(VIENNA BOYS CHOIR -- 1932)

Signatures

In 1921 an Austrian monsignor, Josef Schnitt, reformed the dissolved Court Choir Boys formed in 1498 by Emperor Maximilian I to perform for the Austro-Hungarian royalty, modernized it and renamed it the Vienna Boys Choir -- the most famous choir in the world, performing in Vienna and around the world. Signature of founder Josef Schnitt (who adds his title, "Rektor" -- rector) in black ink at the top of a heavy stock 3½" X 5½" card, n.p. n.y. [inked date on verso 24 November 1932]. Near fine. Below Schnitt's signature all 20 members of the choir sign in two columns, all in ink and all fairly legible. The verso of this card is a charming stream-of-conscious autograph request from Thomas, Donald and James Goodrich, who write: "We are just three little Boys we live in the city of Venice in the State of Illinois we are trying to get the autograph names of great People from all over the Land if your Reverence will autograph this card for us Boys we will think it Grand and will you have some of the Boy Members of the Choir autograph the card with there address in Vienna, so we can write to them when they return Home." The Vienna Boys Choir took their very first tour in the U.S. in 1932 and took the country by storm, arriving in New York aboard the SS Statendam on November 15 -- just two weeks before they all signed this card. Extremely unusual and scarce. .

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Book number: 42919

Catalogue: Autographs

Keywords: Music

(PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME -- CLASS OF 1987)

Signatures (5)

Five-sevenths (5/7ths) of the class inducted into the legendary Canton, Ohio institution are represented in these five choice signatures -- lacking only Larry Csonka and Gene Upshaw. Delightful grouping all on fine, matching, heavy stock 5" X 3" cards (all original mailing envelopes included). Alphabetically: 1) LEN DAWSON (1935-22), quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns and Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs; he signs large in blue ballpoint, dating it 29 October 1979 at upper right; 2) JOE GREENE (born 1946), known as "Mean Joe" and also a College Football Hall of Famer, defensive tackle with the Pittsburgh Steelers; he signs in black fineline, dating it 19 December 1987 at upper right; 3) JOHN HENRY JOHNSON (1929-2011), fullback with the San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Oilers; he signs handsomely in blue ballpoint, adding "Best Wishes" below and at upper right dating it 5 March 1977; 4) JIM LANGER (1948-2019), center with the Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings; he signs in black fineline, adding "#62" and at upper right dating it 31 October 1975; 5) DON MAYNARD (1935-22), wide receiver with the New York Giants, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, New York Titans / Jets, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams and Houston Texans / Shreveport Steamer; he signs in black ballpoint, dating it 17 January 1989 at upper right. Accompanied by a fine, glossy 8¼" X 11" front cover for the 22 August 1987 issue of the NFL publication "Gameday" with a color artist's rendering of all seven 1987 Hall of Fame inductees. A superb quintette. .

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Book number: 49840

Catalogue: Autographs

Keywords: Athletes

ABARBANELL, J.R. (1852-1922)

Autograph Note Signed

Long-time editor of Norman L. Munro's "The New York Family Story Paper" (1873-1905), which ran again from 1905 to 1921 as "Family Story Paper"; also a playwright and lyricist ("I Wouldn't -- Would You?" with composer Harry Von Tilzer, 1902). ANS, 1p, 8½" X 5½", New York, NY, 1906 May 16. Addressed to Mr. Benners. Very good. Light even age toning. Writing on "Munro's Publishing House" letterhead, Abarbanell discusses a new play with a producer. "I have the revised copy of my play now," he begins. ".. please return, at my expense, the copy I gave you, with your opinion on it & the likelihood of your getting a production at Atlantic City during the season. If you succeed we will share the royalties on a basis of 1/3 to you & 2/3 to me.." Unusual. .

Main Street Fine Books & ManuscriptsProfessional seller

Book number: 19926

Catalogue: Autographs

Keywords: Authors

ABBEY, Edwin Austin (1852-1911)

Original Ink Illustration

This American painter and muralist was most popular during the "Golden age" of book illustration, and illustrated such Victorian and Shakespearian classics as an edition of Dickens' "Christmas Stories" (1875), Longfellow's "Poetical Works" (1880-83), "Selections from the Poetry of Robert Herrick" (1882), Sheridan's "Comedies" (1885), Goldsmith's "She Stoops to Conquer" and "The Deserted Village" (1887; 1902), a 4-volume Shakespeare's "Comedies" (1896) and others. Original ink illustration, heavy stock 6 3/4" X 10" (tipped to 9" X 12" art board), n.p. n.y. Very good. Light, even age toning. Charming scene penned in black ink, likely a book illustration from an unnamed work, signed with a light "Abbey" at lower right. A young girl in short Victorian dress sits in a chair by a window in the corner of a room, right hand pensively touching her head; a woman in floor-length dress stands alongside, her left hand clutching the girl's right hand and she bends over as if consoling to the child. Evocative and wonderfully executed, a superb example of Abbey's draftsmanship. .

