White House card boldly signed in fountain pen, “Franklin D. Roosevelt.” Encapsulated in a plastic PSA/DNA authentication holder, grading the autograph a “9.” In fine condition, with light pencil notations to reverse. RR Auction COA.
Every month RR Auction offers collectors more than 1,250 quality, fully guaranteed signed items, including photos, documents, letters, and books from a variety of categories—just as we have for more than 30 years.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
RR Auction Franklin D. Roosevelt Signed White House Card
White House card boldly signed in fountain pen, “Franklin D. Roosevelt.” Encapsulated in a plastic PSA/DNA authentication holder, grading the autograph a “9.” In fine condition, with light pencil notations to reverse. RR Auction COA.
Saturday, June 29, 2013
RR Auctions Jean Harlow Captivating Portrait with a Heartfelt Inscription
Legendary screen actress (1911–1937), known for her unique sex appeal and her distinctive platinum blonde hairdo, who died of renal failure at the age of 26. Striking and incredibly scarce vintage matte-finish 9.25 x 13 head-and-shoulders Walters photo of Harlow wrapping herself in a fur, boldly signed and inscribed in fountain pen, “To Betty—With all my love—you know how to be a real friend—Lovingly, Jean.” Beautifully double-matted and framed to an overall size of 15 x 19. In fine condition, with a single vertical crease extending from the top edge to the right of Harlow’s eyeline, otherwise a remarkably stunning, crystal-clear studio portrait. Authentically signed Harlow images are scarce, even more so in oversized examples. A gorgeous portrait, featuring a particularly bold and well-contrasted, intimate inscription from this most legendary and elusive of Hollywood rarities. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
Friday, June 28, 2013
RR Auction Giacomo Puccini Autograph Musical Manuscript
Italian composer (1858–1924) who earned a central place in the operatic pantheon with such repertoire staples as ‘La boheme,’ ‘Madama Butterfly,’ and ‘Tosca.’ Autograph musical manuscript, in pencil, on both sides of a 9.25 x 13 off-white sheet of musically-lined paper. Puccini writes 26 bars of music from the final of ‘Turandot,’ writing at the top of the page, “Stacco per duettone.” In very good condition, with a few small creases and edge tears, and some toning and dampstaining, not affecting legibility. The opera was unfinished at the time of Puccini's death in 1924 and was completed by Franco Alfano in 1926. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
RR Auctions Early Colt Frontier Six Shooter Single-Action Revolver
#45997, cal. .44-40. The factory barrel is slightly short at 7 3/8″ (1/8″ shorter than the original factory length of 7.5″ due to filing off dings at the muzzle). The surface of the barrel was cleaned long ago and the barrel has an even plum patina with a legible factory address and no trace of the etched barrel panel remaining. The serial numbers match on the frame, gripstraps, barrel, and cylinder—the last two parts have only the last digit of the serial number remaining and are definitely original to the gun. The barrel has a dark bore with worn rifling. The cylinder revolves properly, the hammer safety notch is worn and the trigger spring is broken. One backstrap screw is missing. The ejector housing is a later replacement and retains factory blue on the protected areas, the ejector rod head is the later crescent style and is gunsmith made. The frame patent markings are mostly legible and the surfaces have a mixed dark gray patina, as do the gripstraps, cylinder, and hammer. The ‘one-piece’ walnut grip is a non-factory replacement that fits well and is in fine condition with an inlaid sterling silver Texas Ranger-style badge in the right side. This is a good example of the ‘Frontier Six Shooter’ popular in the Old West. Included is a Colt factory letter indicating this was shipped to Schuyler, Hartley, & Graham in New York City on June 15, 1878.
RR Auction Charles Lindberg Iwo Jima Signed Official Rawlings Major League Baseball
Official Rawlings Major League baseball signed in blue ballpoint on the sweet spot, “Charles W. Lindberg, 1st Flag Raiser, Iwo Jima, Feb. 23, 1945, 10:30 A.M.” In very fine condition. RR Auction COA.
