BEBAN, George (1873-1928)

Signature

Silent film actor, director and writer; father of actor George Beban Jr. (1914-77). Large, attractive "Sincerely" and signature, heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p. n.d. [dated 1908 September 20 in another hand on verso]. Near fine. Light, even age toning; verso bears an autograph request from an admirer. .

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Book number: 23027

Catalogue: Autographs

Keywords: Film & Theater

BECK, Walter "Boom Boom" (1904-87)

Signature

This pitcher debuted in 1924 with the St. Louis Browns (until 1928), also played for the Brooklyn Dodgers (1933-34), Philadelphia Phillies (1939-42), Philadelphia Blue Jays (1943), Detroit Tigers (1944), Cincinnati Reds (1945) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1945). Large full signature in blue ballpoint, heavy stock lined 5" X 3" card, n.p. n.y. Near fine. Great example. .

Main Street Fine Books & ManuscriptsProfessional seller

Book number: 29291

Catalogue: Autographs

Keywords: Athletes

BECK, Zinn B. (1885-1981)

Signature

St. Louis Cardinals and New York Yankees third baseman, debuting in 1913 and retiring in 1918. Nice old-age signature in blue ballpoint, 3" X 5" card, n.p. n.y. Fine. Rather uncommon. .

Main Street Fine Books & ManuscriptsProfessional seller

Book number: 29328

Catalogue: Autographs

Keywords: Athletes

BECK, Zinn B. (1885-1981)

Signature

St. Louis Cardinals and New York Yankees third baseman, debuting in 1913 and retiring in 1918. Nice old-age signature in blue ballpoint, heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p. 1973 July 25 Fine. With original envelope. Rather uncommon. .

Main Street Fine Books & ManuscriptsProfessional seller

Book number: 29344

Catalogue: Autographs

Keywords: Athletes

BECKER, Martin (1916-2006)

Photograph Signed

This Knight's Cross recipient was a German Luftwaffe night fighter ace who claimed 58 downed aircraft in 110 missions -- including a record-breaking 9 four-engine bombers downed the night of March 14-15, 1945. PS, 6¼" X 4½", n.p. n.y. Fine. Matte finish black and white reprint of a WW2-era candid shot showing Becker in uniform chatting with a soldier while a group of soldiers in the background watch -- signed boldly by him in black fineline in a light area at lower left. A superb example, signed later in life. .

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Book number: 38323

Catalogue: Autographs

Keywords: WORLD WAR TWO Military

BECKER, Joe (1908-98)

Signature

This centerfielder debuted with the Cleveland Indians in 1936, retiring from there the following year. Bold signature in blue ballpoint, heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p. n.y. Near fine. .

Main Street Fine Books & ManuscriptsProfessional seller

Book number: 19723

Catalogue: Autographs

Keywords: Athletes

BEDDOE, Don (1891-1991)

Signature

Character actor in an unbelievable number of films from the 1930s on -- "The Best Years of Our Lives," "The Farmer's Daughter," "Jack the Giant Killer," etc. -- often playing the archetypal policeman. Neat signature and sentiment, dated 1984 December 3, on a heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p. [Santa Ana, CA]. Fine. With original envelope. Comes with a fine glossy 10" X 8" scene from the 1941 MGM film "Unholy Partners" showing Beddoe with Edward G. Robinson. .

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Book number: 15571

Catalogue: Autographs

Keywords: Film & Theater

BEDNER, Al (1898-1988)

Autograph Note Signed

This Lafayette College football star later played guard for three seasons with the Frankford Yellow Jackets (their first NFL season, 1924-25) and New York Giants (1925-26). ANS, 1p, 5 3/4" X 7 3/4", Wilkes-Barre, PA, 1977 June 2. Addressed to Richard C. Laade. Near fine. Cordial note to an admirer, noting that "Lafayette College forwarded to me your request for my address," adding "Please note that the correct spelling is BEDNER," and enquiring "May I ask what is this for." Boldly penned and signed in blue ballpoint. With original envelope, partly addressed by Bedner. Rather uncommon. .

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Book number: 39542

Catalogue: Autographs

Keywords: Athletes

BEE, Thomas (1725-1812)

Partly-Printed Document Signed

Delegate to First and Second Provincial Congresses; lieutenant governor of South Carolina; member of the Continental Congress (1780-82). Party-printed DS, 1p, 12½" X 7½", Charleston, SC, 1773 August 10. Very good. Minor archival strengthening on verso; minor edge chips. Paper seal present. Attorney Bee, ten a member of the Commons House, witnesses a subpoena issued to Andrew Cunningham. Also signed by THOMAS KNOX GORDON, South Carolina chief justice. Bee signs a second time (simply "Bee") on the verso. Picturesque and interesting. .

