Weekly Autograph Specials

Signed autograph letter (1886) discussing Houghton-Mifflin's plans to publish a uniform edition of his books Autograph Letter signed: "Chas. Dudley Warner", 1 page, 4½x7. Hartford, Connecticut, 1886 May 25. To "Wm Woodward Esq", in full: "Messers Houghton, Mifflin & Co., Boston, who published most of my books, intend to issue a uniform edition of them - so far I think only three [?] of them in a similar style. Yours sincerely". Charles Dudley Warner (1829-1900) edited the Hartford Courant and later Harper's magazine. He also wrote several travelogues, and edited The American Men of Letters. With Mark Twain, he co-authored The Gilded Age (1873), a biting satire about the corruption of post Civil War America. (Mark Twain was a pall bearer at his funeral.) Warner was the first President of the National Institute of Arts and Letters, and at his death was President of the American Social Science Association. Ink lightly smeared. Fine condition.

Color publicity photograph reproduction of a pastel portrait of Lillian Gish as a young lady Photograph signed: "Lillian Gish:" on collar and "Gish:" beneath imprinted signature. Color, 8x10. Reproduction of a pastel portrait. Lillian Gish (1896-1993), born Lillian de Guiche, began her career as child actress "Baby Lillian" at the age of five. Lillian and her sister, Dorothy (1898-1968), who often toured with Lillian, made their film debuts (along with their mother, Mary Gish) in D.W. Griffith's film, An Unseen Enemy in 1912. Over the next several years, Lillian, who is credited as being the first true actress for recognizing the crucial differences between stage and film work and delivering carefully crafted performances, would make a number of films for Griffith, including The Birth of a Nation (1915), Intolerance (1916), Way Down East (1920) and Orphans of the Storm (1922). In 1923, she went to MGM, where she made La Boheme and The Scarlet Letter (both 1926). In 1930, Gish appeared in her first sound film, One Romantic Night (1930). Lillian, who was known as "The First Lady of the Silent Screen", was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for Duel in The Sun (1946) and received an honorary Oscar in 1970 for her contributions to film.

Sentiment and signature from the great jazz singer, dated in 1973 Autograph Sentiment Signed: "Yours/Josephine Baker/1973", 3x2½. Flamboyant dancer and jazz singer Josephine Baker (1906-1975) first attracted attention in the all-Black musical revue Shuffle Along (1921). During the early 1920s, she made regular appearances at the Cotton Club and other New York nightclubs, performing dances created by Blacks. After appearing in La revue Nègre in Paris, Baker became enormously popular in France, where the Parisians had a passion for African-American culture. Closely cropped at top edge. Fine condition.

The Western author sends this letter regarding two of his works published in 1974, including his plans to expand the Sackett series to include the Talon and Chantry families Typed Letter Signed: "Louis L'Amour", 1p, 8½x11. Los Angeles, California. Dated April 20, 1974. To Mr. Mathisen. In Full: "Sorry for the delay. In the swift march of events time for writing letters seems to escape me. You asked about hard cover versions of my novels. Until now only a few have been in hard covers due to the fact that I wished to retain movie and paper-back rights for myself, and hard-cover authors surrender a part of these to the publishers. However, my sales are such that they are now willing to produce my books without demanding such rights. On April 25th of this month my novel THE CALIFORNIOS will appear in hard-covers, with an excellent picture of me on the back, (which I hope will not disappoint people) published by Saturday Review Press. This is an affiliate of E.P. Dutton, Pub. I suspect a book store in your town will have it, and if not they can order it. This is to be the first of a series. The next will be SACKETT'S LAND, the story of the first Sackett to arrive in America from England. He returns, but will come again. The time is 1599-1600. I had fun with SITKA.…"

Two months after returning to power in a coup and canceling elections, he signs a law granting 20 million pesos to the Pro-Arte Musical Society (1952) Document signed: "F. Batista", 9x13¼. Presidential Palace, Havana, Cuba, 1952 June 25. As President of Cuba, Batista, signs into law a measure approved by the Council of Ministers, making a one-time grant to the Pro-Arte Musical Society of 20 million pesos. Countersigned by the Finance Minister. Offical blue seal with red ribbon affixed in lower left. Fulgencio Batista y Zaldivar led the "revolt of the sergeants", which seized power in Cuba in 1933. As dictator, he controlled the government from 1933-1940, when he assumed the title of President of Cuba (1940-1944). He retired in 1944 but returned to power in an army coup on March 10, 1952, 81 days before a scheduled Presidential election In the year this document was signed, Batista canceled the election, suspended the Constitution of 1940, dissolved the political parties, and replaced an elected Congress with his appointed Council of Ministers. Batista ruled until the last day of 1958, when he fled the advancing forces of Fidel Castro. Left edge torn and ragged. Lightly toned. 1 horizontal crease through center. Punch hole at upper edge. Notch at lower right edge. Pin-size holes on upper left edge.

