FLASH GORDON: BUSTER CRABBE Color 24x30 poster of a montage of six images including Dale Arden and Ming the Merciless, surrounding Crabbe appearing as Flash Gordon in serials and films (1936-1940) signed by Buster Crabbe. Poster signed: "Buster Crabbe". Color, 24x30 overall, image 22x27½ (one surface). A montage of six images, including Dale Arden and Ming the Merciless, surrounding Crabbe appearing as Flash Gordon in serials and films (1936-1940). ©The Nostalgia Merchant for his signature. Crabbe (1908-1983), who won the Gold Medal in the 400-meter swim at the 1932 Olympic games, went on to star in over 100 adventure films, many set in outer space (most as Flash Gordon), and the Wild West (as Billy "the Kid" Carson). In 1933, Crabbe also starred as Tarzan in the Principal Pictures 16-part serial film. Ironically, in winning his Olympic medal, Crabbe had broken the record set by MGM's rival Tarzan, Johnny Weissmuller. Lightly creased and soiled at lower right blank margin. Fine condition. Accompanied by PSA/DNA LOA. read more...

FREDERICK DOUGLASS The iconic orator signed this document when he was Recorder of Deeds Document Signed: "Fredk. Douglass" as Recorder of Deeds on docket panel, 3 pages of text, 8½x14 (unfolded), crease marks indicate it was folded in fourths. Washington, District of Columbia. Dated December 12, 1885. In Part: “I Emma M. Gillett a Notary Public in and for the District aforesaid, do hereby certify that Watson J. Newton party to a certain Deed, bearing date on the fifth day of October, A. D. 1885, and hereto annexed, personally appeared before me, in the District aforesaid, the said Watson J. Newton being personally well known to me to be the person who executed the said Deed, and acknowledged the same to be his act and deed”. In 1881, Frederick Douglass (1817-1895) was appointed the Recorder of Deeds for Washington D.C., a position he served in for five years. He is perhaps the most important civil rights leader in the history of the United States. The man born a slave taught himself how to read and write before he escaped in 1838, travelling from Maryland to Delaware to Pennsylvania, finally arriving at his final destination in New York City, New York. read more...

BURT REYNOLDS 24x30 color publicity poster of a montage of eight images of Burt Reynolds. Poster signed: "Warmly/Burt/Reynolds". Color, 24x30 overall, image 22x27½ (one surface). A montage of eight images of Reynolds, including a baby picture. © The Nostalgia Merchant for his signature. Burt Reynolds' (born in 1936) breakthrough film was Deliverance (1972), which established him as both a star and serious actor. That same year, Reynolds became a major sex symbol when he was featured as the first nude male centerfold in the April edition of "Cosmopolitan". He went on to become the biggest box-office attraction in America for several years, starring in films such as Hustle (1975), Smokey and the Bandit (1977) (as well as its two sequels), Starting Over (1979) and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982). In 1997, Reynolds was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the role of Jack Horner in Boogie Nights. Switching to TV, Reynolds starred in the popular sitcom Evening Shade, for which he won an Emmy Award. Fine condition. read more...

ANSEL ADAMS The noted landscape photographer expresses his feelings on sex and politics. Typed Letter Signed: "Cheerios/Ansel", 1p, 8½x11. Carmel, California, 1968 May 14. On his personal letterhead to Nick [Dean]. In full, with original spelling and grammar: "It was good talking with you the other evening. Previous conversations should be discounted because they were very personal and, as you say, some of the points mentioned could be argued as irrevelant in the modern view-point. I do not feel just that way, because I am a supporter of 'normalcy' (NOT THE HARDING BRAND!!) I am so fed up with the deviates of this world that I could YAWP, YELL, GROAN, GRIND AND MUTTER!!!! (I won't SCREAM!!). As for normal sex, I am all for it - the more the merrier and the better! This lousy 'Christian' taboo; this Purital soilation, this conventional blight!!!! it will take a thousand years to evaluate the tremendous psychological and spiritual damage these excressences of human nastiness created!!!!! But I can't tolerate the abnormal any more than I can a bad smell or an evil act; it is sick, destructive and horrible in its implications! One read more...

JAMES STEWART James Stewart signs a check to pay Associated American Artists Galleries $18.11. Check signed: "James Stewart", 6¼x2¾. Beverly Hills, California, 1949 December 19. Drawn on California Bank, payable to "Associated American Artists Galleries" for $18.11. Filled out by Stewart and with a memo in his hand: "Business gift". James "Jimmy" Stewart (1908-1997) starred in more recognized masterpieces of the American cinema than any other actor. In 1940, he won the Best Actor Academy Award for The Philadelphia Story, and he was nominated for Oscars in the same category for Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), It's A Wonderful Life (1946), Harvey (1950) and Anatomy of a Murder (1959). Stewart, who was awarded an Honorary Academy Award in 1984, also appeared in You Can't Take It With You, Destry Rides Again, Winchester 73, Rear Window, Vertigo, The Spirit of St. Louis, The Glenn Miller Story, The Greatest Show on Earth and a long list of other features. read more...

