Search Results: Autographs from Main Street Fine Books & Manuscripts, ABAA

Popular and prolific American playwright. Nice archive of five TLsS, each 1p, three 8½" X 11" and two 8½" X 7", Shoreham, NY, 1942 June 3 to December 11. Addressed to poet Joseph Auslander (1897-1965) at the Library of Congress. Very good to fine. All concern the donation of Pollock's manuscripts to the Library of Congress (although he protests "I don't want to crowd you with Pollockiana...."). "...nothing would give me greater pleasure," writes Pollock, "and particularly because... the inspiration for my most successful play, 'THE FOOL', came of an afternoon's reading in that Library." Regarding the manuscript of his just-completed autobiography ("Harvest of My Years"), Pollock sheds some light on his work methods: "...all but the first two chapters of this are written in pencil. The first two were dictated and typed, and, if you desire, with the combination I will include a note of explanation. The pencilled manuscript is voluminous, of course, and, should you prefer, I could substitute a typed… Read More

Wildly popular, pioneering early children's program (1947-1960) that established the genre and became a cultural phenomenon: Kean wrote more than 2,000 episodes and invented the show's many colorful characters (1947-55), coming up also with its famed "Cowabunga!" tagline, its theme song and every other song sung on the show (97 of them), while Smith was its long-time beloved host. Archive of letters and documents relating to copyright infringement issues as pursued by the "Howdy Doody" chief writer and its host in the 1990s and '00s. This fascinating and complex archive contains many hundreds of items -- dozens of original letters ranging from lengthy and meaty legal topics to personal matters to brief notes transmitting newspaper articles and countless photocopied book and other excerpts containing "Howdy Doody" content, the majority with handwritten addenda from Kean. Only a few letters and an inscribed 8" X 10" photograph hail from "Buffalo Bob" Smith, who died shortly after he and Kean retained a… Read More

The astrolabe, one of the oldest of scientific instruments (dating to the early medieval period), has a variety of uses -- most commonly the planispheric astrolabe, which allowed astronomers to calculate the position of the sun and prominent stars in relation to the horizon and the meridian, and the mariner's astrolabe, which allowed mariner's celestial navigation and evolved into the sextant. Offered here is an intriguing modern archive of astrolabe materials (1970s-80s vintage) from the noted Chicago industrial designer/writer/illustrator/architect Paul Ritter MacAlister (1901-90) -- a fascinating, exhaustive archive concerning a do-it-yourself astrolabe kit (glossy printed cardboard) that he and Adler Planetarium curator, trustee and chairman of the board Roderick S. Webster (1916-97) designed and marketed together, along with a couple other similar projects. Flolydia M. Etting (1915-94) was another Chicago-area designer involved in this project. It is approximately one banker's box full of… Read More

American composer of popular songs such as "Ain't It Funny What a Difference Just a Few Hours Make" (1904) and comic operas such as "Princess Beggar" and "The Yankee Consul." Handsome AMuQS, 1p, heavy stock 5" X 3" card (not lined), n.p. [New York, NY], 1930 May 17. Addressed to Frances Narder. Fine. Robyn handsomely pens three full bars of music, giving the lyrics and source below: "'It was not like that in the olden days' / From my Opera: 'The Yankee Consul' / Alfred G Robyn / 5.17.30." Most handsome, and with the original envelope present, addressed in Robyn's hand.

This German-American artist and illustrator contributed to "Harper's Weekly" as a young man and also did book illustrations for Sidney Lanier and others; he lived in a New York tenement building with African-Americans, who often figure prominently in his oil paintings; in 1893 some of his work was exhibited in Chicago at the World's Columbian Exposition. ALS, 1p, 7½" X 8 3/4", New York, NY, 13 May 1877. Addressed to Frank L. Robinson. Very good. Bit of mild wear. Boldly penned in black ink, Kappes writes to what's presumably his agent or an art gallery owner: "Should the prices affixed to my pictures retard the sale in any respect, you can make such reductions as you may think proper. I should be loath to part with them at a greater reduction than 25 per cent. If you will kindly consider this as the maximum...." Scarce. Kappes autograph material is seldom seen.

This mainstay of the 19th century literary scene was a popular, influential liberal journalist and long-time editor of the "New York Evening Post," but is best remembered as a prolific poet whose best-known piece, "Thanatopsis," was written as a teenager. ALS, 1p, 5" X 8", New York, NY, 11 January 1865. Addressed to Richard Lathert. Very good. Lightly age toned, with inoffensive small mounting trace at top margin. On lightly-lined paper, Bryant boldly pens in rich brown ink the president of the Board of Directors of the Great Historic Insurance Company that "I am sorry that an indispensable engagement deprives me of the pleasure of accepting the invitation with which I have been honored, to the Annual Dinner of the Directors of your Board...." Accompanied by an outstandingly bright and pristine cabinet card photograph of Bryant, heavy stock round-cornered (as issued) 4¼" X 6½". Verso blank, but fine print below image reveals publication in New York, NY by Sarony in 1873. Bold full facsimile Bryant… Read More

German-born American pianist and prolific composer of popular piano pieces such as "Farewell." ANS, 1p, 7 3/4" X 5", Wilmington, DE, 1864 July 25. Addressed to "Friend Hagen" (Theodore Hagen, 1823-71, music writer and editor of "Musical Gazette"). Near fine. Orders "2 Mozart, Sonatas Vol. I & II. 1 Beethoven do. Vol. I & II...." Unusual.

