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...

SIMON LAKE The inventor filled out and signed this check for $9.00 Check Signed: "Simon Lake Ex", 6¼x2¾. Milford, Connecticut, 1934 November 1. Drawn on The Milford Trust Company, payable to "E. T. Clark" for $9.00. Stamped endorsement on verso. Presented in clear plastic sleeve on sheet imprinted: "From the Archives of The Simon Lake Collection", 11x8½. Limited Certificate of Authenticity (Series A - 500). Numbered A-#-301-. ©1992, The Simon Lake Project. Headed: "Simon Lake/ Pioneer Submarine Inventor/ (1866-1945)". Printed Text in Full: "Inspired by Jules Verne's '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea'", SIMON LAKE forged the 'dream' into the world's first practical submarine. As President of the Lake Torpedo Boat Company, he was in service to the United States and foreign governments, building and designing submarines. The 'dream' included his love of deep sea salvage, in challenging the sea to 'give up' her treasures. SIMON LAKE was known as the 'Gentle Genius' and is considered the 'Father of the Modern Submarine' and a True American Patriot. read more...

ROBERT E. LEE and MARY CUSTIS LEE Carte-de-Visite photograph signed by the Lee and his wife, to her cousin Susan P. Meade! Photograph Signed: "R.E. Lee" and inscribed and signed on verso: "Susan P. Meade/from her cousin/Mary Custis Lee". Sepia, 2½x4 overall, image 2¼x3½ (two surfaces). Photographer's imprint at lower border: "Boude & Miley. Lexington, Va." In the early 1850s, photographer Mathew Brady photographed Robert E. Lee in civilian clothes. Artist and engraver A.H. Ritchie reproduced the image and then painted a uniform on Lee showing epaulets and Lee as a Major General in the Virginia Militia. The print was originally issued out of Baltimore and was widely circulated in 1861. The photograph offered here is a vignette view of Lee from the Ritchie engraving. "Vignetting" was a way in which a photography studio would avoid copyright problems for reproducing another's work. Robert Edward Lee (1807-1870), among the most revered military leaders in American history, was the son of Revolutionary War hero and Virginia Governor "Lighthorse Harry" Lee. read more...

DEREK JETER The New York Yankees shortstop signs a Rawlings Official Major League Baseball Baseball signed: "Derek Jeter", Rawlings Official Major League Baseball, Allen H. Selig, Commissioner. With a plastic display case atop a wooden frame. Accompanied by: a 1992 Upper Deck Premier Prospects baseball card No. 279. The statistics for Jeter's first minor league season on the Greensboro Hornets are given on verso. He is shown in a Yankees uniform on the front and verso.  Derek Jeter (b. 1974), the American League Rookie of the Year in 1996, has played his entire Major League career in Yankee pinstripes, leading the team to 5 World Championships and serving as captain since 2003. He was the MVP of the All-Star Game and of the World Series in the same year (2000). Eleven times an All-Star through 2010, Jeter has more hits than any other Yankee in history (having passed Lou Gehrig in 2009), and more hits than any other shortstop in history. When his defensive range was faulted by statisticians early in the new century, Jeter began a special off-season exercise program to remedy - successfully - this single weakness in his game. read more...

ERNEST HEMINGWAY Handwritten letter to associate Peter Buckley, signed "Papa," filled with tales of his time spent in Spain and France meeting bullfighters and other famous friends. Autograph Letter signed: "Papa", 1 page, 8¼x10½. Paris, 1956 November 24. On letterhead of the Hotel Ritz to "Dear Peter" [Buckley], in full: "Thank you very much for the lovely big pictures. The ones at Zaragosa and the one of Antonio [Ordonez] and Mary were especially good. Would you do me a very big favour and be a good boy and do it promptly? Please send the pictures you took of Mary and me and Cooch Behar and Gina Egan in the bariera to Miss Gina Egan [at London address]. I promised to see they were sent and have worried about them. Please do this Peter. We saw a lot of Juanito Madinaveitia and also had lunch once and dinner twice with Juan Belamonte . We had a wonderful time together. Mary is much better in every way. I've been following Juanito's regime faithfully. When get next pressure taken will assess how things go. Coldest Nov. 23 in Paris since 1914, -4°. Shot a lot of partridges in Spain. Got some good pictures. We took Caro to the shoot. He sends his best to you. Mary and I send love. 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...

EDD "KOOKIE" BYRNES 5¼-inch black "Unbreakable" comb in plastic case with a certificate of authenticity. Comprises: (1) 5¼-inch black "Unbreakable" comb in plastic case. Fine condition. (2) Printed Document Signed: "Edd 'Kookie' Byrnes", 1p, 8½x11. No place, 1988 November 5. Headed: "Certificate of Authenticity". In full: "I, Edd 'Kookie' Byrnes, do certify that I have sold this comb to the Gallery of History in great hopes that it will be framed with my signed photograph to be enjoyed by one of my fans." Fine condition. 77 Sunset Strip was televised on ABC from 1958-1964. Edd Byrnes was Gerald Lloyd Kookson III, better known as Kookie, a parking lot attendant at Dino's Lodge next door to a detective office. He later became a private eye in the series. In 1959, Byrnes and Connie Stevens recorded the hit single, "Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb)", which sold over a million copies. Two items. read more...

WILLIAM BARCLAY "BAT" MASTERSON This extraordinary document is a typed manuscript for Dodge City, The Cowboy Capital about Western lawman Bat Masterson, with a total of four handwritten corrections by him, including his very rare full signature. It was written by Robert M. Wright, former mayor of Dodge City, Kansas, and sent to Masterson, a former deputy in Dodge City, for his review. Annotated typed manuscript signed "William Barclay (Bat) Masterson". Black ink and lead pencil notations in unknown hand. 6 pages, 8½x11, bound with a needle at top edge. There are a total of four corrections on the first page. The first is Masterson's signature, correcting the title "W.B. Masterson (Bat)". He also corrected the initials "W.B." in the first sentence with "William Barclay". The other two corrections pertain to his candidacy for sheriff of Ford County, Kansas, which included Dodge City. He crossed out the "6" in "1876" and corrected it with "7". read more...

FREDERICK DOUGLASS He pens his signature on this deed as Recorder in July of 1883! Deed Signed: "Fredk Douglass" as Recorder on docket panel, 4p integral leaf, 8½x14. District of Columbia, 1883 July 24.  Release from "Ellen C. Toomey" to "A. Thomas Bradley". In part: "This Indenture, made this twenty-fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-three between Ellen C. Toomey and James Toomey. Her husband, of the city of Washington, District of Columbia ____of the first part, and A. Thomas Bradley and James Fullerton, also of the city of Washington, District of Columbia of the second part:". 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...

JOHN F. KENNEDY During his first campaign for a seat in Congress (1946), he signed this handwritten letter to a former Harvard classmate, discussing measures to secure the Italian-American vote. Rare Political Autograph Letter Signed: "Jack", 2 pages, 6x9, front and verso. To Tony (former Harvard classmate Tony Galluccio). No place, no date but during his first race for Congress in 1946. In full: "Thanks very much for your letter. It sounds like you and Joe did a good deal. It is fine with me if you and Joe take the trip in August. Just give me your schedule before you go and I will pay expenses. Be sure & let Frank know when you are going & keep him informed in a general way. I agree with you that Peter Gay would be a good man. I think it would be a good idea if you would get to know the Italian members of the legislature as well as possible. Should I write Gay or Demarco or anyone else thanking them? I hope to talk with you this weekend. Will call your house." Joe was Cambridge Councilman JOSEPH A. deGUGLIELMO, Frank was JFK's father's aide read more...