President John F. Kennedy collector cards, Topps, 1964, set of 71 out of 77. This set was issued shortly after JFK’s assassination in classic Topps style – black-and-white photo on the front, short caption on reverse. This set includes many of the important politicians of the day (Chancellor Adenauer #40, Marshall Tito #39, King Hassan II #18 and Eisenhower, Nixon and Johnson in the US) and shows Kennedy giving speeches in his animated style. However, it also includes the children and Jackie, leaving the impression of the importance of family. Even when the children are not pictured, they are in the “background.” Card #76, for example, is captioned: “President Kennedy enjoys a chuckle as he speaks to his daughter, Caroline, during a long-distance telephone call.” The set also includes pre-Presidential images, such as Jack and Jackie shortly after announcing their engagement, when Kennedy was still a Senator, as well as images from the wedding (#60, 73), a team photo of his varsity football team, and Kennedy relaxing on leave from service in the South Pacific during WWII. Missing cards 20-24, and 27.
[With:] A group of 3 autographs of directors and newsmen. TLS by Cecil B. deMille (1881-1959), Hollywood, CA, 11 Feb. 1952. On Paramount Pictures letterhead with "Cecil B. deMille Productions" logo in lower left corner. To Ward Marsh, Cleveland Plain Dealer regarding a prospectus Marsh sent to deMille that seems to be in regard to filming a series of "pilot courses" at the Western Reserve University. In pencil upper right "copy for file." -- TLS, signed "King." King Vidor (1894-1982). Culver City, CA, 8 May 1945. On Selznick Studio letterhead. Also to Ward Marsh of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, thanking him for including one of Vidor's films in his "Ten Best" list of 1944. He explains to Marsh that he left MGM after they "butchered" one of his pictures and joined Selznick Studio to film the next one, "Duel in the Sun." He notes that he is currently not working because of "the strike." King Vidor directed over 60 films between 1913 and 1981, even trying his hand at acting in 1982 ("Love and Money"). He received 5 Academy nominations for best director. -- TLS, signed Chet Huntley (1911-1974). Big Sky, MT, 24 Jan. 1974. On Big Sky of Montana, Inc. letterhead. To Tex Jordan. Huntley writes that he has no first hand knowledge of Art Acord and only remembers him as a cowboy actor in a film when Huntley was young. With the front panel of the cover.
[Also with:] 5 x 7 in b-&-w photo of Joan Crawford (190? - 1977), signed "Lovingly by Joan Crawford." -- 6.5 x 8.5 in. b-&-w photo of Norma Talmadge (1894-1957), silent film actress. Signed "Sincerely yours, Norma Talmadge."
[Also with:] King, Stephen (b. 1947). Signed card with "For Thom / with best wishes / Stephen King / (PS Couldn't find a photo - Sorry)." Matted with a printed image of King, 2.5 x 4.5 in. visible. Shrink wrapped on foam core board. Not opened for examination. -- TLS, boldly signed by James Thurber (1894-1961), cartoonist and humorist, to an aspiring writer. Paget East, Bermuda, June 5, 1954. This 1-1/2 page missive gives advice to the writer including books to read and how to make a living as a writer. He tells Mr. Webb to get a job as a newspaper writer, "The more you write, the better you should get, although Johnny Jones of the Columbus Dispatch writes as badly now as he did thirty-five years ago, and he's been at it that long." An interesting take on the writing art. -- An Inaugural Commemorative Keepsake. The Thurber Center Opening December 1992. One of 250 portfolios with six 5 x 13 in. cards, each representing the work of an author and signed by them. The first is by Literary Director, Michael J. Rosen, and the five authors are: Edward Albee, Russell Baker, Ann Beattie, Roy Blount, Jr. and Frederick Busch. Like new. -- Clipped signature of Noel Coward (1899-1973), playwright, actor, director. Approx. 1.5 x 3.25 in. Matted with photograph of Coward to approx. 12.5 x 15.5 in. and shrink-wrapped on foam core. Not opened for examination.
[Also with:] Segal, Lore (b. 1928). "Lucinella Apologizes to the World for Using It." 12 x 18 in. Selection from Lucinella, 1976, with color art. Published for Segal's residency in the Creative Writing Program at The Ohio State University, Winter 1991. Signed lower margin. Segal was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2008. Number 36 of 150 signed prints. -- Skvorecky, Josef. Selection from The Bass Saxophone, 1977. Published for Skvorecky's residency in the Creative Writing Program at The Ohio State University, Fall 1990. Signed near lower right corner. Number 43 of 150 signed prints. -- Klinker, Orpha (1891-1964). "Trees and Tide." Sepia print by Klinker. 6.5 x 8.5 in. on 8.75 x 11 in. sheet. Known for California landscapes and portraiture. -- Lindsay, Vachel (1879-1931). Poster, folded 17 x 28in. Print of pen and ink drawing on one side: "A Map of the Universe Issued in 1909. This map is one beginning of the Golden Book of Springfield." Surrounded by Egyptian hieroglyphs. The other side with "The Queen Bubbles." This begins: "All my true friends are petitioned to pin this poster on the parlor wall for fifty years, never to be ashamed of it, and to explain it in all its details to the world." Boldly signed at bottom with hieroglyphs below, butterfly in lower left corner. This copy 1921 of 2000 second edition posters. Some folds beginning to separate. Could be repaired. --
11.5 x 15.5 in. "Hagar the Horrible" color cartoon, signed "Very Best Wishes! Chris Browne" in lower margin. 1991 copyright. With TNS signed by Browne: "Thank you for your recent request of a Hagar item for your forthcoming auction. We have enclosed an autographed, hand-colored copy of a Hagar strip." Sarasota, FL, Jan. 6, 1993, on Hagar letterhead. Originally created by Dik Browne (1917-1989), Hagar was continued by Dik's son, Chris, after his death. Dik Browne was also a co-creator of Hi and Lois along with Mort Walker. Dik's son Chance and Walker's sons continued after the creators' deaths. --
Pen and ink sketch of rabbit "Harvey," 3 x 5 in. Signed James Stewart. -- ALS, signed Billy Ireland (1880-1935), Columbus, OH, 7 April 1920. On Columbus Dispatch letterhead. Addressed to Andy, accompanied by memorial card from Ireland's funeral. The letter describes a small fire in his couch caused by a spark from the wood-burning fireplace. He writes that he is enclosing a bill for the repair of the cushion. Below this is what may be a self-portrait running with a bucket of water with "No extra charge for services of fire fighting brigade." A native of Chillicothe, Ohio, Billy Ireland was a cartoonist at the Columbus Dispatch for 37 years.