Main Street Fine Books & ManuscriptsProfessional seller

Book number: 48040

Catalogue: Autographs

Keywords: Art & Architecture

ABBOTT, Lyman (1835-1922)

Autograph Note Signed

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 the December 4th issue his rebuttal, titled simply "Popular Amusements," was published in "Christian Union." This letter, then, is the magazine's initial response to Barnum's reply to Scoville's criticisms. The article was republished a number of times in other publications and also found its way into Barnum's 1880 autobiography "Struggles and Triumphs; or, Forty Years' Recollections. .

Main Street Fine Books & ManuscriptsProfessional seller

Book number: 31715

Catalogue: Autographs

Keywords: Religion

ABBOTT, Lyman (1835-1922)

Typed Manuscript Signed / Typed Letter Signed

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. Exceptional content TMsS, 2pp, 6" X 9", Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY, 1881 December 7. Very good. Original typescript of Abbott's contribution to Osborn H. Oldroyd's 1882 book, "The Lincoln Memorial: Album-Immortelles," a collection of reminiscences and sentiments about Lincoln by notables of the day. Abbott carefully and neatly inks in words and phrases and crosses out others, signing at the close unusually small and neat (knowing this would be the actual signaturee reproduced in the book) and adding the date and place. A fine philosophical statement, reading in part: "..It was the peculiar genius of Abraham Lincoln that he was able by his sympathetic insight to perceive the change in public sentiment without waiting for it to be formulated in any legislative action; to keep pace with it, to lead and direct it, to quicken laggard spirits, to hold in the too ardent too impetuous and too hasty ones, and thus when he signed the emancipation proclamation to make his signature, not the act of an individual man, the edict of a military imperator, but the representative act of a great nation.." Accompanying this typescript is an actual page from Oldroyd's book bearing Abbott's statement (pp. 81-82) and this reproduced signature. Accompanied by a Typed Letter Signed bearing his usual charismatic, ebullient signature, 1p, 5½" X 8½", Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY, 1881 December 7. Addressed to Osborn H. Oldroyd. Near fine. Transmits this manuscript, although "I have no faith that anything which I can say in respect to Abraham Lincoln would be worthy a place in your collection.." A most intriguing pair. .

Main Street Fine Books & ManuscriptsProfessional seller

Book number: 14325

Catalogue: Autographs

Keywords: Religion

ABBOTT, Henry (1850-?)

Typed Note Signed

One of the great unsung American inventors and timepiece pioneers was this New Jersey watchmaker, who held more than 40 patents but is remembered for the "calculagraph," a device that records times and calculates the difference; one of its first uses was in 1894 in New York, where it recorded the length of telephone calls and impressed AT & T so much they installed it nationwide; his other inventions include a watch winding system that resulted in watches being wound by their stem instead of with a key and a revolutionary method for making enamel watch dials. TNS, 1p, 8½" X 11", New York, NY, 1933 October 16. Addressed to Mary B. Day, librarian at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry. Near fine. On ornate Calculagraph Company letterhead (featuring at the bottom a faint engraving of the calculagraph machine being used, with its slogan "It Makes No Clerical Errors"), Abbott graciously notes: "It gives me great pleasure to comply with your request and I am sending in the same mail for filing in your library a copy of the pamphlet entitled: 'Watches and Men'.." Large, bold signature. Uncommon. .

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Book number: 20938

Catalogue: Autographs

Keywords: Exploration & Invention

ABBOTT, William Rufus (1870-1950)

Typed Letter Signed

This famed Chicago utility company executive began with the Chicago Telephone Company around the turn of the century, and by 1922 when this had morphed into Illinois Bell Telephone Company he served as its president until 1930 and then as chairman of the Board (1930-34); in 1930 he became president of Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry. TLS, 1p, 8" X 11", Chicago, IL, 26 September 1929. Addressed to Waldemar Kaempffert, Director of the Rosenwald Industrial Museum in Chicago. Very good. Lightly age toned and mildly edgeworn, with original folds visible and slight mounting trace (not affecting text) at upper left. On "Illinois Bell Telephone Company" letterhead listing him as president, Abbott writes to the just-named first director of this museum founded and funded by Sears, Roebuck Company president and philanthropist Julius Rosenwald, which the following year would be renamed the Museum of Science and Industry and would have a new director. Abbott goes into great detail about "the New York Telephone rate case" of 1921 which involved "the estimated savings effected in New York City by the use of the Pupin loading coil" and other technicalities; he closes by offering Kaempffert "The following pamphlets, giving information as to Bell System activities.." and spells out their titles. Boldly signed "W.R. Abbott" in black ink at lower right. Whether this business somehow involved the museum is unclear though likely -- and fascinating in any case. .

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Book number: 42167

Catalogue: Autographs

Keywords: Business

ABER, Albert "Al" (1923-93)

Signature

This pitcher debuted with the Cleveland Indians in 1950, playing there and for the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Athletics before retiring in 1957. Large bold signature in blue ballpoint, heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p. n.y. Fine. Undated, but a choice later life example. .

