TELEVISION PIONEER PHILO FARNSWORTH SIGNS A FIRST EDITION OF GEORGE EVERSON’S BIOGRAPHY OF HIM

PHILO FARNSWORTH (1906-1971). Farnsworth was an American inventor best known for his pioneering work in television technology.

SB. N.d. Np. A book signed “Philo Farnsworth”. It is a first edition of George Everson’s biography The Story of Television: The Life of Philo T. Farnsworth, New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 1949. Farnsworth wrote on the first free front end-page “To Dave Evans Sincere regards Philo Farnsworth”. It lacks a dust jacket.  Farnsworth’s signature is uncommon (as he was largely forgotten or ignored), and the signed first edition is rare.

GERALD FORD SIGNS A TIME TO HEAL

GERALD FORD (1913-2006).  Ford was the Thirty-Eighth President.

SB. 6 ½” x 9 ½”. 454pg. No date. No place.  A Time To Heal signed “Gerald R. Ford” on a Presidential book plate attached to the first free endpage.  It has a fine dustjacket with light sunning to the spine and a couple short tears,, and the tight book is in extremely fine condition overall.

PRESIDENT FORD SIGNS THE WARREN COMMISSION REPORT

GERALD R. FORD (1913-2006).  Ford was the Thirty-Eighth President.

SB. 366pg. No date. No place.  The Warren Report signed “Gerald R. Ford” on the title page.  This Associated Press edition has blue boards, a slightly loose binding, and a small square toning patch on the signed page.  It is in very good condition.

FORD SIGNS A BOOK ABOUT THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

GERALD FORD (1913-2006). Ford was the Thirty-Eighth President.

SB. 8” x 9 ¾”. 32pg. No date. No place. A book The Story of the Declaration of Independence signed “Gerald R. Ford” in black ink on the title page. The children’s book is hardback and in very fine condition. There are a couple of “Not For Resale” stamps on the cover and endpage, but it affects little.

ALEX HALEY SIGNS ROOTS

ALEX HALEY (1921-1992).  Haley, a writer, is best remembered for The Autobiography of Malcolm X and Roots.

SB. September 17, 1984. No place.  An edition of Roots inscribed by author Alex Haley in 1984 on the front endpage.  The dustjacket has light wear and chipping, and the interior pages are in fine condition.

A YOUTHFUL JOHN HANCOCK SIGNS A BOOK FROM HIS LIBRARY

JOHN HANCOCK (1736-1793). Hancock was President of the Second Continental Congress during the American Revolution. He signed the Declaration of Independence, and his is the most recognizable and iconic signature on that document.

SB. 240pg. 1757. No place.  A book signed “John Hancock 1757” atop the title page.  The book is The Adventures of David Simple. Volume The Last published in London in 1753.  The book, the third in the series, was written by Sarah Fielding, an English novelist best remembered for The Governess, or The Little Female Academy; she was also the sister of the prominent author Henry Fielding.  Based on the date, Hancock was 20 or 21 when he signed this volume.  It has the original calf with gilt borders on the front and back covers; the rear cover has more wear than the front.  The spine is relatively tight and the number “3” is marked in gilt.  The inside pages are generally clean.  There is also contemporary writing on the inside front cover; it appears as if someone practiced his or her alphabet there.  Books from Hancock’s library are scarce; only a handful have appeared at auction in the last two decades.