ANNIE OAKLEY Recovering slowly from an auto accident late in her life, she writes a 4-page letter to a female journalist, enthusiastically describing her move to North Carolina. Autograph Letter signed: "Annie Oakley Butler", 4 pages (integral leaf), 5½x6¾. Greensboro, North Carolina, October 10 (Pencil note in unknown hand dates it 1923.) Oakley has struck through the original letterhead of the O'Henry and written her new address in Greensboro. To "Dear Miss Tildesley", in full: "I was pleased to see the sweet letter. We left Cambridge just two weeks ago. And stopped off in Balto. to see Dr. Baer. He said there was an improvement in my foot though it had been very slow. But for me to fight on and he was sure I would win out in time. So we both feel incouraged. I can walk much better than when you seen me. We have just left the Hotel and taken A suite here. We have A pretty living room, furnished in wicker with pretty colors. A wicker table with plate glass top so we can make coffee. Tea. Toast. and even boil eggs if we like. A french door opens on A private varanda with pretty flowers. It faces the East. read more...

W.C. FIELDS. ALS: "Willie", 2p, separate sheets, 8½x11. Bel Air, Cal., Sunday (October 15, 1939). Original envelope addressed by Fields to: "Miss Jane Fowler/National Park College/Forest Glen/Maryland". Lightly creased. Fine condition. Jane Fowler was the daughter of his friend, Gene Fowler. Fields had developed a crush on Jane but the affection was unreciprocated. To "my dear nice niece Janey pie". In full: "Thanks for your letter of the 11th, but first I want to tell you that I was coming to forest Glen and engage quarters close to the college, listen to the lesson and get a little added education. Further I could watch you and see that you took your salt peter but when I read your envelope, 'W. C. Feilds' [he has circled the "ei"] I swooned. My own plum, do they not teach you I before E except after C. Suppose after our wedding you go to the Cadillac agency and say 'two 16's, one sport roadster and one coupe, hand the gentleman in attendance a check for $17,000.00 and you sign it 'Jane Feilds.' You do not like the jailhouse any more than I do. If as much. Dear do be careful. I answered your dear wire after I got the necessary funds together to pay for it but I made a mistake and sent it care of Booker T. read more...

DAVID COPPERFIELD MOVIE CAST: LIONEL BARRYMORE, W.C. FIELDS, BASIL RATHBONE, MAUREEN O'HARA and others Barrymore's personal copy of the complete original movie script, signed by himself and 33 other members of the cast and crew Original Movie Script signed. This script belonged to Academy Award winning actor Lionel Barrymore. Typed on the cover at the upper left corner: "FOR USE OF LIONEL/BARRYMORE", to which he signed to its right "Lionel Barrymore" (Dan Peggotty). Also signed: "George Cukor" (Director), "W.C. Fields" (Micawber), "Freddie Bartholomew/('David')" (David Copperfield as a boy), "Frank Lawton" (David Copperfield as a man), "Basil Rathbone" (Mr. Murdstone), "Maureen O'Sullivan/(Dora)", "Edna May Oliver" (Aunt Betsey), read more...

AUDIE MURPHY The Hollywood actor and World War II hero's lieutenant's hat, a lobby card for his film Battle at Bloody Beach and a signed document. Comprises: (1) Dark green officer's hat. The wool hat with black and gold piping bears a silver first lieutenant's bar pinned at front. When flattened, the hat measures 10x5. Fine condition. With color copy (on 8½x11 sheet) of the original signed card indicating that "Lt. Audie Murphy, U.S.A." donated this hat to the "Navy Relief Fund Auction". These auctions, held for the benefit of Navy veterans, were first held in 1944. Heavily creased. (2) Original unsigned color lobby card, color, 14x11. Battle at Bloody Beach stars Audie Murphy (pictured) as Craig Benson, a civilian working for the Navy helping supply guerilla insurgents in the Philippines in WWII. His sole motive is to find his bride from whom he was separated during the Japanese invasion two years earlier. Lightly creased at lower margin. Lightly soiled and stained. Ink and pencil notes (unknown hand) on verso (no show through). (3) Document Signed: "Audie/Murphy", 1p, 8½x11. No place, 1969 June 19. In part: " 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...

