Weekes Autographs

Autographed Letters
Signed Photographs
Historically Significant Material

We do more than sell autographs. We build relationships.

RON WEEKES - Proprietor

DONNELL G. MUELLER - Business Development Director

CLAUDIA McGARRIGLE - Associate


Amherst, New York

Voicemail: (716) 830-8000 (24 hours)
Email: weekesautographs@roadrunner.com

Member: The Manuscript Society, The Ephemera Society of America,
Universal Autograph Collectors Club

A Sampling of our Autograph Inventory

If you do not see something in this brief sampling of inventory, or have questions concerning the availability of material, please do not hesitate to contact us by telephone, fax or email.

We are pleased to maintain “want lists” for clients at no charge. You are under no obligation until you order an item. All of the material we sell comes with our unconditional guarantee of satisfaction. A handsome certificate of authenticity accompanies autograph material. We offer non-interest, 90-day layaway on items over $200. Please inquire for more information.

Click on small images to see full-sized pictures.

Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Glossary of Abbreviations

 


GLEASON, Jackie  (1916-87) and
PRYOR, Richard  (1940-2005)

GLEASON, Jackie  (1916-87) – The “Great One,” a legendary comic and star of stage, screen and TV; and PRYOR, Richard  (1940-2005) – Edgy, sometimes controversial, always funny stand-up comic and actor; his life tragically cut short by multiple sclerosis. A groundbreaking talent; certainly the first African American stand-up comedian to speak candidly and successfully to integrated audiences using the language and jokes blacks previously only shared among themselves when they were most critical of America. Signed Photograph; 10”x8” measure black and white glossy character still, 1982, from the Columbia Pictures release The Toy. Boldly signed by both Pryor and Gleason. Pryor is decked out in a maid’s outfit with Gleason smiling. Photograph is in excellent condition. Very uncommon signed by both. $175 (Payment Options)


GIELGUD, (Sir) John  (1904-2000)

Arguably the greatest Shakespearian actor of the 20th Century. A highly distinguished and prolific performer on stage and screen. Signed Photograph; 8”x10” color glossy character still from Prospero’s Books, nicely signed in blue marker pen. Photograph in very good to excellent condition. $100 (Payment Options)


CRUIKSHANK, George (1792-1878)

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DURANTE, Jimmy  (1893-1980)

Popular American comedian of stage, screen and TV, known as “Snozzle Durante.” Began his career as a saloon pianist on Coney Island before partnering two vaudevillians in a club act. Opened Club Durant in NYC in 1923. He went on to become a popular and versatile entertainer on Broadway and the radio. In the 1950s and 60s he enjoyed great success on television with his own variety show. Late in his career, the Snoz appeared in the films Jumbo and It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.

Autograph Letter Signed, one page, no date, on Sheraton-Astor Hotel, NY letterhead. Reads “Dear Julia, Was happy to hear from you sure I remember you and your Dad, Uncle Bob and when you were all over to the house in Flushing. Wish I could get over to see you and Sandy but I don’t get home till (sic) three in the morning and, by the time I get to bed, it’s 5 o’clock. Thanks for your invitation … my very best wishes to you and yours. Jimmy Durante.” This charming letter has been professionally matted in Fiore Grotto grey marbled board along with an original, 1950s, black and white glossy publicity photo of the Snoz sitting at the piano, smiling into the camera. This vintage original photograph has been interestingly framed in an octagonal style. Overall dimensions are 19”x14.25”. A wonderful collectible of this great vaudevillian and TV star. $250 (Payment Options)


DOMINGO, Placido (1941 - )

Spanish operatic tenor. Striking 8”x10” color glossy performance pose with his hand uplifted. The tenor has boldly signed his initials with a flourish in black marker pen. Professionally matted in a rich, aubergine, damask-esque board. Shrink-wrap protected. Ready for framing. $95 (Payment Options)


CORNELL, Katharine  (1898–1974)

American actress, born in Berlin but spent her early years in Buffalo, New York. Cornell was one of the greatest stage actresses of the 1920s through 1950s.   She made her debut in 1916 with the Washington Square Players. In 1921 she married Guthrie McClintic, a producer-director. From their first production together, The Green Hat in 1925, they proved to be a successful team, with such productions as The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1931, repeated on television, 1956), Saint Joan (1936), Candida (1937), The Doctor's Dilemma (1941), and The Three Sisters (1942). She was often able to carry a weak production on the basis of her strong voice, expressive face, and acting style. Cornell played Mrs. Patrick Campbell in Dear Liar on Broadway in 1960. After McClintic's death in 1961, Cornell retired from the theater. Haunting 8”x10” black and white, matte-finish, Vandamm portrait (circa 1936). Very boldly signed in blue fountain pen “Best wishes, Katharine Cornell.”  There is some minor chemical disintegration of the corners in two places. Professionally matted in jetblack, acid-free, matboard. An uncommon image of this great American thespian. $125 (Payment Options)


CORNELL, Katharine  (1898–1974)

Stunning 8"x10" sepia tone glamour shot, dedicated to Eleanor. In fine condition. An uncommon shot of the actress in a floral batik strapless gown.  $125 (Payment Options)


HAUSNER, Rudolf (1914-94)

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BURCHFIELD, Charles E.  (1893-1967)

20th Century American watercolorist, considered one of America’s most original of artists. Longtime resident of Buffalo, New York where the Burchfield-Penney Art Center was established which houses many of his works. Historiated (monogram) “B” in fountain pen ink which the artist also signed on a 3”x5” card. In-person signed January 1954. Professionally matted in greytones along with a black and white, litho-print, casual portrait of Burchfield. Desirable. $245 (Payment Options)


FIELDS, W. C. (1879-1946)

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CLIFT, Montgomery (1920-66)

Best Oscar nomination for The Search, A Place in the Sun, From Here to Eternity. Died at the age of 45. His autograph is very uncommon. Vintage signed card, professionally double-matted and framed with a handsome 4"x6" black and white, lithoprint photo postcard image.