Monday, June 17, 2013
RR Auctions ‘US’ Artillery Colt Single-Action Revolver
#8111, cal. .45 Colt, the 5.5″ barrel has a good bore with minor corrosion. This revolver was built in 1874 for the US Cavalry and rebuilt for the US Army circa 1900. As is common on these the parts do not have matching numbers. The barrel has no number but does have the “R. A. C.” military inspector’s stamp applied to these rebuilt revolvers with new replacement barrels. The trigger guard has no number but does have a single “K” military inspector’s stamp. The backstrap is numbered 37135 with no inspector’s stamp visible, the one-piece walnut grip is stamped “R. A. C.” on the butt. The cylinder has no visible number and is marked “R. A. C.” on the rear. The barrel address, patent markings and “U. S.” on the frame are in excellent condition. The metal retains over 85% finish with strong case colors on the frame and hammer. The grip is in fine condition with two small chips at the toe on the right side. The half-cock notch on the hammer is worn, otherwise the mechanism functions well and the cylinder locks up tightly.
RR Auction Model 1879 U. S. ‘Trapdoor’ Carbine
#220186, cal. .45-70, 22″ barrel, the bore with good rifling and scattered light corrosion should clean to very good or better. The lockplate is marked with an eagle and “U.S./Springfield,” the low arch breechblock is correctly marked “U.S./Model/1873,” there are no legible proofmarks on the barrel and the buckhorn rear sight is correctly marked with a “C.” Most of the barrel has a plum patina, the breechblock has some light case colors on the underside, and the lockplate and trigger guard have traces of blue mixing with patina. The stock has some added oil and shows only minor small handling marks and very little wear, however the inspector’s cartouche is light and the date is difficult to read. The trigger guard was made from a rifle trigger guard and the barrel band is the later 1884 style for a Buffington rear sight.
Saturday, June 15, 2013
RR Auctions Alfred Hitchcock Head and Shoulders Signed Photo
Semi-glossy 8.25 x 10.75 head-and-shoulders photo, signed in white ink. In very good condition, with trimmed edges, some scattered surface impressions, and light overall irregular ink adhesion to signature. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
RR Auction Remington Vest Pocket Pistol
#7394, cal. .22 rimfire, 3.25″ barrel with a poor bore. This was a novel design with the hammer acting as a breech block. The trigger pin is an old replacement. All of the metal is gray with some dark age spotting, the factory markings are very good. The rosewood grips are in good condition, the mechanism works well.
Friday, June 14, 2013
RR Auctions Gloria Grahame Signed Photo
Alluring glossy 8 x 10 photo of Grahame seated with a bare leg seductively dangling off a couch, signed in purple felt tip. In fine condition. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
RR Auction Elsa Maxwell Photo Signed and Inscribed
Gossip columnist, author, and socialite (1883–1963) known for her high society parties and the introduction of the scavenger hunt as a party game. Vintage matte-finish 8 x 10 photo of Maxwell in a sparkling outfit, signed and inscribed in fountain pen, “To Wally, Elsa Maxwell.” In fine condition, with some spotting to the bottom edge. Originates from the estate of Hollywood hairdresser Wally Wallace. RR Auction COA.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
RR Auctions Elizabeth Taylor Felt Tip Signature
Felt tip signature, “Elizabeth Taylor,” on an off-white 5 x 3 card bearing a collector’s notation. In fine condition. Accompanied by an unsigned glossy photo. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
RR Auction Cheap Trick Dream Police Album Signed
Dream Police album signed on the front cover in black felt tip by Robin Zander, Tom Petersson, Rick Nielsen, and Bun E. Carlos. In fine condition. The record is not included. Accompanied by a full letter of authenticity from PSA/DNA and a full letter of authenticity from Roger Epperson/REAL. RR Auction COA.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
RR Autograph Auction Bonnie and Clyde Conger’s Store Brick
A 4.5 x 2 x 4.5 brick removed from the left side of the front door entrance of Conger’s Furniture Store and Funeral Parlor in Arcadia, Louisiana, where Bonnie’s and Clyde’s bodies were taken after they were killed in the ambush on May 23, 1934, where the autopsies performed. Brick was removed shortly before the building was demolished in the late 1990s. RR Auction COA.
RR Auctions Clyde Barrow Pants Swatch
A limited edition 1.25 x 1.25 swatch of blue wool trousers worn by Clyde Barrow at the time of his death on May 23, 1934. This particular swatch is uncommon as it features one of the belt loops. Swatch is affixed to an 11 x 8.5 certificate of authenticty, numbered 15/870, and is accompanied by a certificate signed by Clyde’s late sister, Marie Barrow, as well as by Charles Heard. In fine condition. Barrows trousers’ and shirt that he wore that day were kept in the Barrow family until Butterfield & Butterfield auctioned off the bullet riddled shirt in 1997. The trousers were cut into 870 swatches and affixed to certificates. RR Auction COA.
