1937 Twentieth Century Fox Movie Film Studio Letter Gracie Fields

This is a beautiful piece, a letter dated April 23rd, 1937 from Gracie Fields (early commedienne in the UK and later US of the time) to a man named Tattersall (most likely Viva Tattersall) and it reads: “Thank you for your nice letter and the album of pictures.  You seem to have been dissatisfied in your life, still I hope your daughter is lucky for you as I have been for my mother.  Here is a picture of me.  Sincerely Yours, Gracie Fields.” She enclosed a newspaper clipping of herself in the letter, which has obviously been with it all these days – there is some acid toning to the letter from the newspaper acid.

 

 

 

1909 Rare Antique School of Taxidermy Diploma License

Just fantastic, I’ve never seen one before – for all of you collecting antique taxidermy, here’s a killer companion piece. Diplmoma issued Dec 10, 1909 in Omaha Nebraska.  In the far left corner is a gold seal that reads “The Northwestern School / Corporate Seal of Taxidermy” and a 1″ tall photo of the graduate attached to the diploma.  Buck engraving at the center with “School of Taxidermy: Taxidermy Taught in all its Branches” motto atop. Incredible condition, largely clean and without flakes/cracks/or loss – just a few small stains, see photo.  Frame is in perfect shape, never taken apart (the backing paper has been taped – nothing else).  Measures 15.5 x 18.5″.  Even without a taxidermy collection, this is perfect Victorian goth or steampunk decor – scarce.

 

1919 Johnstown PA Soda Candy Circus Barnum Advertising

Killer piece of advertising, measures 4″ x 6″ when folded – and has gorgeous color lithography of three monkeys in a tree atop the words “Red Goose, Ginger Ale, Root Beer and other Soda flavors.  The Emmerling Products Co. Johnstown PA Telephone 169, Copy right 1919 by K&S Co.  Folds out to eight panels (back sides are blank) to include a Victorian clothed three ring circus conductor, beautiful acrobat that rides atop a horse, elephant, seal balancing a ball, clown, trained lion and other circus staples – each that gets cut out as a toy.  The back cover shows a monkey bursting through the “Greatest Show on Earth” banner held up by a clown.  There is no affiliation with P.T. Barnum, they just borrowed the moniker from his circus. Beautiful piece.  Pristine, new old stock.

Luna Park Pittsburgh PA “Fire At Sea” Souvenir PC

Postcard issued on thick red paper, circa 1910 of Luna Park’s “Fire at Sea, $10,000 Spectacular Production”.  One of Ingersoll’s original Luna Parks, this is an incredible souvenir.  Presents nicely, does have several soft creases.

1897 School Scandal Richard Brinsley Sheridan Broadside

Thin paper broadside from the Philo Literary Society’s presentation of Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s The Famous School for Scandal.  Music by Keffer’s Orchestra, (interestingly Keffer was a University of Penn graduate who helped to found the Philadelphia orchestra) and held at the Normal Chapel in California.  As I am in Southwestern PA and this was found locally, I am assuming that it refers to California PA which is about 20 minutes outside of Pittsburgh.  Measures 12″ x 17″, and is in extraoridinarly good condition for the age.  Just minor foxing and chipping to the edges.

c1880 Julian Hawthorne Reading Admission Ticket

I’d date this admission ticket to the 1880s – mostly do to the script.  Simply reads “Julian Hawthorne, Admit One” and measures 1 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ on heavy green cardstock.  It has seen better days, has a chipped corner and a tear across the “Admit”.  Honestly can’t imagine where you would find another, however.

1870 B.J. Lossing Washington American Republic Serial

This is a rare find, so rare – even the overarching internet can’t give me reference to it!  Thirty three of thirty four serials, published by Virtue & Yorston (dated incredibly tiny at bottom of title page – I missed it at first, 1870.)  Each issue measures 7″x 10″, is approximately 75 pages and features between 1 and 3 full page steel engravings of the founding fathers (including title page, as in photo 3.)  Lossing, together with Headley, painted the most popular biographical pictures of the founding fathers around the centennial – Lossing was prolific and this collection was published as a 3 volume set later in 1870 – but I’ve never seen the serials.  There is some light foxing to the interiors and chipping to the edges.  One or two volumes have tears at the edges of the covers.  Overall however, really remarkable condition.

1930/40s Pittsburgh PA Police Detective Ledger Journal

This is a rather remarkable archive for those interested in early 20thc police work.  Actual day ledger written by an Allegheny County Police Detective, spanning the years 1936-38 (roughly two hundred pages I’d guess – 8 1/2″ x 11″).  Written in fountain pen, contrast is very sharp – takes a bit of adjustment to read it perfectly, but once you get the hang of it – its fascinating.  A quick glance yields rape, murder, breaking and entering, abortion doctors – both investigations and following through to the trials, he was even the officer assigned to guard a famous murder witness in 1936 – the PG has an article online about the case, and in his notes – sure enough it says “guarding Sehar” under those days.  Incredible.  Towns all over Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties are mentioned.  A dozen or so sworn statements and other notes also came with this ledger and will be included.  They are largely from the year 1940 – three typed (several page) sworn statements and 8 different “reports” or “notes” by the detective concerning individual cases are also here.  The name of the officer is in the statements, and make your research easy  – I would rather not include it here.

1930s South African Line Cape Town Crew Member Archive

Sailor on the “American South African Line, Inc on the M.V. City of New York among other ships owned by that line. Years tend to be solely in the decade of the 1930s.  Interesting side note, if the date in the book is to be trusted – Baker was off this ship in 1940.  Between then and 1942 it was commissioned by the US Government in time to be torpedoed off the coast of Virginia in 1942.

Three 1930s South African / Southern Rhodesia tourist booklets and menu from the M/V City of New York.  The booklets are not quite tourist fodder, the thinnest being 50 pages.  They appear to be advanced (recurring tourist) level and one even reads “for the tourist and settler” and gives information on land and house leasing.  Yellow booklets inner page reads “HB Baker sailed for this line 1936-1940.”  Appears as though he sailed for them before that, because of the radiogram’s dates.

Seventeen issues of the Radiogram from 1930.  Each issue is four pages and of course transcribes the radio broadcast and the news on shore.

Beautiful (lightly colored) real photo (measures 4″ x 8.5″ mounted on larger) entitled “Leaving Cape Town,” with “S.S. West Isleta, Table Mountain, S.s. Eastern.Glen and Lion’s Head” in port.

Two beautiful original photos of Bush women in native dress.  8″ x 10″ with thumbtack holes in corners.

Real photo (slightly blurred) of one of the passenger boats delivering people to port.  Measures 7 1/2″ square, also tack holes.

Real photo of the City of New York (measures 8″ x 10″ with tack holes), RPPC entitled “Motor Vessel, City of NY” blank back and unused.  Pen swipe to the front sky, otherwise – gorgeous condition.   Three different sets of Valentines Cape Town – Cape Point miniature real photographs (12 to a set, three sets – all mint.)

1876 Centennial Celebration York PA Unbound Book

The Historical Sketch and Account of the Centennial Celebration at York, PA July 4th, 1876.  York Penna, Democratic Press Print, 1876.  Measures 6″ x 9 1/4″, complete in 155 pgs with four full page steel engravings of The York County Agricultural Society, The Old Court House, The New Court House and the untitled illustration shown in the photos.  Nice condition, slight chipping to edges as it was never bound.