Determined to build a comprehensive and fascinating autograph collection, collector Roger Harris devoted much of his personal time to writing celebrities for their autographs, requesting a portrait and a signature, and asking what the signer’s greatest satisfaction in life was. Once received, the autographs were painstakingly organized into 23 different albums arranged by subject matter and then alphabetically. Each album contains approximately 180 pages, the majority of which have an image of the signer, as well as a biography detailing their lives and accomplishments. His efforts to acquire complete compilations of each subject are most apparent in the military categories, which include a strong selection of Medal of Honor recipients, aviation aces, and World War II and Vietnam generals. Other categories represented are entertainment, space, military, notables, music, and animation. Consisting of approximately 5000-6000 items, the collection is made up of signatures on white double-weight, 5.75 x 3.5, custom-made collector's cards (similar in look to an invitation card), FDCs, ALSs and TLSs, signed photos, sketches, comic strips, and AMQSs. The entertainment albums also include many original, unsigned, film stills. A selection of signers is as follows:
Notables, including a wide selection of scientists and Nobel Prize winners, politicians, artists and authors, and explorers (eight albums, approximately 2,100 items): Oronzio Maldarelli (SP), Henry Kissinger (SP), Harlan Ellison (TLS), Spiro Agnew (TLS and SP), Richard Avedon (FDC), Maya Angelou (FDC), Sherman Adams (SP), Colonel Harland Sanders (SP).
Space and Aviation (two albums, approximately 325 items): Pappy Boyington (signature), Gene Cernan (SP), and nine cosmonauts on a single card Yuri Gagarin, Gherman Titov, Andrian Nikolayev, Pavel Popovich, Valery Bykovsky, Valentina Tereshkova, Vladimir Komarov, Pavel Belyayev, and Alexei Leonov).
Military (two general military albums with approximately 400 items; and one album of Aces with approximately 250 items): Douglas MacArthur, James Doolittle (signature), Omar Bradley (FDC and SP), Leslie Groves (SP), Husband Kimmel (signature), Mark W. Clark (SP and TLS), Alexander Haig (SP).
Medal of Honor Recipients from World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War (one album, approximately 200 items, including several letters with excellent military content recounting the events that resulted in receiving the Medal).
Entertainment and Music (six albums, approximately 1,300 items): Vivien Leigh (signature), Edith Head (TLS), Henry Fonda (signature), Stan Laurel (signature), Cecil B. DeMille (signature), Margot Fonteyn (SP), Lillian Gish (signature), Leslie Nielsen (SP), Art Carney (signature), Annette Funicello (signature), Peggy Lee (signature), Myrna Loy (signature), Burl Ives (SP), Margaret Hamilton (SP with inscription on reverse), Diana Dors (signature), Rand Brooks (signature), Standford Jolley (ALS), Ernie Kovacs (signature), Carolyn Jones (SP), Sam Jaffe (SP), and Bob Guccione (SP), Ira Gershwin (signature), Jerry Lee Lewis (signature), Roland Kirk (SP), and Oscar Hammerstein II (signature).
Animation (two albums, approximately 400 items): Walter Simonson (TLS), Al McWilliams (original comic strip), Bob Montana (signature), Bil Keane (ALS), Chuck Jones (FDC), Burne Hogarth (signature with note), Al Capp (signature), Lex Avery (sketch), and Milton Caniff (TLS).
The final album includes roughly 300 signers from a variety of fields, highlighted by astronauts Michael Collins and Jim McDivitt, and actress Betty Grable. Collection rates in overall very good to fine condition. A few secretarial and/or printed signatures may be included as there are thousands of signed items. Due to the enormity of the collection please be advised that extra shipping charges will apply. The sheer overwhelming volume of items precludes a complete list, and interested parties are strongly advised to view the collection in person at our offices, as this collection is sold as is, and no returns will be accepted. RR Auction COA.
