KING HUSSEIN 4x6 youthful photo of the Jordanian King in full military uniform, wearing beret, medals and airborne patch, outdoors smoking a cigarette, signed in Arabic script Photograph signed: "Hussein" in Arabic script. B/w 4x6. The prince who would become King Hussein of Jordan, born in 1935, ascended the throne in 1952 after his father, King Abdullah I was assassinated and his older brother, the crown prince, who became King Talal, proved mentally incompetent after a brief reign. King Hussein ruled Jordan for nearly half a century, until his death from lymphoma in 1999. There were controversial aspects to Hussein's rule - participation in the Six Day War against Israel (1967), violent suppression of the Palestinian Liberation Organization on Jordanian soil (1970) and neutrality in the first Gulf War against Iraq (1991), but his reign proved a great blessing to most Jordanians. An island of stability in a troubled region, Jordan enjoyed peace and steady economic progress. A loyal friend of the U.S., King Hussein established formal diplomatic relations with Israel in 1994, after years of informal contacts.

W.C. HANDY Small black and white publicity photograph of W. C. Handy receiving the key to St. Louis from Mayor A. P. Kaufmann. Photograph inscribed and signed: "To Kenneth E. Wade/W.C. Handy/6-20-1947". B/w, 5x7 overall, image 4½x5 (one surface). Captioned at lower margin: "Mayor A. P. Kaufmann presenting the key to the city to W. C. Handy on behalf of a million citizens of St. Louis, May 23rd, 1947." Songwriter, cornetist and bandleader W.C. HANDY (1873-1958), who was known as the "Father of the Blues", did not invent the "Blues", but he was one of the first to use the term in a song title ("Memphis Blues" in 1912), and he published "blue notes" in his compositions, which also included "Beale Street Blues" (1916). Handy, who conducted his own band (1903-1921) before becoming a music publisher in the 1920s, was a popular performer until the mid-1940s, when he retired due to failing eyesight. Lightly creased at blank margins and corners. Minor surface creases, horizontal crease at Mayor's image. Pencil notes (unknown hand) on verso, minor impressions from writing at upper background. Overall, fine condition.

PAPPY BOYINGTON Photograph inscribed and signed: "To Larry Hancher/With Black Sheep/One's Best/always,/Pappy Boyington". B/w, 5x7. Gregory Boyington (1912-1988) joined the American Volunteer Group (Flying Tigers) in 1941 during WWII in China. He formed his own squadron (VMF-214) in 1943, consisting of new and veteran pilots, based in the Solomon Islands. Some of the veterans had previously been reprimanded for disciplinary problems and became known as the "Black Sheep" Squadron. On January 3, 1944, Boyington shot down three enemy aircraft before being shot down himself. He spent the next 20 months as a Prisoner of War. During this period he was awarded the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross. Boyington's combat exploits in the South Pacific were dramatized in the TV series Black Sheep Squadron (1976-1978). Fine condition.

WILLIAM H. TAFT The heaviest U.S. President sends thanks for food. Typed Letter Signed: "Wm H. Taft" as 27th U.S. President, 1p, 7x9. On stationery of the White House, Washington, but written from Beverly, Massachusetts, 1912 July 4. To Hon. John W. Griggs, St. John's Salmon Club, Gaspe, Province of Quebec, Canada.In full: "Mrs. Taft and I thank you cordially for the salmon which you were good enough to send us, and which has arrived in good condition. We will enjoy it immensely." Taft, who writes about food, weighed between 300-332 pounds, and was the heaviest of the U.S. Presidents. JOHN W. GRIGGS, who had served as Governor of New Jersey (1895-1898), McKinley's Attorney General (1898-1901) and a Judge on the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague (1901-1912), was an avid hunter and fisherman. Two weeks before this letter was written, Taft had been renominated for President at the Republican National Convention. Supporters of Theodore Roosevelt walked out of the convention and, on June 19, 1912, formed the Progressive Party, which held its own convention in August, nominating Roosevelt for President.

