An interesting collection of Bogart items highlighted by a personalized pen used by Bogart and a collection of Casablanca cast signatures. Archive includes:
A gold ballpoint pen used by Bogart to sign an autograph for Al Wester, president of the US Golf Network, at the Beverly Hills Hotel in the 1950s. Pen has, “Thank You ‘Bogie’ Bogart,” printed on the side. Pen is accompanied by a 1998 handwritten letter from Wester which states, “Bogy gave me the pen when I ask him for an autograph. That was in the mid 50s at the Beverly Hills Hotel in California. I was there to broadcast a USC game.”
Vintage fountain pen signatures of ten cast members of Casablanca on individual album pages, sheets, and slips. Signers are: Humphrey Bogart (ins), Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains (ins), Paul Henreid, Conrad Veidt, Sidney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, Dooley Wilson, S. Z. Sakall, and Helmut Dantine. Other autographs included in the collection are vintage fountain pen signatures of Bogart's wives, “Mayo Methot Bogart,” “Lauren Bacall Bogart,” and "Helen Menken," on individual album pages; a vintage matte-finish 3.5 x 5.5 photo of Ingrid Bergman, signed in black ink, and a vintage ink signature; a vintage matte-finish 8 x 10 photo of Paul Henreid, signed and inscribed in fountain pen, and accompanied by the original Warner Bros. Studio envelope; four glossy and satin-finish 10 x 8 photos from Bogart films, each signed in felt tip by one of his co-stars, including: Julie Bishop, Ida Lupino, Mary Astor, and Mark Lawrence; and a glossy 8 x 10 photo signed by Elisha Cook. Also included is a Peruvian 50 cincuenta bank note, signed vertically in blue ink by Casablanca screenwriter Julius J. Epstein; and an uncommon ballpoint signature from fellow Casablanca screenwriter, “Here’s looking at you kid, Howard Koch,” on an off-white slip.
An original Warner Bros. call sheet for Passage to Marseille, one page, 8.5 x 11, dated September 14, 1943. Sheet designates the set as “Process Canoe,” on Stage #5, listing six actors having a call time of 9 am. Among them are “Mr. Bogart,” “Mr. Sakoloff,” and “Mr. Lorre.”
An original color ‘comic book’-style promotional handbill for The African Queen, three sides on two adjoined pages, 5.5 x 8.5, showing several intense scenes from the film, and heralding the picture as “The mightiest adventure ever filmed.”
TLS, signed “Mayo and Humphrey Bogart,” all by Mayo, one page, 7.25 x 10.75, personal letterhead, March 13, 1944. A letter to a woman whose husband met the Bogarts while he was in a hospital in Africa. In part: “We would like to assure you that since your husband is now in North Africa, that there they have the finest hospitals and medical attention that can be given. As far as that is concerned, we have been through hospitals as close as three or four miles back of the lines, and I cannot express too strongly the magnificent care and medial attention that is given to the men.” Accompanied by the original mailing envelope, as well as a letter of provenance from the recipient’s wife.
A hardcover edition of Bogie and Me, signed and inscribed by the author, Verita Thompson.
Archive is in overall very good to fine condition. A great assemblage, which includes signatures of all the principle cast of Casablanca, three of his wives, and other unique Bogart items, certain to appeal to any collector. RR Auction COA.
