The June 2-5, 2002, Pre-Long Beach Sale, Sale 14
Lot 1496
Barnum, Phineas Taylor
(P.T.) (1810-1891). American showman and promoter, Barnum had an uncanny
ability to successfully choose and market curiosities to an American public
hungry for entertainment. Barnum's American Museum, General Tom Thumb and the
American debut of Jenny Lind were all huge successes long before he began the
association he is remembered for today -- Barnum and Bailey's Greatest Show on
Earth.
Signed Photograph ("P T Barnum"). Sepia toned cabinet
card, n.p., "1885". Photograph by Eisenmann of New York. Minor tiny
pits/abrasions on card and in white field below image and at top right corner
of image; minor, faint discoloration scattered on image, most noticeable
(although still faint) at "B". Overall, very good
condition.
Pictured here towards the end of his long, full life, Barnum
still projects an air of determination.
Estimated Value $400-500.
Lot 1497
Carnegie, Dale. Signed
Book ("Dale Carnegie"). How To Win Friends and Influence
People New York: Simon and Schuster. 1937, 312 pages with index. Dust
jacket printed at top edge "This is copy No. 614797 of the most popular work of
non-fiction of our time." Dust jacket work with minor tears, chips and paper
loss. Strip of light toning inside book cuts through signature. Overall, very
good condition.
Estimated Value $100-150.
Lot 1498
Hughes, Howard
(1905-1976). American industrialist, movie producer and aviator. He made
his fortune through the Hughes Tool Co., made his debut as a film director in
1926, and from 1935 to 1938 broke many world aviation records. Notable movies
include Hell's Angels (1930) and The Outlaw (1941). For the last
25 years of his life he lived as a notorious recluse and eccentric.
Signed Photograph ("Howard Hughes" , "Dick Stoddard",
"Harry Connor", "Al Lodiwek", "Edward Lund" and "Tommy
Thurlow"). Black and white. 10 x 8", n.p., n.d. Some minor creasing and
wrinkling to lower left corner does not affect any signatures; a few scattered
light surface marks; minor abrasion in left margin. Overall, very good
condition.
A memento from one of Hughes' most amazing achievements --
the record breaking July 1938 around the world flight -- featuring the
signatures of Hughes and the crew that broke the circumnavigation speed record.
Hughes and his men flew 14,791 miles in 3 days, 19 hours and 8 minutes, taking
off from New York, with stops in Paris, Moscow, Omsk, Yakutsk, Fairbanks and
Minneapolis before finally landing in New York. The 1938 flight is more
remarkable when you consider flying was only 35 years old and most of the
advances Hughes used in his planes and in his flying had occurred since World
War I -- a mere 20 years of innovation and experimentation. The extraordinary
feat was fraught with danger and the success more notable for that.
Estimated Value $1,500-2,000.
Lot 1499
Lindbergh, Charles A.
Book Signed ("Charles A. Lindbergh, Jr. "). Lindbergh of
Minnesota by Bruce L. Larson (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1973). Signed on
title page, with author ("Bruce L. Larson"). Dust jacket, very minor
shelf wear. Fine condition.
A detailed biography about the great
aviator's father, with a foreward by Charles Lindbergh. Lindbergh seldom added
the "Jr." to his signature, but did so here, presumably out of deference to his
father.
Estimated Value $600-700.
Lot 1500
[Masterson, Bat] 1883
Target Morgan Dollar. Here is a most unusual item, an 1883 Morgan Silver
dollar which was shot by Bat Masterson. The upper obverse edge is deformed by a
bullet impact, just touching the edge of Liberty's crown. The host coin grades
EF-45 or so.
The history of this coin is most interesting, it was owned by
Mrs. Mary N. Oates, the Postmaster and Superintendent of Schools for Creede,
Colorado in 1892. At that time, Mary Oates was 25 years old, and the acting
City Marshall of Creede and the Watrous Saloon owner was none other than Bat
Masterson, the famed sharp shooter and gunslinger. Apparently Bat Masterson
took a liking to the young Mary Oates, and in a display of his expert
marksmanship, shot the present coin from a great distance, and then presented
it to her. Mary Oates cherished this memento for many years, keeping it her
entire life. Just before she passed in 1956, she gave the coin to her
granddaughter, Mrs. Linda James, who recently sold it to our consigner.
This
coin is framed in a large custom wood frame, with extensive history about Bat
Masterson and Mary Oates included for the purchaser of this lot.
Estimated
Value $1,500-UP.
