The Manuscript, Memorabilia & Collectibles Auction
Featuring personal belongings of Dodger Great Junior Gilliam
December 1, 2001

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Autographs

Aviators & Astronauts

Lot 19
Howard Hughes Signed Flight Cover. Signed Flown Flight Cover ("Howard Hughes"). A fine Hughes signature in black ink touches the Paris postmark. Stamps and postmarks identical to the covers above, also fine condition.
Estimated Value $1,500-1,750.

Lot 20
Howard Hughes Signed Flight Cover. Signed Flown Flight Cover ("Howard Hughes"). A fine Hughes signature in black ink lays partially over the Paris postmark. Stamps and postmarks identical to the above covers. Also fine condition.
Estimated Value $1,500-1,750.

Lot 21
Howard Hughes Signed Flight Cover. Signed Flown Flight Cover ("Howard Hughes"). A fine Hughes signature in black ink touches the Paris postmark at "s". Stamps and postmarks identical to those above, also fine condition.
Estimated Value $1,500-1,750.

Lot 22 Click on photo for enlarged version
Hughes and Crew Signatures. Signed Envelope ("Howard Hughes", "Tommy Thurlow", "Dick Stoddard", "Edward Lund", "Harry Connor"). Hughes and the entire crew of his record breaking 1938 flight sign in purple ink on the cover of an air mail envelope postmarked July 21, 1938. There is some toning to the edges, but all of the signatures are strong and this piece is in fine condition.

Signed by the entire crew one week after their flight, while at a convention in Newark, New Jersey.
Estimated Value $2,000-2,500.

Lot 23 Click on photo for enlarged version
Hughes and Crew Signed Flight Cover. Signed Flown Flight Cover ("Howard Hughes", "Dick Stoddard", "Harry Connor", "Edward Lund"). Lacking only navigator Tommy Thurlow's signature, this flight cover from the 1938 around the world flight has postmarks and stamps identical to the ones above and is in equally fine condition.
Estimated Value $2,000-3,000.

Lot 24 Click on photo for enlarged version
[Hughes Flight] Albert Lodwick Signed Flight Cover. Flight Cover Signed ("Albert I Lodwick"). Flown airmail cover, stamps and postmarks similar to those above, except presented on printed six cent envelope with "Howard Hughes / New York City" typed in upper left corner. Addressed "To G.L. Albright / Munitions Bldg. Washington D.C. / With Best Wishes / Albert I. Lodwick". Minor toning, fine condition.

Lodwick, often forgotten today because he was not on board the Electra, was invaluable in Howard Hughes' 1938 circumnavigation, serving as Hughes' flight operations manager. Working with navigator Thomas Thurlow, he was responsible for mapping Hughes' route. Lodwick also established contacts with government officials and airport managers to ensure that Hughes would be allowed to land when necessary and arranged for refueling and repairs. Lodwick was a fixture in the pre- and post-flight activities in spite of his current obscurity, making this is a great piece from a neglected figure.
Estimated Value $200-300.

Lot 25 Click on photo for enlarged version
Hughes' Aviation Achievements, Flight Covers. Lot of four air mail envelopes: one signed by Hughes' around the world flight crew (postmarked in New York the day of their landing) and the other postmarked from Newark, New Jersey on January 19, 1937 -- the day Hughes landed there after setting the Coast to Coast speed record. The signed envelope features the signatures of Tom Thurlow, Edward Lund, Dick Stoddard and Harry Connor. There is minor soil and multiple postmarks on this piece, but the signatures remain strong and the piece is in very good condition. 2). Unsigned flown flight cover from the circumnavigation similar to the lots above. 3). An envelope commemorating another great Hughes achievement, the 7 hour, 28 minute flight across the United States. Also in very good condition. 4). A First Flight Cachet Cover of the Hercules (Spruce Goose). A postmarked airmail envelope commemorates the launch of the Spruce Goose on November 1, 1947. Minor toning, otherwise fine condition.
Estimated Value $350-400.

Lot 26 Click on photo for enlarged version
Hughes' Life, a Newspaper Photo Archive. Twenty-six newspaper archive photos related to Hughes' circumnavigation, fourteen newspaper archive photos or reprints of photos related to the 1947 congressional inquiry into Hughes Corporation dealings with government officials, and twenty-seven other archive photos (with a handful of reprints) documenting Hughes' personal and professional life. Most of the photos are backstamped from the issuing agency and the most common is "International News Photos". Condition of the photos varies, several have captions taped directly to them, several of the photos show the printing enhancements that would have been made to publish the photos and others have some adhesive residue verso or recto.

