The HFS Exclusive Historical Autographs & Memorabilia Collection

EXTREMELY RARE BRUCE LEE SIGNED ESSAY. INCLUDES 180 WORDS IN HIS OWN HAND! AMONG EARLIEST KNOWN WRITING EXAMPLES. Autograph Manuscript signed: "Bruce Lee", blue ink, 2p (front and back), 6½x8. Headed: "Dictation", circa late 1950's. This essay appears to be an English dictation exercise, likely written during Lee's time (1956-1959) at St. Francis Xavier College in Kowloon, Hong Kong. Found throughout are Lee's own handwritten corrections to grammar or spelling showing is dedication to proper language use. Writing reflects Lee's famous flowing signature and graceful writing style. Uneven tearing to left-side edge, with minor creasing throughout; light markings present at upper left corner, not affecting text. Overall, fine condition. Accompanied by Beckett letter of Authenticity. In part: "The history of aviation is full of adventures, and their happy outcome has proved how great is man's ability to brave the dangers which confront him. Not long ago an aviator, while flying over a part of Africa, met with engine trouble at a time when visibility was poor, and was compelled to descend in an swamp at the edge of a large lake. His machine turned upside down and became deeply embedded in the mud.…"

Beautifully framed display of a Marconi signed NAWA certification. Partly Printed DS: "G Marconi" 1p, 10¼ x 8. National Amateur Wireless Association certification to James P. Buxton. Expiration date October 1922. Marconi (1874-1937) carried out successful experiments with wireless telegraphy near Bologna, Italy in 1895. Two years later, he erected a wireless station at La Spezia at the invitation of the Italian government. In 1898, Marconi established communications across the English Channel between England and France. He was awarded the 1909 Nobel Prize in Physics in recognition of his "contribution to the development of wireless telegraphy". In 1914, Marconi was appointed a Senator in Rome. While in England in 1924, Marconi signed contracts with the British Postal service to set up radio communication with all parts of British Commonwealth. Toned, creased and stains throughout. Framed to an overall size of 19½ x 29½. Frame exhibits wearing at corners. Left knob was cracked and repaired.

Striking photograph of Reeves in his service uniform Photograph inscribed and signed: "To Jack / George / Reeves". B/w, 6¾ x 9 Framed to an overall size of 31 x 20½. Minor chips on corners of frame. Fine condition. Best known for playing the "Man of Steel" on film and on television, George Reeves (1914-1959), born George Bessolo, made his film debut in 1939. Reeves played Stuart Tarleton, one of the Scarlett O'Hara's hopeful beaus, in David O. Selznick's Civil War epic, Gone With the Wind. Making an excellent impression in that role, in 1940, Reeves was cast in 17 films, including Knute Rockne, All American, Virginia City, The Fighting 69th, 'Til We Meet Again, Pony Express Days and Meet the Fleet. Shown with his girlfriend, played by Jan Clayton, and her unwelcoming father (Grant Mitchell), Father is a Prince (1940). Reeves' career took a fateful turn when he was cast as Superman/Clark Kent in 1951's Superman and the Mole Men, a role he reprised in the 1953-1957 television series. Reeves' death by gunshot wound on June 16, 1959, was officially ruled a suicide, but suspicions of murder have persisted. Accompanied by PSA/DNA LOA.

Gioacchino Rossini sends an autograph letter in Italian to send an article. Autograph Letter Signed: "Rossini" in Italian, 1p, 4¼ x 5½. No place, no date. To Severini. In full: "Please send, within today, the portion of the opera La Fata Bianca [The White Fairy] which has the tenor's role, to Mr. Curioni. All is well." Curioni was the Italian tenor, Alberico Curioni.By the time he was 18, Gioacchino Rossini (1792-1868) had written his first opera. The Italian composer is best known for his comic opera, The Barber of Seville, and his grand opera, William Tell, with its famous overture. The "Overture" to the four-act William Tell became one of the most familiar of all operatic works when it was used to open the radio and television show, The Lone Ranger. Guillame Tell was first performed in Paris in 1829. The Italian composer, the leading representative of the Bel Canto School of Opera and one of the last masters of opera buffa, spent his later years in Paris and his native Italy. Lightly stained, lightly creased, with folds. Light ink transfer from a different letter. Ink smudging present on some letters. Framed to an overall size of 32½ x 24½.