$ 350  (Payment Options)


WIESEL, Elie (1928- )

Romanian-born novelist and human rights activist. His life has been devoted to writing and speaking about the Holocaust, with the aim of making sure that it is never forgotten, and he was one of the principal forces behind establishing the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC. His first novel, Night (1956), was first published in Yiddish, and is based on his experiences in the death camps. Other novels include Dawn (1961) and Jews of Silence (1967). He has authored plays, retellings of biblical stories, and Hasidic tales. In 1986 Wiesel received the Nobel Peace Prize for his work as a 'messenger to mankind'. SIG on a white card, professionally matted in rich burgundy leatherette board along with a color, lithoprint portrait of Wiesel from an original photograph by Yousef Karsh of Ottawa. Overall dimensions of this handsome display piece are 11.5"x15.25". $125  (Payment Options)


HOOVER, Herbert Clark  (1874-1964) 31st President of the United States and US statesmen (former Secretary of Commerce). Signed copy of his 75th birthday speech:  Think of the Next Generation.  Fifteen pages, octavo, printed address of a speech he gave before 12,000 people in Frost Ampitheater, Stanford University on August 10, 1949. The four radio networks carried the speech live and the program ended with the Stanford hymn played on the Hoover Tower carillon (Hoover was a 1895 alumnus). We offer this imprinted copy of the address that is boldly signed in peacock blue fountain pen ink. Fine condition. Highly desirable post-presidential collectable. $395 (Payment Options)

 

Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Glossary of Abbreviations

Payment Options

PLACING AN ORDER – We distinguish between an inquiry and an order. If, however, we do not hear back from you on an inquiry, we can only assume you are not interested. Once an order has been placed, we actively remove merchandise from active inventory and reserve it. Thus it is not available to anyone else.  PLEASE, if you place an order, remit payment within three business days or inventory returns to our catalogue. Repeated incidence of late or non-payment is not fair to existing a new clientele who may be interested in a particular item.  We appreciate your understanding.

We offer several flexible payment options:

  • PayPal
  • Cashier’s check
  • Money order
  • Personal check

If paying by check or money order, please send to the address at the top of the page.

All items that we offer are subject to prior sale. Prices are in effect at the time of offering but may change without notice. New York residents must add 8.25% sales tax (8.75% in Erie County). Telephone inquiries welcome Mon-Sat 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (EST). You may also email us at mail@weekes-autographs.com.

New clients who have not established a relationship with us, and who pay by personal check, are asked to wait seven to 10 days for drafts to clear our bank before merchandise is shipped.

PayPal is a widely-accepted, fully-secure method of sending monies worldwide. Many of our clients already use PayPal. Not only does PayPal send confirmations of money transfers but it also provides buyer and seller with a detailed record of transactions for accounting purposes (especially helpful for insurance purposes). Although we guarantee everything that we sell, PayPal also offers added protection to buyers.

Important – please note: If you purchase anything from our catalogue sampling, using the PayPal Buy It Now link below, it will be necessary to confirm the shipping and insurance fees before processing your payment. Please first contact us by telephone or e-mail to determine what these additional fees will be. We generally ship via U.S. Postal Service: priority mail, certified or insured. While the majority of our clients are within the continental United States, we also have clients in Europe and Asia. Please understand that shipment overseas will be Air Parcel Post, with shipping rates variable depending upon the country of delivery.

Layaway – Young people and those on a limited budget find layaway an excellent means of acquiring material. Our terms are simple. On purchases of $200 or more, a client may place an item or items on 90-day layaway with a one-third, non-refundable deposit. Equal payments are due at 60 and 90 days, at which time material is shipped. All material remains our sole property until such time as the terms of layaway are fully met. There is no additional charge for layaway.

New York State Sales Tax – All residents of New York must factor 8.25% sales tax on their order.


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TERMS USED
Courtesy of The Manuscript Society

SIG Signature
ALS   Autograph Letter Signed; entirely in the hand of the author
LS   Letter Signed; signed by the author but written by another (i.e. a secretary or clerk)
TLS   Typewritten Letter Signed
ANS   Autograph Note Signed; same as ALS but more brief.
ADS   Autograph Document Signed; (a will, a manuscript, a journal) but signed by the author
DS   Document Signed (such as a check or court record)
AQS   Autograph Quotation Signed; this could be poetry or a memorable statement; in the handwriting of the author. Many autograph albums of the mid 19th Century contained brief signed quotations
AES   Autograph Endorsement Signed; endorsement in the author’s hand, usually on the verso or margin of another letter
AMuQS   Autograph Musical Quotation Signed; this might be a few bars of music from the composer’s body of work, which he has signed and/or dated. These are highly desirable collectibles.
SP   Signed Photograph
ISP   Inscribed Signed Photograph; this is the same as above but includes a dedication or a few words of greeting in the hand of the author.
NY   No year
ND   No date
NP   No place
PP   Pages

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