The Story Lady" was a famed American children's book author whose many works include "Old Russian Tales" (1913), "The Story Lady's Book" (1921), "Tales of Many Folk" (1926). "Story Lady's Christmas Stories" (1927) and many others; their popularity earned her regular storytelling programs on popular Chicago radio stations. ANS, 2pp, heavy stock linen 5½" X 3½" correspondence card, Chicago, IL, n.y. [likely March 1922]. Addressed to George. Very good. Two tiny inoffensive mounting traces at left margin, not affecting text. Bearing the green printed name/address of "The Faulkner School" (a state-of-the-art school for girls founded by her sister in 1909 and where Georgene taught kindergarten), Faulkner boldly pens in her large, attractive script a note thanking a correspondent for "the honor of being one in your collection of autographs. I have done so little, I do not merit having my name in any way in the 'Halls of Fame'...." She also transmits (not present) "one also by McEvoy, who does the 'Potters'… Read More

American historian and author ("Constitutional Problems Under Lincoln," "Lincoln the President") considered by many the greatest Lincoln scholar of the 20th century. ALS, 1p, 8½" X 11", Urbana, IL, n.d. Fine. Titled "Memo," a list of several Civil War books to be sent him, no doubt for research on one of his books; cancels previous Lincoln book ordered. Pencilled notations in another hand.

This American dramatist became one of the most popular playwrights of the late 19th century, both in the U.S. and the U.K., with such syrupy affairs as "Saratoga" (1870), "Young Mrs. Winthrop" (1882), "Shenandoah" (1998) and others. ALS, 3pp, 5" X 8" (lettersheet), London, England, 25 October 1881. Addressed to Mrs. Barrow. Near fine. Faint mounting trace along original fold. Amusing chatty letter to a fellow expatriate on the verge of sailing back to the States. "I really do not know what you can do about those miserable Continental railways. If you were English, of course you would write to the Times, and then your feelings would be soothed & you would be perfectly happy. Being an American woman, you can only stamp your feet, and ask your American gentlemen friends, who may be going to the Continent, to get themselves up in French oaths, and make it a warm winter for them over there...." Boldly penned in his large and legible script in brown ink. Nice example with interesting Americans-abroad content.

Popular children's book author of "The Blot: Little City Cat" (1930), "Hello, the Boat!" (1938), "Walking on Gold" (1940), "Let's Go!" (1949) and others. Two Autograph Letters Signed, each 8½" X 11", each New York, NY, 1938 December 6 and 1939 January 13. Both addressed to Owen Davies. Near fine. Orders various titles from this Chicago bookseller, such as "Josie Turner's 'Elsie Dinsmore on the Loose'... I could dispose of as many copies as you can find, if the price is not exorbitant." In the second letter, though she orders five copies of the Dinsmore classic, she remarks, "Have you any idea why the price is so high? I remember that the book was remaindered and sold at 35 cents per copy at the most... I'd be glad to get hold of a few copies of the following: Crawford, P. The Blot: little city cat...." Interesting that she needs copies of her own first book.

British artist celebrated for his vibrant paintings of fruit and flowers, though he also produced historical scenes such as the prize-winning "Melancthon's First Misgivings of the Church of Rome"; some credit him with single-handedly reviving interest in still lifes, and no less than J.M.W. Turner called him one of the three great colorists of his age. ALS, 3pp (lettersheet), 4½" X 7", London, England, 21 November 1845. Addressed to "Sir" (Robert Vernon, Lance's best and earliest patron who collected many of his works and formed a collection that became the nucleus of the Tate Gallery, now Tate Britain). Very good. Mounting traces and small chip to blank fourth leaf. Gracious note boldly penned in brown ink helping a young fellow artist, reading in part: "The bearer of this note (Mr. Saddler) whose talent I think you will much admire, is very anxious to be hired as a labourer in the Vernon vineyard. He not only engraves but draws architectural subjects beautifully, and it struck me you might find him… Read More

This renowned American artist and illustrator created the "Gibson Girl," the very image of the turn-of-the-century American female, setting a standard for fashion and hair style from the 1890s through the beginning of the First World War. ANS, 2pp, 4½" X 6 3/4", n.p., n.y. Addressed to "Bob." Very good. Large pale green pencilled checkmark and "A" (for answered) on first page, else clean and attractive. On pale blue lettersheet, Gibson, in his characteristic enormous scrawl, accepts an invitation: "I am coming up to N.Y. tomorrow (friday) so if you have no other engagements lets get together Saturday. They were all disappointed because you couldn't come down here...." Large bold signature.

