9 minute read
Classic Entertainment
finish 8 x 10 photo of the rotund comedian wearing a top hat and a mischievous smile, signed in blue ballpoint, “Good luck to, Oliver Hardy,” who has left the inscription blank. In very fine condition. A crystal clear portrait of the legendary entertainer. Starting Bid $200 869. Audrey Hepburn Signed Photograph. Stunning
glossy 8 x 10 promo photo of Hepburn in her iconic role as Holly Golightly in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s, signed in black felt tip. In fine condition. Accompanied by a brief provenance statement stating that the autograph was obtained in San Francisco while she was there to film Love Among Thieves. Starting Bid $200
9.5 x 12.5 publicity photo of Oliver Hardy as Dr. Tibbett posing below an elephant for the 1939 comedy film Zenobia, signed and inscribed in fountain pen, “To my pal Hal Fisher, I am not near as happy as I look—you know: ‘An elephant never forgets.’ Your pal, Oliver Hardy, 1942.” In very good to fine condition, with scattered creasing, light silvering, and old tape stains along the trimmed edges. Accompanied by a full letter of authenticity from JSA. Starting Bid $200
870. Audrey Hepburn Signed Photograph. Color
glossy 8 x 10 full-length photo of Hepburn in costume as Eliza Doolittle in 1964’s My Fair Lady, signed in blue felt tip. In fine condition, with a few light circular impressions from her forehead to waist, visible at an angle. Starting Bid $200 871. Audrey Hepburn Signed Photograph. Glossy 8
x 10 photo of Hepburn as Susy Hendrix in the 1967 psychological thriller Wait Until Dark, signed in blue felt tip. Reverse bears an affixed caption. In fine condition, with light surface impressions along the top edge from a notation on the back. Starting Bid $200
872. Katharine Hepburn Document Signed. DS, two pages
both sides, 8.5 x 11, February 15, 1956. Agreement between Hepburn and Hal B. Wallis/Joseph H. Hazen for her to “act, play and perform the role of ‘Lizzie Curry’ in the motion picture photoplay tentatively entitled The Rainmaker.” Signed at the conclusion in fountain pen by Hepburn, Wallis, and Hazen. In fine condition. Hepburn would be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for the role. Starting Bid $200
sepia matte-finish 3.5 x 5.25 postcard photo of Harry Houdini in a handsome half-length pose, signed in fountain pen, “Harry Houdini, Bristol, 2/14/13.” Published by Nordische Kunstanstalt Ernst Schmidt & Co., of Lubeck, Germany. In very fine condition. Starting Bid $300
874. Harry Houdini Signed Book.
Uncommon signed book: A Magician Among the Spirits. First edition, first printing. NY: Harper and Brothers, 1924. Hardcover, 6.5 x 9.5, 294 pages. Signed and inscribed on the first free end page in black ink, “To ‘Eddie’ Doherty, Hope you will have time to glance over my ‘monument,’ Houdini, Aug 15/25, and its all true.” Autographic condition: very good to fine, with light irregular overall toning to the signed page. Book condition: VG/ None. Starting Bid $200
Houdini introduces a prison reformer to Arthur Conan Doyle
one page, 8.5 x 11, personal letterhead, May 3, 1922. Letter to British scribe and Sherlock Holmes creator Arthur Conan Doyle, in full: “I wrote you the other day about the bearer of this letter, Mr. Edward H. Morrell. He would very much like to make your acquaintance, and trust that you will see your way clear to grant him an interview.” In very good to fine condition, with some light creasing, scattered small stains, and a faint rusty paperclip impression to the upper left corner.
