This extremely rare piece is a 1924 yearbook from John Wayne's 1924 Glendale Union High School in Glendale, California. It shows the future Oscar winning actor as junior class vice-president and in football gear in the football section and is signed with his birth name Marion Morrison! Items signed with Wayne's birth name are both extremely rare and highly desirable! Book signed "Marion/Morrison" on page 121, with other signatures in unknown hands. B/w, 228 pages, bound in brown paper covers. Titled: "Stylus/1924". This book is a copy of the 1924 Stylus yearbook from Glendale Union High School in Glendale, California. It's autographed by junior class vice-president John Wayne with his birth name, Marion Morrison, on the junior class introduction page on page 121. It also has an unsigned photo of him in football gear in football team section on page 159. Wayne (1907-1979, born Marion Michael Morrison in Winterset, Iowa) appeared in more films (over 250) than any other star. Best known for his roles in Westerns and war movies, he was the embodiment of the American hero in over 200 films, fighting (on screen) for his country in many of them.

For an article he wrote featuring art by Luis Quintanilla, Hemingway pencils short notes on a magazine page, describing Quintanilla as, "My best friend in Spain." Autograph Note unsigned, 1p, 10x14. On a magazine page: "This guy [the artist who drew the pictures] is my best friend in Spain. We got him out of jail by the way." at upper right margin and "They cut out my lead to make room for the pictures." at right margin above article. Circa 1935. Page 26 from an "Esquire" magazine that features two drawings and the beginning of an article written by Hemingway. In the 1930s, American novelist and short story writer Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961), who was a frequent contributor to "Esquire", wrote a series of 31 "letters" for the magazine. In this article, he writes about the growing tensions that would result in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). Hemingway, who supported the Loyalist side and served as a war correspondent during that war (1937), used his experiences as the background for his most ambitious novel, For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940).

Handwritten letter from Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and author of Gone With the Wind, to Edwin Granberry (and wife), who wrote one of the first good reviews of her book. She discusses how sorry she is for not writing them sooner describing herself as "oafish of oafs", explaining how busy she has become and will send a lengthier letter when the time is allowed Autograph Letter Signed: "M. M. M", 4p, 7x11. No place, 1936 July 27. To "Mabel and Edwin" [Granberry, an early reviewer of Gone With the Wind]. In full: "You two have every right to think me the most oafish of oafs for not having written you sooner to thank you for sanctuary, good food and best of all, marvelous company. Each morning I've risen, bent on writing to you and, as Hell began to pop before I even got my coffee down, I'd think 'No, I'll wait till I get time for a long letter.' And the time hasn't come. I don't know when it will come as John and my brother Steve, after a five hour conference about this so-and-so contract, sprung on me tonight a plan to go to N.Y. tomorrow and settle the thing in person. I have no clothes, no hats, not a change of underwear or an extra pair of stockings, but it seems that I'm going to N.Y. just the same.…"

The author of The Red Badge of Courage writes from England, where he had settled two years earlier. Calling Card Signed: "Yours faithfully/ Stephen Crane/ March 16, 1899", on verso of his personal 3x1½ card, printed: "Stephen Crane./ Brede Place./ Sussex" (not visible in frame). Also includes a black and white 3x4½ photograph of the author, 2x3½ visible. America's foremost "naturalistic" author Stephen Crane (1871-1900) moved to England in 1897. Although Crane never served in the military, he won international acclaim with The Red Badge of Courage, his 1895 book that told the story of a young soldier during the American Civil War. He later served as a war correspondent, covering the Greco-Turkish War (1897) and Spanish-American War (1898) for foreign newspapers. Crane's signature is virtually unobtainable in any form. The one offered here is especially desirable as it was penned by him on his calling card. Crane suffered from tuberculosis and died in a German sanitarium the year he signed this card. He was 28. Card lightly toned. Otherwise, fine condition. Framed to an overall size of 20½x11.

