Weekly Autograph Specials

B/w publicity photograph of Goddard in a black halter top and black opera gloves and with her hair in an updo, signed "Every good wish!" Inscribed photograph signed "To Johnny/Every good/wish!/Paulette/Goddard" in blue ink. 8x10 overall, 7¼x9 image, one surface. ©1946 Paramount Pictures Inc. Imprinted in white: "PAULETTE GODDARD/in Paramount Pictures". Goddard (1911-1990, born Pauline Marion Goddard Levee in Whitestone Landing, Long Island, New York) was an American actress. A former teen Broadway chorus girl, she first attracted attention when she was featured reclining on a prop crescent moon in the 1928 Ziegfeld musical, Rio Rita. Goddard reportedly made several two-reel comedies for Hal Roach (in a blond wig) before being featured as a "Goldwyn Girl" in Eddie Cantor's film, Kid from Spain, in 1932. She shot to stardom when she was cast by Charlie Chaplin in his 1936 film, Modern Times. Goddard also won Chaplin's heart as well as the role, but there were questions as to whether the two were ever legally married, and her relationship with Chaplin cost her the one role that she truly coveted: Scarlett O'Hara in the 1939 epic, Gone With the Wind.

Photograph signed: "[3 word inscription in Italian]/Luciano Pavarotti/80". Color, 4¼x5¾ overall, image 4¼x4½ (one surface). Decca Records publicity photograph. List of Pavarotti's albums imprinted on verso. Opera star Luciano Pavarotti (1935-2007), the best Italian bel canto tenor of his day, made his debut in 1961 in Italy as Rodolfo in La Bohème. Engagements in leading Italian theatres soon followed, and, in 1963, he sang in Amsterdam, Vienna and Zurich. In September 1963, Pavarotti went to Covent Garden to sing Rodolfo. In 1964, he sang the role of Idomeneo at Glyndebourne, and, in 1965, Pavarotti made his North American debut in Miami with Joan Sutherland in Lucia Di Lammermoor, following this with a tour of Australia with Sutherland. Pavarotti's fine, lyrical voice, with its powerful and extended upper register, and his musical approach to all his roles placed him in the forefront of contemporary tenors. Minor surface scratches (not evident head on). Fine condition.

The Revolutionary War Brigadier general signs a document as the State Treasurer of Connecticut. Document signed: "J Huntington" as Connecticut State Treasurer, 1 page, 6¼x7½. Treasury-Office (likely Hartford, Connecticut), 1790 February 20. No. 2282. Details written in another hand. Countersigned with unrecognizable signature. Certification that Deacon Benjamin Chaplin has lodged in this office Army Notes valued at £145.166.6 and is entitled to receive Certificates in pursuance of an Act of the Connecticut General Assembly of May, 1789. Docketed on verso. Many states, like Connecticut, issued promissory notes to finance their participation in the Revolutionary War, and, as here, paid off the debt with new paper, still denominated in pounds. Not until 1791 did the U.S. establish a uniform national currency and, at the urging of Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton, assume the state debts. Jedediah Huntington (1743-1818), a Harvard graduate with a Masters from Yale, joined the Continental Army outside Boston one week after the Battle of Lexington (1775). He commanded a Connecticut brigade throughout the Revolutionary War, being promoted to Brigadier at George Washington's personal request.

The famed performers sign on a color publicity photograph for the film Photograph Signed: "Peter/Falk", "B. D'angelo", "Arkin", Color 10x8. In the 1986 film Big Trouble, an insurance agent plots to kill her crazy husband. PETER FALK (1927-2011), lost an eye at the age of three, resulting in the odd, squinting gaze which later became his trademark. Best known as the rumpled television detective Columbo, the character actor has also enjoyed a successful film career spanning over 40 years. He has won two Emmys for his television work and earned two Best Supporting Actor Oscar nominations (Murder Inc., 1961 and Pocketful of Miracles, 1962). You probably best know BEVERLY D'ANGELO, born in 1954, as ever-suffering Ellen Griswold, wife of Chevy Chase's Clark Griswold, in National Lampoon's Vacation (1983) and its three sequels (not to mention the 2007 Family Guy spoof of Star Wars, Blue Harvest). But this multi-talented actress is versatile far beyond her obvious comedic chops. An artist at Hanna Barbera, she was a folk singer in Canadian coffee houses and sang with a rock band called Elephant before making her Broadway debut in Rockabye Hamlet (1976).

Color publicity photograph of Sammy Davis, Jr. singing into a microphone. Photograph inscribed and signed: "To/Harry/Peace/& Love/Sammy Davis/Jr." Color, 8x10. Considered by many as the "World's Greatest Living Performer" during the height of his career, Sammy Davis, Jr. was a versatile performer, winning popularity on both sides of the color barrier for his acting, singing, dancing and impersonations. A member of the famed "Rat Pack", Davis appeared with Sinatra and friends in Ocean's 11 in 1960, nine years before his acclaimed performance in Sweet Charity. Nominated for a Tony Award for Golden Boy (1974), Davis also had a number of hit records, including "Love Me or Leave Me", "That Old Black Magic", "What Kind of Fool Am I?" and "The Candy Man". Light surface creases (not evident head on) at right background. Fine condition.