Apparently the interest, and prices, of such
curiosities as this coin, with ties to celebrated figure of our Old (or wild)
West, have been growing considerably in recent years. Known transactions,
either at auction or private treaty, generally average several thousand
dollars. Those with iron clad documentation have been known to be in the
multiples of thousands. Worth a serious look, as this may well be a bargain.
Lot 1501
Schick, Bela
(1877-1967). Austrian-born physician and researcher, he developed the
Schick Test for diphtheria.
Signed Portrait ("Dr. Bela Schick").
Black and white, 8 x 10" pencil portrait reproduced on cardstock, n.p., n.d.
Signed and inscribed in blue ink: "To Barry Malver". Minor toning to
edges, a few incidental creases. Very good to fine condition.
Estimated
Value $125-175.
Lot 1502
Stanley, Henry Morton
(1840-1904). Explorer and author, famous for greeting missionary/explorer
David Livingstone (presumed lost in Africa), with "Dr. Livingstone, I
presume?".
Signed Photograph ("Henry M Stanley"). Sepia toned, 5
x 7", n.p., "1886". Photograph by Passingham of Bradford, labeled a
"Platino Grapho" image, this is a photograph printed onto heavy card stock.
Inscribed below portrait: "As a souvenir to little Effie from her
friend". Heavily toned card stock with lighter edges from early matting;
scattered light spots blend in quite well; minor silvering or other light
discoloration in face is discernible only in certain light; toning and penciled
ID verso. The toning is generally even and the effect with the strong
inscription and signature is one of a venerable piece of history. Overall, good
to very good condition.
Estimated Value $650-750.
Lot 1503
Van Dyke, Henry
(1852-1933). American writer and poet. Well studied, Van Dyke spent 20
years as a minister, popularizing his writings of sermons and essays. In 1900
he became a Professor of English Literature at Princeton, and later, was
awarded the Legion of Honour for his ministering during World War I. He is best
known for The Other Wise Man (1896), a Christmas story hypothesizing the
life of a fourth Wise Man.
Manuscript Signed ("Henry Van Dyke").
One page, quarto, Princeton, February 19, 1903. On "Department of English /
Princeton University" letterhead. In black ink. To his dear friend, Miss Louisa
M. Hollingsworth. Accompanied by the original transmittal envelope. With one
horizontal and two vertical folds. In fine condition overall.
Shortly
after beginning his career at Princeton, here Van Dyke makes mention of his
most popular writing: "In regard to the questions you ask, I shall have to
refer you to Harper & Bros., Franklin Square, N.Y., who hold the copyrights of
'The Other Wise Man'."
Estimated Value $150-200.
Lot 1504
Wanamaker, John
(1838-1922) American businessman. Developed the idea of the "department
store" around 1876 and made the reality a success with agressive marketing
techniques and promotions. A pillar of his community, appointed Post Master
General by Harrison.
Letter Signed ("John Wanamaker"). One page,
small quarto, Philadelphia, April 6, 1905. On "Private Office/John
Wanamaker/Philadelphia" stationery. To H. Clay Evans. Transmittal folds with
some separation, soil to edges, minor toning. Good condition.
Addressing
the American Consulate General in London, Wanamaker practices his exceptional
networking skills. "I thank you for your long painstaking and prompt letter in
answer to mine. You give me a great deal to think about and I hope to see you
on your return...I do not know what your future is to be, but you can rely upon
my being interested in every move that you make."
Estimated Value
$200-300.
Lot 1505
Byrd and Peary. Two
items from the greatest explorers of the early 20th century.
1.) Peary,
Robert. Signature ("Robert Peary"). Dark signature on a cream-colored
card wonderfully matted and framed with a beautiful black and white portrait of
the explorer. Not examined out of frame, appears to be in fine condition.
Overall size: 12¾ x 21".
2.) Byrd, Richard E. Typed letter signed
("Byrd"). One page, quarto, New York, July 24, 1928. Mailing folds,
paper clip impression with small stain at top left corner. To Merritt Hulburd
at the Saturday Evening Post. Concerns comments, possibly about an article.
Matted and framed with black and white portrait of the explorer. Overall size:
27 x 23½". Prospective buyer will want to consider a new mat, as the
fabric on this one has started to discolor. The letter is in very good
condition.
Estimated Value $250-300.
Lot 1506
Kennedy, Jr., Giuliani and
Cone. October 22 1998, New York Daily News celebrating the Yankees' World
Series win signed by John F. Kennedy, Jr. ("John Kennedy Jr."), Rudolph
Giuliani (signing "Rudy Giuliani") and Yankees' pitcher David Cone
("David Cone"). Matted and framed to 20 x 28".
Estimated Value
$800-900.