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...

GUGLIELMO MARCONI Postcard Photograph signed: "G. Marconi". B/w, 3½x5½. British postcard photograph of a young Marconi captioned: "Marconi". Guglielmo Marconi (1874-1937) carried out successful experiments with wireless telegraphy near Bologna, Italy in 1895. Two years later, he erected a wireless station at La Spezia at the invitation of the Italian government. In 1898, Marconi established communications across the English Channel between England and France. He was awarded the 1909 Nobel Prize in Physics in recognition of his "contribution to the development of wireless telegraphy". Light surface wear. Fine condition. read more...

WILLIAM F. CODY ("BUFFALO BILL") 4x5 photo of Cody, signed and signed on the 7x9 photo mount in 1903 as both W.F. Cody and Buffalo Bill Photograph Mount inscribed and signed: "W.F. Cody/'Buffalo Bill'/To Ormsby Trench/1903". B/w, 7x9 overall, image 3¾x5½ (two surfaces). Photo by Marceau Studios, 258 Fifth Avenue, New York. William Frederick Cody earned the name "Buffalo Bill" for killing thousands of buffalo as a hired hunter in 1867 and 1868. Cody's theatrical career was launched in 1872 with re-enactments of Indian battles. By 1883, he formed his first Wild West spectacle, becoming a master showman. Vintage mount is lightly foxed, soiled and slightly stained with some wear at edges. Photo is lightly soiled and slightly foxed. Signature and inscription in fine condition. read more...

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT CALLS HIS WORK "THE ONLY TRULY AMERICAN EXPRESSION IN THE ART OF ARCHITECTURE"   FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT. Extremely rare Partly Printed DS: "Frank Lloyd Wright Architect", 1p, 5½x8½. No date, no place. An application for information to be published in a directory. Headed: "Business or Professional Record". In the upper portion, which asks for "data to enable the editor to do complete justice to your business or professional record", Wright has written, in full: "Work characterized as 'New School of Middle West' in America -- Abroad, as the architecture of the 'Prairie Dimension' -- the only truly American expression in the art of Architecture. Many foreign publications of distinction publish the work and European architects manifest increasing interest in it." Wright has also written "None" twice in columns asking for information on being an officer or director of a corporation and the office or position occupied. At the bottom of the form is a line that reads "Please enclose your business card or other printed matter in order that spelling of names may be verified. read more...

J. PAUL GETTY This $8.91 check made out to the Secretary of State of the United States is signed in black ink Check signed: "J. Paul Getty", 8¼x3¼. New York, 1942 March 3. Drawn on Chase National Bank, payable to the Secretary of State of the United States for $8.91. The year he signed this check, Getty became President, General Manager and principal owner of the Minnehoma Financial Corp., serving until 1961. In 1916, Jean Paul Getty (1892-1976) and his father, George, had incorporated the Getty Oil Company, an early precursor to the great conglomerate. His multistate operation went international in 1949, when he completed a deal to lease oil fields in Saudi Arabia. During the Depression Era, he had bought extensive quantities of stock and in 1956 he gained control of Pacific Western, which he renamed Getty Oil, ending a 19-year stock battle with Standard Oil. The significantly larger Getty Oil Company became the world's largest privately owned business and made the enterprising Getty a billionaire. Although he was one of the world's richest men, Getty had a legendary reputation for miserliness. read more...

AUTOGRAPH BOOK FROM THE HOLLYWOOD CANTEEN Scottish character actress Mary Gordon compiled this personal autograph book in 1944 at the celebrity-hosted, morale-boosting nightclub for soldiers and sailors of World War II. Book inscribed and signed: "Best Wishes!/Greer Garson", "Me too/Lt. Buddy Rogers", To Mary/I hope I'll always hear/that darlin' accent every/time I see you./Love,/Maureen O'Hara", "To darling Mary Gordon - a/great actress and a greater/Most sincerely/Claire DuBrey/1945", "To Mary -/One gr-a-a-nd Scout/Art Baker", "To Mary/Bing/Crosby", "To Mary,/with all my good wishes/Merle Oberon", "Ray Milland", "Grace Moore/1943", "Frank Morgan", "To Mary/For herself alone/Harry Davenport", "With all my love/Herb Doolittle", "Scotland forever!/John Loder", "Scots Wha Hac!/Hedy Lamarr", "Cpl. Camila Miranda Ramirez/The Shangrila Kid", "To my 'Dollfora/love/Keenan Wynn", "It was wonderful/knowing you/Doris Stein", "Well Mary/It has been good/knowing you and working with you/at the Hollywood Canteen/Evelyn Balcon", "To the/'beauty girl'/of all time/June Havoc", "C. read more...

ENOLA GAY CREW: PAUL W. TIBBETS, TOM FEREBEE, GEORGE R. CARON, THEODORE "DUTCH" VAN KIRK and JACOB BESER Photograph of the Enola Gay signed by her pilot and four crew members who participated in the historic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945. Photograph signed: "Paul Tibbets/Pilot", "Tom Ferebee/Bombardier", "George R. Caron/Tail Gunner", "Theodore J 'Dutch' Van Kirk/Navigator/8-6-45" and "Jacob Beser". B/w, 8x9¾. The Enola Gay, a modified B-29, dropped the world's first atomic bomb used in war. Colonel PAUL W. TIBBETS, JR. was the pilot, Major THOMAS W. FEREBEE was the bombardier, Staff Sergeant GEORGE R. CARON was the tail gunner and Captain THEODORE VAN KIRK (1921-2014) was the navigator on the historic flight that lifted off from Tinian Island at 2:45 A.M. on August 6, 1945. At 17 seconds past 8:15 a.m., "Little Boy", a 9,000-pound uranium-235 core-fissionable atomic bomb was released over Hiroshima, Japan. read more...

FRANK SINATRA A typed document from Sinatra to Peter Lawford, fellow actor and brother-in-law to President John F. Kennedy, giving permission for Lawford as producer to use any previously recorded performances and appearances of Sinatra's in benefit to the Pre-Inaugural Gala for JFK, saying that all proceeds from the Gala are to be given to the Democratic National Committee. Document Signed: "Frank Sinatra", in blue ink, 1 page, 7¼x10¾. January 8, 1961. Written to actor and brother-in-law to President John F. Kennedy, Peter Lawford. In Full: "Dear Sir: I understand that as producer of the "Pre-Inaugural Gala" of January 19, 1961 in connection with the inauguration of President Kennedy, you recorded and reproduced my appearances and performances. I also understand that you plan to use footage containing such appearances and performances and other footage from your production of the "Gala" at Democratic Party Rallies, spectacular telecast and re-telecast. I also understand that proceeds which may be derived from such uses will be turned over to the Democratic National Committee. I also understand none of such proceeds will be retained by the producers of, of any performers in the "Gala". 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...

FREDERICK DOUGLASS He pens his signature on this deed as Recorder in March of 1885! Deed Signed: "Fredk Douglass" as Recorder on docket panel, 4p integral leaf, 8½x14. District of Columbia, 1885 March 3.  Release from "William D. Cassin" to "J. Thomas Davis". In part: "This Indenture, made this Second ___ day of ___March___ A.D. 1885 between William D. Cassin of Washington in the District of Columbia of the first part, trustee under a certain deed of trust from J. Thomas Davis and wife, ". 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. Douglas spent the rest of his life fighting for an end to slavery and the rights of African-Americans and women to vote. read more...