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Autographs: WWII, Other Military and Political
13 Lots
 Lot 247. Jim Lovell’s Autograph and the “Life” Story of Apollo 13. Anybody see a resemblance between Lovell and Tom Hanks? Lovell’s photo and a mint 9 to gem mint 10 autograph are on the cover of the April 24, 1970 issue of “Life.” Inside, the magazine recounts “The Joyous Triumph of Apollo 13,” the troubled lunar space flight that became the subject of a 1995 award-winning movie. Eight pages focus of the families of Lovell and his two crew mates, Jack Swigert and Ken Mattingly. The magazine is ex with the mailing label partly removed. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $35.
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 Lot 255. Autographs of 27 World War II Fighter Aces Including Alex Vraciu and Bud Anderson. Both Vraciu, with 19 victories, and (C. E.) Anderson, with 16 kills, were triple aces in World War II. In addition, Vraciu’s heroism earned him the Medal of Honor. Their signatures and those of 18 other aces are nm-m 8 and better on unlined index cards. Some of the signers, including S. H. “Swede” Vejtasa, served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. The other signers are Richard W. Asbury, Raymond Bank, W A Jim Benz, William R. Beyer, Col. Henry W. Brown (14 air kills and 14.4 ground), Lowell Brueland (14.5 victories), George T. Chandler, J. Ted Crosby, Robert Curtis (14 victories), Ken Dahlberg, B. S. Davis, Robert W. Duncan, Billy G. Edens, William Freeman, Bob Goebel (11 kills), James Goodson (14), Roger A. Haberman, Hamilton McWhorter (12), Jerry O’Keefe, Steve Pisanos, Joe Posnefko (served with the Flying Tigers), Don Quigley, Donald Strait (13.5) and John R. Strane (13). Some of these pilots added information concerning their service. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $50.
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 Lot 256. Autographs of 6 World War II Flying Tigers, Including 2 Fighter Aces. The signatures are nm-m 8 or mint 9 on unlined index cards. Officially the 1st American Volunteer Group of the Chinese Air Force, the Flying Tigers were recruited under presidential sanction to defend China against Japan. Commanded by Claire Chennault, the included pilots from the U.S. Army, Navy and Marines. Two signers were fighter aces, Stephen J. Bonner and “Tex” Hill. In fact, Hill was a double-ace, achieving 12.25 victories with the Flying Tigers. The other signatures are by Ken Jernstedt (minor smudges), Chuck Older, Kee J. Pon (personalized) and Morgan Vaux. Hill, Older and Vaux are deceased. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $20.
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 Lot 257. Autographs of 8 Members of Pappy Boyington’s Black Sheep Squadron. Boyington commanded the Pacific Theater squadron that became the subject of a popular 1970s TV show. Signatures of eight members of the squadron, including a fighter ace, are on unlined index cards. The ace is Robert Aschenbrener. Actually, with 10 victories, Aschenbrener was a double-ace. The other autographs are by Glenn Bowers, Tom Emrich, Col Ed Harper, Bill Heier, Lt. Col. James Hill, Lt. Fred Losch and Brig. Gen. Bruce Matheson. Matheson severed also in Korea and Vietnam. Losch’s autograph is nm 7, and Aschenbrener’s, nm-m 8. The others are 9s and 10s. All of these Marines are deceased except for Hill, Harper and Emrich. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $25.
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 Lot 259. Barbara Bush Autographed “Reflections: Life After the White House.” Gem mint 10 signature on the second blank page of the 2003 hardback, an apparent first edition. The hardback is nm in an ex-m price-clipped dust jacket. It covers the eight years between the end of George H. W. Bush’s presidency and the inauguration of George W. Bush. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $30.
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 Lot 260. Betty Ford Autographed 8” x 10” B&W Photo. Wife of President Gerald Ford and First Lady of the U.S. from 1974-77, Ford maintained a high profile. She worked at raising breast cancer awareness, was an advocate for the Equal Right Amendment and eventually dealt publicly with her alcoholism. She was 93 when she passed away last July. Her signature is a 10. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $35.
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 Lot 262. PSA-DNA Authenticated Autograph of U.S. Admiral Wm S. Sims, Pulitzer Prize Winner. An 1880 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Sims is recognized for his efforts to modernize the Navy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He commanded U.S. naval forces in Europe in World War I. For his naval history of the war, he received the Pulitzer Prize for history in 1921. Sims passed away in 1936. His signature is on a cut applied to a 5” x 7 ½” section of paper. The signature is a mint 9 to gem mint 10. It has been authenticated and slabbed by PSA-DNA.
Winning Bid $25.
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 Lot 263. Autographs of a 1940s U.S. Senator and 9 Members of Congress from New York. The signatures are mint 9s or gem mint 10s unless otherwise noted on unlined index cards. Five are personalized. The U.S. senator is (James) Jas. M. Mead, a Democrat who served from 1938-47, when he resigned to run unsuccessfully for New York’s governorship. The U.S. Representatives are: W G Andrews (R, 1931-49). Joseph Clark Baldwin (R, 1941-47).Wm B Barry (D, 1935-46, ex-m 6 to nm 7 autograph). E Harold Cluett (R, 1937-43, pers.). W. Sterling Cole (R, 1935-57, pers.). Thos H Cullen (D, 1919-44, pers.) Vito Marcantonio (American Labor, 1935-37, 1939-51 ). Wm T. Pheiffer (R, 1941-43, pers.). John Taber (R, 1923-63). Also, Frank J. Costello, mayor of Syracuse, 1948-49. These autographs come with a Letter of Authenticity from Collectible Classics. They came from a reliable consignor, and we believe them to be authentic. The winning bidder will have 50 days from the close of the auction to have them checked by a reliable third party. After May 11, 2012, they may not be returned.