This notable British artist, known as Lady Butler, favored large scale paintings of English military battles and campaigns; she married Lieutenant-General William Butler, a well-known officer, writer and adventurer, and lived throughout the realm; a woman in the mostly male world of artists brought her wide acclaim. Good content ALS, 2pp (lettersheet), 4½" X 7", Plymouth, U.K., 8 April 1903. Addressed to Wilfrid. Near fine. On pale green stationery with "Government House / Devonport" imprint, Lady Butler chats about reviews of her new book (presumably "Letters from the Holy Land," published 1903 in London by A & C Black). In part: "I did, to my great pleasure, receive from dear Alice the charming notice in the Academy. There was a very good one in the Morning Post, the one you sent me is very kind. I think the book is selling very well, but as I told you, my anxiety was to have it 'in being' & that earnest people shd. read it.... I do not make much of the money part of the undertaking. Has the… Read More

This noted New Hampshire abolitionist, civil leader and merchant (part owner of a handful of ships) served in the state legislature (1825-28, 1830) and as president of the Portsmouth Temperance Society and the American Peace Society (1841-46); he founded the New Hampshire Asylum for the Insane, worked at the U.S. Patent Office (1854-66), and penned page-turners such as "Outline of a System of Mechanical Philosophy" (1851), "Arithmetical Calculations of the Elements of the Orbit of the Moon" (1855) and "Studies of the Earth" (1860). ANS, 1p, 7 3/4" X 9 3/4", Portsmouth, NH, 25 January 1841. Addressed to John R. French (1819-90, publisher, editor, North Carolina congressman). Near fine. As a young man, French published and co-edited the journal of the New Hampshire Anti-Slavery Society, one of the first anti-slavery newspapers out of New Hampshire's capital city of Concord -- and in this letter the newly-named American Peace Society president sends French (as "Agent for the 'Herald of Freedom'") "three… Read More

This Italian pianist, educator and composer is well known for his many piano compositions. AMuQS, 2pp (single leaf), 8½" X 11 3/4", London, England, 1907 n.d. Inscribed in Italian to "Schloesser." Very good. Two very full pages of the "Coda from Preludio e Fugato - for due Violini Viola e Violoncella." Boldly and attractively penned.

This North Carolina superior court justice authored a number of well-respected Civil War biographies such as "Robert E. Lee: A Biography" (1934) and "Andrew Johnson: Plebeian and Patriot" (1928). ALS, 1p, 6" X 9½", Richmond, VA, 1931 September 22. Addressed to H.D. Trevillian. Near fine. On pictorial letterhead of Hotel John Marshall (appropriate digs for a jurist), Winston agrees to sign one of his books and arranges a time -- certainly "High Stakes and Hair Trigger: The Life of Jefferson Davis" (1930). Bold and attractive.

Renowned Russian-born pianist and music critic -- one of the most famous of his day. AMuQS, 1p, 3½" X 2¼", Chicago, IL, 1899 December 30. Good plus. Lightly and evenly age toned; small stamp hinge-type mounts at left edge and bottom edge (not affecting text). Hambourg boldly pens two measures of unidentified music, signing and dating below. An attractive and early example.

This French aristocrat was a pioneering physicist who made important contributions to quantum theory with the notion of pilot waves or De Broglie waves, later known as the De Broglie-Bohm theory; in 1924 he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics. ANS, 1p, heavy stock 3 3/3" X 2¼" card, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, 12 May 1935. Fine. On a heavy silver-bordered card, de Broglie inscribes and signs this card, in French, to "Monsieur Glenn Walton Blodgett / pour sa collection d'autographes," signing and dating it in his neat, minute script. A wonderful and early example.

Influential Congregational clergyman and author who co-edited "Christian Union" with Henry Ward Beecher and succeeded Beecher as pastor of Brooklyn's famed Plymouth Congregational Church. ANS, 1p, 5" X 8", Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY, n.y. [1878] November 25. Addressed to showman P.T. Barnum (1810-91). Very good. Lightly age toned. Intriguing if brief: "Your letter respecting Popular Amusements was received too late for this week's issue. It will go in next week & the papers shall be sent as requested...." In Abbott's 1922 book "Silhouettes of My Contemporaries" he devotes a chapter to Barnum, of whom he was a great admirer. In 1878 Abbott wrote Barnum requesting information about Tom Thumb, and on 5 October 1878 received a cordial note in reply from Barnum. Meanwhile, in the November 6th and 13th issues of "Christian Union," Reverend Samuel Scoville published a two-art article titled "The Christian View of Popular Amusements." Barnum took issue with some of this Congregationalist minister's views, and in… Read More