. Reminiscences of Parmenas T. Turnley. Chicago: Donohue and Henneberry, (1892). 12mo, original green cloth, gilt titles to spine. Inscribed to Mrs. Jan. St. Shields to verso f.f.e.p. With an autographed letter signed “P. T. Turnley” laid in. Very minor rubbing to extremities of boards; hinges starting; otherwise very fine. Estimate:$400-600
66 (WYOMING) MILLER, ROBERT AND GRACE Archive of correspondence from the founders of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Housed in a binder with other paper ephemera. Robert E. Miller was an early settler of the Teton Valley, one of the founders of the town of Jackson Hole and the first superintendent of the Teton National Monument. His cabin is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the National Elk Refuge was formed from 2,000 acres his land. Grace Miller, his wife, was the first petticoat mayor of Jackson Hole Wyoming. Also included is an archive of letters from Robert E. Miller’s brother, James Miller, to his sister Mary detailing his experiences in the Boer Wars of South Africa [December 10, 1886 - March 8th, 1908]. $300-500
The popular image of Will H. Hays has been derived largely from his position as the first president of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America (now the Motion Picture Association of America), where he oversaw the creation of the first censorship ratings, aptly referred to as the Hays Production Code. Prior to taking on this role, Hays had a distinguished career as a politician, having been chairman of the Republican Party, Warren G. Harding’s campaign manager, and Postmaster General to the Harding administration. The following collection underscores the important intermediary position held by Hays in the 1920s, 30s and 40s, reflecting a shared sense of opportunity and collaboration in America among men and women of science, politics and the arts.
67* ALFONSO XIII, KING OF SPAIN Signed photograph of King Alfonso of Spain. Inscribed to Mr. Will Hays and dated 1929. 9 x 6 inches, oval. $100-200
68* BYRD, RICHARD E. A group of two letters from the collection of Will H. Hays from polar explorer Richard E. Byrd. A handwritten letter dated May 10, 1936 has Byrd expressing, on the anniversary of his return from the South Pole, his deep appreciation for assistance which helped “take possession of thousands of square miles of new territory for the United States.” It includes a piece of the insulation from the wall of the Advance Meteorological Base, “the southernmost habitation ever occupied by man.” The second, a typed letter signed, dated June 25 1936, lets Hays know that he has decided to name one of the mountains he discovered after Hays, and encourages Hays to run for President. Signed Dick Byrd, with handwritten postscript. Together with Alone. By Richard E. Byrd. New York: G.P. Putnam and sons, 1938. In dust jacket. Inscribed by Byrd to Hays on half-title. And another copy of Alone, inscribed, lacking dust jacket. Framed dimensions: ALS: 12 x 9 inches; TLS: 14 x 12 inches. $400-600 69* COOLIDGE, CALVIN Photograph of Calvin Coolidge and a large group of others including Will Hays. Inscribed beneath photograph on matte: “To Will H Hays With Regards Calvin Coolidge.” Undated. 7 1/2 x 9 1/2 inches. $200-400
70* DEMPSEY, JACK Signed photograph of Jack Dempsey in boxing gear. Inscribed twice, once to Will Hays reading “Bill - Tell the gang I’ll be out to see them soon - Jack,” and to Will Hays Jr. reading “To my Pal Bill Hays, Jr. Best to you & the Boy’s Club of Sullivan, Indiana. Your old pal - Jack Dempsey.” Undated. 10 x 8 inches. $100-200
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71* DISNEY, WALT An original animation cell from the 1937 Disney film Snow White. Inscribed on matte “To Will Hays ‘Whistle While You Work’ Walt Disney.” Featuring the dwarves as they return home singing “Whistle While You Work.” Matte labeled “Dwarfs” in pencil and blindstamped W. D. E. 5 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches. $2,000-4,000
72* EDISON, THOMAS ALVA A Million and One Nights: The History of the Motion Picture. By Terry Ramsay. New York, 1926. 2 vols. 4to, half calf and marbled boards, gilt titles to spines. Signed by Thomas Edison beneath his dedication and by Terry Ramsay to the limitation page. Of the 327 copies printed bearing these signatures, Hays’ copy is number 3. Rubbing to boards; otherwise fine. $600-800
73* HARDING, WARREN G. Official 1921 White House photograph of Warren G. Harding with members of his cabinet, signed by each. Photograph and signatures include Harding, Secretary of the Treasury Andrew Mellon, Attorney General Harry M. Daughtry, Secretary of the Navy Edwin Denby, Secretary of Agriculture Henry Wallace, Secretary of Labor James J. Davis, Vice President Calvin Coolidge, Secretary of State Charles E. Hughes, Secretary of War John W. Weeks, Postmaster General William H. Hays, Secretary of the Interior Albert B. Fall, and Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover. Signatures slightly faded; a few small stains at edge, obscured by frame; otherwise fine. 7 1/2 x 10 inches. $3,000-5,000 74* HARDING, WARREN G. A signed photograph of Warren G. Harding as President-Elect. With long inscription to Will Hays, reading “To my valued friend Will H. Hays, with grateful appreciation of the rarest and best service one American can render another, accompanied by birthday greetings for Nov. 5 from one who celebrates Nov. 2, in the spirit marked by the interesting days in November 1920. Gratefully and sincerely, Warren G. Harding.” Dated November 5, 1920, Hays’ 41st birthday. Harding had been elected to the office of President three days before on November 2, 1920. (c) Edmonston. A few scratches and scuffing; inscription slightly faded; otherwise fine. 10 x 8 inches. $300-500
75* HART, WILLIAM S. The Golden West Boys “Injun” and “Whiskey” to the Rescue. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1922. 8vo, blue pictorial cloth. Signed on the f.f.e.p. by the author. Fading to cloth; fraying to spine ends; otherwise fine. $100-200
76* HEARST, WILLIAM RANDOLPH Signed photograph of William Randolph Hearst, inscribed to Will Hays, reading “Dear Will - I would not inflict this on your but Mrs. Hays says you are good natured and will not mind. Along with the photograph go my best wishes and sincerest regards. William Randolph Hearst.” Undated, blindstamped James Manatt Hollywood. With some scratches and closed tears at edges; inscription faded but legible; otherwise sound. 14 x 11 inches. $300-500