RR Auction Johnny Torrio Original Mug Shot Photo
Incredibly influential mobster who mentored Al Capone and helped build the ‘Chicago Outfit’ in the 1920s (1882–1957). Crystal-clear original glossy 5.5 x 3.25 mug shot photo of Torrio, filled out with a physical description and personal details on the reverse, listing his crime as “Forging In,” occupation as “Real Estate,” and date of arrest as “4-28-36,” although the date on the identification card in the photo is April 22, 1936. In fine condition, with a small tear to the lower border. Torrio was arrested on a forgery indictment for passing a bad promissory note; he subsequently plead guilty to income tax evasion and served two years in prison. This particular arrest made headlines throughout the nation, as bail was set at a whopping $100,000—which Torrio’s wife quickly delivered to the courthouse in cash. Provenance: Eugene Canevari Collection. RR Auction COA.
Monday, June 10, 2013
RR Autograph Auction Ernest Shackleton Imperial Trans-Atlantic Expedition Bank Check
Imperial Trans-Atlantic Expedition bank check, 8.25 x 4.25, filled out in another hand and signed by Shackleton, “E. H. Shackleton,” as expedition commander, payable to Cash for £50.0.0, July 3, 1914. Check is also signed by secretary Frank W. White, who has also crossed out “order,” and written, “Bearer F. W. W.” Check is stamped at the bottom, “The Shackleton Collection.” Central vertical fold, ink cancellation through signature, small hole to body, and bank stamp above signature, otherwise fine condition. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
RR Auctions Apollo 14 Signed NASA Photo
Color 10 x 8 NASA photo of the crew in their white space suits posing in front of their mission insignia, signed in red felt tip by Alan Shepard and in black felt tip by Ed Mitchell and Stu Roosa. In fine condition, with a bit of light contrast to portion of Roosa’s signature. Pre-certified Steve Zarelli and RR Auction COA.
RR Auction Rocky Marciano Rare Letter from the Heavyweight Champion
ALS signed “Rocky,” one page, 7.75 x 11, Rocky Marciano Enterprises letterhead, no date. Letter regarding his business. In part: “We haven’t been able to close the deal with scaffolding yet. I’ll keep you posted. Something big for us in Cuba I’ll let you know.” Attractively custom-matted and framed to an overall size of 30 x 23. A few areas of paper loss to corners and light irregular toning, otherwise fine condition. Accompanied by a full letter of authenticity from JSA. Just the second Marciano ALS we have offered. Oversized. Pre-certified Steve Grad/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
Saturday, June 8, 2013
RR Autograph Auction Richard Gatling Fantastic Ink Signature
Inventor of the eponymous machine gun which has been estimated to have killed over 250,000 men since 1862. Fantastic ink signature, “Yours truly, R. J. Gatling, Washington, D. C., Feb’y 4th, 1899,” on a 3.5 x 3 card. Attractively double-matted and framed with an engraved portrait and a biographical plaque to an overall size of 14.5 x 27. In fine condition, with small spot of soiling to left edge slightly affecting a single letter of location. RR Auction COA.
RR Auctions Remington Model 1875 Single-Action Army Revolver with Carved Ivory Grips
#9019, the caliber is not marked but is believed to be .44-40 W.C.F. (have your gunsmith verify), 5.5″ barrel, fair bore. The metal retains about 10% original nickel-plating with the balance having a smooth dark gray patina, the barrel address is clear except that a tarnished sterling lozenge is inlaid at the front of the address. This inlay has a monogram that has not been deciphered, possibly a cattle brand, and has the stamped numerals “83” in front of it. The ivory grips have a carved steer head on the right side, are pencil numbered to the gun, have slightly shrunk and have a burnt umber patina. The butt has a lanyard swivel. The first two hammer notches are worn and the cylinder doesn’t fully index with the hammer.