A unique offering, almost a time capsule, of Hughes' achievements and the mystique that was already growing up around him by the late 1940s. The twenty-six photos documenting his record-breaking flight include shots of the crowds that greeted Hughes and crew in Minneapolis and New York; scenes of the monumental ticker tape parade organized by LaGuardia; and other significant moments in both the preparation for, and the reception after, the circumnavigation -- emphasizing America's interest in the achievement (including a great photo with Secretary of State Cordell Hull, with Hughes thanking him for the diplomatic efforts that made the flight possible). Photos of the Constellation and the Spruce Goose document those projects, and a few photos of Hughes as a young man and with Hollywood notables round out the group.

With the memory of Hughes' disintegration in the 1970s and the publicity surrounding his death, it is easy to forget that he was one of the most photographed and famous figures at mid-century and, after his 1938 around the world flight, he was considered on par with Lindbergh.


Estimated Value $400-UP.

Hughes and Crew Set World Speed Record

Lot 27 Click on photo for enlarged version
Hughes, Howard (1905-1976). American inventor, aviator, movie producer and businessman. Notoriously publicity shy in his later years, Hughes is remembered today more for his eccentricities than his achievements.

Signed photograph ("Howard Hughes", "Dick Stoddard", "Harry Connor", "Al Lodwick", "Edward Lund" and "Tommy Thurlow"). Black and white, 8½ x 8½", n.p., n.d. Beautifully matted and framed with photographs of their record-breaking Lockheed Model 14 Super Electra, reception at various airports and a printed summary of the achievement, overall size is 33 x 34". Minor creasing at left corner of photo, one ink spot at bottom right. Not examined out of frame. Very good condition.

Hughes' fascination with aviation is legendary and his record-breaking feats astounding by the measure of any era. The fabulous photo offered here is a unique piece of aviation history, as it features the signatures of Hughes and the crew he took on the landmark July 1938 flight that broke the world speed record. Hughes and crew flew 14,791 miles, taking off from New York with stops in Paris, Moscow, Omsk, Yakutsk, Fairbanks and Minneapolis, landing in New York in 3 days, 19 hours and 8 minutes. This is a gorgeous piece and very desirable.
Estimated Value $3,000-4,000.

Lot 28 Click on photo for enlarged version
Interesting Flight Covers and Newspaper Commemorating Circumnavigation. Three pieces. 1). A flown but unsigned flight cover similar to the ones above, with postmarks from Moscow, Le Bourget and the New York departure and landing marks. Minor soil on front, otherwise very good condition. 2) An error cachet flight cover for the around the world flight. Postmarked New York on July 10 and 14, the cachet on this cover has printed names of the crew, except for flight engineer Edward Lund. Minor toning, otherwise fine condition. 3). The San Diego Sun from July 14, 1938, featuring front-page coverage of Hughes and crew's landing in New York and a profile of "Story-Book Figure" Hughes written by his former representative Charles Meade. The paper has toned somewhat and there is minor separation at the center fold, otherwise it is in good condition.

An official around the world flown cover, an error cachet and a contemporary account of Hughes' reception in New York make for a wonderful mini-archive of the event. A wonderful assortment for the collector and Hughes enthusiast.
Estimated Value $350-400.

Outstanding Group of Lindberghiana!

Lot 29 Click on photo for enlarged version
[Lindbergh, Charles]. One hundred and twenty pieces of Lindberghiana, primarily flight covers from Lindbergh's flight across the Atlantic and various Anniversaries of the event. Covers from Cuba, Italy and various American cities fill the lot (specifics are available on request), all of which are mounted on display pages. Conditions range from very good to excellent.
Estimated Value $600-700.

Lot 30 Click on photo for enlarged version
[Lindbergh, Charles]. Two 3 x 3" unsigned photographs of Lindbergh and two naval officers mounted on a 7½ x 3" card, possibly meant as a stereograph. Adhesive residue across one photograph does not significantly damage photograph. Very good condition.

Lindbergh stands in a reception line, with the crowd trailing off behind him, obviously shortly after his return from France.
Estimated Value $150-200.

