Queen of England. Letter Signed, Good cousin and friend / and good sister, cousin,/ and friend / AnnaR, two and two-thirds pages, tall quarto, Given at Our Palace at Windsor, July 3, 1709. Countersigned by H. Boyle. To Franz Ludwig, Count Palatine, Bishop of Worms, and Johann Wilhelm, Count Palatine on the Rhine, Elector of … [ Read More ]
Collectible Autographs from Famous Women in History
Autograph signatures, signed letters, and signed documents of famous women in many different fields of endeavor are avidly collected. Discussed here are women whose autograph signatures and signed pieces have been collected in part because they are women, as opposed to women whose autograph material has been of interest because of their accomplishments, for example authors. (Many of these authors are discussed in the section entitled “Authors.”) The leading figure in the women's rights movement, Susan B. Anthony, pioneered the movement to establish every woman’s the right to vote in the United States. Susan B. Anthony's signed letters have long been collected by a university library in New York, though signed letters do occasionally become available on the market. Susan B. Anthony was a popular figure who was very happy to sign her autograph on cards, and these are the most common form available for admirers and collectors today. Amelia Earhart was a very popular public figure as a pioneer in aviation, and while she readily signed her autograph on cards when people encountered her in person, they are clearly scarce, as the demand for her autograph signature exceeds the supply. In the field of science, the French chemist Marie Curie, known for her work in radioactivity, is very rare, and autograph signatures and signed letters have been collected by institutional libraries for decades; accordingly, her autograph signatures are rarely found. Mary Cassatt, the great Impressionist artist, is also quite rare in all autograph forms.
Catherine the Great, Czarina of Russia, is found in signed letters and signed documents, but neither is common and both are in significant demand, particularly by Russians, the newly avid collectors of their own history. Josephine, Napoleon's Empress, can be collected in signed letters, but her autograph signatures alone are not found. Her predecessor on the throne of France, Marie Antoinette, is rare in signed documents, and many of those that bear her name were signed by secretaries. Madame de Pompadour, Louis XV’s mistress, who greatly influenced his policies and French history during the period, is quite rare in signed letters or any other autograph form. A much more contemporary figure who influenced a country was Eva Perón, whose signed letters and signed documents are in much demand, particularly among South American collectors. Florence Nightingale, who had a tremendous influence on patient care and hospital reform, was a popular figure who was happy to comply with admirers’ requests for her autograph signature. She wrote and signed letters extensively, but these have generally been collected by institutional libraries and are not available on the market. Helen Keller, who was blind, deaf, and mute, captured America's hearts, and her signed letters are very popular to this day. Many form letters asking for money are not signed by her but, she was very happy to comply with autograph signature requests and signed cards, and genuinely signed letters can be found. Two female authors seem to have particular appeal for women collectors. Virginia Woolf is rare in any autograph form, with signed letters frequently bearing only her first name or her initials. Ayn Rand is rarer still; she sent signed letters only in response to serious questions that really interested her. Queen Victoria of England, with a very long reign in a position that required her to sign large numbers of official documents, is a very popular figure in the field of women's history. She succeeded a series of kings, all of whom were incompetent to one degree or another, and she led England through the industrial revolution, very actively involving herself in all aspects of the transformation from a rural to a manufacturing economy. The figure who has been of the greatest interest to collectors interested in women's history has been Eleanor Roosevelt. She became the First Lady 150 years after Martha Washington, and she created a role for herself unlike any of her predecessors or successors. She involved herself in every aspect of national concern, and established herself as an independent-minded woman who understood issues and was not afraid to discuss them. She seemingly answered every letter sent to her with a signed letter, always typewritten. Her autograph signature was very clear and there was no question whose it was, and these signed letters have been treasured ever since.