His signed autograph letter from 1884, framed with his picture and commemorative plaques to an overall size of 31x24 ALS: "C.L. Dodgson.", 1 page, 3¾x6. Ch[rist]. Ch[urch]., Oxford, 1884 May 18. To an unnamed recipient. In full: "My old friend, and your brother-in-law, Mr. F.H. Atkinson, tells me your mother & Sister are now in England. Can you tell me how long they are likely to remain, & what is their London address, as I might find some opportunity of calling, & renewing a pleasant acquaintance begun in Jersey last Eastertide." Oxford don and mathematician at Christ Church in Oxford, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (1832-1898) wrote this letter 19 years after his most famous work, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865), was published. A shy, serious-minded young man, he nonetheless had his whimsical side, which he reverted to when around children, and with whom he did not stammer. Urged to pen the imaginative stories that he told to the daughters of Oxford Dean Henry Liddell, Dodgson transposed his name, Charles Lutwidge, to Ludovic Carolus, resulting in the name Lewis Carroll.

Archive of 16 letters written by Tarzan's creator to his son Jack between 1923 and 1935, plus one letter from Burroughs to a film company. He writes in depth about family matters, but also about the filming of a Tarzan movie. The letters are signed "Papa" or "OB" (Old Burroughs). A rare insight into the private and public life of the prolific author. Collection comprised of 1) Autograph Letter signed: "Papa", 1 page, 8½x11. North Platte, Nebraska, 1923 February 16. To "Dear Jack", in full: "We are just leaving North Platte, Nebr. The train shakes so that I cannot draw very well. I couldn't if it didn't shake at all, so what's the difference. Did I tell you that I found your valentine in my grip? The one of the lady kicking. That must be the way she feels before breakfast. I wired ahead for reservations on the Broadway Limited on the Pennsylvania RR so we will arrive in New York at 9:40 Sunday morning. It will be nice & wintry and cold out. The air feels & tastes & smells good. Love & kisses to my dear children." At the top of this letter Burroughs has drawn a four-panel cartoon featuring his sons Jack and Hulbert.

Steinbeck authorizes the French production of a war-time play. Typewritten contract signed: "John Steinbeck", 3p, 8x12½ Paris, France, 1947 February 24. John Ernest Steinbeck Jr. signed this contract, dated February 24, 1947, to permit Madame Rose Belin, the Director of the Saint George Theater, to finance productions of his play, The Moon Is Down, in France and Belgium. The contract also provided for the translation of the play into French. Steinbeck had written the play during World War II (1939-1945); it had opened on Broadway on April 8, 1942. After completing the play, Steinbeck immediately adapted it into a novelette with the same title. The Moon is Down deals with the Nazi occupation of a European country; Steinbeck wrote it as a contribution to the war effort while working with the Coordinator of Information, an agency created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945) to combat Nazi propaganda with Allied films and literary works. The play was criticized in the United States for its humanizing portrayal of German fascists: however, it was well-received in Europe since it encouraged the resistance underground movement.

Scarce Typed DS: "Ayn Rand" on page 3, 3p, 8½x11, separate sheets. New York City, 1976 June 12 (dated by Rand). Letter of Agreement to Rand from Palo Alto Book Service. Begins: "Dear Ayn". In full: "This will serve as our Agreement for the Palo Alto Book Service for the purpose of promoting and selling the remaining inventory of The Ayn Rand Letter, The Objectivist, the bound copies of The Objectivist Newsletter, and the pamphlets published by The Objectivist Newsletter and The Objectivist. We will receive the physical inventory of the above as well as any remaining stock of your novels and non-fiction works, including Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology, all of which are held by The Objectivist Book Service, Inc. The inventory will be shipped to us, insured, via book rate, or by truck, if that method should prove less expensive. We will share the cost of shipment with the Objectivist Book Service, Inc. The physical inventory shall, at all times, remain your property. We agree to insure the inventory for its replacement value, and shall share equally with you the cost of insurance. We shall be charged with the responsibility of maintaining the inventory in sound condition.…"