Lot 31 Click on photo for enlarged version
Post, Wiley. Signature ("Wiley Post / 8-15-33"). Original pencil portrait of Post by Bill Wright (he signs bottom right), 8½ x 11", n.p., n.d. Post signs at bottom left. Toning to edges, inconsequential wrinkles at top edge. Very good.

A unique portrait of the aviator/celebrity sans eye patch.
Estimated Value $400-450.

Lot 32 Click on photo for enlarged version
Wright, Orville (1871-1948) American aviator, co-inventor of the airplane. Younger of the Wright Brothers, the inventors and aviation pioneers who were the first to achieve powered, controlled and sustained flight (in 1903 -- with Orville at the stick) and flew the first practical airplane (in 1905). Following Wilbur Wright's death in 1912, Orville continued to experiment and innovate, serving as one of the foremost aeronautics authorities of the age.

Signed Postcard ("Orville Wright"). One page, 6½ x 5½", Dayton, Ohio, 1927. In blue fountain pen. With original transmittal envelope. Very minor soil, two small (>½") tears at bottom edge, some abrasion to corners with one folded. Very good condition.

Wright's signature appears on a postcard honoring the first flight at Kitty Hawk, December 17, 1903.
Estimated Value $300-400.

Lot 33 Click on photo for enlarged version
American Aces. Lot of material from three of America's first Ace pilots, including a beautiful Rickenbacher signed photo. 1). Signature ("J.H. Doolittle"). One page, 3½ x 2¼", n.p., n.d. Signature on verso of Doolittle's business card. Fine condition. 2). Signed Photograph ("Capt E. v. Rickenbacher"). Sepia tone reprint, 5 x 7", n.p., 1930. Signature and year inscribed on lighter portion of uniform. Includes letter on Fokker Aircraft stationery from Rickenbacher's secretary. Very slight waviness around edges of picture, otherwise fine. 3). Signature ("George A. Vaughn Jr. / Maj. A.C. N.Y.N.G). One page, large quarto. Signature in center of a piece of New York National Guard letterhead. One horizontal and two vertical folds, minor toning at edges, otherwise very good condition.

A very nice lot from three of America's first flying heroes. The Rickenbacher photo, in particular, is outstanding -- a beautiful reprint of a photo of a very young Captain Rickenbacher.
Estimated Value $150-200.

Vostok Signatures

Lot 34 Click on photo for enlarged version
Cosmonaut Vostok Flight Log. A fabulous, historic lot! A small white book (3¼ x 2") with lined pages and red slipcase. Embossed cover reads "USSR Space Ship Flight Log Vostock 1962. Sixty-three signatures from Russian and Eastern European Cosmonauts, scientists, military figures and a few Cosmonauts' families. Tom Stafford signs, as does Gene Cernan, Leonov and Zhukov, among many others. A typewritten page by page list of the signatures (where legible, otherwise indicated) and various inscriptions is included. A wonderful lot for the space enthusiast, many of these signatures are very difficult to find.
Estimated Value $2,000-3,000.

Lot 35 Click on photo for enlarged version
Crew of the Enola Gay. Signed Printed Photograph ("Tom Ferebee", "Paul Tibbets", "Dutch VanKirk" and "Dick Nelson"). 8 x 10" sheet with one photograph of "Little Boy" and another of Hiroshima post-bomb. The crew has signed in blue ink and noted their duty underneath their signature. Fine.
Estimated Value $250-350.

Lot 36
International Early Aviation. Lot of four items; two groups of signatures from aviators, one Byrd signature and one Byrd picture postcard. 1). Russian aviators, the first to fly from East to West (Moscow to New York, October 1929) on the airplane Land of the Soviets. Signatures in Cyrillic of S.A. Shestakov, S. Fufaev, Philip E. Bolotov, and Boris Sterligov. One page, 5½ x 8½", Seattle, October 18, 1929. One corner missing, one vertical and four horizontal creases, minor surface soil. Very good condition. 2). Signatures of Charles Kingsford-Smith, J.P. Saul and John S.W. Stannage, part of the crew of the Southern Cross. One page, 6 x 4", n.p., n.d. One vertical fold, one corner chipped and loose. Very good condition. 3). Signature of Richard Byrd ("RE Byrd"). 4 x 2½", n.p, n.d. Accompanied by a picture postcard and a letter from Byrd's camp. Very good condition.

An exceptional lot of pioneering aviators from the era that saw the greatest expansion of man's ability to fly long large distance. The international signatures, although the names are less familiar, are particularly of note given their scarcity.
Estimated Value $150-250.

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