A FIRST DAY COVER SIGNED BY “MISS AMERICA OF AVIATION” RUTH ELDER

RUTH ELDER (1902-1977). Elder was an actress and female aviation pioneer who helped found the Ninety-Nines. In October 1927, she set the then-record for the longest flight made by a woman.

Signature. 4” x 5”. February 15, 1930. New York, New York. An autographed first day cover signed by “Ruth Elder Camp” and addressed to H. Appel of Santa Barbara, California. The stamp highlights The New York Aviation Show and its sponsor, American Legion Aviators’ Post No. 743, the only aviation American Legion Post.  The envelope and first day cover are in very good condition.

A SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH OF 1940s MOVIE AND RADIO STAR ALICE FAYE

ALICE FAYE (1915-1998). Faye was a star of many Twentieth Century Fox movies, including Lillian Russell and Hello, Frisco, Hello as well as a radio show, The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show.

PS. 10” x 8”. N.d. N.p. A black-and-white photograph signed “Knox – Best wishes, Alice Faye”. She is shown in a production still from one of her movies. The photograph is framed and in fine condition.

JUST WEEKS AFTER PRESIDENT GARFIELD DIED, HIS GRIEVING WIDOW SENDS AN AUTOGRAPH OF THE PRESIDENT (NOT INCLUDED)

LUCRETIA GARFIELD (1832-1918).  Lucretia, the wife of President James A. Garfield, was First Lady from March 4, 1881 until her husband's death on Sept. 19, 1881 at the hands of assassin Charles Guiteau. 

ALS. 1pg. 5” x 7”. November 16, 1881. Cleveland, O.  An autograph letter signed “Lucretia R. Garfield” on black bordered mourning stationery.  Writing two months after the President died of his gunshot wounds, the First Lady wrote: “Dear Sir, I have only a few autographs of this kind to distribute.  It has this value that it is one of the last of General Garfield’s signatures having been written July 1^st 1881. Very truly yours Lucretia R. Garfield”.  The President was shot on July 2, so the signature Mrs. Garfield sent was one of the final ones he ever wrote.  The letter has mailing folds and a mounting remnant to the last page that affects nothing.

A RARE JULIA GRANT SIGNED CHECK

JULIA GRANT (1826-1902).  The wife of Ulysses, Julia was First Lady from 1869 to 1877.

DS. 1pg. July 28, 1890. New York.  A check signed “Mrs. Julia D. Grant”, paying Thomas Bagot $78 and charging it “to Special Account”.  Bagot endorsed it on the back.  The check has light wrinkling and other minor faults.  RareBookHub shows no Julia Grant checks ever selling.

FIRST LADY FLORENCE HARDING INSCRIBES A PHOTOGRAPH OF HER ON THE WHITE HOUSE BALCONY

FLORENCE HARDING (1860-1924). Harding was married to President Warren Harding from 1891 to 1923 and served as First Lady of the United States from March 4, 1921, until his death on August 2, 1923.

PS. 5” x 7”. A photo signed “Florence King Harding” inscribed to “Mr. William Straus” writing “With appreciation of your faithful services”. The photo shows Florence Harding in a Girl Scout uniform on the White House balcony with her dog Laddie Boy, the first White House dog to receive regular coverage by the press. The photo is in good condition, with some tears and other faults.

A CAROLINE HARRISON SIGNED PORTRAIT

CAROLINE HARRISON (1832-1892). Harrison was First Lady of the United States from 1889-1892.

PS. 3” x 4 ½”. N.d. N.p. An engraving signed “Caroline Scott Harrison” on the lower border. An annotation in another hand below her signature lists her years as First Lady, but the signature itself is undated. The print depicts Harrison in profile. It is in very good condition with some foxing.  Since she died while her husband was in office, her signature is uncommon, and signed images are rare.