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...

BASEBALL ALL-STARS (1992) Thirty-one participants in the annual classic sign this commemorative baseball! Baseball signed: "Tony Gwynn", "Fred McGriff", "Gary Sheffield", "Benito Santiago", "Dennis Eckersley", "Tony Fernandez", "Jack McDowell", "Joe Torre", "Norm Charlton", "Tom Glavine", "Lee Smith", "Greg Maddux", "John Smoltz", "Bobby Cox", "Terry Pendleton", "Mike Sharperson", "Bob Tewksbury", "Will Clark", "Dennis Martinez", "Tom Pagnozzi", "Larry Walker", "Ozzie Smith", "Doug Jones", "Darren Daulton", "David Cone", "Lee Smith", "Ron Gant", "Craig Biggio", John Kruk", "Bip Roberts" and one unidentified signature. Commemorative baseball from the 1992 All-Star Game, played in San Diego on July 14, 1992. Most of the NL All-Stars and coaches, and a few from the AL, have signed. In all 31 signatures. The American League won the game 13-6. Fine condition. 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...

DAVE WINFIELD He has signed the actual baseball he belted for hit #2,982 on his way to the landmark number of 3,000 Baseball signed: "Hit # 2,982/Dave Winfield". Rawlings Official American League Baseball, Bobby Brown, President. Accompanied by two tickets to the game where he got the hit (October 3, 1993), by a certificate of authenticity, also signed by Winfield for his David M. Winfield Foundation, and by a game program containing an article on Winfield and the promotion. Only 27 hitters in the history of Major League Baseball have reached the plateau of 3,000 hits. (Babe Ruth and Barry Bonds were among those who didn't reach it.) Dave Winfield (born 1951) topped that mark near the end of the 1993 season, his 21st year in the Majors. His team, the Minnesota Twins, collected the balls he hit during the countdown to 3,000, and had him sign them. This ball was acquired from the Twins organization. By the time he retired two years later, Winfield had amassed 3,110 hits, 465 home runs and 1,833 RBIs, putting him in a class with the greatest sluggers. read more...

JOHN JAMES AUDUBON He signs a handwritten personal letter to Robert Havell, Jr., principal engraver for Birds of America. Autograph Letter signed: "John J Audubon", 1 page, 6½x8. Minnie's Land, (New York), 1845 September 2. To Robert Havell [Jr.]. In full: "I find that my fore-head is not well enough for me to have the pleasure of going to your house this evening; and besides the weather is too rainy to enjoy the trip. If possible I will be with you on Thursday evening, and will spend Friday with you and your friend. Pledge to remember me most kindly to Mrs Havell and your amicable Daughter; and believe me as ever your sincere friend & servant." Robert Havell was Audubon's friend and printer. Naturalist, ornithologist, and artist John James Audubon (1785-1851) is best known for The Birds of America, a series of illustrated books that was published over a 12-year period. Audubon moved to Minnie's Land, an estate on upper Manhattan, in 1841. 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...

SESSUE HAYAKAWA 7x9 sepia photo signed in English, a remarkably young image! Photograph signed: "Sincerely yours,/Sessue Hayakawa". Sepia, 6¾x9. Japanese-born stage, screen and television actor Sessue Hayakawa (1889-1973), born Kintaro Hayakawa, began his career on the stage in Japan, becoming part of a Japanese theatrical company that toured the U.S. in 1913. The following year, he became an overnight success in U.S. silent films after being signed to a movie contract and appearing in The Wrath of the Gods and The Typhoon (both 1914). The first Asian-American film star, Hayakawa also became one of the highest paid actors of his day, although his heavy accent limited his roles with the advent of sound. After WWII, Hayakawa became a character actor, appearing in such films as Tokyo Joe (1949), The Geisha Boy (1958), Swiss Family Robinson (1960) and The Big Wave (1961). He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Colonel Saito in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957). In 1958, Hayakawa made read more...

THE MIAMI DOLPHINS The starting quarterback and coach of the Miami Dolphins 17-0 Super Bowl winning season sign a football commemorating the season, number 000/372. Football signed: "Bob Griese HOF 90/Don Shula". Football reading: Miami Dolphins 1972 17-0 The Perfect Season 000/372, with the team's Dolphin symbol between the 17 and 0. In his 33 seasons as an NFL coach, DON SHULA (b. 1930) had a record 347 career wins (with a winning percentage of .665), made a record six Super Bowl appearances and was named Coach of the Year four times (Baltimore Colts, 1964, 1968; Miami Dolphins, 1970, 1971). Shula, who had been Head Coach of the Baltimore Colts from 1963-1969, is best known for his 25 years as Head Coach of the Miami Dolphins (1970-1995), who won consecutive Super Bowls in 1972 and 1973 and became the NFL's only undefeated team in 1972 with a 17-0 record. After retiring as Head Coach in 1995, Shula served as Vice Chairman of the Dolphins (1996-2003). He was inducted into the read more...

JOAN CRAWFORD Black and white publicity photograph of Joan Crawford looking down her nose. Photograph Inscribed and signed: "For Helen/from/Joan Crawford". B/w, 7x8¾. Joan Crawford (1904-1977) shot to stardom on the strength of 1928's Our Dancing Daughters, starring as Diana "Di" Medford, a role originally intended for Clara Bow. The film was hugely successful, and MGM soon doubled her salary and began featuring her name on marquees. Unlike so many stars of the period, Crawford successfully made the transformation from the silent movies to the sound era, although she preferred the silent movies. Crawford, originally a professional dancer, had made her film debut in 1925. She won a Best Actress Academy Award for Mildred Pierce (1945) and was nominated for Best Actress Oscars for Possessed (1947) and Sudden Fear (1952). A tell-all memoir, Mommie Dearest (1978, later made into a feature film), by her daughter Christina, portrayed Crawford as unfeeling and ruthlessly ambitious. However, Crawford was a faithful correspondent with her large fan base. Lightly bowed. Mounting remnants on verso (no show through). Fine condition. read more...

  SHIRT WORN BY MARLON BRANDO IN MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY   Off-white, long sleeve Machin shirt with an embroidered "MB" tag inside the collar beneath the "Machlin/Shirtmaker/Los Angeles" label. Not signed. Fine condition. Accompanied by a letter of authenticity signed and dated: "Richard Kohn 8/6/01", 1p, 8½x11. In part: "In July of 2001, I purchased a collection of items from Philip Rhodes, a former actor and make-up artist in Hollywood. Mr. Rhodes has over 60 years of experience in Hollywood, dating back to the 1930s. He has worked as a makeup artist for films such as Superman, The Island of Dr. Moreau, and The Godfather. This letter is to attest that I purchased the Marlon Brando film-worn shirt personally from Philip Rhodes...The shirt contains Mr. Brando's personalized initials on the tag inside, symbolizing that he owned the shirt personally. The shirt is straight from the movie's wardrobe department and eventually ended up in the possession of Philip Rhodes, who is still a good friend of Marlon Brando...I, Richard Kohl contest that I purchased this shirt from Philip Rhodes in July, 2001. I attest that the shirt is still in its original condition as when I received it. read more...