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Book number: 30464

Catalogue: Autographs

Keywords: AUTOGRAPHS Colonial Americana

BEECHER, Henry Ward (1813-87)

Autograph Note Signed / Unsigned Portrait

Few 19th century clergymen achieved the level of household-name fame and influence as this renowned Congregationalist minister, the most fiery of the fire and brimstone preachers; the brother of writer Harriet Beecher Stowe of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" fame, Beecher too was an outspoken social reformer, abolitionist and lecturer whose oratory made him wildly popular; pastor of Plymouth Church in Brooklyn, New York, from 1847 on, his meteoric popularity waned later in life only with a scandalous adultery charge brought against him. ANS, 1p, 4½" X 6", n.p. n.y. [likely ca. 1880]. Very good. Inoffensive mounting traces on verso. Arranges a meeting. In part: "I have put down in my book, tuesday Decr 2d. for you. I shall leave N.Y. in the 8 o'clock a.m. train & stop at the Girard House. Unless sick, I do not expect to miss a second time in one Season.." Nicely penned. "Girard House" was a large and famous Philadelphia hotel. Accompanied by an outstanding 1860s vintage steel-engraved portrait, heavy stock 5 3/4" X 9", engraved by J.C. Buttre of New York and titled "Eminent Opponents of the Slave Power" in ornate flowing type along the lower margin. Near fine. Fine head-and-shoulders portraits of 12 noted abolitionists, each within a small oval border: John Quincy Adams at the top and beneath him the triumvirate of John Greenleaf Whittier, Wendell Phillips and Charles Sumner; surrounding this quartette are (clockwise from top) William Lloyd Garrison, Joshua R. Giddings, Cassius M. Clay, Benjamin Lundy, Owen Lovejoy, Gerrit Smith, William Cullen Bryant and Henry Ward Beecher. A great pair. .

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Book number: 37206

Catalogue: Autographs

Keywords: Religion

BEERS, Henry A. (1847-?)

Autograph Letter Signed

American literary critic whose books include "Introduction to Readings from Ruskin" (1885), "An Outline Sketch of English Literature" (1886), the verse collection "Odds and Ends" (1878) and others. ALS, 8pp, 5" X 8", New Haven, CT, 1889 April 8. Addressed to Moss. Very good. Light and even age toning; slight separation along one fold. Apparently writing to a former schoolmate, Beers here offers up a lengthy reading list of English history titles, reading in small part: "I am not an authority on English history -- pragmatic or general political history, I mean -- but I can speak with confidence of some few works in that department. J.R. Green's 'Short History of the English People' in one volume, is the best outline of the whole subject & is better than his larger book in four volumes. For the earliest period Kember's 'Saxons in England' Green's 'The Making of England' & Freeman's 'Norman Conquest' are the best. Sharon Turner's 'History of the Anglo Saxons' is a standard, but somewhat antiquated.." Then does the same for the medieval period, individual reigns, the 16th century, the Stuart period, the 18th and 19th centuries, historical novels, and English literature. An interesting tutorial from the noted academic. .

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Book number: 16552

Catalogue: Autographs

Keywords: Authors

BEERY, Noah, Jr. (1913-94)

Autograph Note Signed

The namesake son of the great silent film villain was himself a versatile charactor actor; making his screen debut in 1920 alongside his famed father, he appeared in countless films over the years ("The Mark of Zorro," "The Mighty Treve," etc.) and is often remembered as James Garner's father on television's "The Rockford Files" (1974-80). ANS, heavy stock 5" X 3" sheet, n.p. n.y. Fine. "Dear Bob," writes Beery, "I wish I had an / Item for you / Best Wishes / Noah Beery" -- presumably in response to a fan's request for an autograph of Beery's father. Accompanied by a superb 1970s vintage print of a black and white still from the 1945 murder mystery "Crimson Canary," a catchy half-length portrait of Beery and co-star Lois Collier. .

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Book number: 16415

Catalogue: Autographs

Keywords: Film & Theater

BEGG, Varyl (1908-85)

Signature

This English military officer entered the Royal Navy in 1933, working his way up to Admiral of the Fleet. Choice bold signature in blue ballpoint along with date and "A.F." (Admiral of the Fleet), heavy stock 5" X 3" card, 1980 December 1. Fine. With original envelope. .

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Book number: 22000

Catalogue: Autographs

Keywords: Military

BEGGS, Joseph S. "Joe" (1910-83)

Signature

This pitcher debuted with the New York Yankees in 1938, and also played for the Cincinnati Reds (1940-47) and New York Giants (1947-48). Handsome signature in blue fountain pen heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p. n.y. [ca. 1970]. Near fine. Attractive later life example. .

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Book number: 24736

Catalogue: Autographs

Keywords: Athletes

BEIRLY, Alfred (1848-1929)

Autograph Letter Signed

This Pennsylvanian musician about whom little is known became one of the most prolific song writers and music publishers of his day; among the one thousand songs he supposedly composed are many hymns such as "Great Joy!" and the Mormon classic "Our King" as well as numerous school and church choir collections. ALS, 6pp, 8½" X 11", Chicago, IL, 2 February 1920. Addressed to "My dear Miss Dashiell." Good plus. Age toned and lightly soiled, with small edge separations at folds. On "Office of Alfred Beirly Music Co." decorative letterhead, Beirly notes "I would very much like to hear your Robert E Lee oration, feeling sure you will do the note Gen. full justice" -- then proceeds to lecture at length and in detail about Lee's superiority, going so far as to proclaim "Gen. Lee would have been Pres. of the U.S. had he not joined the Confederate Cause." He also praises Jackson to the skies and enumerates his many victories, concluding that Lee wouldn't have gotten far without him. Finally, he lampoons the recently-deceased Theodore Roosevelt (whom he refers to as "Ted" and "Teddy") and his friend, 1920 presidential candidate Leonard Wood. Signed simply "Alfred B." A wonderfully chatty, corny, flirty missive from the never-married Beirly to a female admirer. Very scarce and unusual. .

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Book number: 44910

Catalogue: Autographs

Keywords: Music