W. C. FIELDS Three-page autograph letter to his mistress Carlotta Monti, signed by Fields as "Continental Claude", calling Hitler "full of mierda" and confiding, "like the three monkeys I see nothing, know nothing, and won't drink anything 'cept Beer." Autograph Letter signed: "Continental Claude", 3 pages, 8½x11. Bel Air, Labor Day. To "Katrinka & Claudia". ["Katrinka" was Fields' pet name for Carlotta Monti.] In full: "I suppose you are wondering why you have not received your packard as yet. And telling your friends I am not a man of my word. Give me time and I can explain anything. Practically all nations will be in the war by the time this missive arrives. But you, unfortunately for yourself contended the whole world would be at war. It was then I accepted your wager 'I'll bet you the whole world will be at war by 1940. If not you give me a packard.' It was a bet made in all fairness. I forget what I was to receive had you lost. However all is fair in something or other and war. I will pay off if it becomes real serious. I firmly believe it will be of short duration, in which case you will receive a small packard. read more...

ANNIE OAKLEY This wonderful note from the Carolina Hotel in Pinehurst, North Carolina was signed "Congratulations" by Oakley and includes a 1919 penny shot by her during one of performances - proof that Oakley really was that good. Items signed by Oakley are extremely rare, and the targets that she used in her performances are even more so, making this combination an extraordinary find by any measure. Autograph sentiment signed "Congratulations/Annie Oakley". 5x6¼, on stationery from the Carolina Hotel in Pinehurst, North Carolina with colored cachet near top edge, 1 sheet folded. This note has a 1919 Lincoln head penny tied to it with twine. What makes this penny extraordinary is that it's been bent by a small-caliber bullet impact on its left edge. The crater still has a trace of lead and is consistent with that caused by a .22 bullet, the caliber that Oakley used in her performances. The note itself is also significant, as Oakley was hired by the Carolina Hotel (now the Pinehurst Resort, in Pinehurst, North Carolina) to teach and demonstrate shooting in the mid-1910s. read more...

MGM STARS: JOAN CRAWFORD, GRETA GARBO, NORMA SHEARER, JACKIE COOGAN, LON CHANEY, HARRY CAREY, SR., POLLY MORAN, AILEEN PRINGLE, EDMUND GOULDING, THELMA HILL, KARL DANE, SALLY O'NEIL, BILL HAINES, SIDNEY FRANKLIN, DOLORES DEL RIO, BERT WOODRUFF, AVONNE TAYLOR, LOUISE LORRAINE, DOROTHY SEBASTIAN, REGINALD BARKER, CONRAD NAGEL, GEORGE HILL, LEW CODY, 'SNORPY' HILL, FRED NIBLO, TIM MCCOY, EILEEN PERCY Photo of a large crowd taken outside at a 1927 MGM convention, signed by 27 MGM stars, including Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo, Norma Shearer, Jackie Coogan and Lon Chaney, Sr. Photograph signed "Aileen Pringle", "Thelma Hill", "Edmund Goulding", "Karl Dane", "Sally Oneil", "Bill Haines", "Best Wishes Sidney Franklin", "Dolores Del Rio", "Bert Woodruff", "Avonne Taylor", "Greta Garbo -", "Joan Crawford", "Louise Lorraine", "Lon Chaney", "Norma Shearer", "Dorothy Sebastian", "Jackie Coogan", "Reginald Barker", "Harry Carey, Sr. read more...

ANNIE OAKLEY B/w photograph of Annie Oakley from the chest up in a white blouse and jacket. This photo is especially unusual because it shows her without the rows of shooting medals that she often wore. Anything signed by Oakley is exceedingly rare. Photograph mount signed: "Compliments. of/Annie. Oakley." on verso. B/w, 4¼x6½ overall, image 4x5½ (two surfaces). Photograph by Gray, 1030 Tremont St., Boston (imprint at lower margin). Oakley (1860-1926, born Phoebe Anne Moses in Darke County, Ohio), was born to a Quaker family and began to shoot rabbits and quail at age nine. Within five years, she was a breadwinner for her family as a markswoman, and, at age 15, she saved her family's farm with income she had earned from shooting game. On August 23, 1876, at age 16, Annie married Frank Butler, a vaudeville performer who became her partner. Annie's self-effacing personality (on and off stage) made her a popular performer. In 1885, the Butlers joined Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show, where Annie was a star for 17 years. The five-foot-tall Oakley got her name "Little Sure Shot" from Sitting Bull and used it in her promotional materials. read more...

