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 20 different albums arranged by subject matter and then alphabetically. Each album contains approximately 150–180 pages, the majority of which have an image of the signer, as well as a biography detailing their lives and accomplishments.
Consisting of approximately 4000–5000 total 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, and various other formats. As a whole, it is comprised of: six albums of entertainers, containing approximately 1500 signed items; six albums of notables, containing approximately 1800 signed items; two albums of American aviation aces, containing approximately 500 signed items; five albums of military figures, containing approximately 1500 signed items; and one album dedicated to the US Coast Guard, containing approximately 300 signed items.
A selection of signers is as follows: Jacob Beser (SP), Max Born (signature), Ray Bradbury (signature), Ralph Bunche (SP), James M. Cain (signature), Nicolae Ceausescu (SP), Marc Chagall (FDC), John Cheever (TLS), Julia Child (signature), Michael Crichton (FDC), Arthur C. Clark (signature), Ramsey Clark (SP), Tom C. Clark (SP), Roy Marcus Cohn (FDC), John B. Connally (SP), Denton A. Cooley (sketch), Rev. Charles E. Coughlin (FDC), Jacques Cousteau (signature), Archibald Cox (signature), Walter Cronkite (SP), Dalai Lama (signature), Angela Davis (FDC), Michael DeBakey (SP), William O. Douglas (FDC), Jean-Claude Duvalier (FDC), Joe Foss (SP), Gabby Gabreski (SP), Tex Hill (FDC), Madame Chiang Kai-Shek (signature), Robin Olds (ALS), Irwin Allen (FDC), Salvatore Baccaloni (SP), Jim Backus (SP), Josephine Baker (signature), Joe Barbera (signature), Joey Bishop (SP), Ernest Bloch (signature), Walter Brennan (signature), Johnny Mack Brown (FDC), James Coburn (SP), Jerry Colonna (SP), Broderick Crawford (FDC), Waylon Jennings (SP), Abbe Lane (SP), Barry Sadler (TLS), Connie Stevens (SP), Inger Stevens (signature), Pamela Tiffin (SP), Ernest Tubb (SP), Jimmy Wakely (SP), and Josh White (SP).
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.
