JOHN HANCOCK and JOHN AVERY, JR. As Massachusetts Governor and Secretary of State, both sign a manuscript document appointing Superior Court Justice David Sewall to the Commonwealth's Supreme Court (1781). Ornate Manuscript DS: "John Hancock" as Governor of Massachusetts, 1 page, 21¾x13. On vellum. Boston, 1781 February 20. Countersigned: "John Avery Secy". Appointment of David Sewall as Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts. On verso, appears a short Manuscript DS: "John Hancock". In full: "In Council February 20th 1781. Hnble David Sewall Esqr appeared at the Council Chamber Subscribed the Declaration and the Several Oaths prescribed by the Constitution of the Commonwealth to qualify himself for the Office within mentioned." Born in York, Maine, SEWALL (1735-1825), Councillor for the Province of Maine (1766-1777), was Justice of the Superior Court of Massachusetts (1777-1781) when he received this appointment to the State's Supreme Judicial Court. He served until 1789 when he was appointed Judge of the U.S. District Court of Maine (1789-1817). read more...

WALT DISNEY Signed reproduction of an original celluloid drawing used in Alice in Wonderland. Printed Image Mount signed: "Walt Disney" in green crayon. Color, 11x8, matted to 17x20 (two surfaces). The success of Walt Disney's first full-length cartoon feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (December 1937), led to additional cartoon films, including the popular Alice in Wonderland, released in 1951. This printed illustration was most probably released by Walt Disney Productions in Burbank, California. Typical of these reproductions is a label affixed to their backs issued by Walt Disney Productions in Burbank. There is a remnant of a label on the verso of this image that appears to be the same size as ones we have previously seen. These labels are the official information and authenticity that accompany the print. The studio typically issued only 100 of the reproductions for a specific image. The labels always stated: "This is a reproduction of an original celluloid drawing, actually used in the Walt Disney production...Celluloid paintings are the final step in the creation of the Walt Disney animated picture." This charming print is signed by the innovative American animator. read more...

AUTHENTIC LEATHER COLLAR WORN BY BULLET, ROY ROGERS' "WONDER DOG"   [ROY ROGERS]. Dog Collar, unsigned. Black leather dog collar decorated with studs and red plastic "jewels", 19 inches long, one inch wide. "Roy Rogers" imprinted in capital letters in white on back. This collar, which was originally sold at an auction held at the Roy Rogers & Dale Evans Museum in Victorville, California, was worn by Roger's "wonder dog", Bullet. A founding member of the Western music group, Sons of the Pioneers (1934), Roy Rogers (1911-1998) broke into films as a singing cowboy the following year. Beginning in 1938, he had starring roles in dozens of Western films. From 1951-1957, Rogers, "The King of the Cowboys", and Dale Evans, "The Queen of the West", whom Rogers married in 1947, starred in The Roy Rogers Show. Their co-stars included Trigger, Roy's golden palomino, Dale's horse, Buttermilk, Pat Brady (Roy's comic sidekick) and Bullet, the Wonder Dog. Normal wear at edges. Fine condition. read more...

HOWARD HUGHES Hughes loans actor Louis Wolheim to Samuel Goldwyn for The Awakening. Document signed: "Howard Hughes", 3p, 8½x12½. Los Angeles, California, 1928 April 28. Hughes' Caddo Company loans actor Louis Wolheim to Samuel Goldwyn Inc. to appear in a film titled The Innocent. (The film was released later that year by United Artists as The Awakening.) Signed on p3. Also signed by a representative of Samuel Goldwyn Inc. (name illegible). Some dates added in ink (unknown hand). Accompanied by typed letter signed "Jos. W. Engel" on letterhead The Caddo Company, dated 1928 May 12, delaying by one day the period of Wolheim's loan-out so that he can spend an extra day filming The Racket. Larger than life HOWARD HUGHES (1905-1976), movie mogul, aircraft designer and builder, political intrigue, and the world's richest man at the time of his death, dashing lothario turned ultra-eccentric recluse, continues to fascinate, as evidenced by a recent film biography (The Aviator, 2004), and even a film about a fake biography (The Hoax, 2007). JOSEPH W. read more...

GEORGE “BUGS” MORAN The Chicago mobster who waged a city-wide war with fellow mafioso Al Capone signed this petition. Extremely rare! Typed Document Signed: "George Moran", 1p, 8x3¾. No place, but probably Chicago, 1938 November 28. Co-signed: "Lillian E. Cohen" as Notary Public. In Full: "GEORGE MORAN being first duly sworn, states that he has read the above and foregoing petition, signed by him, and that the same is true except for those matters stated by him to be upon information and belief, and that as to those matters this affiant states that he believes them to be true." George "Bugs" Moran (1893-1957) had committed more than 20 known burglaries and was imprisoned three times before he was 21. He became the head of Dion O'Banion's North Side gang in Chicago in 1926. For three years, Moran's gang and Al Capone's gang were bloody adversaries. Their rivalry climaxed on February 14, 1929 in a Chicago garage when seven members of Moran's gang were machine gunned to death on orders from Capone in what became known as the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. read more...