ALS: "J.C. Smuts.", 1½p, 5x7½. Knightsbridge, London, S.W., no year, August 9. On letterhead of the Hyde Park Hotel to Mrs. Fisher. In part: "I am leaving for South Africa so soon that it will not be possible for me to come to Oxford. I would have enjoyed nothing better than a day with you in historic Oxford. Will you do me the favour to inform Prof Fisher of my inability to come." Jan Christian Smuts (1870-1950) was an influential writer and effective military commander in the Afrikaner resistance to British rule in South Africa, the Boer War (1899-1902). Thereafter, he opposed extreme Afrikaner nationalism and urged reconciliation. He was instrumental in the formation of the Union of South Africa (1910), and served for two long periods as its Prime Minister (1919-1924, 1939-1948). Smuts was influential beyond the boundaries of South Africa. During World War I he successfully commanded British troops against the Germans in East Africa. Then he joined the Imperial War Cabinet. The only man to sign the peace treaties ending both World Wars, he was also instrumental in the founding of both the League of Nations and the United Nations. Lightly creased with usual fold, none at signature. Slightly soiled.

Smiling photo of the popular film and television actor posing in a suit. Photograph inscribed and signed: "To/Jimmy -/Sincerely/Dick Powell". Sepiatone, 8x10. Actor Dick Powell (1903-1963), born Richard Ewing Powell, sang and played several instruments in live performances and on radio in the late 1920s, and he had some hit records. In the 1930s, Powell moved to film musicals, including 42nd Street (1933) and The Gold Diggers of 1933. He began playing dramatic roles the following decade, beginning by playing Philip Marlow in Murder, My Sweet (1944). Powell also appeared often on early TV, hosting The Dick Powell Show from 1961 until his early death from cancer. He was married to actresses Joan Blondell (his second wife, 1936-1944) and June Allyson (his third wife, 1945 until his death in 1963). Lightly creased at blank margins and corners. Minor surface creases and smudges (most not evident head on), light vertical crease at the "J" of Jimmy. Mounting remnants on verso (no show through). Overall, fine and handsome.

Black and white publicity photograph of an older Bing Crosby in a hat and tie with a pipe in his mouth. Photograph inscribed and signed: "To Ken Smith/Every good wish/Bing Crosby". B/w, 8x10. Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby won the 1944 Academy Award for Best Actor in Going My Way. He was also nominated for Best Actor for The Bells of St. Mary's (1945) and The Country Girl (1954). Known for his relaxed "crooning" style of singing, Crosby recorded more than 1,600 songs that sold at least 500 million copies. His 1942 single of "White Christmas" sold more than 30 million copies worldwide and was recognized as the best-selling single in any music category for more than 50 years. Lightly creased and rippled. Otherwise, fine condition.

Early black and white publicity photograph of Spencer Tracy leaning on his knee. Photograph inscribed and signed: "To-/Miss M. M./Hart/Sincerely,/Spencer Tracy". B/w, 8x10. Cast as a villain or at least a tough guy in his early films, Tracy (1900-1967) earned recognition as one of Hollywood's greatest stars after he won Oscar in successive years for Captains Courageous (1937) and Boys Town (1939). He would receive seven more Oscar nominations for San Francisco (1936), Father of the Bride (1950), Bad Day at Black Rock (1955), The Old Man and the Sea (1958), Inherit the Wind (1960), Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? (1967). For 25 years, from 1942 until his death, Tracy was linked romantically on and off screen with actress Katharine Hepburn, though they never married due to the Catholic Tracy's aversion to divorce. Lightly creased and soiled. Unevenly toned. Surface scratches bisect image. Light contrast.

The crew of Challenger 41B signs this commemorative envelope honoring the Cape Kennedy Space Center Commemorative Envelope signed: "Ronald McNair", "Bruce McCandless II/ NASA astronaut", Vance Brand", "Robert L. Gibson" and "Bob Stewart" 6½x3½. Launch cover bears 18¢ "Understanding the Sun" stamp and 2¢ "Freedom to Speak Out" stamp. Postmarked Cape Canaveral, Florida, February 3, 1984. Space shuttle mission STS-41B, the tenth orbital flight and the fourth of 10 flights by Challenger, was launched from the Kennedy Space Center on February 3, 1984 and made the first runway landing at the same site on February 11. This mission deployed two communications satellites and conducted the first untethered space walks (by McCandless). Confusingly, NASA began a new numbering system with this launch, the previous flight having been STS-10. The mission Commander was VANCE BRAND (b.1931), already a veteran (command module pilot of the first joint U.S.-Soviet space flight (1975). Brand would make two more shuttle flights after this one. Shuttle pilot ROBERT L. "HOOT" GIBSON (b.…"