Catalog: Traditional Collectibles: Ephemera: Autographs (20)

Ballpoint pen inscribed and signed black and white photograph of quarterback Bill Nelsen of the Cleveland Browns, circa early 1970's, the dedication reading "--Bob-- Best of luck in your future/your cousin Bill Nelsen". The photo measures 9 7/8" by 7". It is loose but protected in a simple inexpensive frame...

Original faded green ink pen signature and dedication by the famous heavyweight boxing champion and cultural icon of the 1920's, JACK DEMPSEY (1895-1983). The dedication reads "To the Old Boy himself my friend John Early Best Wishes Jack Dempsey Nov 22 -22 Memphis. Tenn", all written on top of a sepia-toned photo of the champ in his boxing days...

Of considerable historical interest, a black and white photograph of renowned American late 20th century political figure EDMUND MUSKIE (March 28, 1914 – March 26, 1996), inscribed at bottom margin in felt tip pen "To Steve/with the bet wishes of a friend/Ed Muskie". Muskie was an American politician with a long record of public service...

A typed letter on the stationery of famous American novelist, playwright, short story writer EDNA FERBER (1885-1968), dated February 13, 1937, signed in ink by Ferber. It is addressed to a Miss Janet Cohn of Park Avenue, New York, and reads: "Dear Miss Cohn/You wrote to me about a possible dramatization of THE AFTERNOON OF A FAUN. Has the young author ever done any playwriting, or is this his first attempt? Would you be good enough to let me know a little more about him...

A color photo of Los Angeles mayor and Democratic politician Eric Garcetti, 9 1/4" by 7 1/2" (17 3/4" by 14 3/4" framed), hand signed in black marker at lower center. Garcetti's term as Los Angeles mayor ended in 2022. He was nominated for United States ambassador to India and currently holds that position. Garcetti had been mentioned as a national candidate for president and was a close confidant and advisor to Joe Biden during the 2020 elections...

A nicely framed photograph of famed American naive artist GRANDMA MOSES (1860-1961) with a bold ink signature of the artist on a card, along with a charming and rare historical handwritten letter dated May 21, 1960, postmarked Eagle Bridge, New York, from Mrs. Forrest Moses, the daughter-in-law, to a fan in Lonoke, Arkansas who had requested an autograph or photo...

A handwritten letter mounted on an old board, along with old photographic reproductions of two of the artist's works, by well listed French 19th century artist JEAN-JACQUES HENNER (1829-1905). The letter is entirely in French, written in old brown ink, on one page (though there are three other unused sides), and is undated. An old mat with hand-drawn and painted borders (removable) is fitted over openings made for the letter and photos...

A hand signed photo of famed space pioneer JOHN GLENN (1921-2016), who was the first American to orbit the earth, in 1962, when he made three orbits as the world watched in awe. In 1998 at age 77 he became the oldest man to travel into space, when he flew aboard the Discovery space shuttle. In between, Glenn was successful in private business, and was US Senator from Ohio for several terms...

Scarce and desirable autograph signature of the 5th president of the United States, JOHN QUINCY ADAMS (1767-1848), **AND** of GEORGE GRAHAM (1772-1830), early Texas coast explorer/land grant commissioner, on a land grant document measuring 9" by 15", in a 7/8" wide simple wood frame. The land grant is referring to an 80 acre parcel in Wayne County, Michigan Territory (Detroit), and is dated February 1, 1827...

A black and white 1950's photo of the famous Argentine, Juan Peron (1895-1974), inscribed in ink at bottom "al senor Herbert He. Jillson, con gran afecto/Buenos Aires, 18 febrero 1955/Juan Peron". The piece measures 14" by 9" inside the mat and 18 1/2" by 13 1/2" framed (no glass, as found). This is a fascinating piece of history. Peron of course was a world-famous figure at mid century...

Original, HAND SIGNED AND INSCRIBED black and white photo from 1965, of the 36th president of the United States, LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON (1908-1973). Johnson became president upon the assassination of John F. Kennedy in Dallas in 1963. He was elected to the office on his own in 1964. A Democrat, he oversaw the ramping up of the war in Vietnam and landmark social legislation. The photo is inscribed to one Ellen Oshim. The writing reads "To Ellen Oshim/with best wishes...

Rare original handwritten letter, apparently dating to the year 1801, by the famous, iconic English-language historical novelist, playwright, poet, and judge SIR WALTER SCOTT (1771-1832). This is a folded sheet of ancient paper, measuring 8" by 5", two sides of which bear writing. When acquired it was in a frame with the engraved image of him, as autograph materials are often framed. The old tape has dried so they were moving around loose inside, and therefore I have photographed the two piec...

A typed letter on official stationery of the Office of the Vice President, Washington, dated August 11, 1956, signed in brown ink "Dick", by Richard Nixon. The sheet, 9" by 7", is currently unframed. Text is "Dear Randall"/This is just a note to tell you how deeply I appreciated your expression of confidence and loyalty as conveyed in the wire I received from Sacramento last Saturday./As you can imagine, I have received a considerable volume of wires and letters during the past two weeks. B...

A fine black and white classic photo of Edward ("Ted") Kennedy, 1932-2009, United States senator from Massachusetts for almost 47 years, brother of President John Kennedy and Robert Kennedy, hand signed and inscribed in ink, in the collar area: "To Ronald with this appreciation for your good work in August campaign/Ted Kennedy". (Last words difficult to decipher but this is my best guess of those final words). Judging from the youth of the subject, I would suggest the photo image itself dates...

A letter typed on US Senate stationery, dated June 3, 1966, hand signed in brown ink by Ted Kennedy (1932-2009) when he was on the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare. The senator was responding to correspondence from a George McCullough of New York City, which evidently dealt with McCullough's concerns about sharply increased LSD use in the United States. This letter was written about three years before the infamy of Chappaquiddick, when Kennedy would have been a senator for only about four...

For collectors of historical marine items and specifically memorabilia relating to the sinking of the ocean liner Titanic in the year 1912, here is a rare opportunity to acquire not only an interesting item relating to that sinking, but, also, a fine piece of American art. This is a pencil signed engraving, measuring 14" by 21" (the sheet itself), by the noted American artist FRANCIS DAVIS MILLET (1846-1912), who was one of the 1,000 people who perished on that infamous ship. Millet was a high...

This is an actual antique page (not a reprint) from the Illustrated London News issue of April 1, 1843, the article describing in detail the efforts at the time to manufacture a flying machine powered by a light weight steam engine. The decorative and most interesting page features three detailed drawings of these primitive contraptions, all of which failed; Kitty Hawk was sixty years in the future. The drawings resemble some of the early drawings of flying machines by Leonardo da Vinci centur...

A pair of typed letters on White House vice-presidential stationery, one dated October 27, 1972, the other dated August 27, 1973, each addressed to Beverly Hills, CA friends of the 39th Vice President of the United States, SPIRO T. AGNEW (1918-1996). The first letter thanks the couple for working hard on behalf of the party for the upcoming November 1972 election (Richard Nixon/Agnew against George McGovern and Sargent Shriver); the second, written only weeks before his October 10, 1973 resigna...