Browning, Elizabeth and Robert
ENGLISH POETS ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING AND ROBERT BROWNING Autograph Note Signed Elizabeth and Robert Browning, one page, octavo, London, October 21, 1856. On card stock, to the Women’s Hospital in New York. Written in the hand of Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Robert Browning adds the place and date, “London, October 21. ’56” beneath his signature. … [ Read More ]
Browning, Elizabeth Barrett
ENGLISH POET Autograph Letter Signed, two pages, octavo, 43 via Bocca di Leone [Rome], Friday, undated. To “My dear Reverend Hanna.” With the original black-bordered mourning envelope addressed in her hand. “Will you allow us to introduce to you Mrs. Hamilton and her daughter, country-women of your own, who will commend themselves to you, … [ Read More ]
Buck, Pearl S
BUCK’S SPEECH CONCERNING RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE PEOPLE OF ASIA American novelist. Typewritten Manuscript, seven full pages, quarto, undated. Buck’s speech, concerning relations between the United States and the Asian countries and her peoples, is heavily revised and corrected by the author in ink and pencil [these are shown in italic]. With … [ Read More ]
Cassatt, Mary
American Impressionist paper. Autograph Letter Signed, M. Cassatt, one page, octavo, Paris, undated but circa 1904. To M. Anzoli, in French. “Would you please be kind enough to make for me, as soon as possible, a white frame for a pastel, no. 12, that is to say the frame and its number 12 figure. I … [ Read More ]
Catherine the Great
Czarina of Russia. Document Signed, Yekaterina, one page, folio, October 11, 1762, Tsarskoe Selo. In Russian. From the Main court chancery, a release to the administrator Udalov of Tsarskoe Selo, of three thousand roubles for the digging of ponds, if the said revenues are not sufficient, then from the Total of the Main court Chancery, … [ Read More ]
Christie, Agatha
“….THE WORLD IS ALREADY PARTIAL TO DETECTIVE FICTION AND HAS BEEN FOR SOME TIME. HAMLET COULD CERTAINLY QUALIFY AS A DETECTIVE DRAMA….” English mystery writer; creator of Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot. Typewritten Letter Signed, Agatha Mallowan, one page, octavo, Churston Ferrers, near Brixham, South Devon, June 12, 1972. To Dear Mrs. Frink. “As … [ Read More ]
Christie, Agatha
ENGLISH MYSTERY WRITER; CREATOR OF MISS MARPLE AND HERCULE POIROT Typewritten Letter Signed, Agatha Christie, two pages, quarto, Winterbrook House, Wallingford, Berkshire, October 23, 1972. To Michael Underwood, Esq., Riverbank, Datchet, Bucks. “I got your letter this morning. As far as my own personal feelings are concerned I have always enjoyed the private quality … [ Read More ]
Crawford, Joan
AMERICAN MOTION PICTURE ACTRESS Typewritten Letter Signed, one page, quarto, April 23, 1955. On her address-imprinted stationary, to Sally and Bob Roberts in Forest Hills, New York. With the original envelope. “Thank you so much for your lovely birthday card. I am so deeply grateful to each of you for remembering. “I did enjoy … [ Read More ]
Dietrich, Marlene
ACTRESS; STARRED IN “THE BLUE ANGEL”. Typewritten Letter Signed, Marlene Dietrich, two pages, quarto, Paris, April 23, 1987. With the word “COPIE” stamped in orange in the top right corner of the first page, and a phone number handwritten on the top left corner of the first page. Addressed from Marlene Dietrich to Mr. … [ Read More ]
Hepburn, Audrey
AN EXTRAORDINARILY INTIMATE INSIGHT INTO AUDREY HEPBURN’S LIFE. LETTERS TO HER FATHER Collection of 19 Autograph Letters Signed, 92 pages; octavo; Burgenstock and Tolochenaz in Switzerland, Madrid, and Rome; 1963 to 1980. Seventeen of the letters are written to her father Anthony Hepburn and two to Fidelma Hepburn, one just … [ Read More ]
Howe, Julia Ward
Author of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Julia Ward Howe. Autograph Quotation Signed, “Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord,” on a 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 inch card, dated by the author “January, 1896.” With a printed copy of the first song book appearance of the Battle Hymn … [ Read More ]
