A HAMMER FROM THE NEW YORK LESBIAN BAR THE HOWDY CLUB

(THE HOWDY CLUB). The Howdy Club was a World War Two-era lesbian bar and entertainment venue in Manhattan.

A commemorative, miniature hammer from New York lesbian nightclub The Howdy Club. The wooden handle reads “Howdy Revue / 47 West 3^rd St Greenwich Village / Dining Dancing Revue”. The club operated in the 1930s and 1940s before its shows were shut down by police in 1944. Though the club admitted both men and women, and GIs sometimes hung out there during World War Two, the venue and its shows were known to cater to a lesbian audience at a time where women-only nightlife of any kind was rare.  A scarce relic.

JOY ADAMSON INSCRIBES AND SIGNS HER SECOND BOOK, LIVING FREE

FRIEDERIKE VICTORIA “JOY’ ADAMSON (1910-1980). Adamson was an Austrian naturalist, author, and wildlife conservationist. She is best known for Born Free, her book about her experiences raising an orphaned lion cub named Elsa, and its two sequels, Living Free and Forever Free.

SB. 161pgs. N.d. N.p. An American first edition of Joy Adamson’s second book, Living Free: The Story of Elsa and Her Club, with a lengthy inscription and signature “Joy Adamson” on a free front page. The book is in good condition, with wear and tear to the dust jacket, some of which has been repaired with tape.

A RARE MARIE ANTOINETTE AUTOGRAPH

MARIE ANTOINETTE (1755-1793).  Antoinette, an Austrian archduchess, was the wife of King Louis XVI of France.  She was the last Queen Consort prior to the French Revolution and she was beheaded a few months after the king.

Signature. 4” x 1”. No date. No place.  An autograph “Marie Antoinette” removed from another manuscript.  It is encased in a small black wooden case with a metal ring atop.  Her autograph is rare.

LADY ASTOR, SHORTLY AFTER BEING ELECTED TO PARLIAMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME, WRITES “THOUGH I GREATLY APPRECIATE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING THE FIRST WOMAN TO ENTER PARLIAMENT IN ENGLAND, IT HAS CERTAINLY ENTAILED MANY SACRIFICES, THE GREATEST OF WHICH IS HAVING TO BE AWAY SO MUCH FROM MY CHILDREN!”

NANCY ASTOR (1879-1964).  Astor was the first woman to sit in the British Parliament.  She was elected to the House of Commons in December 1919.  She served in Parliament for over a quarter century and was known for her wit and her feud with Winston Churchill.

TLS. 1pg. 8” x 10 ½”. July 27, 1920. London.  A typed letter signed “Nancy Astor” with a postscript “How well I remember those day at dear Grandma Agassiz”.  She wrote to Mrs. Cornelius Felton on Boston: “It was indeed kind of you to write to me on May 23td, and I deeply appreciate your letter.  It is such letters as yours that comfort and encourage me in what are often very difficult days.  Though I greatly appreciate the privilege of being the first woman to enter Parliament in England, it has certainly entailed many sacrifices, the greatest of which is having to be away so much from my children!”  The letter has mailing folds and the original envelope is included.

Signature. 1928. No Place. A signature “Gertrude Atherton” of the great novelist. It is in fine condition.

AN ARCHIVE OF LETTERS FROM THE FEMALE JOURNALIST BESSIE BEATTY

BESSIE BEATTY (1886-1947). Beatty was a well-known writer, activist and radio personality in the early part of the Twentieth Century. She went to Russia to cover the Revolution and met Lenin and Trotsky.

An archive of six postcards from Beatty to Mabel Dupuy of Glendale, Massaschusetts:

1) TLS. 1pg. 5 ½” 3 ¼”. December 10, 1940. New York. A typed letter signed “Bessie Beatty”: “How good of you to send not one but three card! They will make an awfully nice spot in the collection…Thanks too for your vote on the theme song – they’re still coming in so we shall see later.”

2) TLS. 1pg. 5 ½” 3 ¼”. December 27, 1940. New York. A typed letter signed “Bessie Beatty”: “Thank you so much for your Christmas card and for the six pictures of your town. They make a big showing in my collection. Your little family sounds so cozy there around you, the working daughter not very far away…”/

3) TLS. 1pg. 5 ½” 3 ¼”. March 12, 1941. New York. A typed letter signed “Bessie Beatty”: “It was a very slight scowl but even so I knew I wasn’t your disposition but the very bright sun!...I wonder if you still have the snow that blocked our streets for a few days…”.

4) TLS. 1pg. 5 ½” 3 ¼”. February 2, 1944. New York. A typed letter signed “Bessie Beatty”: “How dear of you to remember my birthday…It was indeed a happy day, with Bill well again and the lovely greetings of so many friends. I begin my new year with a high heart.”

5) TLS. 1pg. 5 ½” 3 ¼”. March 31, 1944. New York. A typed letter signed “Bessie Beatty”: “It was sweet of you to send a message of cheer during my illness. It was deeply appreciated, and pleasant to be missed in spite of the excellence way in which Bill and Dick carried on without me…”.

6) TLS. 1pg. 5 ½” 3 ¼”. February 5, 1945. New York. A typed letter signed “Bessie Beatty”: “Your wishes for my birthday were fulfilled – it was a happy day. And your friendly message helped to make it so. Many thanks…”.

All the letters are in fine condition with dark signatures.