Signed and notarized 1930 contract selling Paramount the rights to one of his stories Typed Contract signed: "Dashiell Hammett", 4 pages, 8½x11, separate sheets. No place, but County of Los Angeles, 1930 November 26. Contract between Hammett and Paramount Publix Corporation regarding the sale of the rights "to an original story entitled AFTER SCHOOL written by the seller [Hammett]." Hammett was paid "the sum of Five Thousand ($5000.00) Dollars, receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged." Countersigned by the Executive Manager of Paramount Publix Corporation. Lightly creased. Nicked at upper right blank corner of first page, file holes at blank left margins. Fine condition. Accompanied by typed notarized statement signed: "Alfred A. Grosser" as Notary Public, 1 page, 8½x11. Attesting that "personally appeared DASHIELL HAMMETT, personally known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument...." Lightly creased, chipped at upper right blank corner. File holes at blank left margin. Fine condition. After School became City Streets, released in 1931 and starring Gary Cooper.

SIR WALTER SCOTT 1823 promissory note signed by Sir Walter Scott highlights relationship with publisher James Ballantyne. Promissory Note signed: "Walter Scott", 8x3¼. Edinburgh, 1823 May 3. The great Scottish poet and novelist agrees to repay his publisher in twelve months. In full: "Twelve months after date, pay to our order, at our Printing Office here, eight hundred and seventy five pounds sterling, for value received. James Ballantyne & Co." Sir WALTER SCOTT (1771-1832), considered to be the father of the historical novel, had first met JAMES BALLANTYNE (1772-1833) in 1783 while attending Kelso Grammar School. In 1799, Ballantyne privately printed the two pamphlets with which Scott began his writing career, An Apology for Tales of Terror and The Eve of St. John, a ballad, beginning a literary and business partnership that would last throughout Scott's lifetime. The greatest success of James Ballantyne and Co. came in 1808, when Scott's second narrative poem, Marmion, was printed by Ballantyne for publisher Archibald Constable (Scott's first narrative poem, The Lay of the Last Minstral, had been published by Constable in 1805). Scott's romantic work, Rob Roy (1818) was also published by James Ballantyne and Co.

This framed image is signed and inscribed to a young woman named Mary Lawton Inscribed Photograph Mount Signed: "To Mary Lawton from G. Bernard Shaw", 15x11 visible, actual image 14x11 (visible) and mounted to a larger page. B/w. Dated November 1938. Includes plaque and fine decorative frame. GEORGE BERNARD SHAW (1856-1950) was born in Dublin, Ireland. During his life, he wrote dozens of plays, most famously Man and Superman (1903), Pygmalion (1913), and Saint Joan (1923). In addition to Shaw's prolific creative writings, he was also outspoken on politics, religion, and current events. One of his more unique passions was fighting for an improved alphabet. A book of his improved alphabet was published 12 years after his death to crickets. All his life, he wanted to be referred to as Bernard Shaw, but in his signature he always signed as G.B.S. or G. Bernard Shaw. In 1925, he received the Nobel Prize for literature. Thirteen years later, he became the first person to win both a Nobel Prize and an Academy Award, the latter for the 1938 film Pygmalion. Frame lightly chipped around edges. Mounting page toned. Otherwise, fine condition. Framed to an overall size of 30½x20½.

. ALS: "Yours Truly/J.M. Barrie", 2p, 5x6. Leinster Corner, Lancaster Gate, W., 1906 February 3. To Miss Bowman. In full: "This is the present London company that is going on tour with Peter Pan, so there is no vacancy, but suppose you come here and have a talk with me. Say, on Tuesday at 5:30. This is the first house past Lancaster Gate in the Baywood Rd." Scottish novelist and playwright James Barrie is most recognized today for Peter Pan, a character based on the children in Barrie's life and on Barrie himself. The story of Peter Pan began with a book called The Little White Bird, published in 1902. The character, Peter, was introduced as a baby, and he was later developed into the play Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up. The play premiered in 1904, and productions and adaptations are still common, including Steven Spielberg's movie, Hook (1991). Barrie also wrote What Every Woman Knows in 1908 and Mary Rose in 1920. Sir James Barrie's work is still popular today because of the many rich elements he took from his own life and the lives of people around him. He believed in the power of emotion, but he also was possessed of an irrepressible humor.