WALT DISNEY The business pioneer has inscribed and signed this printed illustration of Goofy. It's framed with an unsigned photo of Disney surrounded by many of his beloved animated characters Printed Illustration Inscribed and Signed: "To/ Ann/ Sincerely -/ Walt Disney". B/w, 7¼x9¼. Image of two cartoon drawings, one full-size and one of the head of "Goofy". Goofy, who became the symbol of "Everyman" in Disney cartoons, first appeared over six decades ago in "Mickey's Revue" (1932). Then a bit player, he was named Dippy Dawg until he got his "official" name for his goofy work in "Orphan's Benefit" (1934). Goofy became a star in the 1935 cartoon, "Moving Day", and his popularity resulted in his own line of Disney merchandise. Teamed with Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck in a number of cartoons, Goofy had his first starring role in 1939's "Goofy and Wilbur". Goofy later went on to appear in his own series of comic books (1953). read more...

AL WORDEN National Flag of the Netherlands (6x4½), flown to the moon on Apollo 15, signed on the white stripe by Command Module Pilot Worden, accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity, also signed by Worden Flag signed: "Flown to the Moon on Apollo 15 - Al Worden CMP", 6x4¼ Dutch National Flag with horizontal red, white and blue stripes, signed on the white stripe in blue ink. Accompanied by Typed Letter signed: "Al Worden", 1 page, 8½x11 Certificate of authenticity dated June 18, 2010 on Apollo 15 letterhead. In full: "I hereby certify that this flag from the Netherlands included with this letter went to the moon aboard Apollo 15 in the spacecraft 'Endeavor'. It remained in the command module during the lunar orbit phase of the flight. Apollo 15 was the fourth lunar landing mission, carrying for the first time a lunar rover and a Scientific Instrument Bay in the Service Module. The flight was launched on July 26 and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on August 7, 1971, logging flight time of 295.2 hours and a distance of over 1.4 million miles. Dave Scott and Jim Irwin explored the region of Hadley Rille for three days while I conducted scientific experiments in orbit. read more...

JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER and HENRY M. FLAGLER 1878 stock for Standard Oil Company, eight years after the company was incorporated and from before it became oil giant Standard Oil Trust Stock Certificate signed: "JD Rockefeller" as President and "H M Flagler" as Secretary of the Standard Oil Company, 1 page, 10½x5¾. Cleveland, Ohio, dated April 29, 1878.  Certificate No. 157 for 84 shares issued to John Huntington. Total capitalization was $3.5 million, total shares issued were 35,000 with a value of $100 each. On verso (visible through open area on back of frame), Huntington authorizes Flagler for value received to "surrender this certificate upon the delivery to me of 1680 Standard Oil Trust witness my name this 5th day of April A.D. 1882". Signed "John Huntington". The STANDARD OIL TRUST, created in January 1882, placed all stocks and properties of more than a dozen oil companies (including J.D. ROCKEFELLER's read more...

AUTOGRAPH BOOK FROM THE HOLLYWOOD CANTEEN Scottish character actress Mary Gordon compiled this personal autograph book in 1944 at the celebrity-hosted, morale-boosting nightclub for soldiers and sailors of World War II. Book inscribed and signed: "Best Wishes!/Greer Garson", "Me too/Lt. Buddy Rogers", To Mary/I hope I'll always hear/that darlin' accent every/time I see you./Love,/Maureen O'Hara", "To darling Mary Gordon - a/great actress and a greater/Most sincerely/Claire DuBrey/1945", "To Mary -/One gr-a-a-nd Scout/Art Baker", "To Mary/Bing/Crosby", "To Mary,/with all my good wishes/Merle Oberon", "Ray Milland", "Grace Moore/1943", "Frank Morgan", "To Mary/For herself alone/Harry Davenport", "With all my love/Herb Doolittle", "Scotland forever!/John Loder", "Scots Wha Hac!/Hedy Lamarr", "Cpl. Camila Miranda Ramirez/The Shangrila Kid", "To my 'Dollfora/love/Keenan Wynn", "It was wonderful/knowing you/Doris Stein", "Well Mary/It has been good/knowing you and working with you/at the Hollywood Canteen/Evelyn Balcon", "To the/'beauty girl'/of all time/June Havoc", "C. read more...