The legendary French mime is depicted as his "sad sack" character, Bip. Photograph signed: "With all/my heart/always/Bip [flower] Marcel Marceau/82." B/w, 8x10. The career of French mime Marcel Marceau (1923-2007) was delayed by WWII, during which he served in the French Resistance. After the war, Marceau gained worldwide popularity as a mime. His sad sack character Bip, pictured here, modeled on Charlie Chaplin's Little Tramp, is widely recognized, a single red flower sprouting from his hat. Marceau greatly influenced the modern art of pantomime. Ironically, he had the only spoken lines in Mel Brooks' Silent Movie (1976). Fine condition.

Small 3½x5½ b/w bust photo by P. Ribas of cellist Pablo Casals signed "Cordially" in blue ink in 1952 Inscribed photograph signed "To Lionel Ancoin/Cordially/Pablo Casals/1952". B/w, 3½x5½ overall, 3½x4¾ image, one surface, printed on cardstock. Photo by P. Ribas of Prades, Pyrénées-Orientales, France, with black ink photo credit stamp on verso. Casals lived in Prades for much of his exile from Spain. He also headed the Prades Festival - originally organized for the bicentennial of Johann Sebastian Bach, whose music Casals loved to play - from 1950 to 1956. It's now know as the Festival Pablo Casals. Casals (1876-1973, born Pau Casals in Vendrell, Spain) achieved worldwide renown as a violoncellist, conductor and composer. Casals was born near Barcelona, Spain, and was a patriot opposed to tyranny. The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) established General Francisco Franco as dictator of a bloody totalitarian state. Casals was so opposed to the Franco regime that he declined to appear in countries that recognized the totalitarian Spanish government, making an exception when he took part in a concert of chamber music in the White House on Nov. 13, 1961, at the invitation of President Kennedy, whom he admired. Lightly toned, silvered, creased and bowed.

Shortly before his election to the US Congress, the future Confederate Secretary of War asks for return of some papers he will use in a speech. Autograph Letter signed: "James A. Seddon", 1 page, 7¾x9. No place, 1844 March 10. To Thomas H. Ellis, Richmond, Virginia. In full: "I have been requested to attend Chesterfield Court tomorrow to address the people, and if I can dispatch some business now pressing on me, I shall probably do so. In the event of my going, I shall want the papers and documents which you took a few days since and I shall therefore be pleased if you could let me have them this evening. On my return or by Tuesday next they shall again be cheerfully placed at your disposal." Representing Virginia as a Democrat, James Alexander Seddon (1815-1880) served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1845-1847 and 1849-1851. He was a member of the Peace Convention held in Washington, D.C., in February 1861, in an effort to prevent the impending American Civil War. Seddon was a member of the Provisional Confederate Congress (1861-1862) before being appointed Secretary of War by Confederate President Jefferson Davis.

Signed 5x7 b/w publicity photo shown from the chest up wearing suit and tie Photograph signed: "Sincerely/Al Jolson" in green ink. B/w, 5x7 overall, image 4¼x6¼ (one surface). Former synagogue singer and successful black-faced café and vaudeville entertainer Jolson (1886-1950, born Asa Yoelson in Seredzius, Russia, now Lithuania), starred in the first talking picture, Warner Brothers' The Jazz Singer, in 1927. He also starred in Swanee River (1940), appeared as himself in Hollywood Cavalcade (1939) and did the voice over for The Jolson Story (1946). Lightly toned and creased. Typed notation on verso, slight show through. Otherwise, fine condition.

MacArthur signs an agenda for the meeting of stockholders of Sperry Rand. Program signed: "D Mac A" as Chairman of the Sperry Rand Corporation, 1 page, 5x7¼. New York, N.Y., 1961 July 25. Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964) graduated #1 in his class at West Point (1903) and rose to brigadier general as a combat leader in France during World War I. He was named US Army Chief of Staff in 1930, and lost popularity by forcibly expelling the Depression era Bonus Army from Washington (1932). Through most of the 1930s, he was chief military advisor to the Philippines, a US protectorate preparing for independence. He commanded U.S. Army forces in the Far East (1941-1942), becoming Allied Supreme Commander in the Southwest Pacific in 1942. In December 1944, he was promoted to 5-star General of the Army. General MacArthur later accepted the surrender of Japan aboard the battleship Missouri on September 2, 1945. As Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers in charge of the Occupation of Japan, MacArthur presided over a sweeping and largely successful transformation of Japan, including a new, democratic constitution.