The Legendary Beatles guitarist signs check on Apple Records, Inc. account during period of significant musical projects. Check signed: "George Harrison", blue ink, 8x3½. National Westminster Bank Limited, London, England, May 20, 1971. Drawn on the account of Apple Records Inc, payable to Elloway & Co for £35 and 75 pence. Around the time this check was signed, Harrison was involved in several significant musical projects that included his collaborative work with John Lennon on the song “How Do You Sleep”, organizing a benefit concert in Bangladesh, and producing Badfinger's album “Straight Up” Bank cancellation stamps at mid-section. Small ink notation intersecting the "rr" in Harrison, with two hole-punches along check's top edge. Overall, fine condition. George Harrison (1943-2001) was an English musician, singer-songwriter, and guitarist, best known as the lead guitarist of the Beatles. Born in Liverpool, England, Harrison developed an early passion for music, influenced by skiffle and rock and roll. He joined John Lennon and Paul McCartney in the Quarrymen in 1958, which evolved into the Beatles.

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.

Unsigned aquatint "Tourne à Gauche" portrait of Pierre Auguste Renoir's son, Claude Renoir, circa 1904. Aquatint, unsigned. B/w, 11x13¼ overall, image 9¾x12 (two surfaces). Aquatint "Tourne à Gauche" portrait of his son, Claude Renoir, circa 1904. Facsimile of Renoir's signature, produced by the same process, appears below the image. Pierre Auguste Renoir (1841-1919), a leader among the Impressionists, is best known for his landscapes and paintings of figures and flowers. Renoir, who also enjoyed painting his children, also painted Claude, the youngest of his three sons (born in 1901 when the artist was 60), at his easel (1907) and dressed in a clown costume (1909). Dry mounted. Edges slightly soiled. Mounting remnants on verso (no show through). Overall, fine condition. Mounted by unknown individual. Not reviewed by us for conservation integrity. "As is" mounting purchase.

Original self-caricatures drawn by these legendary comedians. Collection comprised of 7 pieces of signed original artwork that includes: 1.) Original Artwork signed “George/Jessel”. 5x7. Fine condition. George Jessel (1898-1981, born in New York City), who became known as the "Toastmaster General of the United States" for his frequent role as Master of Ceremonies at entertainment and political gatherings, appeared in vaudeville (he was a partner of Eddie Cantor at age 11) and on Broadway before having a radio show, That's My Kid. 2.) Original Artwork signed “M. Kahn”. 5½ x 9. 2 horizontal creases, otherwise fine condition. Operatically trained, Madeline Kahn (1942-1999) achieved her greatest successes in manic comedy roles, earning Best Supporting Actress nominations for Paper Moon (1973) and Blazing Saddles (1974). She garnered a Golden Globe nomination for her short-lived TV sitcom, Oh, Madeline! (1983) and won a Tony for her performance in The Sisters Rosenzweig (1992). 3.) Original Artwork signed “BETTE”. 5¼ x 8¼. Fine condition. Midler is a Grammy and Emmy Award-winning singer, and stage and film actress known for her vibrant personality on and offstage.