WILT CHAMBERLAIN and JOHN HAVLICEK This limited-edition 16¾x20¾ print is of the Lakers' Wilt Chamberlain and the Celtics' John Havlicek facing off on the court - two of the best men to play the game and from both sides of one of the greatest rivalries in athletics. Signed by both Chamberlain and Havlicek. Printed art signed: "Wilt Chamberlain" and "John Havlicek" in pencil. Also numbered "387/1000" in pencil in unknown hand, 16¾x20¾ overall, image 14¾x20 (one surface). Matted to 24¾x21 in a brown matte. These two men personify the rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. Chamberlain finished his stellar career with the Lakers and made the All-Star team five times during the stay there. Havlicek, while not as well known as Larry Bird or Bill Russell, was a reliable and high-scoring sixth man and longtime member of the Celtic roster. Both men, of course, are members of the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame. CHAMBERLAIN (1936-1999) guided Kansas to the 1957 NCAA title game against North Carolina.

NEW YORK CENTERFIELDERS Four legendary Hall of Famers sign a color photograph. Photograph signed: "Duke Snider", "Joe DiMaggio", "Willie Mays" and "Mickey Mantle". Color, 10x8. The greatest centerfielders in New York baseball history, possibly major league history, pose in centerfield during Old Timer's Day festivities at Shea Stadium. The photograph is not sharp because, as can be seen by the shadows, the sun was facing the camera. Fine condition.

MARGARET THATCHER Framed photograph of the first woman to serve as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, signed in silver felt tip Photograph signed: "Margaret Thatcher", B/w 8x10, framed to an overall size of 12x15. Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013) was the longest serving Prime Minister in more than 150 years and was the first woman to serve as Prime Minister. A Conservative, she was British Prime Minister from 1979-1990. She left the House of Commons when she was created a life Peer in 1992, with the title Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven. She continued to represent Conservatism in the House of Lords. In naming Thatcher among the 100 most influential persons of the twentieth century, Time magazine offered this accolade: "The triumph of capitalism, the almost universal acceptance of the market as indispensable to prosperity, the collapse of Soviet imperialism, the downsizing of the state on nearly every continent and in almost every country in the world - Margaret Thatcher played a part in all those transformations, and it is not easy to see how any would have occurred without her." Fine condition.

IRA GERSHWIN Black and white with sepia hue publicity photograph of Ira Gershwin wearing a suit and tie leaning on his elbow. Photograph inscribed and signed: "Best wishes to/Ralph Botsford/Ira Gershwin/Beverly Hills, Calif./May, 1942." B/w with sepia hue, 8x10. In the year he signed this photograph, Gershwin's lyrics to "Embraceable You" were featured in the film, Juke Girl. The previous year, he had been the lyricist for "Fascinating Rhythms" and "Lady Be Good" in Lady Be Good. The first lyricist to win a Pulitzer Prize (1932, Of Thee I Sing), Ira Gershwin (1896-1983) wrote the lyrics to a number of the songs by his older brother, George, including "Liza", beginning in 1924 for the musical Lady Be Good. In 1931, the brothers wrote for their first Hollywood musical, Delicious. After George's death in 1937, Ira worked with a number of other composers, including Jerome Kern (Cover Girl, 1944) and Harold Arlen (the musical remake of A Star is Born, 1954). Nominated for Academy Awards for Best Song in 1937 (Shall We Dance?), 1944 (Cover Girl)

ABBA EBAN Letter of congratulations from the Israeli Foreign Minister on an associate's commendation from the Jewish community of Schenectady, saying that the recipient is a "staunch friend of Israel" and that he has been a fellow inspiration to fellow Jewish people Typed letter signed: "Abba Eban", in black ink, 8½x11. June 1, 1953. Washington, D.C. Embassy of Israel. In part: "Dear Mr. Graubart: I am pleased to convey to you on my own behalf and on behalf of the State of Israel, warm felicitations on the occasion of the testimonial being tendered to you by the Jewish community of Schenectady. I know that for many years you have been in the forefront of every major communal endeavor and that you have always been a staunch friend of Israel. Your leadership in the State of Israel Bond program since it's inception has been a source of inspiration to your fellow Jews". When Israel was threatened with an Arab blockade in May 1967, Abba Eban (1915-2002), Israeli Foreign Minister from 1966-1974, traveled to Paris, London and Washington to seek a peaceful solution. When diplomacy failed, on June 5, 1967, Israel preemptively attacked Egypt and Syria, destroying their air forces on the ground within a few hours.