Isabella I
Queen of Castile; joint sovereign with Ferdinand V; patron of Columbus. Document Signed, yo la Reyna, [I the Queen], one page, legal folio, May 17, 1501. The Queen orders her chamberlain, Sancho de Paredes, to pay the sum of 530 maravedis, or two florins, to a silversmith named Anton de Carrion for work on a … [ Read More ]
Joanna
“TO PREVENT FOREIGN MOORS, ENEMIES OF THE FAITH, FROM CAUSING THE DAMAGE, LOSS AND ROBBERIES THEY HAVE BEEN ACCUSTOMED TO DO” JOANNA LA LOCA. Queen Joanna of Castile; daughter of Ferdinand V and Isabella I. An official royal document, signed in the name of the Queen by the Councillors of Castile, one page folio, (15 … [ Read More ]
Leigh, Vivien
VIVIEN LEIGH’S CONTRACT FOR ‘GONE WITH THE WIND’ VIVIEN LEIGH. Motion picture actress. Four Typewritten Documents, forty-two pages, legal folio, January 16 to November 8, 1939. Concerning Vivien Leigh’s role in the production of Gone With The Wind. Together with an Autograph Letter Signed. Typewritten Document, seventeen pages, legal folio, Culver City, California, January 16, … [ Read More ]
Maria Theresa
MARIA THERESA. Arch-Duchess of Austria; Queen of Hungary and Bohemia. Mother of Marie Antoinette. Document Signed Maria Theresa, one page, large folio, [171/2 by 21-3/4 inches], n.d. With the Queen’s large paper and wax seal. An ornate document commending Don Francesca de Magan “for his long-rendered service and steadiness and bravery in wartime,” and … [ Read More ]
Marie Antoinette
MARIE ANTOINETTE. Queen of France. Letter Signed, one page, quarto, Versailles, May 19, 1782. To “Monsieur, my brother, cousin and brother-in-law.” “The interest I take in the events which are agreeable to Your Majesty is too keen for you not to be convinced of the interest I took in the birth of the Princess, to … [ Read More ]
Medicis, Catherine de
CATHERINE DE MEDICIS. Queen of France; wife of Henry II. Letter Signed, one page, legal folio, Fontainbleau, March 30, 1560. In German. To her cousin. The Queen says she has had to neglect her cousin’s affairs, but that he should realize that both she and the King value him as an ally. Her representative, Herr … [ Read More ]
Millay, Edna St Vincent
EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY. American author. A Collection of twenty-eight Typewritten Manuscripts, twenty-eight pages, quarto, [ca. 1920 and earlier]. Three of the manuscripts are signed by Edna St Vincent Millay at the conclusion; one bears a holograph correction in the text; and in another she has changed the title. Accompanied by a typewritten letter … [ Read More ]
Mitchell, Margaret
MARGARET MITCHELL. American author. Typewritten Letter Signed, one page, quarto, Atlanta, Georgia, September 26, 1936. To Almira B. Taylor in Hyde Park, Massachusetts. With the original envelope. “Thank you so much for your letter about ‘Gone With the Wind.’ I appreciated it so much. Authors write books and send them out into the world and … [ Read More ]
Mitchell, Margaret
THE PUBLIC REACTION TO “GONE WITH THE WIND” MARGARET MITCHELL. American author of Gone with the Wind. Typewritten Letter Signed, one page, quarto, Atlanta, Georgia, January 7, 1936. On her name-imprinted stationery, to Dr. Mayos. “Thank you so much for your New Year’s note and all your good wishes. I had it on my mind … [ Read More ]
O’Keeffe, Georgia
GEORGIA O’KEEFFE. American painter. Autograph Letter Signed, Georgia O’Keeffe, one page, quarto, Abiquiu, July 25, 1969. To Elizabeth Monroe. With the original envelope. “Dear Elizabeth Monroe / When you are in Santa Fe drop me a note and plan to come up some morning. “If you do not have a car I could probably send … [ Read More ]
Piaf, Edith
EDITH PIAF. French singer and actress whose interpretation of the Chanson, or French ballad, made her internationally famous. A vintage “real photo” portrait postcard of the legendary chanteuse in a wistful gaze, inscribed in the dark lower portion, Pour Mademoiselle Yvette Pichou en toute sympathie, Edith Piaf, undated [1944]. The postcard measures 3 1/2 inches … [ Read More ]