Rare sepia-toned photo of a middle-aged Younger, one of Quantrill's Raiders during the American Civil War, and a member of the James-Younger gang. Inscribed photograph mount signed "To/W. A. Bell./Yours Truly/Cole Younger". B/w sepia-toned, 4¼x7¼ photo affixed to an 8x12 sheet of brown cardstock. Younger (1844-1916) was one of Quantrill's Raiders, a notorious band of American Civil War guerillas, as well as a member of the James-Younger Gang with Frank and Jesse James. Younger, a Missourian, joined William Quantrill after Union-supported bandits from Kansas killed his father. He participated in Quantrill's raid on Lawrence, Kansas, one of the worst atrocities of the war, in which about 180 people were killed. After the war, Younger became an outlaw with brothers James, John and Robert, later joining the James brothers, who had also been members of Quantrill's Raiders. He may have felt forced into crime; a new state constitution passed after the Civil War severely curtailed the rights of former Confederate sympathizers. Younger robbed trains and banks and murdered policemen and civilians from at least 1868 until Sept. 7, 1876. On that day, the James-Younger Gang tried to rob the First National Bank in Northfield, Minnesota.

He pens a letter in correspondence to an individual stating they are relatives in which Masterson quickly replies with otherwise! Autograph Letter Signed: "W.B. Masterson". 2 pages, 8x10, loosely placed in 9½x11½ folio. Accompanied by original mailing envelope; heavily toned, soiled and worn. December 31, 1905, New York City, written to "Mr. Watson F. Masterson" of Ramsey, West Virginia. In full: "Dear Sir. Without going into details can assure you that we are not related; even remotely. My father was born in this state eighty years ago and moved to Illinois where I was born fifty one years ago. There are a great many families of Mastersons in Missouri and Iowa none of whom are related to mine. My father had but one brother and he was several years the eldest and has been dead about forty years and died without issue. Very respectfully." Masterson (1853-1921) was an American frontier gambler and buffalo hunter and a scout for the United States Army. Masterson was also a lawman, serving as a deputy in Dodge City, Kansas alongside Wyatt Earp and later sheriff for Ford County, Kansas (1877-1879), as well as town marshal of Trinidad (1881-1882) and later, during the administration of President Theodore Roosevelt, as a U. S.

He signs a handwritten letter in 1871 responding to a bill for nautical equipment, complaining that some of it was faulty. ALS: "J L. Chamberlain", 2 pages, 5x8. Brunswick, Maine, 1871 September 23. To C.S. Donnelly, Esq. In part: "Your bill is received as requested, & is I believe correct. I don't know anything about the Notch Boom but suppose Capt. Stover got it. It never came to my yacht, but if it was got for me, I will be accountable for it…Also I may mention that I found the pump, when I came to set it, in two pieces, never having been properly soldered or brazed. & I had to pay $1.00 to have it done…But the pump was an imperfect one, & I would have returned it if I could have done so. Please inform me if I am at liberty to make deduction accordingly…." Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (1828-1914) commanded the 20th Maine in its famous defense of Little Round Top in the Battle of Gettysburg, July 2, 1863. Chamberlain was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for this action. At Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, 1865, Brevet Major General Chamberlain was chosen to accept the Confederate surrender. He then ordered Union troops to present arms to their former enemy as a mark of respect.

Hancock handwrote, dated and put his "John Hancock" on this letter to the "Gentlemen of the Senate & Gentlemen of the House of Representatives" in 1783, while he was Governor of Massachusetts. He wrote this letter to inform the recipients that he had received an "Application for Sundry Articles for the use of the Tribe" from the Penobscot, which offered their services to the colonies during the American Revolutionary War. This letter was written less than eight months before the signing of the Treaty of Paris, which ended the war between the colonies and England. Draft autograph letter signed "J.H." as Governor of Massachusetts. 1 page, 7¾x6¼. Council Chamber, Boston, Massachusetts, Feb. 7, 1783. Addressed to the "Gentlemen of the Senate & Gentlemen of the House of Representatives". In full: "I have this moment Rec'd a Letter from Colonel Lithgow, by Two Indians of the Penobscot Tribe, these Indians are come to make Application for Sundry Articles for the use of the Tribe. The Letter with the Commissions given one of these Indians by Brigr. Genl. Lovell, I have directed the Secretary [to] lay before you.…"