W. C. FIELDS Signing as "The great man/Continental Claude", he pens a letter to his mistress Carlotta in New York Autograph Letter signed: "The great man/Continental Claude", 1p, 8½x10¼. On lightweight airmail paper. No place, no date, but with original envelope postmarked Los Angeles, Hollywood, December 27, 1939. Addressed by Fields to Miss C. Douglas [Carlotta Monti], Hotel Marie Antoinette, Broadway at 66 St., New York City. Torn flap. Creased, soiled and worn. Unrelated notes on verso (unknown hand). In full: "Something or other was at ah La Cava's Morales you know her and she enquired about you. I told her you were making the grade in N.Y. That you had been on here to attend your case but returned. She expressed regrets she had not seen you. She made La Cava a sweater. I think I admired the sweater and she suggested making me one. Being continental and never forgetting the days of chivalry I accepted graciously. She evidently knows Margo and they are coming some afternoon to measure me. Do you think I should order a pair if drawers too? This thing is running into a book, so will saw off. Keep well- and think for pastime. Always my best and most important wishes. M.M. sends Love." Creased, folds, lightly nicked edges. W.C.

W. C. FIELDS and FLO ZIEGFELD Both sign a contract for Fields' appearance in the play "J. P. McEvoy's Comic Supplement". Not a standard form contract, this one has been written with Fields in mind. Contract signed: "Flo Ziegfeld", "W. C. Fields", 4 pages, 7¼x10½. Also initialed by both at a minor correction: "F.Z.", "W. C. F." New Amsterdam Theatre, New York, N.Y., 1924 November 10. On Ziegfeld's personal letterhead, Fields signs his acceptance of a commitment to appear in a play bearing the temporary title "J. P. McEvoy's Comic Supplement," to be produced on or before January 15, 1925. Fields is guaranteed top billing in the play credits and all advertising, and will receive $1, 750 per week for the full run of the play. He must attend five weeks of rehearsals without compensation. Clause 5 is of special interest: "You agree to get in touch promptly after the execution of this agreement with the author of this play, Mr. McAvoy and to aid and facilitate him and co-operate with him in every matter to the end that the parts to be assigned to you shall be adapted to your special talents and ability. You agree to render such services without any additional compensation.

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.

W. C. FIELDS Preparing for his role as "The Great Man" in his last starring role, later titled Never Give a Sucker an Even Break, Fields hires his own writer, to be paid by him, not by the studio. The writer (John T. Neville) has also signed. Documentary Letter Signed: "W. C. Fields", "John T. Neville", 1 page, 8½x11. Universal City, California, 1941 February 22. Neville acknowledges that he has been hired personally by W. C. Fields in connection with Fields' pending movie for Universal Studios, and understands that is to be compensated by Fields, owed nothing by Universal. Fields signs his "approval and consent to the foregoing." Ink note at top left (unknown hand), underlined in red: "The Great Man". 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. His Broadway debut in The Ham Tree (1905) was followed by appearances in the Ziegfeld Follies (1915-1921) and in George White's Scandals (1933). Fields starred in Poppy on Broadway (1923) and the next year made his first film, Janice Meredith (1924).

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.

W. C. FIELDS Letter to his mistress Carlotta, lambasting New York weather, music lovers, and his latest movie, which he calls "an abortion." Fields signs ironically as "The Great Man." A vivid example of Fields' view of the world! Autograph Letter signed: "The G. Man", 3 pages, 8½x11. No place, no date, but mailing envelope is postmarked postmarked April 13, 1939, with his handwritten return address of "Bel Air, Cal". To "Dear Katrinka" [Carlotta Monti], in full: "Thanks for your letter which was despondent indeed. N. Y. will make one so. I do not want to go all over these items, again, and again, but I must divest myself of a few more - more weather pro[g]nostications. Spring in N.Y. is most capricious. One day it will snow, and the next day it will be real warm. Warm sunshine will greet you in the morning and a cold rain will follow within a few hours or vice versa. Therefore you need a light coat and my suggestion would be no sweater. The brown overcoat I gave you is ideal for an eastern spring coat. It is semi rain proof and will keep out the chill wind.

"BUFFALO BILL" CODY Handwritten letter to former rival - now partner - Pawnee Bill Lillie - outlining plans for a California tour of their wild west show. "And if all goes well we could clean up a wagon load of money." Autograph Letter signed: "Col.", 1 page, 8½x11. Saco, Maine, May 30 (circa 1908). On letterhead of Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Pawnee Bill's Far East to "Dear Major" [William Lillie]. In full: "The reason I would not sign up with Craft. They went back on the Contract they had Bacon draw and sent two of their own fixing. You see by the route of Sells Floto that they are playing all of the Country west of the Rockies and North West. And I think we should do it. I think the summer of the Great Panama Fair at San Francisco we could show all that Country. In the Spring three shows. San Francisco July, Aug. Sep. Then Southern Cal. Oct. And if all goes well we could clean up a wagon load of money." William Frederick Cody (1846-1917) earned the name "Buffalo Bill" for killing thousands of buffalo as a hired hunter in 1867 and 1868.

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.

JOHN LENNON and MAY PANG Framed Gallery of History display (46x30) featuring the t-shirt from Caribou Ranch studio given to Lennon when he recorded there with Elton John, accompanied by an authentication signed by Lennon's lover at the time, May Pang, and by a photo of Lennon and Pang together Comprises: (1) DS: "May Pang". 1 page, 8x5. No place, no date. In full: "From John Lennon's T-shirt collection, Caribou Ranch t-shirt. Given to John during his visit to Caribou Ranch Studio, when he and Elton John recorded 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds'". Fine condition. (2) Extremely Rare Caribou Ranch T-shirt. Long-sleeve Collegiate Pacific, cream-colored, size 34-36. Slightly stained. Fine condition. From October 1973 until March 1975, JOHN LENNON (1940-1980) and MAY PANG lived, loved and worked together. During the Lennon-Yoko Ono separation and at Ono's instigation, their young, personal assistant became his constant companion. Deeply emotional and trying "to find himself", Lennon worked diligently to create the songs for his 1974 album Walls and Bridges, in which he dedicated one song to Ono and "Surprise Surprise" to his lover.