CONFEDERATE BOND COUPON Confederate bond coupon unsigned. Partly Printed Coupon, unsigned, 3x1½. Imprinted signature: "Ro: Tyler" as Register of the Treasury. Interest coupon for a Confederate bond issued in Richmond by an Act of Congress passed by the Confederacy on February 17, 1864. The original bond was imprinted, in part: "The Confederate States of America will pay to the Bearer of this Bond at the Seat of Government or at such place of deposit as may be appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury the Sum of ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS with interest thereon from this date at the rate of Six Per Cent per annum payable semi-annually on the first days of January and July in each year...that the principal and interest whereof shall be free from taxation and for the payment of the Interest thereon the entire net receipts of any Export Duty hereafter laid on the value of all Cotton, Tobacco and Naval Stores which shall be exported from the Confederate States...are hereby specially pledged...." This coupon, issued for $30, was from Bond No. 990 in the Sixth Series. read more...

CORNELIUS VANDERBILT II Cornelius Vanderbilt II signs a bond for $5,000. Bond signed: "C Vanderbilt, Vice" [President], 1p, 12¾x9. New York, 1881 March 10. First mortgage bond for The Michigan Central Railroad Company, $5,000 principal, due in 1931 at five percent interest, payable in March, June and September. Certificate No. 425, issued to "The Nat'l Bank of Commerce, N.Y.". "Secured by First Mortgage of the Detroit and Bay City Rail Road Co. Countersigned by the Asst. Treas. of the Michigan Central Railroad Company and the President of the Union Trust Company of New York as Trustee. Vanderbilt, the son of William Henry Vanderbilt, began his career in the family's railroad empire under the watchful eye of his grandfather and namesake "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt. The "Commodore", who had begun purchasing railroad stock in 1862, was in control of an extensive system of New York railroads by 1877. In 1867, Cornelius II had started as Assistant Treasurer of the New York & Harlem Railroad. By 1880, he had risen to his father's former position as Vice President. read more...

FOOTBALL HALL OF FAMERS Six Football Hall of Famers sign a football that is presented in a lovely case. Football signed: "Bob Lilly/#74", "Mel Blount/47", "Don Maynard/13", "Johnny Unitas/19", "Terry Bradshaw/12" and "Sonny/Jurgensen/#9". Wilson brown and white football signed on the white panel by six Hall of Famers. Each has added his uniform number. BOB LILLY, who played defensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980. Lilly, who had unusual speed, strength and recovery ability, played in five NFL/NFC title games, 11 Pro Bowls and two Super Bowls. MEL BLOUNT, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989, was considered the prototype cornerback of his era. Blount, who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1980, played in four Super Bowls and five Pro Bowls and in 200 of 201 regular season games. His career stats include 57 interceptions, 736 yards and 13 opponents' fumble recoveries. Wide receiver DON MAYNARD, the first signee of the 1960 AFL Titans, caught a career-high 72 passes during his first season. read more...

MICKEY MANTLE, WILLIE MAYS and DUKE SNIDER Large 18x24 color poster reproduction signed by Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, and Duke Snider Poster signed: "Mickey Mantle", "Willie Mays" and "Duke Snider". Color, 18x24 overall, image 12x16½ (one surface). Reproduction of a painting. Imprinted: "Garcia/© 89." Superb images of the Baseball Hall of Famers from New York City who roamed centerfield in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Brooklyn in the 1950s. MICKEY MANTLE (1931-1995), a New York Yankees slugger from 1951-1968, won the Triple Crown in 1956 and a World Series Grand Slam in 1953. The career batting average of the "Commerce Comet" was .298, and Mantle racked up 536 home runs and 1,509 career RBIs. WILLIE MAYS (born in 1931), a star on the New York/San Francisco Giants from 1951-1972, led the league in stolen base titles in 1956, 1957, 1958 and 1959. His career batting average was .302, and Mays hit 660 home runs and 1,903 career RBIs. EDWIN DONALD read more...

ORVILLE WRIGHT and MILTON WRIGHT. Check signed: "Orville Wright", 8½x3. Dayton, Ohio, 1940 December 19. Check No. 2540, drawn on The Winters National Bank & Trust Co., payable to Milton Wright for $700. Endorsed on verso: "Milton Wright". MILTON WRIGHT, born circa 1891, was the nephew of Orville and Wilbur Wright (the son of their brother, Lorin, and his wife, Lou Wright). He had been named after the Wright Brothers' father, Bishop Milton Wright (1828-1917), who was also the father of another son, Reuchlin, and a daughter, Katherine Wright. Along with his brother, Wilbur (1867-1912), ORVILLE WRIGHT (1871-1948) designed and built the first motor-powered airplane and conducted its first successful flight on December 17, 1903 at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The historic flight of the 12-horsepower biplane, Flyer, covered 120 feet and lasted 12 seconds. In May 1905, the Wright brothers began construction of Flyer III, the first practical airplane that could be maneuvered to turn, bank, circle and fly figure eights. They were granted the first U.S. read more...