RR Auction ‘US’ Marked Colt Single Action Army
‘US’ Marked Colt Single Action Army revolver made in 1874. #13721, cal. .45 Colt, 7.5″ barrel with the correct early italic-style lettering and a very good bore. The barrel is numbered 8622 under the later style ejector rod housing with a crescent-shaped head on the ejector rod. The frame, triggerguard, and backstrap have matching numbers “13721,” with the cylinder correctly having only the last four digits “3721.” The one-piece walnut grip shows moderate wear and has no trace of a military inspector’s cartouche. The frame has a two line patent marking and “U. S.” on the left side, while the triggerguard and backstrap have no military inspector’s initials. The enclosed copy of a factory letter indicates an October 7, 1874, shipping date to Schuyler, Hartley, and Graham—one of Colt’s largest distributors for the western trade. A special notation in this letter states that this is a “Gov’t Sales” gun, meaning that this gun was an overrun on a government contract and sent to the commercial market. The finish was changed by Schuyler, Hartley, and Graham to nickel plating so that retail customers would not be suspected of having a stolen “US” marked revolver. About 5% of this nickel plating remains. All of the factory lettering is in very good condition. The bottom of the backstrap shows scratches where a name was removed and the screw hole in the ejector rod housing is slightly marred. The revolver is in good working order with no worn hammer notches.
Friday, June 7, 2013
RR Auctions Franklin D. Roosevelt Signed Book The Democratic Book
Signed book: The Democratic Book: 1936. Gilt-stamped leather (including “L. E. Dixon,” the original owner), 11.5 x 14.5, 384 pages. Limited edition (limitation unspecified; this copy is numbered 1179), signed by Roosevelt on the colophon beneath a watercolor vignette of the White House. Autographic condition: fine. Book condition: VG-/None. Brown leather-covered boards with gilt title, gilted upper textblock edge, and silk moiré endpapers. Edges worn, with small tears at corners and spine-ends; rubbing along spine-edges and few scratches/scuffs to front; slight discoloration to textblock edges (more noticeable along edges of moiré endpapers); insect damage to first two pages. A lavishly produced promotional ‘year book’ for the Democratic Party, the publication of The Democratic Book in the Spring of 1936 was assailed by Republicans as a violation of the Corrupt Practices Act which prohibits corporations from contributing to national campaigns. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
RR Auction Joe Louis Signed Photo Posing in Ben Lee Boxing Gear
Thursday, June 6, 2013
RR Autograph Auction Bruce Springsteen Signed Sony Music Publicity Photo
Satin-finish 8 x 10 Sony Music publicity photo of Springsteen, signed in the lower border in black felt tip. In fine condition, with scattered surface creases. Accompanied by a letter of provenance from the original recipient, who states that he was given the photo while acting as captain of the Airbus 319 hired for the European leg of Springsteen’s 2002–03 ‘The Rising’ tour. Pre-certified Roger Epperson/REAL and RR Auction COA.
RR Auctions Colt Model 1877 Thunderer Double Action Revolver
#24577, cal. .41 Colt, 3.5″ barrel, good bore. This is the variant made without an ejector rod. The frame and triggerguard have matching numbers, the backstrap has no visible number. The metal has a dark patina with legible patent markings and worn barrel address, several scratches on the cylinder from a vice jaw. The checkered hard rubber grips are replicas in very good condition. The single action mechanism works well, the double action sometimes doesn’t index the cylinder. Made in 1880.
RR Auction Early Colt Frontier Six Shooter Single-Action Revolver
#45997, cal. .44-40. The factory barrel is slightly short at 7 3/8″ (1/8″ shorter than the original factory length of 7.5″ due to filing off dings at the muzzle). The surface of the barrel was cleaned long ago and the barrel has an even plum patina with a legible factory address and no trace of the etched barrel panel remaining. The serial numbers match on the frame, gripstraps, barrel, and cylinder—the last two parts have only the last digit of the serial number remaining and are definitely original to the gun. The barrel has a dark bore with worn rifling. The cylinder revolves properly, the hammer safety notch is worn and the trigger spring is broken. One backstrap screw is missing. The ejector housing is a later replacement and retains factory blue on the protected areas, the ejector rod head is the later crescent style and is gunsmith made. The frame patent markings are mostly legible and the surfaces have a mixed dark gray patina, as do the gripstraps, cylinder, and hammer. The ‘one-piece’ walnut grip is a non-factory replacement that fits well and is in fine condition with an inlaid sterling silver Texas Ranger-style badge in the right side. This is a good example of the ‘Frontier Six Shooter’ popular in the Old West. Included is a Colt factory letter indicating this was shipped to Schuyler, Hartley, & Graham in New York City on June 15, 1878.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
RR Autograph Auction Joe DiMaggio and Billy Martin Signed Photo
Satin-finish 10 x 8 photo of the Yankee legends in their older years, signed in black felt tip by both. In fine condition. Accompanied by a full letter of authenticity from PSA/DNA. RR Auction COA.