Minimum Bid $15.
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 Lot 264. Autographs of 6 Ohio 1940s Politicians – Burton, Lausche, Etc. Harold H. Burton’s life and political career took him from Massachusetts, where he was born, to the North Pole, where he accompanied Robert Peary on several expeditions, to Ohio, where he served as mayor of Cleveland, to Washington, D.C. In the national’s capital, he represented Ohio in the U.S. Senate from 1941-45, when President Truman appointed him to the U.S. Supreme Court as an associate justice. On an unlined index card, Burton, a Republican, wrote to a constituent: “This is a critical time in which we can all contribute to the cause of America – if only to keep up faith in one another and in God. Sound homes are the foundation of America.” Another signer also served as mayor of Cleveland and then as a U.S. Senator, Democrat Frank J. Lausche. He was the state’s governor from 1945-47 and 49-57. His senate service ran from 1957-69. Lausche signed a typed note on an index card to a constituent. Among the other signers are three Members of Congress, Cliff Clevenger (R, 1939-59), Charles Elston (R, 1939-53) and J. Harry McGregor (R, 1940-58). Also, Thomas A. Burke, signed as mayor of Cleveland. A Democrat, he served in the U.S. Senate 1953-54. The signatures are mint 9s and gem mint 10s on unlined index cards. Except for the Elston autograph, they are personalized. These autographs come with a Letter of Authenticity from Collectible Classics. They came from a reliable consignor, and we believe them to be authentic. The winning bidder will have 50 days from the close of the auction to have them checked by a reliable third party. After May 11, 2012, they may not be returned.
Minimum Bid $15.
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 Lot 265. Autographs of 3 Pennsylvania Governors, Sen. Specter and 9 1940s Elected Officials. The earliest gubernatorial signature is by George Earle, a Democrat who was governor from 1935-39. His autograph is on a 1 ¾” x 3 ½” cut adhered to a display copy of “A Proclamation of Thanksgiving for Three Hundred Years of Godly Civilization.” The copy is 15 ½” x 24 ½”. It comes with a letter of transmittal from the secretary to the governor and the original mailing envelope. Gov. Edward Martin’s signature is on a 1 ¾” x 3 ½” cut; a Republican, he served 1947-47. The current governor, Edward Rendell, signed a 5” x 7y” color photo. An 8” x 10” color photo is signed by one of the state’s current U.S. senators, Arlen Specter. These signatures are mint 9 or gem mint 10. The other signatures are on unlined 3” x 5” cards. These autographs also are 9s or 10s; personalizations are noted. Five autographs are by members of Congress: Michael J. Bradley (D, 1937-47), Herman P. Eberharter (D, 1937-58), John C. Kunkel (R, 1939-66, personalized signature), James McGranery (D, 1937-53) and Harve Tibbott (R, 1939-49). This collection also includes the signatures of three mayors, Bernard Samuel (R, 1941-52) of Philadelphia, Cornelius Scully (D, 1936-46, pers.) of Pittsburgh and J. Henry Stump (Socialist, 1927-31, 1935-39 and 1943-47) of Reading. These autographs come with a Letter of Authenticity from Collectible Classics. They came from a reliable consignor, and we believe them to be authentic. The winning bidder will have 50 days from the close of the auction to have them checked by a reliable third party. After May 11, 2012, they may not be returned.
Winning Bid $20.
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 Lot 266. 24 Autographs of 1940s Northeastern Governors, U.S. Senators and Members of Congress. States represented in this collection are Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. Signatures are mint 9s or gem mint 10s unless otherwise noted on unlined index cards. One of two autographs of Delaware Governor C. D. Buck has been authenticated and slabbed by PSA-DNA. CT: Governor, James C. Shannon (R, 1948-49). Senators, John A. Danaher (R, 1939-45) and Francis Maloney (D, 1935-45). Representatives, William J. Miller (R, 1939-49, personalized) and Herman Koppleman (D, 1941-43 and 1945-47, nm 7 signature). Also, Edward J. Kelley, mayor of Norwalk 1945-47, and Jasper McLevy, mayor of Bridgeport, Socialist, 1933-57. DE: Governor, Walter W. Bacon (R, 1941-49). Senators, C. D. Buck (R, 1943-49, two, nm-m 8 signatures), who also served as governor, 1929-37, and James M. Tunnell (D, 1941-47, nm-m 8). Representatives, Philip A Traynor (D, 1941-47). ME: Senators, Ralph O. Brewster (R, 1941-52); previously served as governor, and Wallace H. White (R, 1931-49, pers.). Representatives, James C. Oliver (R, 1937-43, pers.). MA: Governors, Robert Bradford (R, 1947-49) and Leverett Saltonstall (R, 1939-45). Senator, David I Walsh (D, 1919-25 and 1926-47); governor, 1914-16. Representatives, George Holden Tinkham (R, 1915-43), Allen T. Treadway (R, 1913-45) and R B Wigglesworth (R, 1933-58, pers.). NH: Governor, Robert O. Blood (R, 1941-45). Senators, Styles Bridges (R, 1937-61) and Chas. W. Tobey (R, 1939-53). Both also served as governor. Representative, Foster Stearns (R, 1939-45). VT: Senator, George D. Aikens (R, 1941-75). Also served as governor. Representative, Charles A. Plumley (R, 1934-51). These autographs, from a reliable consignor, come with a Collectible Classics Letter of Authenticity. We believe them to be authentic. The winning bidder will have 50 days from the close of the auction to have them checked by a reliable third party. After May 11, 2012, they may not be returned.
Winning Bid $20.
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