WILLIAM F. CODY: BUFFALO BILL 4¼x6½ cabinet card photo, signed both as W.F. Cody and as Buffalo Bill Cabinet Card Photograph signed: "W.F. Cody/'Buffalo Bill'". B/w, 4¼x6½. Superb portrait of William F. Cody with his desirable double signature. Photographer's imprint, "Gessford/238 Fifth Ave./N.Y.", at lower mount. William Frederick Cody (1846-1917) was a rider for the Pony Express in 1860, a scout for the Kansas Cavalry against the Indians (1863) and served in the U.S. Army in the Civil War (1863-1865). From 1867-1868, he furnished buffalo meat for the Union Pacific Railroad construction crews, earning his nickname, "Buffalo Bill". Cody was a scout for the 5th U.S. Cavalry from 1868-1872 and in 1876. From 1872-1883, he was on stage as an actor at first in E.Z.C. Judson's play, Scouts of the Plains. He organized Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in 1883 and toured the United States and Europe successfully for over 30 years. Fine condition. read more...

THE STRATTON STORY: A FILM PRODUCTION ARCHIVE Collection of ten items from the production of this 1949 film, the true story of a great baseball comeback. Included are the original contract signed by Monty Stratton; his pass to the MGM studios; a baseball signed by 15 cast and crew members; a signed baseball card showing the White Sox pitcher; photos and lobby cards signed by stars James Stewart and June Allyson; a DVD of the movie; a release form signed by Hall of Fame catcher Bill Dickey allowing use of his photo stills from this film; and a souvenir album inscribed by cast and crew to Monty's son Dennis! Collection comprised of: 1) Contract signed: "Monty Stratton", 25 pages, 9x13½. Culver City, California, 1948 February 26. Agreement between Monty Stratton ("the artist") and Loew's, Incorporated ("the producer"), acquiring Stratton's services as "technical adviser, director, coach, and/or technical writing assistant" at the discretion of the producer. Also signed by a Loew's Vice President (name illegible). He may also be used as an actor, and shall make personal appearances for film promotion. Stratton is to be paid $500 per week for the length of the contract, one year beginning on the signing date. read more...

W. C. FIELDS Signed contract for purchase and delivery of a Phaeton automobile from a Cadillac dealership in Chicago (1916). Itemized bill for the "fully loaded" luxury car includes a credit for trade-in of his 1915 Pathfinder. Document signed: "W. C. Fields/Sherman Hotel", 1 page, 8½x11. Chicago, 1916 December 29. Also signed "H. M. McCord" as Sales Manager. Signed order form for one Type 55 Phaeton, with the following extra equipment: 1 Bumper ($10), 1 Spotlight ($5), Royal Cord tires all around ($70), 2 extra Royal Cord tires ($101.27), 2 extra Tubes ($12.73), 1 extra Rim ($7.25). Total price = $2,471.25. The order is contingent on the satisfactory sale of Fields' 1915 Pathfinder touring car, provided by him in partial payment. Two filing holes at left edge. Lightly toned and soiled at edges. "Duplicate" stamp at upper right corner. Upper left corner has small staple holes and is lightly creased. Horizontal mailing folds. Otherwise, fine condition. Accompanied by typed letter (1 page, 8½x11) to Fields from H. M. McCord, dated 1917 January 3, informing him that the Pathfinder has been sold, for a $400 credit toward his purchase price, and assuring him of good service on his new Phaeton. Lightly toned. Horizontal mailing folds. read more...

ANNIE OAKLEY Elegant studio photo in high-necked embroidered blouse inscribed on the original mount and affixed to the photographer's original 12x8 folio Photograph Mount Inscribed and signed: "For Mr. Thompson/With all good wishes/From/Annie Oakley/1908". Sepia, 3½x5 oval image on a 6x8 mount. Signed in fountain pen on the mount. Photo by Sherman of Newark, New Jersey, housed in a presentation folder 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. In 1901, she was severely injured in a railroad wreck that temporarily paralyzed her. But she made a sensational comeback in the next two decades. read more...