Main Street Fine Books & ManuscriptsProfessional seller

Book number: 21926

Catalogue: Autographs

Keywords: Athletes

ABERNATHY, Ted (1933-2004)

Signature

With the unique underhand motion," states the 1971 Kansas City Royals yearbook, "Abernathy's curveball rises and his fastball sinks. He's almost impossible to hit when you only get one shot at him. You see the overhand stuff all the time, then this guy comes in there throwing the ball from out of the ground." He debuted in 1955 with the Washington Senators and retired in 1972. Bold signature in blue ballpoint, heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p. n.y. [ca. 1975?] September 6. Fine. With original envelope. A handsome example. .

Main Street Fine Books & ManuscriptsProfessional seller

Book number: 20005

Catalogue: Autographs

Keywords: Athletes

ABRUZZO, Ben (1930-85), ANDERSON, "Maxie" (1934-83), and NEWMAN, Larry (born 1925)

Signed Commemorative Postal Cover

Abruzzo was an American businessman turned hot air balloonist; Anderson was a career balloonist with many "firsts" to his name; and Newman co-invented the ultra-light airplane, piloted the first balloon flight across the Pacific Ocean in 1981 and manufactured experimental aircraft. In 1978 these three piloted the Double Eagle II in the first Transatlantic balloon crossing, departing Maine on August 11 and landing in France six days later. For their achievement they were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 1979. Signed commemorative postal cover honoring this achievement, 6½" X 3½", cancelled in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on April 20, 1979. Envelope bears the 13-cent "French Alliance 1778" stamp and 4-cent "A Public That Reads" stamp and a special postal cancellation featuring an image of the Double Eagle balloon and the caption "Double Eagle II / First Transatlantic Balloon Flight." No decorative printed cachet at left; no distracting recipient's name/address present. Newman signs boldly in black marker near the top, adding "Double Eagle II" below his signature; below this Abruzzo signs boldly, and below him Anderson too signs boldly. Anderson died in a balloon crash in Germany and Abruzzo in a private plane crash -- the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum is named in their honor. Also present is a small portion of the original mailing envelope used to transmit this cover (cancelled in Albuquerque July 26, 1976). An Albuquerque philatelic connection is relevant, for the Double Eagle II crew were among those who established this town as the ballooning capital of the world. Quite handsome -- and a scarce trio. .

Main Street Fine Books & ManuscriptsProfessional seller

Book number: 21794

Catalogue: Autographs

Keywords: Exploration & Invention

ABT, Franz (1819-85)

Autograph Letter Signed

This German conductor and composer of folk music solos and vocal pieces enjoyed enormous popularity throughout Europe in the mid-19th century. ALS in German, 1p, 5" X 8", Braunschweig, Germany, 1862 January 22. Near fine. Though boldly penned and attractive, Abt's miniscule and stylized script makes translation difficult -- appears to be discussing his schedule and travel to Leipzig, Bremen and other German locations. Accompanied by a handsome and striking 8½" X 11" book illustration portrait, a head-and-shoulders artist's rendering of Abt later in life. .

Main Street Fine Books & ManuscriptsProfessional seller

Book number: 25575

Catalogue: Autographs

Keywords: Music

ABT, Franz (1819-85)

Photograph Signed

This German conductor and composer of folk music solos and vocal pieces enjoyed enormous popularity throughout Europe in the mid-19th century. Photograph Signed, heavy stock 2½" X 4", Braunschweig, Germany, 24 March 1881. Very good. Lightly age toned. Handsome head-and-shoulders portrait of Abt in three-piece suit later in life, signed small but bold by him just below his likeness. On verso, which bears the large printed backstamp of photographer A. Sternitzky of Braunschweig, Abt inscribes (in German) and signs vertically (translation): "For Margarethe [illegible] / hearty best wishes of / Franz Abt / Braunschweig 24.3.81." Abt served as musical director of the court theater in Braunschweig from 1852 to 1882. A superb example and signed twice. .

Main Street Fine Books & ManuscriptsProfessional seller

Book number: 49534

Catalogue: Autographs

Keywords: Music

DELL'ACQUA, Angelo (1903-72)

Signature

This cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church served as first president of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, among other high posts, and in 1968 was named Vicar General of Rome, an office he served until his death. Large and bold signature in blue ballpoint on a fine heavy stock 5" X 3" card, dated by him 1 October 1968 at upper right. With original transmittal envelope. A superb example penned months after being named to the post for which he is best remembered. .

Main Street Fine Books & ManuscriptsProfessional seller

Book number: 48705

Catalogue: Autographs

Keywords: Religion

ACUFF, Roy (1903-92)

Signature and Inscription

The "King of Country Music" was a Tennessee fiddler and singer who founded the Smoky Mountain Boys in the 1930s, joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1938 and remained an influential figure there for decades; in 1942 he co-founded the first important Nashville-based country music publishing firm and in 1962 was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Bold signature with "Sincerely" and date ("1-26-90") in black fineline on a heavy stock 3½" X 2" card, n.p. Fine. .

Main Street Fine Books & ManuscriptsProfessional seller

Book number: 42377

Catalogue: Autographs

Keywords: Music