Houdini first met writer Arthur Conan Doyle while the former was touring the United Kingdom in 1920 as a part of his ongoing crusade to debunk beliefs in spirits and the occult. Houdini, who was even known to attend seances in disguise to observe supposed clairvoyants, chronicled these exploits in A Magician Among the Spirits, first published by Harper & Brothers in 1924. This book and his activities cost Houdini his friendship with Doyle, one of the most prominent spiritualists of the day—a public feud developed between the two, and Houdini did not spare Doyle from harsh criticism in the book. Starting Bid $200
On the late Oliver Hardy: “The death of my dear partner was a sad blow to me”
876. Stan Laurel Typed Letter Signed. TLS, one page, 5 x 8, August
15, 1957. Letter on the death of Oliver Hardy, in part: “The death of my dear partner was a sad blow to me, even tho’ I have been notified the day before that the end was near. However, I think it was a blessing he suffered a great deal & in pain these few weeks, so am happy in the thought that he was taken out of his misery.” In very good to fine condition, with light creasing and some small edge stains. Accompanied by a full letter of authenticity from PSA/DNA. Starting Bid $200
877. Laurel and Hardy Signed Photograph. Vintage matte-finish 7 x 5 of the comedy duo side-by-side in their iconic bowler hats, signed and inscribed in fountain pen, “Thank you Dolores! Stan Laurel” and “Oliver Hardy.” In fine condition, with a small crease to Hardy’s bowler, and light silvering to the darker areas of the image. Accompanied by the original photograph mailing envelope from Laurel and Hardy Feature Productions. Starting Bid $200
878. Laurel and Hardy Docu-
ment Signed. DS, two pages, 8.5 x 11, December 30, 1943. Confirmation of an agreement with Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation regarding the cancelation of a lending agreement. In part: “It is mutually understood and agreed, that the said Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy have neither rendered services, nor have you become entitled to compensation.” Signed twice at the conclusion by Stan Laurel, and once by Oliver Hardy. In fine condition, with light corner creasing, and faint rusty paperclip impressions. Starting Bid $200
McQueen signs with his breakout role name
879. Steve McQueen Signed Photograph.
Vintage matte-finish 3.5 x 5 photo of Steve McQueen as Josh Randall from the Western television series Wanted: Dead or Alive, signed and inscribed in red ballpoint using his character’s name, “To Betty and Bobby, from Josh Randall.” In fine condition. McQueen had always been a reluctant signer, especially of photographs. This is the first example of him signing with his breakout role name that we have ever encountered. Starting Bid $300
880. Steve McQueen Document Signed.
DS, signed “Steven T. McQueen,” two pages, 8.5 x 11, January 5, 1972. Document headed “Consent to action of board of directors of Astral Productions International, Inc., taken without a meeting,” relating to the ratification and the authorization of agreements and documents with First Artists Production Company and National General Pictures Corporation. Signed at the conclusion by in black felt tip Steve McQueen, and countersigned by William J. Maher and Gerald E. Breslauer. In fine condition. Starting Bid $200
881. Marilyn Monroe Handwritten Letter. Handwritten letter in pencil by Marilyn Monroe, unsigned, one page, both sides, 3.75 x 6.75, no date. Addressed to Dr. Margaret Hohenberg, in full (struck through words are in brackets): “I’ve been wondering myself why I don’t write to you. [I thought it has to do with the part that] I’ve been feeling I was taken away from you or that you sent me away from you [with your permission]. On the whole, things are going rather well so far. M.C.A., our agents, and Stein, our lawyer [are], have dealt dealing with Natasha but, we’ll see—I have a strange feeling about Paula. I mean, she works differently than Lee. Anyway I keep feeling I won’t be able to do the part when I have too it like a horrible nightmare. [at the top, Monroe continues on about Paula Strasberg: “but she is a wonderful and warm person—which also bewilders me”] Also I guess I didn’t write you before this because I was waiting to see if I would get shot-first. Arthur writes me every day, at least [that] it gives me [a little] air to breathe, I can’t get used to the fact that he loves me and I keep waiting for him to stop loving me though I hope he never will, but I keep telling myself, who knows?” In fine condition. This letter is published in the 2010 book Fragments: Poems, Intimate Notes, Letters (pgs. 202-203). Starting Bid $1000
882. Marilyn Monroe: Bert Stern Signed ‘The Last Sitting’ Oversized Photograph. Limited edition color
semi-glossy 20 x 24 silver gelatin photo of Marilyn Monroe from the 1962 Bert Stern suite, ‘The Last Sitting,’ published by William Morrow and Company, New York. The photo depicts Marilyn holding beads, looking over shoulder, and biting her lower lip, numbered 102/250, signed in the lower border in felt tip by Stern. In fine condition, with slight overall fading, and toning from prior display. Starting Bid $200
883. Marilyn Monroe: Bert Stern Signed ‘The Last
semi-glossy 20 x 24 silver gelatin photo of Marilyn Monroe from the Bert Stern suite, ‘The Last Sitting,’ published by William Morrow and Company, New York. The photo depicts Marilyn smiling and holding up a cocktail glass, numbered 102/250, signed in the lower border in felt tip by Stern. In fine condition, with slight overall fading, and toning from prior display. Starting Bid $200
884. John Wayne Signature. Vintage pencil signa-
ture, “John Wayne,” on an off-white 5.75 x 4.25 album page. In fine condition. Starting Bid $200