RR Auctions Muhammad Ali Joe Frazier and Don King Signed Magazine Photo
Color 8.5 x 11 magazine photo of the trio, signed in blue felt tip by Muhammad Ali and Don King, and in black felt tip by Joe Frazier. Photo is affixed to a slightly larger mount. In fine condition. Pre-certified Steve Grad/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
RR Auction Andy Warhol Signed Print Entitled Pears
Color 10 x 8 print entitled ‘Pears,’ from a 1979 art gallery booklet entitled ‘Space Fruit: Still Lifes,’ signed in the lower border in black felt tip. In fine condition, with a few light creases. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
Monday, June 3, 2013
RR Autograph Auction Salvador Dali Signed Color Postcard The Old Age of William Tell
Color postcard of Dali’s 1931 work entitled ‘The Old Age of William Tell,’ 5.75 x 4, signed on a light area of the image in blue ballpoint, “Dali.” In fine condition. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
RR Auctions Louis Armstrong Signed Selmer Trumpet Promotional Photo
Choice vintage matte-finish 8 x 10 Selmer Trumpet promotional photo of Armstrong kissing his horn, nicely signed and inscribed against the white background in fountain pen, “Best wishes to Sigmond Ross, a real ‘SWING’ organist, From, Louis ‘Satch’ Armstrong.” In fine condition, with unobtrusive tack holes to corners, which could be matted out and do not affect the sharp image or signature. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
RR Auction Rain in the Face Native American Warrior Photo
One of the most feared and respected Native American warriors of the late 19th century. A Hunkpapa Lakota, he was born in about 1835. His name is thought to have come from an incident when, as a young brave, he was fighting with another boy. The fight was fierce and his face became spattered with blood–so badly, it looked like rain on his face, or Itonagaju. He has often been linked to the death of General George Custer at his defeat at the Battle of Little Bighorn in Montana in 1876. There is much argument about who actually killed Custer, known to the Lakota as the Long-Haired Chief. The general's wife believed that Rain-in-the-Face dealt the death blow and the American poet Longfellow wrote about his deeds in ‘The Revenge of Rain in the Face.’ Exceptional original 6.25 x 9.25 silver print portrait of Rain-in-the-Face, a Winchester rifle in his lap, posing with photographer David F. Barry, housed in its original 9.5 x 14 Barry Studio mat. Image bears a Barry stamp, with two Barry stamps on the mat. Reverse of the mat bears a Barry Studio label. In fine condition, with a clipped image of Barry affixed to mat at a later time. Image originates from Barry’s personal collection. RR Auction COA.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
RR Autograph Auction Pope Pius X Signed Photo
Born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto in 1835, Pius X served as pope from 1903 until his death in 1914. Known for his conservative, anti-modernist philosophies, he became, in 1954, the first pope to be elevated to sainthood since Pius V in 1712. Vintage matte-finish 7.75 x 8.5 full-length photo by d’Alessandri of Rome, affixed to a slightly larger mount, signed on the mount in fountain pen, “Pius PP. X,” with a sentiment in Latin written above the signature in another hand and a photographer’s stamp to left side of image. Slightly trimmed edges, some mild silvering, and a few bends, otherwise fine condition. RR Auction COA.
RR Auctions Rocky Marciano and Ted Williams Ballpoint Signatures
RR Auction Beach Boys Signed Wood-finish Stadium ‘stratocaster-style’ Electric Guitar
Wood-finish Stadium ‘stratocaster-style’ electric guitar, signed on the body in blue felt tip by David Marks, adding a sketch of rolling waves and the lyrics to the first verse of ‘Surfin’ Safari,’ and signed on the white pickguard by Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston, Blondie Chaplin, Ricky Fataar, and Glen Campbell. In fine condition. Oversized. Pre-certified Roger Epperson/REAL and RR Auction COA.
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