JAMES DEAN Ever wonder what a 1950s icon looked like in high school? Ever wonder if he really was a "Rebel Without a Cause"? This incredibly rare piece is a 1948 yearbook from Fairmount High School in Fairmount, Indiana, signed "Jim Dean" in blue ink shows the budding actor as a budding basketball player. Also signed by Dean's friends, coaches and teachers. Comes in an 11¼x14½x2¼ black-and-gold-colored frame with bio plate. Signed pieces from this early in Dean's life are highly desirable! Book signed "Jim Dean" on page 56 in blue ink, "Paul Weaver" in blue ink on page 11, "Adaline "Nall/Brookshire" in black ink on page 11 and "Edith Thomas" in pencil inside back cover. B/w, 68 pages with numerous signatures in black and blue ink and lead pencil, all in unknown hands, bound with two staples in gold-colored cardstock covers. Comes in an 11¼x14½x2¼ black-and-gold-colored frame with bio plate. Titled: "Black and Gold/1948". read more...

W.C. FIELDS The legendary comedian pens this letter to his mistress Carlotta in 1941 Autograph Letter signed: “W.” in black ink, 1p front and verso, 8x10½. Saturday, Bel Air. Original mailing envelope included. Addressed to “Miss Carlotta Douglas/ Hotel Paso del Norte/ El Paso/ Texas” on W.C. Fields' personalized envelope. Postmarked Los Angeles, California, December 3, 1941. To “Dear Carlotta”. In part: “I recd. your curt wire some weeks ago, saying send me $1000.00. You made no mention of the book Shoes of Happiness I had sent you several weeks previous nor made any comment on the article 'Sing Sucker Sing.' Ignored everything. It felt to me as though you had one of those real intelligent palsie walsies with you and you were going to show them the way you did things. Consequently I ignored it. I had a phone message from Weikert saying the case had been postponed until late in June and that he had, had word from you that you would be present for the trial. I shouldn't say trial. It will be the same sort of affair as the last one no press permitted. read more...

ANNIE OAKLEY Extremely rare signed postcard photo of her dressed as an Indian! Postcard Photograph inscribed and signed: "Annie Oakley as a Sioux/Maiden admires her/new head gear./A Merry Christmas/to Laforrds & Family". Sepia, 5½x3½. Annie Oakley (1860-1926) was born Phoebe Anne Oakley Mozee in Ohio. She was the sixth of eight children. At the age of nine she began to shoot rabbits and quail and was almost a dead shot from the first. Within five years, she was a breadwinner for her family as a markswoman. In 1876, at age 16, she married Frank Butler, a vaudeville performer who became her partner. Annie's self-effacing personality (on and off stage) made her a popular performer. In 1885, the Butlers joined Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show. Annie, a star with the show for 17 years, charmed Kings and Queens. The five-foot-tall Oakley got her name "Little Sure Shot" from Lakota Sioux Chief Sitting Bull, who was briefly a part of the show in 1885, and used it in her promotional materials. In 1901, she was severely injured in a railroad wreck that temporarily paralyzed her. read more...

W. C. FIELDS Agreement with the J. Walter Thompson advertising firm setting strict rules for Fields' script for a radio broadcast, co-signed by producer and ad executive Norman Blackburn Document signed: "W. C. Fields", "Norman Blackburn", 1 page, 8¾x14. Hollywood, California, 1946 March 13. Agreement with the J. Walter Thompson advertising agency, acting as agent for Standard Brands, Inc., governing Fields' forthcoming appearance on the Chase and Sanborn radio program, March 24, 1946. The agreement stipulates that Fields must adhere strictly to a script approved in advance by the firm and by Fields himself, and that Fields shall not "improvise, extemporize or use unapproved material." It further stipulates that Fields shall be held blameless from any claims for "slander, libel, copyright infringement, etc." arising from the program. Fields is to receive $3,500 for his performance. W.C. FIELDS (1879-1946) began entertaining as an amusement park juggler at the age of fourteen. He was a vaudeville headliner before he was twenty and toured Europe in 1901, giving a command performance at Buckingham Palace. 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...