Hollywood autographs star in RR Auction that wraps Sept. 9

Warner Brothers document extending James Dean’s terms of employment. Estimate: $10,000. RR Auction image.

BOSTON – With more than 1,200 items up for bidding, RR Auction’s September online auction, which will conclude Sept. 9, features an abundance of signed Hollywood photographs, plus a nice selection of awards, props and costumes. View the fully illustrated catalog on LiveAuctioneers.

Highlights include a James Dean document dealing with the young actor’s most celebrated films, Rebel Without a Cause and Giant. The two-page document (above), dated April 2, 1955, notified him that the studio had extended his term of employment for the completion of Rebel Without a Cause, and the production of his last film, Giant, which was released after Dean’s death in a traffic accident.

At the time Dean signed this contract, shooting had just begun on Rebel Without a Cause. The movie was in production from March 28 to May 25, 1955. Portraying Jim Stark in the classic coming-of-age film, Dean exemplified teenage angst and was recognized by Jack Warner as a rising star. At Warner’s behest, what began as a black-and-white B-movie became a full-color blockbuster. The production of Giant began shortly after Rebel Without a Cause wrapped, with Dean playing a ranch hand who strikes oil in Texas. Killed in a car crash on Sept. 30, 1955—before the production of Giant was completed—he would not live to see either premiere. While Rebel Without a Cause is now recognized as his most iconic role, it was his appearance as Jett Rink in Giant that earned him the first posthumous Academy Award nomination (estimate: $10,000+).

Hardbound script for ‘Gone With the Wind’ presented to the mayor of Atlanta. Estimate: $3,000. RR Auction image.

Additional autograph highlights include:

– Gone With the Wind autographs, among them, is a Margaret Mitchell historic 18-page signed document, dated July 30, 1936. The agreement between Mitchell and Selznick International Pictures, in which the author affirms that she has unencumbered ownership “to certain original literary and dramatic writings and material known as Gone With the Wind and assigns the motion picture and broadcasting rights to Selznick for $50,000. Signed at the conclusion in full by Mitchell, who also initials three pages, “M.M.M.” Countersigned by Selznick International’s treasurer John Wharton, who also adds his initials three times (estimate: $15,000+).

– A remarkable presentation script for Gone With the Wind prepared by producer David O. Selznick circa 1958-1961 and given to Mayor William Hartsfield of Atlanta (estimate: $3,000+).

– A Bruce Lee document. The one-page partly printed signed document in English and Chinese, signed by Bruce Lee using his hand-drawn signature symbol and red chop stamp, dated Jan. 30, 1968. Colorful and ornate certificate from Lee’s Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute (estimate: $12,000+).

A one-page signed document in English and Chinese signed by Bruce Lee using his hand-drawn signature symbol and red chop stamp, dated Jan. 30, 1968. Estimate: $12,000+. RR Auction image.

Other highlights in the sale are rare and extraordinary autographs of Emily Dickinson, Isaac Newton, the Beatles, John Law, Franz Joseph Haydn and Abraham Lincoln. A fantastic archive of Alexander McQueen material rounds out the impressive sale.

A four-panel fold-out poster picturing the Beatles that is autographed by each of the Fab Four, 13¼ x 19½in. Estimate: $15,000+.

Online bidding began Aug. 31 and concludes Sept. 9.

RR Auction is a globally recognized and trusted auction house specializing in historical autographs and artifacts. Join us as we make history selling history in September 2020.

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