Piaf, Edith
EDITH PIAF. French singer and actress whose interpretation of the Chanson, or French ballad, made her internationally famous. A close-up, head-shot Photograph of the legendary chanteuse in a wistful gaze, her hand on her cheek, Signed Edith Piaf and Inscribed in the dark upper portion, “Pour Monsieur Maurice Croifer / Sympathique… / Edith Piaf”. The black … [ Read More ]
Porter, Katherine Anne
AN EXTRAORDINARY LITERARY LETTER ABOUT THE PROCESS OF WRITING “SHIP OF FOOLS” KATHERINE ANNE PORTER. American essayist, short story writer, novelist; wrote “Ship of Fools”. Typewritten Letter Signed, Katherine Anne Porter, three densely typed pages, on blue paper, quarto, August 18, 1958, Outpost Inn, Ridgefield, Connecticut. With corrections in her hand. To Mr. Clemons. “I … [ Read More ]
Roosevelt, Eleanor
ELEANOR ROOSEVELT. First Lady of the United States. Typewritten Letter Signed, one page, octavo, February 20, 1936. On White House stationery, to her literary agent George Bye. “I would consider any radio contract that was perfectly all right and brought in sufficient return to make it worthwhile, but I would want to be sure that … [ Read More ]
Roosevelt, Eleanor
ELEANOR ROOSEVELT. First Lady. Typewritten Letter Signed, four pages, small quarto, October 26, 1956. On her name imprinted stationery, 211 East 62nd Street, New York, 21, N.Y., to “My dear Friend”. With several corrections in her own hand. “I was very sorry to get your letter and also sorry to see your statement in the … [ Read More ]
Sayers, Dorothy Leigh
“…ONE STATEMENT OF YOURS…IS VENOMOUS, BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THOSE ACCUSATIONS, OF THE HAVE-YOU-STOPPED- BEATING-YOUR-WIFE VARIETY, AGAINST WHICH THERE IS NO CONCEIVABLE DEFENCE….” DOROTHY LEIGH SAYERS. English mystery novelist; creator of the memorable sleuth, Lord Peter Wimsey. Typewritten Letter Signed, Dorothy Leigh Sayers, three pages, quarto, Witham, Essex, July 25, 1947. To Dr. James … [ Read More ]
Stael, Madame de. Anne Louise Germaine Necker
MADAME DE. ANNE LOUISE GERMAINE NECKER STAEL. French writer; exiled by Napoleon I. Autograph Letter, unsigned, one page, octavo, n.d. Fine condition. “I miss you very much, my dear sir, you are for me beautiful England, that of wit and soul. don’t forget that I am expecting you and Lady Mackintosh tomorrow for dinner. You … [ Read More ]
Stein, Gertrude
GERTRUDE STEIN. American author. Autograph Letter Signed, four pages, quarto, Azay-le-Rideau, France, [July 19, 1926]. On imprinted stationery of the Hotel du Grand Monarque, to Gertrude Stein’s friends, Allan Taumer and [Trututueff]. With the original envelope. Not a squeak out of you. Where are you and how are you, we are here. We came near … [ Read More ]
Stowe, Harriet Beecher
AN EXPENSE ACCOUNT FOR A DRAMATIC PERFORMANCE OF “UNCLE TOM’S CABIN. HARRIET BEECHER STOWE. American author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. An expense account for a dramatic performance of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, one page, small oblong quarto, October 14, 1853. The account, totaling 29 cents, is for sarsaparilla, cigars, apples, raisins, cork and cake for John … [ Read More ]
Victoria, Queen
Price: $6,500 Signed Books. “Life of the Prince Consort”. Set of five volumes. Signed by Queen Victoria in volume I and in volume III. Inscribed in volume I on a front blank page, “To The Hon: Mary Pitt from VR & I Windsor Castle Jan.17, 1877”. Inscribed in volume III on a front blank page, … [ Read More ]
Vigee-Lebrun, Marie Anne Élisabeth
Price: $4,500 Portrait painter to Queen Marie Antoinette. Third Person Letter, Marie Anne Vigee-Lebrun, one page, octavo, October 28, [1837]. In French. Mme Le Brun, before returning to Paris next Monday, asks Monsieur Vattemare to do her the honor of visiting her tomorrow, Sunday. She will return the engravings he left with her, as she … [ Read More ]